TAMANG TRIBE
INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF THE TAMANG TRIBE
Since the existence of human being on this earth, there might be few group or communities those who have written or established the accounts of their origin, migration remigration till they settle permanently in a particular country or place. There may not be any human being or community or society those who have not migrated to other place or country from their land or country of origin. It is presumed that near about three and half billions passed of human existence on this earth. It is not known yet exactly as where the first human being came into existence. As stated in the universe creation history of Tamang tribe, the human being is the last creation.
According to Tamang legendary history, the creation of living being on this earth occurred of four types such as from the womb, from the egg, from the flower and by the warm. Further, according to this legendary history, the human creation was from a father monkey and mother Goddess Dasin dolma. If we look back to global human history, the human race is found to have migrated from one place or country to another periodically. There are two or more reasons of being so definitely. It may be because of population growth. Secondly, it may be geographical difficulties. Thirdly it may be uncongenial climatic condition and socio- political oppression etc. During such migration some went towards south, some went towards north and some towards north- east. Those who migrated towards north and settled there, they are called Tibetans, Chinese, Mongolians and Russians too. Those who migrated towards south they are called Aryans. Among those race who migrated towards north, Tamang tribe comes under one of the tract.
According to Tamang legendary history booklet ‘ Zikten Tamchhoi’ the origin place of Tamang tribe is said to be Tibet, China and Russia. The ancestors of Tamang tribe found to have settled in different province of Tibet and China. The following are the example of few Tamang sub-casts:
- 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.
First of all, Tamang race had eighteen main sub-casts only. The first ancestor of Tamang race is said to be a God son who had three sons namely Phuntsok, Nima hoisher and Tenzeen. These three sons are said to have born in Tibet. In the long run, the size of their family is said have become larger and there had been insufficiency of food grains. So the chieftain or head of the family went to a king or priest of the country and submitted the hardship faced by them. Then after the king or priest is said have urged the astrologer to determine as where their fate may become delightful. The priest foretells as “ If you want to go out of this land, you may choose to go southern direction. There is a country named ‘ Lo Demozong’ towards the southern direction of land (Tibet). If you go and settle there, prosperity may come to you. The country is really blessed by God. The seed of corn sawn in the morning shall be ripen in the evening and sawn in the evening shall have ripen in the morning. That is the land of fortune for you.
Having been heard of such good news, the Tamang ancestors made their journey prepared. After a painful journey of those days they arrived at ‘ Lo Demozong’ the sacred land where the foot print of Guru Padmashamvawa is engraved. There is a story of peaceful and prosperous livelihood. After many years when the saint Guru Padmasamvawa went to Tibet some time in 700- 800 century A.D. on the invitation of king Thrisung Deochen of Tibet for the construction of famous Buddhist monastery ‘ Sameh Chuklakhang’ at Sameh (Tibet). Having been heard of this news the ancestors thought of sending few of young sons and daughters to participate in the virtuous work of construction from this ‘ Lo Demozong’. Such accounts are found to have narrated in the legendary booklet ‘ Zikten tamchhoi’.
According to this narration Tamang tribe has since several hundred years been here in Sikkim. Hence, Tamang community is termed as one of the indigenous tribe of Sikkim’s soil. It clears that the origin place of Tamang tribe is Tibet. Tamang tribe is understood to have been out from Tibet during different periods and through different passes. If we go back to previous history of mankind and perceive it , none of the human race or society found to have remained plural or mixed. There was his group or society and in the group there were sub-cast definitely.
There was language to exchange the views among them. It was sufficient for that time. At that time it was not necessary to have the knowledge of cast to any one. The cast system found to have come later on. When the mixed society came onto being , only then the cast system is known to have prevailed. The population of Tamang community mentioned in the official document of Sikkim’s first population census of 1891 is in the level of two thousand nine hundred. But in that document Tamang is known by the name ‘ Murmi’ instead of ‘ Tamang’. Because of language , dresses of that time and religion they have opted, they ( now Tamang) were understood to have assimilated with the Bhoti family. Tamang community is still called ‘Bhote’ in many regions and places. There are many bases of assumption that Tamang community passed through the North-Eastern part of India while migrating from the place of origin. May be, they may not be by ‘ Tamang ‘ nomenclature. But their language , religion, custom & tradition and body structure is found to be similar. As per the version of their head, those tribes were known to have descended or migrated from Tibet itself through Brammaputra valley and settled in the plain region of Assam. To-day they have been found to be categorized as tribal in Assam state. Many Tamang community made their shift from Sikkim to other states of India during the past one and half to two hundred years back.
Few points on ‘Tamang’ nomenclature: when there has been development of conscience in human being, then he found himself in the form of social being. He made himself to live in society. When they began a social life, then there seems to have relationship and homogeneity. At that juncture, the language and tone that he spoke was the real tool for the identity. Not so longer than six to seven generation before, there was quite strict social rule of debar to have marriage relation with other cast. Such social rule was in practice in all the communities. So that language, culture and tradition remained safe. When the human being started living in mixed society then the cast system is presumed to have taken its birth. It seems true that no one imposed the cast system by themselves. It is conceived to have existed by virtue of any coincident or conjunction. The birth of caste system seems to have come in existence by virtue of corrupt form of word. In not writing of Tamang nomenclature in the first population census of Sikkim, it cannot match to say that Tamang name was not in existence, but there may surely wording corrupt. There may be surely nonlocal employee in that census. It is understood that there has been mistake or difference in questioning of the person and understanding of the listeners. The term ‘ Mulmi’ in Tamang language or word means chieftain or head of the village. Perhaps ‘Murmi’ is supposed to be the corrupt form of ‘mulmi’.
