Ukhrul, Dec 16: Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Kengoo Zuringla launched the book “Sāfa̱” – Tangkhul Hunting Dog on Monday at Magen Hills, Viewland, Ukhrul, authored by Athem Muivah, a retired IAS.
President of Tangkhul Naga Long, Sword Vashum in his remarks stated, “It is such a beautifully scripted treatise that digs out the unknown truth in its multi-faceted dimensions of our existence. Sāfa̱ or Haofa̱ makes its presence so profound that it is all over for housekeeping, hunting, and as a companion. Though the book focuses on Sāfa̱/Haofa̱, by extension, our interest and attention lean away to a host of related vital aspects like custom, culture, tradition, and practices that go to the making of our evolutionary history.”
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Author Athem Muivah stated, “This book has been in the making for a while but because of many reasons, it could not materialize earlier. Sāfa̱ is a unique breed of the Tangkhul community. We must preserve and conserve the purity of the breed. Its natural habitat must be protected. Sāfa̱ thrives on the prey found in the forest. Therefore, we need to conserve forest so that Sāfa̱ does not become extinct in the coming future.”
The author emphasized the necessity of documentation and sharing the available information on Sāfa̱ in written form. “Firstly, this is because the older generation is slowly passing away and invaluable information is lost. More importantly, Sāfa̱ is gradually but surely being mongrelized with the genes of other nondescript dogs. Hence, the necessity to maintain the purity of Sāfa̱ and disseminate awareness to the people,” he stated.
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The book describes the origin of Sāfa̱, types of Safa, characteristics, cropping of ears and tails, the role of Sāfa̱ in socio-religious and cultural aspects, preservation, and hunting stories.
Athem Muivah completed his graduation and post-graduation from St. Stephen College, Delhi University. He joined the State Service and was later inducted into the Indian Administrative Service and retired in 2019 and now lives in Ukhrul with his wife and two sons. He has five children and four grandchildren.
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