Here is my little effort to bring into light the Khamti community and their cultural heritage.. Albeit , this description is not exhaustive, but an indicative one..
Khamti is a sub-group of Shan people found in the Shagaing division. They are Buddhist people living in a dispersed manner in arround sixteen villages in Arunachal Pradesh (Chaukam, Kherm, Impang, Ningo, Nanam, Inten, Nathow, Mamoung and Maham) and North Lakhimpur Sub-division of Lakhimpur district of Assam (Bor-Khamti, Deotola, Tunijan, Sri-bhuyan, Borpothar and Tipling). As of 1990, their total population was estimated to be around 70,000, but in 2000 it was recalculated to be only 13,100.
The Khamti, which is a part of the great Shan caused the dismemberment race, migrated to Assam only in the second half of 18th century from Burma (now Myanmar). It happened when Alomphra, then King of Burma of the Shan Empire of Pong which had touched its extent to Tipperah, Yunan and Siam and had the city called Morang as their capital. The Shan are believed to have originally their home in West China. Sukemphaa (777 A.D.) is said to have led his military expedition as far as to Brahmaputra Valley of Assam. The first batch of Khamtis which left Bor-Khamti or Manche in upper Burma had made their first settlement near Tengapani or Teng river, South of Sadiya, with the sanction from the local ruling authorities.
In May 1835, there was a fresh immigration of 230 Khamtis. They rebelled against the British in 1839 and succeed surprising the British garrison at Sadiya by killing Colonel Adam White. However, they were eventually defeated and got scattered throughout. In the next year, many Khamtis returned to Bor-Khamti and those who stayed divided themselves into four groups and started their settlement in different parts of Lakhimpur district- Chunpora, Saikhuwaghat, Dhemaji and Dikrong (Narayanpur).
The Khamti village in Narayanpur area came into the present location in 1843, when after 1839 rebellion, 500 people were paroled out by British in a steam ship down the Brahmaputra.
DISTRIBUTION IN NARAYANPUR AREA
Though the Khamti people migrated to this area as a group, but with time, they got distributed along various places of Narayanpur. The cluster wise distribution are- Bor-Khamti-300, Sri-bhuyan- 210, Gosaibari- 100, Borpothar-190, Deotola- 20, Tipling- 14 and Tunijan- 17.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Khamtis are darker in complexion than the other Shan communities. They are characterized by short stature, a bigger head and flat nose. They have coarse features in their appearance and Mongolian characteristics and peculiarities are more strongly developed than their reputed brethren. The people are of short height and normally shorter then the Tai (Ahom) people.
But their appearance is also changing with time due to cross linkage with other communities. According to Dalton, the gradual softness came to their appearance as they used to marry girls from other communities including the Assamese.
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| Geographical Location- Narayanpur |
The Khamti, which is a part of the great Shan caused the dismemberment race, migrated to Assam only in the second half of 18th century from Burma (now Myanmar). It happened when Alomphra, then King of Burma of the Shan Empire of Pong which had touched its extent to Tipperah, Yunan and Siam and had the city called Morang as their capital. The Shan are believed to have originally their home in West China. Sukemphaa (777 A.D.) is said to have led his military expedition as far as to Brahmaputra Valley of Assam. The first batch of Khamtis which left Bor-Khamti or Manche in upper Burma had made their first settlement near Tengapani or Teng river, South of Sadiya, with the sanction from the local ruling authorities.
In May 1835, there was a fresh immigration of 230 Khamtis. They rebelled against the British in 1839 and succeed surprising the British garrison at Sadiya by killing Colonel Adam White. However, they were eventually defeated and got scattered throughout. In the next year, many Khamtis returned to Bor-Khamti and those who stayed divided themselves into four groups and started their settlement in different parts of Lakhimpur district- Chunpora, Saikhuwaghat, Dhemaji and Dikrong (Narayanpur).
The Khamti village in Narayanpur area came into the present location in 1843, when after 1839 rebellion, 500 people were paroled out by British in a steam ship down the Brahmaputra.
DISTRIBUTION IN NARAYANPUR AREA
Though the Khamti people migrated to this area as a group, but with time, they got distributed along various places of Narayanpur. The cluster wise distribution are- Bor-Khamti-300, Sri-bhuyan- 210, Gosaibari- 100, Borpothar-190, Deotola- 20, Tipling- 14 and Tunijan- 17.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
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| A Khamti couple |
But their appearance is also changing with time due to cross linkage with other communities. According to Dalton, the gradual softness came to their appearance as they used to marry girls from other communities including the Assamese.
