List of Naga ethnic groups

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Naga is an umbrella term for several indigenous communities in Northeast India and Upper Burma. The word Naga originated as an exonym. Today, it covers a number of ethnic groups that reside in the Indian states of Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and also in Myanmar.

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Before the arrival of the British, the term "Naga" was used in Assam to refer to certain isolated ethnic groups. The British adopted this term for a number of ethnic groups in the surrounding area, based on loose linguistic and cultural associations. Nagaland became the 16th state on 1 December 1965. S. R. Tohring (2010) lists 66 Naga ethnic groups [1] whereas Kibangwar Jamir (2016) lists 67 ethnic groups. [2] The 1991 Census of India listed 35 Naga groups as Scheduled Tribes: 17 in Nagaland, 15 in Manipur and 3 in Arunachal Pradesh. [3]

List of Naga ethnic groups

Ethnic groupCountryRecognized as Scheduled Tribe by India inPopulation [4] [5] [6] [7] Reference for classification as NagaComments
Anāl India, MyanmarManipur72,509S.R. Tohring, 2010
Angami IndiaNagaland141,732S. R. Tohring, 2010
Ao IndiaNagaland226,625S. R. Tohring, 2010
Chakhesang IndiaNagaland154,874
Chang IndiaNagaland64,226S. R. Tohring, 2010
Chirr IndiaNagaland138S. R. Tohring, 2010
Chiru IndiaManipur8,599S. R. Tohring, 2010
Chothe IndiaManipur3,585S. R. Tohring, 2010
Inpui IndiaManipurS. R. Tohring, 2010
Kharam (also Purum)IndiaManipur1,145S. R. Tohring, 2010
Khiamniungan Myanmar, IndiaNagaland61,647S. R. Tohring, 2010Also known as Nokow (Noko) in Myanmar.
Konyak Myanmar, IndiaNagaland205,458S. R. Tohring, 2010
Lamkang IndiaManipur7,770S. R. Tohring, 2010
Lainong MyanmarSagaing22,617Anui Sainyiu, 2002; S. R. Tohring, 2010Also known as Htangngan
Liangmai IndiaNagaland, ManipurPart of Zeliangrong
Lotha IndiaNagaland173,111S. R. Tohring, 2010
Makury (sometimes spelt Makuri)Myanmar, IndiaS. R. Tohring, 2010Considered part of Yimkhiung in Nagaland, India
Mao (also Ememei)IndiaManipur19,0000S. R. Tohring, 2010Khrasi [8]
Maram IndiaManipur27,524S. R. Tohring, 2010
Maring IndiaManipur26,424S. R. Tohring, 2010
Monsang IndiaManipur2,427S. R. Tohring, 2010
Moyon Myanmar, IndiaManipur2,516S. R. Tohring, 2010Moyon Naga. [9] [10] [11]
Nocte (or Nokte)IndiaArunachal Pradesh34,664S. R. Tohring, 2010Part of Tangshang Naga.
Para MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010
Phom IndiaNagaland52,682S. R. Tohring, 2010
Pochury IndiaNagaland21,948S. R. Tohring, 2010
Poumai IndiaNagaland,

Manipur

127,381S. R. Tohring, 2010
Rengma IndiaAssam, Nagaland62,951S. R. Tohring, 2010
Rongmei IndiaAssam, Manipur170,800S. R. Tohring, 2010Part of Zeliangrong
Sangtam IndiaNagaland74,994S. R. Tohring, 2010
Sümi (or Sema)IndiaNagaland236,313S. R. Tohring, 2010
Tangkhul India, MyanmarManipur178,568
Tangsa (or Tase in language coding name)India, MyanmarArunachal Pradesh15,295S. R. Tohring, 2010Known as Tangshang in Myanmar
Tarao IndiaManipur1,066S. R. Tohring, 2010
Thangal IndiaManipurS. R. Tohring, 2010
Tikhir IndiaNagaland7,537S. R. Tohring, 2010
Tutsa IndiaArunachal PradeshRobin Tribhuwan, 2005 [12] It is a sub-tribe of Tangshang Naga.
Wancho IndiaArunachal Pradesh56,886S. R. Tohring, 2010It is a sub-tribe of Tangshang Naga.
Yimkhiung Myanmar, IndiaNagaland66,972S. R. Tohring, 2010
Zeme IndiaNagaland, Assam & Manipur74,877S.R.TohringPart of Zeliangrong Community

