Efforts to preserve the rich history, language and cultural heritage of the Tangkhul people are set to enter a new chapter with the development of the Tangkhul Living Archive—a digital Zungphun envisioned as a shared home where the collective memory, wisdom and identity of the Tangkhul people can be safeguarded for generations to come.
In a personal conversation with Ukhrul Times correspondent, Ngalem Kashung Shimray, Wokmaron Gachui, president of the Tangkhul Katamnao Long Shillong (TKLS), said the initiative, jointly undertaken by the TKLS and the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), is under development and is tentatively expected to be launched in the third quarter of 2026.
“The idea is simple,” Gachui said. “Our heritage should never depend on where we live or whether we can afford access to it. Just as we regard the right to life as fundamental, access to knowledge should also be recognised as a fundamental human right” reflecting the principles of the global Open Access movement.
IWUI STORY ‘I Carried My Family Before I Chased My Dreams’: Horthingshang CS
He said the philosophy behind the archive also draws inspiration from Yuimirin Kapai’s reflections on the inseparable relationship between a people, their language and their written heritage. “There lies a thin line between constant change and the race to preserve what must be,” Gachui said. “Knowledge fills that gap. While change is inevitable, safeguarding the history, language, traditions and collective memory that define us is essential if future generations are to remain connected to their roots.”
Rather than functioning as a static repository, the archive is intended to grow through community participation. Drawing on the Tangkhul philosophy of Zungphun, Gachui described it as “an active relationship between people and knowledge, and between generations.” “Unlike a conventional archive that simply stores information, a Zungphun is never passive. It grows because people read, share, contribute literature, document their experiences and pass knowledge to one another. Every contribution strengthens the whole, ensuring that knowledge remains alive through continuous engagement.”
The platform has been designed as a free and open digital resource housing oral histories, folktales, traditional songs, photographs, films, historical records, language resources, customary practices, research papers and other cultural materials, all organised into clearly defined categories. Visitors will be able to browse its collections without paywalls or advertisements, while published works will be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Also read Living Archives: Tangkhul Heritage Through Chitaranjan Khuman’s Lens
Although the project continues to face challenges in collecting authentic materials, digitizing ageing records and documenting oral traditions, Gachui emphasized that the archive can only succeed through collective effort. “This is not something one person or one organisation can build alone. Every preserved photograph, every recorded story and every archived song brings us one step closer to safeguarding our collective history for future generations.”
Ultimately, the Tangkhul Living Archive aspires to become a trusted digital home for Tangkhul knowledge. “It is our digital Zungphun. We want future generations to inherit not merely information, but the living spirit of our people. When they come looking for who they are, they should find the voices of their ancestors waiting for them,” Gachui remarked.
