Introduction
Mhe Tai Khamtis of the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh
and North Lakhimpur in upper Assam are a branch of the great
Tai' or 'Shan' race of Southeast Asia and trace their origin to
Western China.
T
By Tai people, we mean the Thai, the Lao, the Shan, the Dai
and the Tai. Tai people have preserved in their folk tales and
tradition a sense of common origin, which is evident in their
language and culture. Despite variations in dialect and accents
over the years leading to their divergence, there still is some degree
of mutual understanding among them.
"Tai' first appeared in Chinese history in Shanzi and Honan
as early as BC 2515' and was the only hereditary title of rank
enjoyed by the highest aristo cracy in ancient China. Thus, Tai
means a respectable and independent personage in address,
implying great power and hence political freedom from subjection.
The first kingdom of the Tai in recorded history was the Tsu
Kingdom, which was established between BC 2000 and 1500.
Khamti means 'Land of Gold' (Khamn-gold, Ti-place), the
region being said to be extremely rich in gold. The Tai who settled
in Khamti Long in the fourteenth century at Putao on the bankswin/ LENG
of the Nam Kiu river (Irrawaddy) themselves came to be known from Khamti Long in Northern Myanmar and settled along the They migrated to Assam in the later half of the 18" century
as Khamti.
Later on, they ousted the reigning Ahom Governor known as the 'Sadiya Khuwa Gohain' and usurped his title, reducing the local Assamese to slavery. The Assam Government being too weak to resist, acknowledged the Khamti chief as 'Sadiya Khuwa Gohain
With the annexation of Sadiya to the British colonial administration, the Khamtis migrated to other parts of the North Eastern region in early 1869. According to a treaty signed between the British and the Khamtis, the Khamtis were empowered to rule the areas in the foothills of the Himalayas, east of Kundil Mukh, in return for their allegiance and help to the British in case of
foreign invasion from the Southeast.
The majority of the Khamtis led by their chief Chow Phahom Namsoam, settled near the Tengapani river (Nam soam or sour water) where he built a Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf. The village derived its name from the golden temple and came to be known as Chongkham (Golden temple). The Khamtis are divided into innumerable clans, each clan having its own village and Chowpha (king) and the size of the village depending on the strength of the clan.
They are followers of Theravada Buddhism (Hinayana) and each village has a Chong (temple), a Kongmu (pagoda) and resident monks who double up as teachers, teaching the youth to read and write in the Tai and Pali script. Monks play an important role in the community and are highly respected.
Being a patriarchal society, polygamy was common in the old days especially among the ruling class, but is no longer so. Although a man may have two or more wives, the first wife is always given due respect and importance. Untouchability is unknown, although slavery existed till independence. They are a close-knit society with emphasis on community spirit. TheKhamtis are far more advanced in literature, arts, culture and civilization than most tribes of the Northeast.
They are skilled craftsmen, working in wood, ivory, gold, silver and iron. Antique shields, made of buffalo and rhinoceros hide were ornamented with gold and lac, while the 'nap' and 'pha' (swords) had carved ivory hilts. Women are still experts at weaving and embroidery.
Khamti men once sported long hair tied in a topknot. They carry their machete or mit in its sheath slung across their shoulders. It is always worn in the front so that the hilt is readily grasped in the right hand.
Typical Khamti houses are made of timber or bamboo on raised platforms several feet above the ground, with a notched tree trunk serving as ladder. The roofs are thatched with either palm leaves or straw, while livestock like cows and buffaloes are kept in the stockade below.
Interestingly, rice hats were used in the old days when wars were fought relentlessly and there was danger of being attacked without warning. Khowpuk or rice cakes made of glutinous rice, salt and powdered sesame were fashioned into hats and left to dry. In the event of any emergency, these hats were quickly worn before the person left home. If he had to spend days in the jungle in hiding, he just had to slice off a portion of his hat and eat it either raw or smoked. These innovative hats also came in handy when men set out on elephants, to look for purebred Khamti brides from places as far as Khamti Long and Yunnan in China. Khowpuk is still eaten today but n body makes hats out of them any longer.
Although devout Buddhists, Khamtis by and large are non- vegetarians and enjoy their fish and meat. However, older people voluntarily become vegetarians and retire from household duties, spending most of their time in prayer and meditation. A large part of the average Khamti man's earnings are spent on religious pursuits.
Khamti literature or Lik Tai includes numerous hand writtenmanuscripts on Buddhism, Chyatuie or chronicles, penal code, astrology, the occult, plays etc.
The typical Khamti stories are mostly about kings and queens, princes and princesses, probably due to the fact that their history is all about one kingdom being established when the
previous one crumbled. The stories in this book are a cocktail of folktales, fables and legends. Khamti stories are either written in verse form or orally passed down generations, and it is therefore natural that one story may be told in different ways by different people.
