~ Dr. S. Kipgen
Ignorance, superstition, isolation and living a life of constant warfare often leading to destruction of life and property was what it characterize the tribals in the pre-Christian dispensation. But cultural contacts did develop between these peoples and those of the plains through trades and commerce. Trade routes and market centre on the foothills were important agents of cultural contact. For instance, the Khasi-Jaintia of Meghalaya in particular have been opened to so long a contact that their language, idea, and religion have been influenced by the culture of Bengal to the South. Cultural elements were borrowed out of social interaction. So in living together for centuries, absorption of the tribals into Meitei Society was always a possibility. It is believed that many of tribal communities were absorbed and assimilated into the society and
culture of the Hinduised Meitei community of the valley. While majority of the Thadou-Kuki occupy the hill territory along with their Naga counterparts, they are also found along the fringes of the  valley. Though some of them are also found in the valley proper, where they lived under the shadow of the Meiteis it was obviously never their forte.

In spite of the widespread character of Bengali script acquisition of the knowledge of reading and writing
among the tribal for that matter the Kukis did take place with the advent of education brought by the Christian missionaries at a time when most of them began to organize themselves into a settled and secured society in a fixed territory under a protective political umberella. It maybe noted that the migration of different tribal groups continued throughout the 19th century and early part of the 20th century. Migration is perhaps still a continuing process. It is part of the tribal society. The arrival of missionaries proved to be a boon for the tribal literature. Consequent upon the introduction of modern education and the new religious faith by the Christian missionaries the tribals were reduced to writing in Roman script. Christianity has done so much for the shaping of the tribal society. It took them to greater heights with their service and dedication. Rev. William Pettigrew introduced the Roman script among the Tangkhuls, Dr Grozier among the Thadou-Kukis, Rev. W.R. Robert among the Vaipheis. In 1917 Rev. W. Roberts with the help of Pastor Thangkhai published the gospel of St. John in Vaiphei. In 1926, the Tangkhul Testament was published through the effort of Rev. W. Pettigrew.
Today almost all the different communities living in the hills and valley of Manipur have their New Testament in their own dialects and language and the complete Holy Bible minus Apocrypha. The missionaries 'event learnt the local dialect and devised the first grammar books. They introduce western music and prepared song books for the use of church service, gospel related gathering and other social function and programmes.

banjom nalai ding........