Tangkhul Chanjam Theology- Reclaiming Eco-Life in Context

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Foreword Today, the ecological crisis is a global issue faced by human communities in different forms. The nature and intensity of the crisis may vary from context to context. In the past, people, particularly indigenous communities, lived with nature and protected natural resources. It was part of their life. Their cultural and religious resources always reminded them of the need of taking care of nature for their survival and for the future generation. Their traditional stories and proverbs taught them every day how they should treat the land and its resources. But in the globalized world, new trends in lifestyle cause the exploitation of nature, which in turn lead to an ecological crisis. The present generation has failed to realize that they are able to survive today because their ancestors protected nature. Instead of following in their ancestors' footsteps, they continue exploiting natural resources. They have adopted a new lifestyle that seriously harms the ecosystem. In such a context, the author with the issue of the ecological crisis faced by the Tangkhul community in the Ukhrul district of Manipur state. The book provides theological and methodological insights to engage with the environmental crisis.

The Tangkhuls, an indigenous community, have a rich heritage of nature Chanjam. It shows not only their intimate relationship with nature but also their identity. Through this book, the author informs us that nature functioned as a calendar, a book, a teacher, and a judge in the life of Tangkhuls.

Introduction The Tangkhul Nagas have a rich heritage of Chanjam that teach and motivate them to protect nature. However, the present ecological crisis faced by the Tangkhuls show that they ignore to follow those Chanjam in their community life. Therefore, a study on Tangkhuls Chanjam from eco-tribal theological perspective is required to showcase the significance of Chanjam theology in the present context.

The Tangkhuls were, in the past, solely dependent on agriculture. Even today. Tangkhul society is primarily an agrarian society. The Tangkhuls practice both terrace and jhum Cultivation. They largely depend on forest resources for their livelihood.

The relationship between humans and nature is highly emphasized in the social life of the Tangkhul. The traditional Tangkhul worldview is holistic and integrative with creation. Tangkhuls are known to be closed to nature, and believe that everything co-exists in cordial accord. However, they are no longer living in close relationship with the nature they respected and cared for in the past.

**Contents and Sample Pages**