Mhe Tai Khamtis of the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh
and North Lakhimpur in upper Assam are a branch of the great
Tai' or 'Shan' race of Southeast Asia and trace their origin to
Western China.
T
By Tai people, we mean the Thai, the Lao, the Shan, the Dai
and the Tai. Tai people have preserved in their folk tales and
tradition a sense of common origin, which is evident in their
language and culture. Despite variations in dialect and accents
over the years leading to their divergence, there still is some degree
of mutual understanding among them.
"Tai' first appeared in Chinese history in Shanzi and Honan
as early as BC 2515' and was the only hereditary title of rank
enjoyed by the highest aristo cracy in ancient China. Thus, Tai
means a respectable and independent personage in address,
implying great power and hence political freedom from subjection.
The first kingdom of the Tai in recorded history was the Tsu
Kingdom, which was established between BC 2000 and 1500.
Khamti means 'Land of Gold' (Khamn-gold, Ti-place), the
region being said to be extremely rich in gold. The Tai who settled
in Khamti Long in the fourteenth century at Putao on the bankswin/ LENG
of the Nam Kiu river (Irrawaddy) themselves came to be known from Khamti Long in Northern Myanmar and settled along the They migrated to Assam in the later half of the 18" century
as Khamti.
Later on, they ousted the reigning Ahom Governor known as the 'Sadiya Khuwa Gohain' and usurped his title, reducing the local Assamese to slavery. The Assam Government being too weak to resist, acknowledged the Khamti chief as 'Sadiya Khuwa Gohain
With the annexation of Sadiya to the British colonial administration, the Khamtis migrated to other parts of the North Eastern region in early 1869. According to a treaty signed between the British and the Khamtis, the Khamtis were empowered to rule the areas in the foothills of the Himalayas, east of Kundil Mukh, in return for their allegiance and help to the British in case of
foreign invasion from the Southeast.
The majority of the Khamtis led by their chief Chow Phahom Namsoam, settled near the Tengapani river (Nam soam or sour water) where he built a Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf. The village derived its name from the golden temple and came to be known as Chongkham (Golden temple). The Khamtis are divided into innumerable clans, each clan having its own village and Chowpha (king) and the size of the village depending on the strength of the clan.
They are followers of Theravada Buddhism (Hinayana) and each village has a Chong (temple), a Kongmu (pagoda) and resident monks who double up as teachers, teaching the youth to read and write in the Tai and Pali script. Monks play an important role in the community and are highly respected.
Being a patriarchal society, polygamy was common in the old days especially among the ruling class, but is no longer so. Although a man may have two or more wives, the first wife is always given due respect and importance. Untouchability is unknown, although slavery existed till independence. They are a close-knit society with emphasis on community spirit. TheKhamtis are far more advanced in literature, arts, culture and civilization than most tribes of the Northeast.
They are skilled craftsmen, working in wood, ivory, gold, silver and iron. Antique shields, made of buffalo and rhinoceros hide were ornamented with gold and lac, while the 'nap' and 'pha' (swords) had carved ivory hilts. Women are still experts at weaving and embroidery.
Khamti men once sported long hair tied in a topknot. They carry their machete or mit in its sheath slung across their shoulders. It is always worn in the front so that the hilt is readily grasped in the right hand.
Typical Khamti houses are made of timber or bamboo on raised platforms several feet above the ground, with a notched tree trunk serving as ladder. The roofs are thatched with either palm leaves or straw, while livestock like cows and buffaloes are kept in the stockade below.
Interestingly, rice hats were used in the old days when wars were fought relentlessly and there was danger of being attacked without warning. Khowpuk or rice cakes made of glutinous rice, salt and powdered sesame were fashioned into hats and left to dry. In the event of any emergency, these hats were quickly worn before the person left home. If he had to spend days in the jungle in hiding, he just had to slice off a portion of his hat and eat it either raw or smoked. These innovative hats also came in handy when men set out on elephants, to look for purebred Khamti brides from places as far as Khamti Long and Yunnan in China. Khowpuk is still eaten today but n body makes hats out of them any longer.
Although devout Buddhists, Khamtis by and large are non- vegetarians and enjoy their fish and meat. However, older people voluntarily become vegetarians and retire from household duties, spending most of their time in prayer and meditation. A large part of the average Khamti man's earnings are spent on religious pursuits.
Khamti literature or Lik Tai includes numerous hand writtenmanuscripts on Buddhism, Chyatuie or chronicles, penal code, astrology, the occult, plays etc.
The typical Khamti stories are mostly about kings and queens, princes and princesses, probably due to the fact that their history is all about one kingdom being established when the
previous one crumbled. The stories in this book are a cocktail of folktales, fables and legends. Khamti stories are either written in verse form or orally passed down generations, and it is therefore natural that one story may be told in different ways by different people.
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