Dimasa Dormitory: Nodrung

[Full title: Communities with Deka-chang (b): Dimasa Dormitory: Nodrung]

The Bachelor dormitory of the Dimasa Kachari is known as the Nodrung. The Nodrung was once extensively prevalent in every Dimasa village of the North Cachar Hills district of Assam. Gradually, the institution has lost its glory and relevance, leading to the disappearance of the Nodrung in villages. Thus, it now exist in some village as a preserved model of the institute. Though Dimasas do not have the girl’s dormitory, some girls collectively live in the house of old or widow woman of the village under the leadership of Matla- hoja and assisted by Matla- fareng.

Unlike the Deka-chang of many tribal communities, the Nodrung is not an elevated structure. Rather, the Nodrung is an architecture erected on ground on an earthen plinth. The gable front Nodrung with a front porch, is a single room architecture, which contains some changs to take rest. It was constructed at a convenient place, usually in the middle of the villages. As mentioned by B.N. Bordoloi, the architecture used to have no enclosing walls or even roof. However, the existing models represent it as an enclosed and roofed structure. The Nodrung is exclusively for the boys and the girls are not allowed into the dormitory as is with the dormitory of other communities of the state.

In front of the Nodrung, there keep a fully round and planned wood log, which is called Kamding / Khamding. The Kamding, which is ordinarily used as a bench in different occasions, serves special function and bears great significance. Thus, it is said that the boys used to stand on the Kamding and its roundedness compelled them to remain cautiously erect and alert every moment so that they do not slip. Simultaneously, the Kamding functioned as a threshold and determinant for the selection and enrolment of the member into the Nodrung. Thus, a boy who can cross it in a stride is regarded as mature enough for the admission in the community.

A chief official called Nagahoja and an assistant called Naga- fareng are selected from among the youth for the smooth functioning of the dormitory. However, a boy is selected as Nagahoja only when his father and mother are alive. Similarly, all the members of the dormitory are to abide by the leader Nagahoja. In the evening the youth of the village gather in the Nodrung, make merriment, and stay there in the night. All the meeting for discussion of social issues are held here and rehearsals of the various performing arts are conducted here for various celebrations in the village. Simultaneously, a guest who belongs to a different caste is accommodated in the Nodrung in the night.

The Nodrung also serves the functions the institution generally performs. Thus, it used to carry out the function of guarding the village from external threats and boys used to remain vigilant equipped with weapons (Hagzer:1974).The institution used to help the village headman (Khunang) in every respect to maintain the law and order in the village. The members also used to extend help to villagers in different work if service is sought while they voluntarily help the deserved one. Simultaneously, it was the centre of training and learning as well as building the feeling of goodwill, cooperation and understanding. The boys learn cultural activities such as dancing, singing and playing musical instrument here in the dormitory while simultaneously, the younger members learn the traditional crafts of the community such as making articles of cane and bamboo. Here, they are physically trained in the art of the hunting and fighting also to become an able member of the society.

The architecture of the Nodrung resembles the architecture of the residential houses. However, the Nodrung possesses an interesting element in its architecture, incorporated out of the belief of supernatural. This is the bell-like element of Khamaothai, which hangs from roof in the left front façade. It is believed that, as perforated ears ward off bad luck, so this element in the architecture. The element resembling an earring, denote a perforation in the architecture and keeps away evil spirits from the house.