A Glimpse of Tai Khamti. Early History. By:- Chow Uppa Mansai.
Early History
As early as the 6th century A.D. The Tai Kingdom was established
by two Tai princes namely Khun-Lu and Khun-Lai in the Yun-Nan province
of China called Mung-Ri;Mung-Ram. (or Mung-Hee,-Mung-Ham in Khamptee).
Almost as an off-shoot of the same, the kingdom of Mung-Kong was
also established in Burma in 608 A.D. by Ai-Khun-Long, the eldest son of
Khun-Lai. Mung-Kong, which means Mung-country; Kong-drum, a country
plain like a mouth of drum. Kham-Tyap-Pha, a descendent of Ai-Khun-Long
migrated towards north from Mung-Kong and founded the kingdom of
Moa-Lung or Moa-Pong in the fertile valley of river Cinduin. This
Moa-Long is mentioned as Moa-Pung or Moa-Pung or Moa-Pong in the Shan
and Ahum chronicles and Pong or Pung in the coronicles of old
Monipur.The Ahum, the Khamyang, Phakkey, the Naras, Aitonias and other
Shans where, lived together in Mung-Kong, till the end of 12th century.
Mung-Kong was flourishing till its dismemberment by the Burmese king
Alamphra or Alampaya in 18th century. By the beginning of 13th century,
the Ahum migrated to Assam, through the Pangsau-Pass and the Khamptess
moved northwards to established their own kingdom at Mung-Khamti-Long or
Bor-Khamti i.e. Putao in Burma. (Myanmar). The Khamptee had seven
principalites under different Chiefs. viz, Moungyak, Langno, Langtaw,
Longking, Mannou, Manjekhun and Manci. But, the suzerainty of parent
kingdom, Moun-Kong was accepted.
In the middle of the 18th century, the Khamptees where started facing calamities in Burma. There were internal troubles also. The Bor-Khamptees principalities lost their unit, powers, fueds, murders etc.started. The Burmese emperor Alamphra or Alampaya, means embryo of Buddha, the great monarch, who founded the "Kongboung" dynasty dismembered the kingdom of Mung-Kong and other Shans hagemony in upper Burma by annexing the Tai States one after another and he successfully adopted the principles of divide and rule. Alamphra's four immediate successors like (a) Noudawgy (1760-63), (b) Hsinbyushin (1763-76), (c) Singu (1776-82) and (d) Bodawpaya (1782-1819) all were hostile against Shan rulers of northern Burma. During their reign the Burmese army had penetrated in Siam, Manipur and northern Shan states. At that time, the king of Mung-Kong had to leave his kingdom and took asylum in China. Out of this hostility of Burmese kings, not only a group, but also three other swums of Khamptees, the Naras, Phakials, Khamyangs, the Aitonians and others Shan people also crossed the Patkai ranges and arranged to settle in the vicinity of Sadeeya region. Some of the recorded immigration are as follows....
In the middle of the 18th century, the Khamptees where started facing calamities in Burma. There were internal troubles also. The Bor-Khamptees principalities lost their unit, powers, fueds, murders etc.started. The Burmese emperor Alamphra or Alampaya, means embryo of Buddha, the great monarch, who founded the "Kongboung" dynasty dismembered the kingdom of Mung-Kong and other Shans hagemony in upper Burma by annexing the Tai States one after another and he successfully adopted the principles of divide and rule. Alamphra's four immediate successors like (a) Noudawgy (1760-63), (b) Hsinbyushin (1763-76), (c) Singu (1776-82) and (d) Bodawpaya (1782-1819) all were hostile against Shan rulers of northern Burma. During their reign the Burmese army had penetrated in Siam, Manipur and northern Shan states. At that time, the king of Mung-Kong had to leave his kingdom and took asylum in China. Out of this hostility of Burmese kings, not only a group, but also three other swums of Khamptees, the Naras, Phakials, Khamyangs, the Aitonians and others Shan people also crossed the Patkai ranges and arranged to settle in the vicinity of Sadeeya region. Some of the recorded immigration are as follows....
1751. A.D. = 100 to 200 Khamptees;
1760. A.D. = Phakials, Naras;
1780-94. A.D. = 400 Khamptees and Singphoos.
