TANGKHUL SETTLEMENTS

Seminar by Lenin Sharma (BA06ARC021)

Tangkhul

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Proselytisation

From the Head Hunting days A Baptist church in Ukhrul

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Need Identification:
This is a community yet unexplored and its culture and tradition is sure to go extinct in the advent of rapid modernization or rather westernization which usually happens blindly. It goes without saying, that it is important to preserve such traditional and cultural heritage for the generations to come. While preserving for the future generations, it is very necessary to understand the changes in lifestyle which will be more or less energy consuming.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Aim
To document and understand the settlements of the Tangkhul tribe, with major concern towards the degree of their self sufficiency so as to sustain the resources for future generations

Objectives
To study the pattern of the settlements
To establish the main factors which determine the patterns To understand how the patterns affect the self sufficiency To provide observations and suggestions to help ensure the villages sustainability.
Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Scope and Limitations

The study will be limited to the present state of the settlements. The Tangkhul community as mentioned above spreads over a large area. But in my study I will be taking up only Ukhruls Tangkhul community in the Indian state of Manipur.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Methodology
To perceive the study at three stages: Regional level: The locations of and interactions between the villages. Village level: The common activities practiced by the villagers and patterns followed. Individual level: The typical housing unit of an individual.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Regional Level Study

Pattern Isolated villages
Village commercial resources residential Village Market City

Foot tracks
Kaccha road High way Village
Figure: Schematic diagram showing the network of isolated villages

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Regional Level Study

Factors for isolation Resources: concentration of settlements at one point would cause depletion of resources. Topography: the hills result in bad connectivity and also inability to settle in the valleys but only in the ridges or mounds due to large amount of runoff. Political history: each village was independent headed by the chief during the head hunting days.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Regional Level Study

Observations: Cities are considered the centres of unsustainable consumption, but they cant be neglected too since todays economies are driven by them. In this pattern, the city acts as a medium for economic activities which helps the villagers to earn so as to be able to procure quality products other than just sufficing themselves with their own products which could be of a lower quality.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Village Level Study

Socio Economic Pattern
Small population (100 to 400 no.) Agrarian society Women are the homemakers

Minor economic activities like weaving or poultry rearing

Hierarchy in the society:

The Village Head Pastor Common Man
Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Village Level Study

Changing Socio Economic Pattern
Literacy Gender Equality NGOs & Self Help Groups

Figure: Table of current statistics of six Tangkhul villages from Manipur

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Village Level Study

Following are the major spaces provided in a typical village:
Church (Baptist) Playground

Community hall
Private Households Elementary School

Figure: Aerial view of a village in Ukhrul

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Village Level Study

Pattern And Orientation:
The pattern of the settlements follow the contour lines so as to increase the feasibility of constructing the buildings. The orientation of the buildings are usually such that the linear side is parallel to the contour lines. The church binds the whole village together visually by giving it the prime location, usually on a mound. The village heads house is usually located at a higher place than the common people. This helps him control the people more effectively. The village settles in the ridges but avoids valleys as the runoff could damage the stability of the buildings.
Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Village Level Study

Pattern And Orientation:

Village Level Study

Resources:
Water: Due to high amount of rainfall, the hills have abundant natural streams which are perennial. This saves the villagers, the energy to get the water uphill against the gravity. Forest: It provides them with firewood and timber for construction. Farmland: They get plenty of fertile land for step farming which is still misused by few for shifting cultivation.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Village Level Study

Observations at village level People are at the centre of the development. Its only when they work collectively with a common goal that an efficient society can be developed. With this goal in mind, their individual actions result into a large scale development. Every village already has a social system headed by the Chief and along with that their population is minimal. These two factors should make it easier to inject the values of Self Help. Thus the villages would progress on their own to a certain degree.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Activities:
As soon as the sun rises, the morning activities begin with an early meal after which, they disperse for work. Cottage industries like handloom and handicraft thrive here and spaces for them are provided as add no's to the existing structure.

