Tamang people

The Tamang (རྟ་དམག་; Devanagari: तामाङ; tāmāṅ), are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group of Nepal, Southern Bhutan and North India. In Nepal Tamang/Moormi people constitute 5.6% of the Nepalese population at over 1.3 million in 2001, increasing to 1,539,830 as of the 2011 census.[5] Tamang people are concentrated in the central hilly region of Nepal.[6] Indian Tamangs are found in significant numbers in the state of Sikkim and districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal state. Bhutanese Tamangs are native to various districts in the southern foothills of the Kingdom of Bhutan. Such districts include the Tsirang District, the Dagana District, the Samtse District, the Chukha District, the Sarpang District and the Samdrup Jongkhar District.[7] Tamang language is the fifth most-spoken language in Nepal.[8] Finally Tamang and Murmi Bhate are different.

"Tamang" redirects here. For the language, see Tamang language.
Tamang
Moormi
Tamang woman
Total population
c. 1.7 million
   Nepal 1,539,830 [1]
 India 183,812
West Bengal146,203 (2011) [2]
Sikkim37,609 (2011)[3]
Languages
Tamang, Nepali, Bengali and Hindi
Religion
(majority): Buddhism 87.29%, (minority): Hinduism 8.88%, Christian and others 4.83% Nepal census (2011), [4]
Related ethnic groups
Tibetan people, Bhotiya, Thakali,

Etymology

Tamang may have been derived from the word Tamang, where Ta means "horse" and Mak means "warrior" in Tibetan. However, there are no written documentations of Horse Riders. Some scientific research claims Tamangs having Prehistoric and Genetic roots.[9]

Tamang woman wearing a traditional Shyade cap

History

The Tamangs, who have lived from hills outside the Kathmandu Valley to the southern slope of Langtang, Ganesh, Jugal himal and Rolwaling probably since pre-historic time, have been mentioned in various Nepalese and colonial historical records under a variety of names, such as Bhote, Lama, Murmi, Sain some of which terms erroneously conflate the Tamangs with Uighurs.[10] Meanwhile, the Tibetans called them Rongpa.[11]

Various Gorkha rulers led campaigns against the Indigenous Tamangs, The Gorkha Vamsavali provides details of battles with the Bhotyas of a variety of principalities between 1806 and 1862. In 1739, a ruler named Ghale-Botya attacked Narabhupal Shah as he was marching towards Nuwakot, and Narabhupal Shah also fought several battles against Golma Ghale. In 1762, Prithvi Narayan Shah attacked the Tamangs in Temal, the Tamang cultural heartland. Tamang oral history tells how the local chief, Rinjen Dorje, was killed by the Gorkhas, In the fight time gorkhali forces had hidden their weapons in the sand on the Sunkoshi riverbank. for attacking on tamang forces. Afterwards, later at end of war Gorkhas washed their weapons in springs as Dapcha Kuwapani, and this is why to the modern day tamangs do not drink there. Similar stories appear in oral histories throughout the region.[12]

After the attacking of the Tamang region, their homeland traditional area, known as kipat to the Gorkhas, was granted to Gorkha generals or government officials who had pleased the king in some way, displacing the Tamangs from kipat lands. Previously Tamang landholdings had been divided up by clan. Tamangs also had various forced labour obligations, both in times of peace and war, that differed significantly from other regions of Nepal. One reason is the proximity of the Tamang homeland to the centre of royal administration at Kathmandu.[12]

Tamangs were also involved in the Sino-Nepalese War (1788 to 1792). (Nepali: नेपाल-चीन युद्ध), also known as the Sino-Gorkha war and in Chinese the Campaign of Gorkha (Chinese: 廓爾喀之役).The war was initially fought between Nepalese Gorkhas and Tibetan armies over a trade dispute related to a long-standing problem of low-quality coins manufactured by Nepal for Tibet. It is believed that Tibetans who travelled to Nepal for trade purposes had settled in and around Kathmandu valley.

Political participation

Some ethnographers have drawn a link between Tamang people and ancient Mongol populations who emigrated to the Himalayas.[13] Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Dal, and the more broadly representative Mongol National Organisation (MNO), support self-determination for Tamangs and campaign on an discrimination platform. The MNO opposes conversion of non-Hindus to Hinduism. It currently holds no official parliamentary vote. The Federal Limbuwan State Council (FLSC) also works towards similar goals for self-determination for the Kirati peoples, who co-mingle with Tamangs, citing a reneged treaty with Kathmandu for autonomy.[14] The associated Sanghiya Limbuwan Party has participated in calling a banda during the 2015 Nepal blockade[15] in an attempt to draw attention to their demands.[16] In the 1980s, a militant Gorkhaland movement within India led by the prominent Subhas Ghising was viewed as a security threat due to its activities in and around the strategically significant Siliguri Corridor.[7] Madan Tamang, a Tamang-Indian politician and proponent for Gorkhaland statehood, was assassinated in 2010, with the West Bengal government placing blame on another Gorkhaland political party. The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was created as a compromise to Ghorkaland statehood in India. In Nepal, ethnic tensions between indigenous groups and khas peoples remains an issue. In 2017 Binay Tamang was appointed as the Chairperson of GTA.[17]

