What we are looking for: the first ten questions
Most of what is missing from this site is not in an archive. It is in somebody’s memory, and it will stay there unless it is asked for. These are the questions we are asking first — the ones an archive cannot answer at all Ninglekhu/ku heritage documentation project 2026 C.
- What do you know about the name Ninglekhu — where does it come from, what does it mean?
- Have you heard the word “Manjia” or “Manija” attached to Ninglekhu? What does it mean?
- Which thum do our people belong to? Which khola, which village, which ward?
- Which other thars can Ninglekhu/ku marry? Which are forbidden, and why?
- Do you know the sayepsa — those with whom we share a father’s-side ancestor?
- Who were your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents? Where were they born, and where were their death rites performed?
- Did our family hold kipat? Where? What happened when it was abolished?
- Who in the family served — which regiment, which years, where?
- Who are our phedangma, samba, yeba or yuma, and where did they learn?
- What songs did people sing at Ya:lang? Can you sing one?
Two practical notes. Ask for names, dates and places every time: “my grandfather” becomes usable evidence only when it becomes “my grandfather, [name], born about [year] at [village].” And record the conversation if you can — a phone in a quiet room beats a good microphone in a noisy one, and the original wording matters more than a summary.
Consent comes first, in the speaker’s language, and it is not permanent: anyone can withdraw a recording later, without giving a reason. Ritual material may not be ours to publish at all, and a restricted archive tier exists for exactly that.
Send what you gather through the contribute page, or write to [email protected]. Every contribution is credited with a name and a date, unless you ask otherwise.