Singpho
Singpho, one of the powerful tribes living in
plains and hills of Assam has the glorious story to tell about their
deep-rooted eco-social and cultural aspects in greater Assamese national
life.
The Singhpho are a hilly tribe of Mongoloid origin. Though their site of preoccupation is not known, the story goes that their abode was in the hills Singra-Boom in Tibet and from there formed several groups. Out of these groups, one went to China, one to Burma (now Myanmar), and the rest came over to India and settled in the hilly region, It is to be noted that the Singpho in China are known as Singpho
The Singhpho are a hilly tribe of Mongoloid origin. Though their site of preoccupation is not known, the story goes that their abode was in the hills Singra-Boom in Tibet and from there formed several groups. Out of these groups, one went to China, one to Burma (now Myanmar), and the rest came over to India and settled in the hilly region, It is to be noted that the Singpho in China are known as Singpho
The Singpho have no written history of their own. As such their
life history more or less depend upon legends. As the saying goes, their
settlement in Burma was in the Hookang valley extended up to Patkai
Hills. Due to the atrocities by the Burmese upon them or blooming of
Bamboo flowers and subsequent famine, the Singpho entered into the
eastern part of India, presently known as Dihing Patkai region.
During the first three decades in the 19th century, the continuous invasion of the Manns particularly in the conflict of the Sadiya Saikhowa battle most of the Singpho returned to their original home land Burma and few of them stayed back in the Patkai-foot hills.
After Indian Independence, the geographical location of the Singpho got divided and as a result a section of Singpho settled in the Lohit and Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and the rest stayed in the foot hills of the Patkai range, the region covering Bisagaon, Inthem, Ketong, Khatanpani, Kotha, Ulup, Hassaek village.etc, in the Margherita Sub Division under Tinisukia District.
During the first three decades in the 19th century, the continuous invasion of the Manns particularly in the conflict of the Sadiya Saikhowa battle most of the Singpho returned to their original home land Burma and few of them stayed back in the Patkai-foot hills.
After Indian Independence, the geographical location of the Singpho got divided and as a result a section of Singpho settled in the Lohit and Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh and the rest stayed in the foot hills of the Patkai range, the region covering Bisagaon, Inthem, Ketong, Khatanpani, Kotha, Ulup, Hassaek village.etc, in the Margherita Sub Division under Tinisukia District.
Socio-economic life of the Singphos.
The
Singphos are divided into a number of clans or groups, each under a
chief. Their clan organization is based on lineage or sub-lineage
groups. Like other tribes of Assam, the Singhpho are also fond of living
in Chang Ghar in the vicinity of forest nearing rivers and streams,
having long sheds, sometimes running to 80' to 100' feet in length and
20' broad with several apartments. These houses are built with bamboo,
wooden planks and posts and the roof are thatched with Takaw leaves.
Physically they represent most of the Mongolian traits. They have
oblique eyes, their cheek bones are high. The complexion is tawny yellow
to dark brown. The Singpho men tie their long hair in a large knot on
the crown of the head. The married Women tie their long hair in a large
knot on the crown of the head and it is secured by silver-chains and
tussels. They wear ornaments of enameled beads, etc. Married women are
tattooed on both legs from the ankle to the knee. The men tattoo their
limbs slightly.
Dresses & Ornament ....
The
traditional dress of the Singpho also bears significance. The woman
folk wears Bukang (Mekhela)The breast being covered with Nungwat or
methoni and the waist is tied with Chinket like Riha. The head being
covered with coloured turban called Bum-Bam. Like woman the men
also have their specific dresses. They wear Lasababu-Bupa or
Baka(Lungi). The Turban is worn in a special technique. They bear
Empheng a a side bag hanging from the shoulder and a sheathed dao (a
long Knife) on the other shoulder. All the people wear home woven.
clothes. Menfolk don't wear any ornament. On the other hand the woman
wear "Khaichi (Necklace), Pat Lakan or Jangphal Keru (ear rings) and
Silver Lakchawp as finger ring. The head of the Royal family sets tiger
teeth on the Sheaths of the Dao.
Rice
Beer, or Beer made from fermented boiled roots is not merely a
favourite drink of The Singhpho, but also a sacred libation for the
spirits.
Tea & the Singhph
It
is a well known fact that Retd. Major of Marhatta Regiment of the East
India Company, Robert Bruce came to know about the existence of tea in
Assam from Singpho King Bisa Gam.The Singphos have known and drunk tea
long before the Englishmen discovered it. Robert Alexander Bruce who is
credited with discovery of tea, was given a concoction of Liquor by the
Singpho chief Bishagam. He developed immense curiosity for the potential
of the liquor and began working for it and thus was discovered tea. As
the story goes, on refusal to pay royalty the followers of the Bishagam
chopped off the tea bushes cultivated by the British & it was later
discovered that after chopping of the hedges, tea leaves was better in
their quality. The garden Beesakopic thus evolved from the word
Besaikubua (Chopped by the Beesha) Is not it time we put the historical
fact in its right perspective?
Marriage...
The
Principal feature of the marital organization of the Singpho is the
clan exogamy, that is no person may marry in his or her own clan. The
study of the Singhpho marriages indicates that each clan normally
prefers to confine its marital alliances to certain clans only. Cross
Cousin
Marriage or marrying of one's own mother's brother's daughter is admissible. Thus it happens that once an individual has married a girl from a certain clan, it becomes customary for his successors to obtain their wives from the natal linage of his wife.
Marriage or marrying of one's own mother's brother's daughter is admissible. Thus it happens that once an individual has married a girl from a certain clan, it becomes customary for his successors to obtain their wives from the natal linage of his wife.
Religion, Faith & Belief of the Singphos.
The Singphos are Buddhist by religion. The most important
spirits to whom they offer sacrifice are the Mu Nat (the spirit above),
Ga Nat (spirit below), and the household Nat or Penate. If a man is
injured in fighting, Palan Nat is invoked and in case of bleeding, Shama
Nat is invoked. For a woman in childbed, Chisan Nat is invoked. The God
of the sky is Ningshie Nat whose propitiation brings rain or sunshine.
The spirits are appeased by sacrificing fowls, pigs and dogs. Buffaloes
are sacrificed before undertaking any expedition.
According to their mythology they enjoyed immortality and unsullied happiness in the land of their origin; fall from grace resulted from the original sin of having bathed in forbidden water. On coming down to the plains, they have become mortal, and fallen from their pristine belief in one Supreme Being.
The Singpho bear the faith that after the creation of the Sun and the Moon by Mathun Mathai (the Creator of this Universe) the earth bloomed up flowers and fruits became a pasture ground for all creatures.
According to their mythology they enjoyed immortality and unsullied happiness in the land of their origin; fall from grace resulted from the original sin of having bathed in forbidden water. On coming down to the plains, they have become mortal, and fallen from their pristine belief in one Supreme Being.
The Singpho bear the faith that after the creation of the Sun and the Moon by Mathun Mathai (the Creator of this Universe) the earth bloomed up flowers and fruits became a pasture ground for all creatures.
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