Khamyang
Encyclopedia
Khamyang, also known as Shyam, is a tribal group found primarily in Tinsukia
, Jorhat
and Sivasagar districts of Assam
as well as adjacent parts of Arunachal Pradesh
. They have a population of 35,000, of which only a small minority speak the native Tai
-based language. They are followers of Theravada Buddhism and are closely related to the Khampti.
The Khamyangs, who are popularly known as Noras are a section of the Great Thai or Tai-stock. They had their independent principality in Mungkong up to the end of the 18th century. These people are also popularly known as the Shyams. It may be relevantly noted here that Khamyang is a Tai word. Kham means ‘Gold’ and Yang or Jang means ‘to have’. So etymologically, the term Khamyang stands for the people from the land of Gold.
Linguistically, the Khamyangs belong to a Tai-speaking group and they are Buddhist of Teravada School. At present, however, Tai language is not in use among the Khamyangs of Assam except in a small settlement named Powai Mukh near Margherita
. The rest speak Assamese. But many Tai terms are still retained in their vocabulary. Thus in respect of language and some other cultural traits the Khamyangs are in the process of harmonious assimilation with the local Assamese culture. Their population is around 35,000, but only 200 of them can speak their Tai language and the rest speak Assamese
. They maintain good relations with other Tai-Buddhist tribes of Assam
.
The Tai Khamyangs, after crossing over the Patkai
, got divided in to two groups namely the Mon Nam or Pani (Lao Land Nora). They are called Khamyangs in view of the fact that after their migration from Mungkong they settled at a place having that name. With regard to their migration to Assam, it may be noted that some Noras had accompanied Swargadeo Sukhapha and later on their separate identities were merged with the Ahoms. History bears testimony to the fact that in 1524 Swargadeo Chukungmong married the daughter of the Nora Raja and Nora Raja equally was honoured with an Ahom damsel. It is quite probable that some Noras might have accompanied the princess in 1576. Swargadeo Chukhamfa also married one Nora princess. The princess was accompanied by a Nora prince, a priest and 1000 Nora people. Again during the reign of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha (1751–69), an Ahom officer named Kirti Chandra Barbaruaa brought many Nora people in order to prove his identity of being a real Ahom
. According to Ahom
history, the Khamyangs (Nora) people had a kingdom somewhere on the otherside of the Patkai
range and it was known as Khamjang.
At present, the Nora as a distinct tribe, are found in Disangpani and Cholapather villages of Sibsagar District
, Powaimukh village in Tinsukia
district and near Titabar in Jorhat district
. Many people also live in the urban areas of Duliajan, Dibrugarh
, Sibsagar
and Jorhat
town. There are also a few Khamyang families in Arunachal Pradesh
also, especially in Lohit district
.
Most of them use Shyam as their surnames, which derive from their original home that is Siam (Thailand). Nowadays people use their original surnames like Pangyok, Thaomung, Wailong, Bailong, Tungkhang, Maloy, Kamthoung, Chaohai, Chaolek etc.
Tinsukia
Tinsukia is a city and a municipal board in Tinsukia district, Assam, India.Tinsukia is a business city in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated north east of Guwahati and kilometres away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of...
, Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
and Sivasagar districts of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
as well as adjacent parts of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
. They have a population of 35,000, of which only a small minority speak the native Tai
Tai languages
The Tai or Zhuang–Tai languages are a branch of the Tai–Kadai language family. The Tai languages include the most widely spoken of the Tai–Kadai languages, including standard Thai or Siamese, the national language of Thailand; Lao or Laotian, the national language of Laos; Burma's Shan language;...
-based language. They are followers of Theravada Buddhism and are closely related to the Khampti.
The Khamyangs, who are popularly known as Noras are a section of the Great Thai or Tai-stock. They had their independent principality in Mungkong up to the end of the 18th century. These people are also popularly known as the Shyams. It may be relevantly noted here that Khamyang is a Tai word. Kham means ‘Gold’ and Yang or Jang means ‘to have’. So etymologically, the term Khamyang stands for the people from the land of Gold.
Linguistically, the Khamyangs belong to a Tai-speaking group and they are Buddhist of Teravada School. At present, however, Tai language is not in use among the Khamyangs of Assam except in a small settlement named Powai Mukh near Margherita
Margherita
Margherita is the Italian language word for "daisy", and may refer to:- Places :* Margherita, Assam - a town in Assam, India* The Italian name for Jamaame, a town in Somalia...