Culture

Tamang tradition and culture includes a distinct language, culture, dress and social structure. They have over 100 sub-clans. About 90% of the Tamang are Buddhist.[18] Their language, Tamang, comes from the Tamangic branch of the Tibeto-Burman language family and is closely related to Gurung. They follow the Chinese lunar calendar of the 12-year cycle. Colorful printed Buddhist mantra cloths are put up in various places in villages and towns.[5]

Their typical song and dance style is known as Tamang Selo, and includes songs representing humor, satire, joy and sorrow. It has a brisk movement and rhythmic beat specific to the Tamangs.[7] A distinctive musical instrument is the damphu, a small, round drum covered with goatskin. Traditional Tamang songs are known as Hwai. Sung by Tamang genealogists called Tamba, Hwai songs are ritualistic and hold tremendous importance in Tamang rituals.[19]

People dancing in Sonam Lhosar (Tamang New Year) celebration

Festivals

Sonam Lhosar is the main festival of the Tamangs and is celebrated in the month of Magh (February–March).[20] It is celebrated to welcome the Tamang new year.

Also significant is Buddha Jayanti, a religious festival based on birthday of Gautam Buddha.[9]

Trekking and tourism

Tamang villages are often visited on Nepal's numerous trekking routes, one being labelled Tamang Heritage Trail.[21]

Tamang people in Nepal

The 2011 Nepal census classifies the Tamang people within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.[22] At the time of the Nepal census of 2011, 1.539,830 people (5.8% of the population of Nepal) were Tamang. The frequency of Tamang people by province was as follows:

The frequency of Tamang people was higher than national average (5.8%) in the following districts:[23]

Notable Tamang people

two times mayor in 2074 and 2079 of dhankuta Mr. Chintan Tamang https://g.co/kgs/goWVt4

See also

References
  1. "Demography Population Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
  2. "Population of West Bengal 2011".
  3. "Population of Sikkim 2011".
  4. "Caste ethnicity and religion of Nepal Ministry of Health" (PDF).
  5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Census Nepal 2021". censusnepal.cbs.gov.np. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  7. Sadangi, H. C. (November 2008). Emergent North-East : A Way Forward. ISBN 9788182054370. Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2015-12-23. Emergent North-East : A Way Forward By H. C. Sadangi
  8. "Report on Socio-Economic Status of Tamang–Kavre". Nefin.org.np. Archived from the original on 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  9. "Who actually are the Tamang People? An Insight into Indigenous Tribe of Nepal". Chronicles of ADVENTURE TRAVEL. 2015-01-05. Archived from the original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  10. Tamang, Ganesh (2003). "An Ethnobiological Study of the Tamang People". Our Nature. 1 (1): 37–41. doi:10.3126/on.v1i1.303. ISSN 2091-2781.
  11. Paudel, Dinesh (2021-09-20). "Himalayan BRI: an infrastructural conjuncture and shifting development in Nepal". Area Development and Policy. 7 (1): 1–21. doi:10.1080/23792949.2021.1961592. ISSN 2379-2949. S2CID 239242919.
  12. Gellner, David (2009-09-10). Ethnic Activism and Civil Society in South Asia. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-0422-3.
  13. F. J. Castilla, J. Agulló, J. Castellote (2020). CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPOSALS FOR RECOVERY OF TRADITIONAL TAMANG CONSTRUCTION IN NORTHERN NEPAL. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XLIV. ISSN 2194-9034
  14. Chemjong, Iman Singh (2003). History and Culture of Kirat People (4th ed.). Kathmandu: Kirat Yakthung Chumlung. ISBN 99933-809-1-1.
  15. "Sanghiya Limbuwan Party calls indefinite Eastern Region bandh". The Himalayan Times. 2015-09-04. Archived from the original on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  16. Om Astha Rai. "Look south | As It Happens". Nepali Times. Archived from the original on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  17. "GTA reconstituted, rebel GJM leader Tamang is chairperson". The Hindu. Special Correspondent, Special Correspondent. 2017-09-21. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-02-28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. "National Museum". www.nationalmuseum.gov.np. National Museum. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  19. Himalayan, Cultures. "Oral Traditions of the Tamang People". Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  20. "Sonam Lhosar celebrated | Street Nepal". streetnepal.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  21. Post Report. "The Kathmandu Post :: Tamang Heritage Trail reopens after quake". Kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  22. Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
  23. 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
  24. श्रीराम अर्जुन (January 8, 2019). "सोनाम ल्होछारको अवसरमा तामाङ समुदायका पहिलो मन्त्री सम्मानित". kharibot.com (in Nepali). Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  25. "Melody queen Aruna Lama". Boss Nepal. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  26. Kalakar, Hamro. "Gopal Yonzon Biography | Hamro Kalakar". www.hamrokalakar.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
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