This is a conference handout titled 'Discovering Tibeto-Burman Linguistic History Through Pre 20th Century Meithei Manuscripts' containing a brief introduction, 4 tables, and references. The handout discusses 7 features of Manipuri manuscripts: number and genre, script, dating, authorship, housing and ownership, paper and condition, and status in the culture. This handout was used at the Ninth Seminar for the International Association for Tibetan Studies in a panel on Medieval Tibeto-Burman Languages and Tibeto-Burman Reconstruction in Leiden, The Netherlands, on June 26th, 2000.

This is a Kom woman in traditional dress (Ponkokhoi in Kom). She is standing on a patio wearing a headdress with feathers and matching red bead earrings and necklace (Thrichung in Kom).

Season dance performed at festivals

Recording of Raja Safdar Ali Khan, a retired school teacher, reciting "the Fox and the Rooster," in the Srinagar dialect. This popular story tells of a hungry fox and a boastful rooster, and advises children to be aware of how they speak and act.

Photograph of Srinagar Burushaski speaker Hasina with field assistant Abul Hassan

Photograph of two Srinagar Burushaski speakers: Hasina (left) an Zamrooda Begum (AKA 'Mimi')

Photograph of Raja Jamsheed Ali Khan, a Srinagar Burushask speaker.

Photograph of Raja Jamsheed Ali Khan and Hasina, two Srinagar Burushaski speakers.

Photograph of Dr. Sadaf Munshi with Hasina Safdar, a Srinagar Burushaski speaker

Photograph of Dr. Sadaf Munshi with Raja Jamsheed Ali Khan, a Srinagar Burushaski speaker.

Photograph of Safdar and Mehboob, Srinagar Burushaski speakers Raja Safdar Ali Khan and Raja Mehboob Ali Khan.

Photograph of the neighbourhood in Srinagar where majority of the Burushaski speakers are settled. The historic Hariparbat Fort is visible on the horizon.

Recording of Huma Safdar, a student, reciting "Hira and Moti," in the Srinagar dialect. This is a popular story told amongst Srinagar burushos.

Photograph of Mahrukh Zahra, a young Srinagar Burushaski speaker.

This folk song is a message to a girl who wants to marry outside her village from her lover, sung by late Namrihabou of Rienta village.

Houjahen Haokip performs a ritual called Joulangvei used for healing breast pain or for madness with a group. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung), around 80 years old at the time. He also shows the clay pieces used in the ritual.

Houjahen Haokip performs a ritual called Joulangvei used for healing breast pain or for madness with a group. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung), around 80 years old at the time. He also names the clay pieces used in the ritual.

Houjahen Haokip recites a ritual called Jusiepehna. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 80 years old at the time of recording. He was thought to be the only living Thadou priest in Lambung village at the time.

Houjahen Haokip recites a ritual called Louluh Daiphu used for a bountiful harvest and the well-being of the whole village. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 80 years old at the time of recording. He was thought to be the only living Thadou priest in Lambung village at the time.

Houjahen Haokip recites a ritual called Sieltamlangvei. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 80 years old at the time of recording. He was thought to be the only living Thadou priest in Lambung village at the time.

Houjahen Haokip recites a ritual called Tuidoi used for healing sickness caused by the spirits of water bodies. Though the ritual is normally performed in the field, this version was recorded inside due to heavy rainfall. He is a Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 80 years old at the time of recording. He was thought to be the only living Thadou priest in Lambung village at the time.

The assistants of the priest prepare earthern images out of clay to be used in Daiphu rituals.

Phalting Haokip tells a traditional narrative about Mainouloute. In this story, a family gets fruits from their garden and their family members transform into birds. She is a female Thadou speaker from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), around 83 years old at the time of recording.

Phalting Haokip tells the traditional narrative 'Chagate' about an orphan. She is from Manipur (currently living in Lambung village), and speaks Manipuri in addition to Thadou. She is around 83 years old at the time of recording.