The Changing Rural House Type of Manipur An Expression of Socio-Economic and Cultural Change

This study is concerned with the impact of socio-economic and cultural development change, particularly on the changing nature of house types in the Valley districts namely Imphal-East, Imphal-West, Thoubal and Bishnupur of Manipur. Dwelling form is one of the most basic elements of cultural landscape and holds a significant place in the geographical analysis of settlements. Most studies concerning rural house types have been conducted assuming that the characteristics of rural houses do not change over a fairly long period of time. Although implied in the methodology, no mention of this assumption is generally made, except in few cases where it is quite explicitly stated. For example, Mukerji states that the Jat houses in Upper Ganga-Jamuna Doab can be studied in their original form, function and structure because they have resisted change to a great extent. According to Houston, the house is primarily an element of landscape, expressive of both physical conditions of a region and the conservatism of its inhabitants. To quote Kniffen, dwelling reflects the cultural heritage, current fashion, functional needs, and positive and negative aspects of non-cultural environment. It is therefore not surprising that in most studies of rural houses little attention has focused on the changes in house types. It may be true that in most areas rural houses are resistant to change, but there are also areas where rural houses have experienced rapid changes. Sant Bahadur markedly states that the form, function and structure of the house types are mostly governed by the socio-economic conditions of the people on the one hand and physical environment on the other. Experiencing rapid notable changes in rural house types and its form, function and structure in Manipur, since Independence. In fact, within just five decades, the rural house type of Manipur Valley has been transformed almost completely. Only a few researchers have tried to understand these changes. I.S. Longjam, studies these changes are the impact of urban interaction and population growth. Certain changes in the rural house types of Manipur were also observed by Singh Balaram and N.C. Singh. However, none of these studies provide comprehensive picture of the changes which have taken place in the form, function and structure of the rural house of Manipur Valley. The present study tries to fill this gap.