1835. A.D. = 230 Khamptees
1850. A.D. = 300-400 Khamptees.
1852. A.d. = 300 Khamptees undeer Chaupha Singthi Gohai.
The immigration of Khamptees from their Moung-Khamptee or Putao to
Assam had a different verious by the historians, which were recorded in
summary as that, The Burmese emperor, Alamphra or Alampaya subjugated
the kingdom of Moung-Kong and Moung-Mao-Long or pong by divide and rule
policy and as a consequence, the Chefs of seven principalities of
Moung-Khamptee-Long or Bor-Khamptee, lost their unity, strength as well
and conflicts broke out in between the Long-King Chef and Manci Chief.
Manci Chief killed the Long-King chef and subjugated his country,
brought the Lonking Chief and his three sons namely Phrataka, Chautang
and Long-King, who were kept in prison. In the mean time, the Manci
Chief was assinated by his own son and brought the principality under
his control and released Phrataka, with his two brothers. Under the
circumstances, Phra-Taka, Chautang, and Long-King, left theirs home
land, crossed the Patkai ranges through the Chau-Kang pass and
subsequently arrived to the Ahum Kingdom in 1751 A.D. Phra-Taka, the
eldest brother was very pious, who brought with him an image of lord
Buddha, and the fir-man, i.e" Hee-Hoo Seng" presented by the king of
Mung-Kong.
The fir-man or "Hee-Hoo-Seng" was written in fine Burmese language on palm leaf strips, a proud heirloom, which was preseved till late in the family of, Lt. Chou-Saa-Gohain (Raja) at Bor-Khamptee village Dikrong (Assam). measuring 4.3" in length and 2" in diameter. It is known that the fir-man or the palm leaf strips e.i. Hee-Hoo-Seng was now in Guwahati museum, which was deposited by one of their family member Lt. Chou-Chandra-Gohain, Bor-Khamptee, Narayanpur, Assam.
According to the second version, there was a king or Chief named Chau-Cham-Longking-Kham, in the principality or the Long-King dynasty in Putao. They had matrimonial relationship with the king of Mung-Kong. The Chief of Long-King had two sons. The elder one killed his father to occupy the throne as early as possible. The younger one i.e. Chau-Ngi-Long-King-Kham, considering insecurity of life over there migrated with two hundred Khamptee followers through the Chau-Kang pass and Arrived at Khamong. The present Vijoynagar in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
The third version about the migration of Khamptee to Assam that there was a king in Mung-Khamti-Long or Putao, named Khun-Cham-Lu, who had three sons, the second son cam to Assam, to occupy the country from the Patkai range to the river Subonsiri on the west and from the Mishimee hill to the Brahmaputra and the Burhi-Dihing on the south. As a matters of fact, the region was under the control of Khamptee during the reign of Ahum king Gaurinath Singha in 1780-95. Most probably these three sons were, The king of Ahum, The Khamptee, and the Khamyang. Whatever may be recorded about the migration of Khamptee into Assam, it was also presumed, that the Khamptee migrated to Assam due to long decades of hostility and suppression of the Burmese emperor Alamphra or Alampaya and his four immediate successors.
The Khamptee are not a handsome race. They are of rather darker complexion then other shans and of coarser feature. The Mongolian peculiarities is being more strongly developed in them in their reputed brethren. It may be on this account that Mr. Klaproth suppose them to be of tartar origin. But observed by Wilcox, "if it be so the period of their migration to the Shans province must be very remote"
After settling in Assam, the Khamptee Chiefs frequently marriage Assamese wives and in some families the effect of this mingling is very marked in softening and improving the feature of the generation that follow it.
The fir-man or "Hee-Hoo-Seng" was written in fine Burmese language on palm leaf strips, a proud heirloom, which was preseved till late in the family of, Lt. Chou-Saa-Gohain (Raja) at Bor-Khamptee village Dikrong (Assam). measuring 4.3" in length and 2" in diameter. It is known that the fir-man or the palm leaf strips e.i. Hee-Hoo-Seng was now in Guwahati museum, which was deposited by one of their family member Lt. Chou-Chandra-Gohain, Bor-Khamptee, Narayanpur, Assam.
