Gangte people

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Gangte
Gangte-te
Meitei transliteration of the term "Gangte".jpg
The term "Gangte" written in Manipuri script (Meitei script)
Total population
16,500 (2011 Census) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Northeast India, Bangladesh, Burma
Languages
Gangte language (L1)
Mizo or Meitei language (L2) [2]
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Meitei  · Chin  · Thadou  · Hmar  · Mizo  · Simte  · Vaiphei  · Zou  · Paite

Gangte is an ethnic group residing predominantly in the Indian state of Manipur, as well as in parts of Mizoram, Assam, and Myanmar. Also part of the larger Zo people, and are recognized as a tribe in both Manipur and under the Indian Constitution. [3] As of as of 2018, their global population is estimated to be approximately 40,000. [4] Their primary settlements in India are located in Churachandpur district of Manipur and in neighboring states, including Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam. The Gangtes predominantly use the Meitei language as their second language (L2). [5]

Contents

Naming System

The Gangtes utilize a distinct naming system designed to preserve their history and ancestry, especially given the absence of written historical records. Grandparents name their grandchildren using the last syllable of their own names—e.g., Thangmang leads to Manglun, which becomes Lunkholal, which turns into Lalminlun, etc. Grandfathers name grandsons and grandmothers name granddaughters. The firstborn son and daughter typically are named after the paternal grandparents, while the secondborn children are named after the maternal grandparents. This system is prevalent among many of the Zo peoples.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Tibeto-Burman language of India

Meitei, also known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the constitutionally scheduled official languages of the Indian Republic. Meitei is the most widely-spoken Tibeto-Burman language of India and the third most widely spoken language of northeast India after Assamese and Bengali. There are 1.76 million Meitei native speakers in India according to the 2011 census, 1.52 million of whom are found in the state of Manipur, where they represent the majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as Assam (168,000), Tripura (24,000), Nagaland (9,500), and elsewhere in the country (37,500). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Churachandpur district</span> District in Manipur, India

Churachandpur District, is one of the 16 districts of the Indian state of Manipur populated mainly by Kuki-Zo people. The name honours former Maharaja Sir Churachand Singh of Manipur. The district headquarters is located in the Churachandpur town, which is also locally known by the name Lamka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuki people</span> Ethnic group in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar

The Kuki people, or Kuki-Zo people, are an ethnic group in the Northeastern Indian states of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, as well as the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Kukis form one of the largest hill tribe communities in this region. In Northeast India, they are present in all states except Arunachal Pradesh. The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis. Collectively, they are termed the Zo people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bishnupur district</span> District of Manipur in India

Bishnupur district or Bishenpur district, is a district of Manipur state in northeastern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandel district</span> District of Manipur in India

Chandel district is one of the 16 districts of Manipur state in northeastern India. Its headquarters is the town of Chandel. In December 2016, a part of the district was split to establish the new Tengnoupal district. The district is mainly populated by Kuki-Zo and Old Kuki/Naga tribal people.

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Senapati, is one of the 16 districts of the Indian state of Manipur. The present Senapati district was formed in December 2016, after spawning off the Sadar Hills region in the south into a separate Kangpokpi district. The district headquarter is located in the municipality of Tahamzam.

The Vaiphei people are an ethnic group who live in the North-East India state of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and in the Chin State of Myanmar. They share cultural similarities with other tribes in the region like Mizo, Paite, Thadou, Simte, Hmar, Zou people, Gangte and Kom or Zo.

Thadou, Kuki, or Thado Chin is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Northern Kuki-Chin sub-branch. It is spoken by the Thadou people in Northeast India. The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

Churachandpur, locally known as Lamka is the second largest town in the Indian state of Manipur and the district headquarters of the Churachandpur District. The name "Churachandpur" was transferred from the earlier headquarters of the district at Songpi to the present location, and honours Churachand Singh, former maharaja of the Manipur princely state. The local people reject the name as a colonial imposition and prefer using the native name "Lamka".

The Sukte are one of the clans of Tedim Chins that mainly inhabit the Tedim district in Myanmar, with small numbers in India, in Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam states. They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in Manipur. From 1995, they have been part of the Zomi Re-unification Organisation in Manipur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chothe people</span> Ethnic group

The Chothe people is one of the Naga ethnic group found in the state of Manipur, India. Some historians and anthropologists have erroneously recorded the Chothe as the Purum of India. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe, in accordance with The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 Indian Constitution. They use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

Vaiphei is a Sino-Tibetan language belonging to the Zo-Mizo linguistic subbranch of the Tibeto-Burman group of languages. It is spoken mainly in the Indian state of Manipur and minutely in Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura. The dialect spoken in Manipur exhibits a least partial mutual intelligibility with the other Zo-Mizo dialects of the area including Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Simte, Mizo and Gangte languages.

Gangte is a Sino-Tibetan language of Kuki-Chin linguistic sub branch of Northeastern India. Its speakers primarily live in Manipur and the adjacent areas of Meghalaya and Assam. The language appears to be homogeneous with no known dialectal variation and exhibits at least partial mutual intelligibility with the other Chin-Kuki-Mizo dialects of the area including Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom and Paite languages. The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kharam people</span> Ethnic group in Manipur, India

The Kharam people, also known as the Kharam Naga's, are inhabiting the Northeast Indian state of Manipur. They are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (STs) by India. They use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiru language</span> Southern Naga language of Manipur, India

Chiru is a Kuki-Chin language spoken mostly in Manipur. The Chiru population numbers approximately 8,599. It is an endangered spoken in three districts of Manipur: Senapati, Noney district of Manipur and Cachar district of Assam. Chiru has been recognized as a Scheduled Tribe of Manipur by the government of India since 1956 under "The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, Act No. 63 of 1956" Dated 25 September 1956. The total population of the native speakers of Chiru is only 8599. The native speakers have high proficiency in Meitei language. The language is neither used in schools nor in radio or mass media. Older people read and write in Meitei language. The younger generation of Chiru speakers prefers Roman script.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aimol language</span> Sino-Tibetan language spoken in India

Aimol, also known as Aimual, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Aimol people of Manipur, India. It is considered endangered and has less than 9,000 speakers worldwide as per 2011 census. The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moyon people</span> Naga tribe in India and Myanmar

The Moyon people, also known as Bujuur people or the Moyon Naga, are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group predominantly resides in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur and, some in Sagaing Region in Myanmar. Moyons share similar ancestry with Monsang Nagas, Moyon origins can be traced back to ancient times of Moirang Kingdom, as they were contemporary, the Moyon King "Kuurkam" also known as "Shamshangba Ningthou" by meities is well recorded in Meitei Chronicles. Kungjuur is an important Historical place for the Moyons. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe (STs) by India. They use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiru people</span> Zo ethnic group found in northeast India

Chiru people is a Zo ethnic group that mostly resides in Manipur and some in Assam, India. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe, in accordance with The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 Indian Constitution. They use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamkang people</span> Tibeto-Burman linguistic ethnic group in Manipur

The Lamkang people, also known as the Lamkang Naga, are a Tibeto-Burman linguistic ethnic group predominantly inhabitanting the Northeast Indian state of Manipur, and some parts of Sagaing Region in Myanmar. They are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe (STs) by India. They use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

Meitei language, the sole official language and the lingua franca of Manipur, one of the scheduled languages of India, one of the recognised educational and literary languages of Assam and Tripura states, has its speakers spread across entire India.

References

  1. "A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue . Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. "List of notified Scheduled Tribes" (PDF). Census India. pp. 7–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  4. Distribution of the 100 non-scheduled languages
  5. "Meitei". Ethnologue . Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2023.