Arunachal Pradesh is the home land of numerous ethnic groups including Wanchos, inhabiting in the Longding  district, bordering Myanmar and the state of Nagaland. Jhum cultivator Wanchos are carefree, cheerful and hard working people. Wancho settlements are usually found on ridges or spurs of mountains and traditionally ruled by a chief called Wangham. Wood carving, bead necklaces, basketry and tattoo are some of the famous craft practices of Wanchos.
 Kham or Log drum; carved out of huge wood or tree trunk is an exotic example of creativity and craftsmanship of Wancho people. Varying in size as much as 12 meters in length and 3 meter in circumference, log drums are an integral part of Wancho life. The figure of a typical log drum comprises of head, body and tail. Sometimes these are highly decorated with human and animal motifs.
From the selection and collection of wood to the completion, the whole process including observance of rituals in the beginning seems to be very interesting. The task of cutting wood from nearby jungle is performed by the youth of 'Pa' (a social institution) and 'Dao' is the only tool used throughout the process of its making. Bringing of the log drum to village in a ceremonial atmosphere with singing, dancing and shouting seems to be a great festival.  All these days youth of 'Pa' make arrangement of food and drinks for the people involved in dragging of log drum. Once the log is brought to the village expert wood carvers create the drum and engrave traditional motifs on it.  After a small ritual the drum is placed near or inside the 'Pa' for regular use.
In the past, log drums were pounded by a team of men using large wooden beating sticks- 'Kham Thutkia' during village emergencies like giving information about catastrophic fire, approaching of invaders or Tiger near the village or to announce Lauden festival or the death of a 'Pa' member, for signaling clarion calls for village meetings, and during celebrations or welcoming heroes returning from battle. On each different occasion it is played with a particular distinct rhythm and for a particular code message to be deciphered by the villagers.
 This log drum is collected from Senua village of Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh.  It is about 23 ft. long. Its height is 3 feet and circumference is 7-1/2 feet. This masterpiece is beautifully crafted with an image of a jumping Tiger- 'Chah' on one side and hood of the Python- 'Punu' on the other side. Body on both the sides is also engraved with various figures of the Sun, the Moon, Lizard, Crocodile, horn of buffalo and human heads.
Log drums have long been of characteristic and significant importance to the Wanchos, particularly in association with the socio-religious and cultural facets of their village republics. Today after the modernity it is losing its spiritual bearing but the log-drum still stands as an emblem of unity and sacrifice, the embodiment of freedom, a souvenir from the past when life was simple and carefree.
Artists of Wancho who have come here at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya IGRMS Bhopal for construction of traditional Wancho Ham dwelling house brought their Kham a log drum of Wancho from Senua Village Longding District of Arunachal Pradesh which was inaugurated by Director Prof. SK Chaudhuri in presence of people in open air veethi as a part of open air exhibition in the campus on 11th Feb 2016. The programme started with artists came singing and dancing from the tribal habitat area of IGRMS. After reaching the inaugural spot they sang a song locally called kham pai tsai (Kham means log drum, Pai means to lift and tsai means Song), narration of tsai is like this :  They are seeking permission from God through squirrels, birds and insects, they asked squirrels and birds that the tree in which you used to play and take rest, and the fruits you used to eat is being taken away from you for our important purpose, please do not mind, they also asked the insects and birds that the tree in which you used to take rest and the tree in which you sang a song is being taken away for our urgent need please excuse us. At last the artist welcomed the log drum that, you will find a safe place for you we are just about to reach the village.  
After completion of singing the song, Shri Nokkai Wangsaham a resource person brief about the said song and the importance of Kham in the Wancho Society. He said that by seeing the log drum one can say that it is nothing but a piece of roughly curved wood. But it is not like this it is a multifunctional object, the kham is an emergency bell, kham is an announcement during dying of male member(s), for construction of road and bridges, hunting, fishing etc. kham is also played for amusement during Lauden festival playing /beating of log drum without reason is restricted.
To conclude the inaugural function, the artists played all available traditional musical instrument bai, kongkang, mingkham,ooli besides Kham in two different rhythms.

Date: February 12, 2016