Now following are the versions of Tamang elders and priest – According to the version of Lt. Sangey Lama of Ahaley Tamang gonpa, it is told that the word ‘ Tamang’ was derived from Tagmhang. This word has come from Tibetan language . The meaning of ‘Tag’ in Tibetan language signifies Godly vision and ‘mhaang’ means many. So that ‘Tag+mhaang = Tagmhaang and the present form ‘Tamang’ is the corrupt or purest form of ‘Tagmhaang’. On this context itself, there is a tale of five great wise personalities in Tamang community whom is called ‘Mheme khe ngaa’ in tamang language . Another Guru (Lama) Lt. Indraman Tamang’s (Dong mheme) version is as follows – A group of people working in the field straying their horses to graze in the Himalayan region are seen by another group coming down from the uphill side saw many horses grazing on the field and said ‘Taa mhaangpore’ which was heard and understood by the working group as if indicating them to be ‘Tamang’. In the conversation made in between the group coming down ‘ Taa mhaangpore’ means there many horses in Tibetan language but there the listeners are said to have understood that they were told to be ‘Tamang’.
POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN
Population and settlement pattern – As per census report (govt. of India) of 2011, the total population of Tamang tribe in Sikkim is 37,696 out of which 19,486 nos. are male and 18,210 nos. are female. Tamang community has made their settlement in all the six districts of Sikkim.
Literary percent – 75% in total (38.67% male and 31.58% female).
Dokothang and Hee-Pechrek.
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.
Syari, Burtuk, Bhusuk, Sichey, Rongay, Bakcha and Sang.
Rangrang and Paksyak.
Padamchey, Bhasme, Samsing, Chhallamthang, Kayung, Dugalakha and Pache.
Singling, Barbotey, Khundurkey, Bhulkepani, Mangsari, Majuwa, Arubote, Sigeng, Angkhu, Takuthang, Chhuchen, Resi, Parsung and kolbung.
FOOD PRODUCTION AND FOOD HABIT
In the past, Tamang tribe used to produce food grains like Millet, fox tail millet(Kaguni in nep. and Tangre in Tamang), dry paddy (ghaiya dhaan), wheat, Bug wheat, Barley, Junelo (nep. kongre in Tamang), Maize and pulses of different varieties like Masyam, Masey, Tamra and Koldey(gahat) etc. Tamang tribe used to prepare beer, Pachway and country liquor as traditional beverages. The beverages are prepared mainly of maize, wheat, millet and barley. Tamang tribe mostly live on corn, fruits and tubers. Meat taking in tamang tribe is very occasional.
TRADITIONAL DRESSES
Tamang tribe has their own traditional dresses like surlung, Khenza, Khenju and Tagi for the male. Hangre, Hanju, Syama/ Dormo, Kerek and Tagi for the female. Along and the chyaap are the male ornaments. Gau, Mharkhari and Nachyo are for the female.
TRADITIONAL DANCES AND MUSIC
Tamang tribe does have their own traditional dances and music. Tamang tribe orates ‘Rhama’ a poem type rhyms during marriage ceremony specially. Tamang tribe performs a slow motion dance as a traditional one during welcoming guests. It is also performed during demanding groom to make sat to conclude a final deliverance by the parents (chyoltaam). The musical instruments used are Damphu and Daden. There are other musical instruments like ‘ Konggaap’ etc. which are played during fancy songs.
FESTIVALS
Tamang tribe celebrates two types of festivals. One is public festival i.e. Sonam Lhochhar and religious festivals such as Sakha dawa, Guru Thungkar, Lhabab duichhen, drukpa chhesi and monthly chhechyu etc.
LANGUAGE AND DIALECT
Tamang tribes have their own language ‘ Taam or gyot’. Tamang tribe speaks different dialects such as khandoke, Paljoke, nhupali and syarphat etc. A slight differences are found in terms of noun and verb. In the field of education and literature, this language has reached up to class twelve. The script that brought in use by Tamang tribe is said to be ‘ Taamyig’. It is developed from ‘ Sambota’ with twenty five consonant and five vowels. Effort is being made to develop further for adjusting variable words. In total, sixty one teachers are working in different govt. schools in the capacity of primary and graduate teachers.
Tamang language is one of the recognized regional language in the state. Since its recognition in the year 1995, this language was introduced for learning and teaching in the schools in the year 2001. Tamang community is headed by its association formed in the year 1961. This association has formed its sub-committee under the name ‘ Tamang Language Development Committee. This committee is entrusted with the task of preparing text books and other literary works. This committee is headed by a secretary and other four members.
Religious beliefs – Tamang community, since long believed in Buddhism. Before adoption of Buddhism, in the long past Tamang tribe was also a nature worshiper. Tamang ancestors were ‘Bonbo’ before seven – eight century A.D. The initial belief of any mankind lays on ‘ Sanatan’ i.e. nature worship. Seven – eight century onwards, all most all Tamang community adopted Mahayan Buddhism which is a little bit mixture of ‘ Bon’ tradition. It was easy access to the Bon culturist. Present day wave of conversion is twisting the Tamang in other easy beliefs. However, majority of Tamang community belongs to Mahayan Buddhism.