Cho and Mero Kasuang - Session 01, 6 March 2024
Summary
In this interview, Cho Kasuang and Mero Kasuang share the names and identifying features of the Palm varieties they cultivate. The varieties they raise include Matchinyo, Nisa, Beyryong, Matchikhyaik, Makung, Nijvay, Machyong. He outlines which varieties open the leaf sheath and which ones don’t. He shares how to identify differences in the leaves and in the stem as well. The best quality of sago, he says along with his wife, is of Makung and Matchinyo varieties. Beyryong, which has entirely white sago yields a slimy consistency of sago. Misa also results in a very slimy consistency of sago after cooking. All varieties are processed in the same manner. The bulkier varieties take longer to cut for processing. Some varieties like Makung bear fewer suckers and arise from under the ground. On the other hand, Nisa, Beyryong and Matchinyo bear numerous suckers. Matchinyo is the most abundant. He talks about different roles played by men and women in replanting and processing of the Palm. Generally, men tend to the Palm groves and women process sago at the processing station. In earlier times, there was a shortage of rice and people depended on sago very much. Due to this reason, the pressure to keep making sago was very high. At present, however, the availability of rice allows for some time off from processing sago. He shares that when eating rice, it is necessary to be eaten with foraged vegetables. Cho Kasuang also shares that one stem that is long and wide can yield five pieces and thus, one load of sago. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:31) Names and descriptions of the varieties of the Palm raised by the speaker. (00:05:23) Discussion on sago quality and fibre content of the Palm varieties. A brief discussion on relative abundance of the varieties. (00:11:07) Gendered roles in raising the Palm and sago processing steps and methods. (00:13:07) Difficulty of procuring food in the past and prevalence of rice in the present. [00:13:36 to 00:14:12 Restricted access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in]
Dates
- Creation: 6 March 2024
Creator
- Kasuang, Cho (Interviewee, Person)
- Kasuang, Mero (Interviewee, Person)
- Dhingra, Mansi (Interviewer, Person)
Language of Materials
Puroik, Arunachali Hindi
Conditions Governing Access
Access Level 1: Online. See
Conditions Governing Use
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Biography
Cho Kasuang is a young man, likely in his thirties, who lives in Surung Kasuang village with his family. He works as a sawyer and has to travel in this regard. When he’s back in his village, he also spends time raising his Palms, and tending to his livestock. He also takes part in village ceremonies and festivals, where families gather to share work and food together. He shares his knowledge of the Palm varieties he cultivates and the life cycle of the plant. Mero Kasuang is a young woman, likely in her thirties, who lives in Surung Kasuang village with her family. She divides her time between working in her jhum fields, foraging for vegetables, making sago and caring for livestock at home. She also actively participates in the Self-help group like many other women in the village. She shares her knowledge of the different varieties of the Palm and the process of preparing sago.
Partial Extent
16.0 Minutes
Repository Details
Part of the Archives at NCBS Repository
National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Bangalore Karnataka 560065 India
+9180 6717 6010
+9180 6717 6011
archives@ncbs.res.in
