INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF THE TAMANG TRIBE

According to Tamang legendary history, the creation of living beings on this earth occurred from four types: from the womb, from the egg, from the flower, and by warmth. According to this legendary history, human creation was from a father monkey and mother Goddess Dasin Dolma. If we look back at global human history, the human race is found to have migrated from one place or country to another periodically — due to population growth, geographical difficulties, uncongenial climatic conditions, and socio-political oppression. Among those races who migrated towards the north, the Tamang tribe is one.

According to the Tamang legendary history booklet 'Zikten Tamchhoi', the origin place of the Tamang tribe is said to be Tibet, China and Russia. The ancestors of the Tamang tribe are found to have settled in different provinces of Tibet and China. The following are examples of a few Tamang sub-castes and their ancestral origins:

•       Yhonzan ancestor — from Nagpochyagi Gonpo

•       Dumzan ancestor — from Duma province

•       Bomzan ancestor — from Dhagar Ngili

•       Moktan ancestor — from Mugu province

•       Lopchan ancestor — from Syargi Zong

•       Mikchan ancestor — from Changpe province

•       Ghising ancestor — from Shergong province

•       Theengh ancestor — from Boi Yarling Sokar province

•       Ngyasur ancestor — from Sachamgong province

•       Gyabak ancestor — from Gyanag or China

•       Marpa ancestor — from Chita province

•       Zimba ancestor — from Shame province of Tibet

The Tamang race originally had eighteen main sub-castes. The first ancestor of the Tamang race is said to be a God's son who had three sons: Phuntsok, Nima Hoisher and Tenzeen. These three sons are said to have been born in Tibet. In the long run, the size of their family became larger and there was insufficiency of food grains. The king or priest urged an astrologer to determine where their fate may become delightful. The priest foretold that if they go south, they would find a country named 'Lo Demozong' — a land blessed by God — where prosperity would come to them.

Having heard such good news, the Tamang ancestors made their journey. After a painful journey they arrived at 'Lo Demozong' — the sacred land where the footprint of Guru Padmasambhava is engraved. After many years, when Saint Guru Padmasamvawa went to Tibet in around the 700-800 century A.D. on the invitation of King Thrisung Deochen for the construction of the famous Buddhist monastery 'Sameh Chuklakhang', the Tamang ancestors sent some young sons and daughters to participate in this virtuous work of construction from 'Lo Demozong.' Such accounts are narrated in the legendary booklet 'Zikten Tamchhoi'.

According to this narration, the Tamang tribe has been in Sikkim for several hundred years. Hence, the Tamang community is termed as one of the indigenous tribes of Sikkim's soil. The population of Tamang community mentioned in the official document of Sikkim's first population census of 1891 is around two thousand nine hundred; in that document Tamang was known by the name 'Murmi'. The term 'Mulmi' in Tamang language means chieftain or head of the village; 'Murmi' is supposed to be the corrupted form of 'Mulmi'.

Notes on 'Tamang' Nomenclature

According to the version of Lt. Sangey Lama of Ahaley Tamang Gonpa, the word 'Tamang' was derived from 'Tagmhang' — a word from Tibetan language. The meaning of 'Tag' in Tibetan signifies Godly vision and 'mhaang' means many. So Tag+mhaang = Tagmhaang, and the present form 'Tamang' is the corrupted form of 'Tagmhaang'.

Another version from Guru (Lama) Lt. Indraman Tamang (Dong mheme) is that a group of people coming down from uphill saw many horses grazing in the Himalayan region and said 'Taa mhaangpore' — meaning 'there are many horses' in Tibetan language. However, the listening group understood this to be their name 'Tamang.'

POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN

As per the Census report (Government of India) of 2011, the total population of Tamang tribe in Sikkim is 37,696, out of which 19,486 are male and 18,210 are female. Literacy percent is 75% in total (38.67% male and 31.58% female). The Tamang community has made their settlement in all six districts of Sikkim:

•       Gyalshing District: Dokothang and Hee-Pechrek

•       Namchi District: Bumtar, Maniram, Namthang, Kateng, Donok, Lingthing, Kitam, Sorok, Manpur, Melli, Melli Dara, Payung, Turuk, Bokrong, Pasi, Tokal, Palak, Temi Tea Garden, Daring, Assangthang, Salghari, Chisopani, Dong-Denchong and Mamley

•       Gangtok District: Syari, Burtuk, Bhusuk, Sichey, Rongay, Bakcha and Sang

•       Mangan District: Rangrang and Paksyak

•       Pakyong District: Padamchey, Bhasme, Samsing, Chhallamthang, Kayung, Dugalakha and Pache

•       Soreng District: Singling, Barbotey, Khundurkey, Bhulkepani, Mangsari, Majuwa, Arubote, Sigeng, Angkhu, Takuthang, Chhuchen, Resi, Parsung and Kolbung

FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD HABITS

In the past, the Tamang tribe used to produce food grains like millet, fox tail millet (Kaguni in Nepali, Tangre in Tamang), dry paddy (Ghaiya Dhaan), wheat, buckwheat, barley, Junelo (Kongre in Tamang), maize, and pulses of different varieties like Masyam, Masey, Tamra and Koldey (Gahat). The Tamang tribe used to prepare beer, Pachway and country liquor as traditional beverages, prepared mainly from maize, wheat, millet and barley. The Tamang tribe mostly lives on corn, fruits and tubers. Meat consumption in the Tamang tribe is very occasional.

TRADITIONAL DRESSES

The Tamang tribe has their own traditional dresses. For males: Surlung, Khenza, Khenju and Tagi. For females: Hangre, Hanju, Syama/Dormo, Kerek and Tagi.

Traditional ornaments for males include Along and Chyaap. For females: Gau, Mharkhari and Nachyo.

TRADITIONAL DANCES AND MUSIC

The Tamang tribe has their own traditional dances and music. The Tamang tribe orates 'Rhama' — a poem-type rhyme — during marriage ceremonies. The Tamang tribe performs a slow motion dance as a traditional one during welcoming of guests. It is also performed during the demanding of the groom at the conclusion of the final deliverance by the parents (chyoltaam). The musical instruments used are Damphu and Daden. Other musical instruments like 'Konggaap' are played during fancy songs.

FESTIVALS

The Tamang tribe celebrates two types of festivals:

•       Public festival: Sonam Lhochhar (Tamang New Year)

•       Religious festivals: Sakha Dawa, Guru Thungkar, Lhabab Duichhen, Drukpa Chhesi and monthly Chhechyu

LANGUAGE AND DIALECT

The Tamang tribe has their own language called 'Taam' or 'Gyot'. The Tamang tribe speaks different dialects such as Khandoke, Paljoke, Nhupali and Syarphat. Slight differences are found in terms of nouns and verbs. In the field of education and literature, this language has reached up to class twelve.

The script used by the Tamang tribe is called 'Taamyig', developed from 'Sambota' with twenty-five consonants and five vowels. In total, sixty-one teachers are working in different government schools as primary and graduate teachers.

Tamang language is one of the recognized regional languages in the state. Since its recognition in 1995, this language was introduced for learning and teaching in schools in 2001. The Tamang community association was formed in 1961, and has formed a sub-committee called the 'Tamang Language Development Committee', entrusted with the task of preparing textbooks and other literary works.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

The Tamang community has long believed in Buddhism. Before the adoption of Buddhism, in the distant past the Tamang tribe was also a nature worshipper. Tamang ancestors were 'Bonbo' before the 7th-8th century A.D. The initial belief of any mankind lays in 'Sanatan' — nature worship. From the 7th-8th century onwards, almost all the Tamang community adopted Mahayana Buddhism, which is a blend of the 'Bon' tradition. The present day wave of conversion is drawing some Tamang toward other beliefs. However, the majority of the Tamang community belongs to Mahayana Buddhism.