The Vaipheis : Their History and Culture

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Part.I.  Ethnology and Diaspora Linkage. 1. Introduction. 2. Ethnic Background of Vaiphei and its Kindred. 3. Controversial Theories. 4. Zo-Jewish Identity theory. Part. II.  History & culture of vaiphei tribe. 5. Etymon of ‘Vaiphei’. 6. Orgin of Vaipheis. 7. Migration & Settlements. 8. Socio-Political System. 9. Eco-domestic Life. 10. Customary Laws. 11. Primal Religion. 12. Influx of Western culture. 13. Conclusion. Annexures. Index.

"No tomes, travelogues, official or non-official files, and any single foreign accounts has yet briefed or detailed about the Vaiphei people satisfactorily. The obvious reason for this are, first written material is dearth, and second, legends, culture and history being preserved orally. This work is intended to bring out to light and bring home the rich and valuable historical aspects of the Vaipheis which are now neglected and allowed to slip into oblivion by sophisticated and self-sufficient younger generation. Perhaps, this work will be the first of its kind.

This work has been methodically organized under thirteen chapters. The first to the fourth chapters are an attempt to clarify the racial origin of Vaipheis and its contiguous tribes. The fifth chapter deals with how the appellation “VAIPHEI” have been acquired. The sixth chapter gives a clear picture about the Vaiphei racial origin. Chapter seven of this study mainly deals with the journey and settlements of Suantak descendants from the time they are identified as “Vaiphei”. The eighth chapter deals with the socio-political system of Vaipheis which have been practiced since time immemorial. Chapter nine deals with different aspects of Vaipheis economic and domestic life in its traditional forms. In the tenth chapter we find that their customary laws were unwritten yet they were as much rigid as coded laws of modern time. Chapter eleventh of this study gives an exhaustive assessment of Vaipheis’ primal religion. When and how the Vaipheis were undone and released from their superstitious, mumbo-jumbo, and pow-wow life is detailed in chapter twelve. The concluding as well as the thirteenth chapter deals with the observation and remarks on major findings of this study.” (Jacket)