The youth dormitory is a community living space for the socialization of adolescent boys and girls in socio-cultural, religious, political, art and craft aspects in many tribal societies. It is variously known as Bukumatala in the Trobriand Islands, Kwod among the tribes of Torres Strait Islands, and Calpule in Guatemala at the global level. In India, it is known as Ghotul among the Gonds, Dhumkuria among the Oraons, Dhangarbasa among the Bhuyans, Cavati among the Muthuvar, Moshup among the Adis and Morung among the Nagas. With the acculturation process due to the contact of colonialism, the advancement of Christianity and intensifying globalization, this institutional mechanism has become endangered among the majority of the tribal communities. Those who are having youth dormitories are maintaining symbolically to continue the age-old tradition. The formal educational institutions are reluctant to incorporate their socio-cultural and linguistic needs in their curriculum. With the impact of modern education system, indigenous youth are showing lack of interest and spending less time in their dormitories to imbibe the age-old cultural practices. Under these circumstances, the present study attempts to understand the current status of the traditional dormitory system among the Zeme of the Senapati district in Manipur. Further, it also try to look into the activism of the present generation in protecting their indigenous cultural identity through revival of indigenous institutions as well as through social movements.