Naga ethnic groups with limited recognition

Ethnic groupCountryStateReference for classification as NagaComments
Khoibu IndiaManipurRomesh Singh, 2006 [13] Also considered as a clan of Maring
Heimi Naga (also Haimi)MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010Limited scope of former name of Tangshang
Pangmi NagaMyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010Limited scope of former name of Tangshang
Muklom Naga IndiaS. R. Tohring, 2010Clan of Tangsa/Tangshang Naga
Rangpang NagaIndiaArunachal PradeshS. R. Tohring, 2010Limited scope of former name of Tangshang
Ollo Naga (Lazu)IndiaArunachal PradeshAlso considered as a clan of Nocte
Koka Naga (Goga)MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010sometimes considered as a clan of Somra Tangkhul
Longphuri Naga MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010Also considered as a clan of Makury
Makyam Naga (Paung Nyuan)MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010Also considered as a clan of Khiamniungan Naga
Tikhak NagaIndia, MyanmarArunachal PradeshS. R. Tohring, 2010Also considered as a clan of Tangsa/Tangshang Naga

Composite ethnic groups or communities

Pakan

Anāl, Maring, Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Khoibu

Tangshang

A combination term, Tang from Tangnyu Vang (Wang) and Shang from Shangnyu Vang (Wang) chieftains, which were formerly known as and includes Heimi (Haimi), Pangmi, Rangpang, Tangsa, Wancho, Nocte, and Tutsa now.

Tenyimi

Angami, Chakhesang, Inpui, Mao, Maram, Pochury, Poumai, Rengma, Thangal, Zeliangrong and Northern villages of Jessami, Soraphung and Chingjaroi (Swemi) in Ukhrul district. [14]

Angami: Chakhro Angami, Northern Angami, Southern Angami, Western Angami

Chakhesang: Chokri, Khezha and formerly Pochury (Southern Sangtam) combined [8]

Shepfomei or Shepoumai (Mao–Poumai): Ememei, Lepaona, Chiliivai and Paomata together [8]

Zeliangrong: Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei

Northern Ukhrul: Villages of Jessami, Soraphung (Krowemi) , Chingjaroi (Asinei) In Northern Ukhrul District

[15]

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Jadonang Malangmei (1905–1931), popularly known as Haipou Jadonang, was a Naga spiritual leader and political activist from Manipur, British India. He established the Heraka religious movement, which was based on the ancestral Naga religion, and declared himself to be the "messiah king" of the Nagas. His movement was widespread in the Zeliangrong territory before the conversion to Christianity. He also espoused the cause of an independent Naga kingdom, which brought him in conflict with the colonial British rulers of India. He was hanged by the British in 1931, and succeeded by his cousin Rani Gaidinliu.

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Lui Ngai Ni is the seed-sowing festival celebrated by the Naga tribes of Manipur India. The festival heralds the season of seed sowing and marks the start of the year for the Nagas and the festival was declared a state holiday since 1988.

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References

  1. S. R. Tohring (2010). Violence and identity in North-east India: Naga-Kuki conflict. Mittal Publications. pp. xv–xvii. ISBN   978-81-8324-344-5.
  2. Jamir, Kibangwar. The Nagas with the three great nations (1st ed.). Dimapur, Nagaland.
  3. U. A. Shimray (2007). Naga population and integration movement. Mittal Publications. pp. 25–33. ISBN   978-81-8324-181-6.
  4. "List of Scheduled Tribes - Nagaland". Census India.
  5. "List of Scheduled Tribes - Manipur". Census India.
  6. "List of Scheduled Tribes - Arunachal". Census India.
  7. "List of Scheduled Tribes - Assam". Census India.
  8. 1 2 3 William Nepuni (2010). Socio-cultural history of Shüpfomei Naga tribe. Mittal Publications. pp. 24–25. ISBN   978-81-8324-307-0.
  9. Sipra Sen (1992). Tribes and Castes of Manipur: Description and Select Bibliography. Mittal Publications. p. 58. ISBN   978-81-7099-310-0.
  10. Folk tales of Moyon-Monsang. Directorate for Development of Tribals and Backward Classes, Manipur. 1982. p. 1.
  11. G. K. Ghosh; Shukla Ghosh (1997). Women of Manipur. APH. p. 54. ISBN   9788170248972.
  12. Robin D. Tribhuwan (1 January 2005). Tribal Housing Issues. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 56–. ISBN   978-81-7141-917-3 . Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  13. M. Romesh Singh (1 January 2006). Tribal Development in 21st Century: An Experience from Manipur. Mittal Publications. p. 60. ISBN   978-81-8324-150-2 . Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  14. "Tenyimi Day message from TPO president". The India Post. 22 February 2012.
  15. G. K. Ghosh; Shukla Ghosh (1997). Women of Manipur (illustrated ed.). APH Publishing. p. 4. ISBN   978-81-7024-897-2.