List of Naga ethnic groups explained

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.

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
AnālIndia, MyanmarManipur72,509S.R. Tohring, 2010
AngamiIndiaNagaland141,732S. R. Tohring, 2010
AoIndiaNagaland226,625S. R. Tohring, 2010
ChakhesangIndiaNagaland154,874
ChangIndiaNagaland64,226S. R. Tohring, 2010
ChirrIndiaNagaland138S. R. Tohring, 2010
ChiruIndiaManipur8,599S. R. Tohring, 2010
ChotheIndiaManipur3,585S. R. Tohring, 2010
IndiaManipurS. R. Tohring, 2010
Kharam (also Purum)IndiaManipur1,145S. R. Tohring, 2010
KhiamniunganMyanmar, IndiaNagaland61,647S. R. Tohring, 2010Also known as Nokow (Noko) in Myanmar.
KonyakMyanmar, IndiaNagaland205,458S. R. Tohring, 2010
IndiaManipur7,770S. R. Tohring, 2010
LainongMyanmarSagaing22,617Anui Sainyiu, 2002; S. R. Tohring, 2010Also known as Htangngan
LiangmaiIndiaNagaland, ManipurPart of Zeliangrong
LothaIndiaNagaland173,111S. 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, 2010Together with [Ekhramei|Khrasi<ref name="WilliamNepuni_2010"/> |- |[[Maram Naga people|Maram]]| India| Manipur| 27,524| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Maring | India| Manipur| 26,424| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Monsang | India| Manipur| 2,427| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Moyon| Myanmar, India | Manipur| 2,516| S. R. Tohring, 2010| Moyon Naga.[8] [9] [10] |-| Nocte (or Nokte)| India| Arunachal Pradesh| 34,664| S. R. Tohring, 2010| Part of Tangshang Naga.|-| Para| Myanmar||| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Phom| India| Nagaland| 52,682| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Pochury| India| Nagaland| 21,948| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Poumai| India|Nagaland,Manipur| 127,381| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Rengma| India| Assam, Nagaland| 62,951| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Rongmei | India| Assam, Manipur| 170,800| S. R. Tohring, 2010| Part of Zeliangrong|-| Sangtam| India| Nagaland| 74,994| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Sümi (or Sema)| India| Nagaland| 236,313| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Tangkhul| India, Myanmar| Manipur| 178,568|| |-| Tangsa (or Tase in language coding name)| India, Myanmar| Arunachal Pradesh| 15,295| S. R. Tohring, 2010| Known as Tangshang in Myanmar|-| Tarao| India| Manipur| 1,066|S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Thangal| India |Manipur|| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-|Tikhir| India| Nagaland| 7,537| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Tutsa| India| Arunachal Pradesh|| Robin Tribhuwan, 2005[11] |It is a sub-tribe of Tangshang Naga.|-| Wancho| India| Arunachal Pradesh| 56,886| S. R. Tohring, 2010|| It is a sub-tribe of Tangshang Naga.|-| Yimkhiung| Myanmar, India| Nagaland| 66,972| S. R. Tohring, 2010||-| Zeme| India| Nagaland, Assam & Manipur| 74,877| S.R.Tohring| Part of Zeliangrong Community|}

Naga ethnic groups with limited recognition

Ethnic groupCountryStateReference for classification as NagaComments
KhoibuIndiaManipurRomesh Singh, 2006[12] Also considered as a clan of Maring
Heimi Naga (also Haimi)MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010Limited scope of former name of Tangshang
Pangmi Naga MyanmarS. R. Tohring, 2010Limited scope of former name of Tangshang
Muklom NagaIndiaS. 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 NagaMyanmarS. 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.[13]

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

Chakhesang: Chokri, Khezha and formerly Pochury (Southern Sangtam) combined[14]

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

Zeliangrong: Zeme, Liangmai and Rongmei

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

[15]

References

Notes and References

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

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