The Tai Khamtis of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh

The Tai Khamtis of Assam and 

Arunachal Pradesh

C.K.Gogoi

J.Borbora

Population:

     There is no clear estimate about the total population of the Khamtis. However, the 1971 and 1981 censuses estimate Khamti population about 10,000 and 16,000 respectively. Some scholars with their own surveys estimate Khamti population to be about 22,000 and they are scattered in 85 villages of which there are 25 villages in Assam and the rest are in Arunachal Pradesh (Gogoi 1996:83-84).

Methods and Materials

     This paper is a part of field work carried out in connection with a broad-based research project on Area Study Programmed covering entire northeast India. Thus, it is the result of intensive field studies conducted in six villages covered are – Barpather, Barkhamti, Gosaibari Sri Bhuyan, Tipling and Deotata Khamti gaon in the district of Lakhimpur, Assam. On the other hand the villages selected from Arunachal Pradesh are Empong (M-Pong), Monsong, Kherem, Choukham and Gunanagar village situated in the Lohit district. Under the Namsai sub-division of Lohit district, these five villages are exclusively inhabitated by Khamti population. The Lakhimpur district of Assam has recorded six Khamti villages as stated above, and they fall under the Narayamput subdivision, about 40 km away from its district headquarters North Lakhimpur.