Figure: Cane and wooden furniture

They have large plot areas which are used for activities like kitchen gardening, livestock farming and storing agricultural products
They also sometimes use their house for selling tea, grocery and other food items.
Figure: Handloom product

Their day ends as soon as the sun sets and dinner is cooked before sunset.
Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Module:
The plan of the house is usually linear in shape and designed for 5-6 people. The main door opens into the living space to which the bedroom is connected. The hall has a hearth (fire place) as shown in the plan, on top of which a loft is suspended. This housing type has very limited openings and has only one entrance. A typical house has about 2-5% openings in the surface area of its walls. The main function of this building typology is single-family house.
Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Figure: Plan of a typical house

Household Level Study

Module:

Figure: The only entrance

Figure: Small openings

Figure: Loft over the hearth

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Building Structure:
Figure: The posts are simply embedded into the soil.

Figure: The Structure of a typical hut..

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Building materials:
In recent times some changes are taking place in the building materials used. Roofing material changed from thatch or wooden planks to corrugated galvanized Iron (CGI) sheets. Brick masonry too has become commonly used instead of the old timber or bamboo framed structures.

Timber Bamboo Stone Masonry CGI Cement Bricks

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Construction process:
Construction of this type of house generally takes place in the dry season / winters. Bamboo/wooden posts are erected and then beams/logs are connected and rafters placed and tied up.

The wider community participates in the construction, headed by the master builder who has more experience of this type of house.
Indigenous/traditional tools are used in the construction.

The construction of this type of housing takes place in a single phase.

Typically, the building is originally not designed for its final constructed size.
Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Housing typology:
The village chiefs house

Figure: Village heads hut

Figure: Skull of a buffalo

Figure: Carvings on wood of skulls

The common mans house

Figure: Common man's hut (structure) Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Household Level Study

Observations at individual level

The individuals indulge themselves into many activities which result in waste production. But, many such wastes could be utilized as a fuel for other energy consuming activities. This will help check the environmental impact collectively. For instance, livestock wastes or rotten vegetables could be utilized as biogas as we all know. Likewise, animal wastes could also be used as fertilizers.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

DISCUSSION AND SUGGESTION

Self sufficiency and its relevance in Manipur
The population of each village is around 200 to 400 which is very feasible for a social network to flourish.

These tribal settlements are still very backward and located in remote pockets hard to reach due to the hilly terrain.
Moreover, the state of Manipur itself lacks infrastructure and cannot cater to the needs of all the people. Most importantly, these villages have been relying on themselves for sustenance since years. They at present have formed a network for improved economic activities as mentioned before (refer figure 4). Just developing this network further would do the job. Rapid depletion of forest cover and other natural resources due to unplanned use like shifting cultivation is the only problem at the present. But, such a problem could be solved easily through educating people in planning the use of resources wisely.

Conclusion
After having studied the Tangkhul settlements in the hills of dist. Ukhrul, Manipur, it has been observed that they settle in small groups consisting around 200 members in isolation. Each group behaves like a single family headed by the village chief. These settlements have the perfect ingredients to be able to sustain on their own to a certain degree, as I have already discussed at all the three levels of study which are: Its ability to respect the importance of cities while keeping self sufficient to a degree at the same time. Feasibility in keeping the people at the centre of development due to the existing social system and low population. Feasibility in cycling of wastes.

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur

Reference
Dutta, N. (n.d.). Songs of Mashangva: melodies of hope. Retrieved from www.wordpress.com. IFCD, Manipur. (1998). Thoubal Multipurpose Project. Imphal: Government of Manipur. Khan, A. A. (2008). HOUSING REPORT, Traditional Naga Type House. Wellington: World Housing Encyclopedia. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). (1997). Changing Consumption Pattern in Human Settlements. New York: United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). wikipedia. (n.d.). Ecovillage (Self Sustaining Village). Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecovillage Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tangkhul. Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangkhul

Thank you

Lenin Sharma | BA06ARC021 | Department of Architecture | VNIT | Nagpur