Kinship Beyond the Seven Clans

An Interactive Study of Non-Yek Salai Communities in Manipur: Tracing Clan Boundaries, Social Integration, and Dual Kinship Systems. Introduction The social fabric of Manipur is a complex tapestry woven from diverse ethnic, religious, and historical threads. At its core lies the ancient kinship system of the Meitei, organized around seven exogamous clans known as the Yek Salai . This system has historically defined lineage, marriage prohibitions, cosmological rituals, and socio-political hierarchy. However, a true understanding of Manipuri society requires looking beyond this central framework to the communities that, while integral to the state's cultural landscape, are genealogically distinct. This study delves into the social organizations of the Meitei Bamons (Brahmins) and Meitei Pangals (Muslims) , and contrasts them with the parallel clan systems of the Naga and Kuki-Chin-Zo hill tribes, illuminating a nuanced reality of co-existence, institutional hie…