. The rest speak Assamese. But many Tai terms are still retained in their vocabulary. Thus in respect of language and some other cultural traits the Khamyangs are in the process of harmonious assimilation with the local Assamese culture. Their population is around 35,000, but only 200 of them can speak their Tai language and the rest speak Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
. They maintain good relations with other Tai-Buddhist tribes of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
.
The Tai Khamyangs, after crossing over the Patkai
Patkai
The Pat-kai meaning to Cut Chicken in Tai Ahom language are the hills on India's North Eastern border with Burma. They were created by the same tectonic processes that resulted in the formation of the Himalayain the Mesozoic . They are not as rugged as the Himalayas and its peaks are much lower...
, got divided in to two groups namely the Mon Nam or Pani (Lao Land Nora). They are called Khamyangs in view of the fact that after their migration from Mungkong they settled at a place having that name. With regard to their migration to Assam, it may be noted that some Noras had accompanied Swargadeo Sukhapha and later on their separate identities were merged with the Ahoms. History bears testimony to the fact that in 1524 Swargadeo Chukungmong married the daughter of the Nora Raja and Nora Raja equally was honoured with an Ahom damsel. It is quite probable that some Noras might have accompanied the princess in 1576. Swargadeo Chukhamfa also married one Nora princess. The princess was accompanied by a Nora prince, a priest and 1000 Nora people. Again during the reign of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha (1751–69), an Ahom officer named Kirti Chandra Barbaruaa brought many Nora people in order to prove his identity of being a real Ahom
Ahom
The Ahoms, who ruled Assam for six centuries are the descendants of ethnic Tai people who accompanied the Tai prince Sukaphaa into Assam. And for this reason people of this community call themselves the Tai-Ahom. Sukaphaa established the Ahom kingdom and the Ahom dynasty ruled and expanded the...
. According to Ahom
Ahom
The Ahoms, who ruled Assam for six centuries are the descendants of ethnic Tai people who accompanied the Tai prince Sukaphaa into Assam. And for this reason people of this community call themselves the Tai-Ahom. Sukaphaa established the Ahom kingdom and the Ahom dynasty ruled and expanded the...
history, the Khamyangs (Nora) people had a kingdom somewhere on the otherside of the Patkai
Patkai
The Pat-kai meaning to Cut Chicken in Tai Ahom language are the hills on India's North Eastern border with Burma. They were created by the same tectonic processes that resulted in the formation of the Himalayain the Mesozoic . They are not as rugged as the Himalayas and its peaks are much lower...
range and it was known as Khamjang.
At present, the Nora as a distinct tribe, are found in Disangpani and Cholapather villages of Sibsagar District
Sibsagar district
Sibsagar district -- also known as Sivasagar -- is one of the 27 districts of Assam state in north-eastern India. Sibsagar city is the administrative headquarters of this district.-History:...
, Powaimukh village in Tinsukia
Tinsukia
Tinsukia is a city and a municipal board in Tinsukia district, Assam, India.Tinsukia is a business city in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated north east of Guwahati and kilometres away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of...
district and near Titabar in Jorhat district
Jorhat district
Jorhat district is one of the twenty-seven districts of Assam state in north-eastern India. Jorhat town is the district headquarters.-History:...
. Many people also live in the urban areas of Duliajan, Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh is the headquarters of Dibrugarh district, Assam, India, and is the second largest city in Assam after Guwahati. It is situated on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, about north-east of Guwahati. It is the gateway to the three tea-producing districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, and Sibsagar...
, Sibsagar
Sibsagar
Sivasagar is a town in the Sibsagar district in the state of Assam in India, about north east of Guwahati....
and Jorhat
Jorhat
Jorhat is a city of Assam in India. Jorhat was established as a new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple of markets . Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihat and Macharhat, lay on the eastern...
town. There are also a few Khamyang families in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
also, especially in Lohit district
Lohit district
Lohit is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The district headquarters are located at Tezu. As of 2011 it is the third most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh , after Papum Pare and Changlang.-Etymology:...
.
Most of them use Shyam as their surnames, which derive from their original home that is Siam (Thailand). Nowadays people use their original surnames like Pangyok, Thaomung, Wailong, Bailong, Tungkhang, Maloy, Kamthoung, Chaohai, Chaolek etc.