According to the second version, there was a king or Chief named Chau-Cham-Longking-Kham, in the principality or the Long-King dynasty in Putao. They had matrimonial relationship with the king of Mung-Kong. The Chief of Long-King had two sons. The elder one killed his father to occupy the throne as early as possible. The younger one i.e. Chau-Ngi-Long-King-Kham, considering insecurity of life over there migrated with two hundred Khamptee followers through the Chau-Kang pass and Arrived at Khamong. The present Vijoynagar in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
The third version about the migration of Khamptee to Assam that there was a king in Mung-Khamti-Long or Putao, named Khun-Cham-Lu, who had three sons, the second son cam to Assam, to occupy the country from the Patkai range to the river Subonsiri on the west and from the Mishimee hill to the Brahmaputra and the Burhi-Dihing on the south. As a matters of fact, the region was under the control of Khamptee during the reign of Ahum king Gaurinath Singha in 1780-95. Most probably these three sons were, The king of Ahum, The Khamptee, and the Khamyang. Whatever may be recorded about the migration of Khamptee into Assam, it was also presumed, that the Khamptee migrated to Assam due to long decades of hostility and suppression of the Burmese emperor Alamphra or Alampaya and his four immediate successors.
The Khamptee are not a handsome race. They are of rather darker complexion then other shans and of coarser feature. The Mongolian peculiarities is being more strongly developed in them in their reputed brethren. It may be on this account that Mr. Klaproth suppose them to be of tartar origin. But observed by Wilcox, "if it be so the period of their migration to the Shans province must be very remote"
After settling in Assam, the Khamptee Chiefs frequently marriage Assamese wives and in some families the effect of this mingling is very marked in softening and improving the feature of the generation that follow it.
Arunachal Dy CM Seeks Introduction of Tai Khampti as Third Language
Deputy chief minister Chowna Mein today announced that the shifting
of the office of divisional commissioner East would be completed within a
month, and make it functional from its HQ, Namsai.
Addressing
HoDs and PR leaders here today, Mein directed the district
administration to speed up the finishing task of the mini secretariat
building, to expedite the shifting of office.
He directed the Namsai deputy commissioner to shift his office to the mini secretariat by the end of this month.
The
Dy CM said that the chief engineers’ office of PWD, PHED (Eastern zone)
will also be shifted to Namsai, within a month’s time.
Taking stock of the progress of works under various departments especially on centrally sponsored schemes and chief minister’s flagship programme, Mein called upon the government officers to sincerely work for development of the state. He urged them to ensure transparency in the implementation of all the schemes in the district by making optimum use of information technology to check corruption.
Taking stock of the progress of works under various departments especially on centrally sponsored schemes and chief minister’s flagship programme, Mein called upon the government officers to sincerely work for development of the state. He urged them to ensure transparency in the implementation of all the schemes in the district by making optimum use of information technology to check corruption.
On the grievous
flood situation in the district over the last few days due to incessant
rainfall, Mein asked the DC to identify the places where and major
damaged has been done by the floods. He, however, sought explanation
from the executing department on the flood protection works that has
been carried out last year in some flood-affected places and called for
immediate restoration works in flood-affected areas.
Mein also
sought to introduce the Thai Khampti as third Language in the Khampti
inhabited areas of the district stressing for the preservation of
indigenous culture and language. He also asked the DC to come up with a
holistic approach and plan to arrest the drug menace in the district in
consultation with district police and various social organizations of
the district.
The Dy CM further asked to make the drug de-addiction/rehabilitation centre functional at the earliest.
DC RK Sharma and HoDs highlighted the problems and development projects being undertaken in the district.
Life-Style
Houses of the Tai-Khampti are built on raised floors with thatched
roofs. The roofs are constructed so low that the walls remain concealed.
Wooden planks are used for flooring and the walls are made of bamboo
splices.
The Khamti are settled agriculturists. They use the plough (Thaie)
drawn by a single animal, either an oxen or a buffalo or even an
elephant in olden days.
The Khamti raise crops such as paddy rice (khow), mustard/sesame
seeds (nga) and potato (man- kala). Their staple food is rice, usually
supplemented by vegetables, meat and fish. They also drink a beer made
from rice (low) as a beverage which is not served during festivals. Some
of the well known dishes are khao puk (made out of sticky rice and sesame seeds), khao lam (bamboo rice), paa sa (fresh river fish soup with special herbs), paa som, and nam som among others. Beef is considered taboo.[2]
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