Tani refers to:
* Abotani (forefather of all Tani clans such as Nyishi, Apatani, Adi, galo,Tagin and others) a tribal group in Arunachal Pradesh, India and also an ethnic minority tribe in Tibet region(china).
NOTE: there is no actual written records for the history and origin of on given topic, but something what is closely related are little known.The said words doesnt reflect that tanis are chinese or indians. tanis are the lost ETHNIC PEOPLE.
C.1200 to c.1800 -Assam valley ruled by Ahoms (Tai speakers from Shan state Burma)
1820s- British colonial rules begin in Assam valley
1839 –first armed conflict between arunachal tribes and colonial government
1873 –Inner line regulation demarcates British rule from tribal authority in the hills.
1874 – Arunachal hills incorporated into province of Assam as “unadministered tracts”.
1897 –first official colonial contact in Apatani valley.
1914 – Mc Mohan line drawn between India and Tibet/China
1935 –Act of India makes Arunachal hills as an excluded area.
1940- Semi-permanent government presence in Apatani Valley.
1947 – India Independence
1948 –Apatanis attack government outpost in the valley.
1954 – NEFA (NORTH EAST FRONTIER AGENCY) established to govern the Arunachal hills.
1962 – Chinese invade NEFA: Indian army arrives and stay.
1963 – part of NEFA given to new state of NAGALAND.
1972 – NEFA ends--- and become a union territory of Indian subcontinent.
1970s – Movements ---…
1987 – Arunachal Pradesh gets its name and statehood under India.
1988 – HINDU temple built in hapoli.
1990 –Christian prevails in arunachal—
2003 Christian church built across Apatani valley.
2004- donyi-polo hall built
2007--
NOTE: I AM TRYING HARD TO COLLECT DATAS... will give it later
The Apatani tribes have no known written records of their history. However, throughout their history, they have operated under a democratic system to govern their society.
The first interaction with Europeans took place in 1897, when British officials stayed in the valley for a brief two-day period. Similar short visits occurred six times between the 1920s and 1930s. In 1944, an anthropologist-administrator established a temporary government outpost, marking the first significant contact the Apatani had with a governmental presence. When a second, permanent outpost was established by the Assam Rifles in 1948 to safeguard the land, the Apatanis launched an attack in response.
The Mishmi People, also known as Deng in Tibet, are an ethnic group primarily consisting of three tribes:
Idu Mishmi (also known as Idu Lhoba)
Digaro Mishmi (referred to as Taraon or Darang Deng)
Miju Mishmi (known as Kaman Deng)
These tribes reside in the northeastern region of central Arunachal Pradesh and South Tibet, specifically in the Upper and Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit, and Anjaw Districts, as well as Medog County. The division into three sub-groups is a result of geographical distribution, but all three groups share a common racial heritage.
The Idu, also recognized as Yidu Lhoba in China and sometimes called Chulikatas in Assam, are predominantly found in the Upper Dibang Valley district and parts of the northern area of Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Taraon, or the Digaru Mishmis, inhabit the hills and foothills between the Digaru and Lohit rivers. Kamans, also known as the Miju Mishmis, reside between the Lohit and Kambang rivers in the foothills, as well as in the Mishmi Hills on both sides of the Lohit river, extending towards the Rima frontiers.
The Idu Mishmis were the first to migrate from Burma, although they had previously been moving from the autonomous regions of Tibet. Following them, the ancestors of the Digaru Mishmis arrived a little over 500 years ago. The Mijus were the last to migrate, coming from the direction of Hakamti-Long in the Kachin country.
The Galos constitute a major tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.
ORIGIN:
The Galos were initially counted as part of the ADI subtribes within the Tani ethnicity. However, historical records suggest that Galos are distinct from the Adis and have a different origin within the Tani ethnics. They have been scattered in the central and east-south regions of Arunachal Pradesh for a long time. Their connection with the Nyingchi Prefecture in Tibet is significant, much like the Lhobas who reside in China.
Galo is considered a sub-dialect within the Sino-Tibetan language family, originating from Central Asia, situated between the Xinjiang area of Uighurs, Tibetans, and Hans (Chinese). While Galo doesn't have direct linguistic relations, the migration pattern appears to be traced back to the Loyu/Xinjiang area in Tibet, China.
Within the Galo community, there are several minor sub-tribes. Pugo and Lare are the majority, while others are less numerous. The Lodu Galos mainly inhabit the northern part of West Siang, along with Karka Galos in the vicinity. The migration of these Galos seems to have originated from the autonomous region of Tibet.
The weaponry and attire of the Galos, such as their swords and long fur coats, exhibit a distinctive Tibetan influence. This suggests that, in some way or another, Galos have a connection with Tibetans and other Mongoloid ethnic groups. It's important to note that Galos are of Mongoloid racial stock.
Next, we have the Pugo-Lare Galos, who constitute the majority among the Galos and inhabit the Lower Siang Valley and extend to the central and slightly northern parts of West Siang. Similar to the Lodu-Karka Galos, the migration pattern of the Pugo-Lare Galos aligns.
According to oral stories, a significant war erupted between the Galos and another tribe. During this conflict, Pugo and Lare, especially those in the northern part, migrated down the Sipu River Valley. On the other hand, Lare who had already migrated from the upper border region confined themselves to the lower part of the Siang. Their settlement extended widely up to the Assam border.
Throughout history, Galo warriors have been highly skilled, although due to modernization, many aspects of their way of life have evolved.
This map has been taken from Mark's post pdf. of galo dictionary
galo old picture-get together
Language
Galo is a Tibeto-Burman language that belongs to the Western Tani branch. Genetically, it is most closely related to languages like Nyishi/Nishi, Tagin, Bokar or Lhoba from Tibet, China, as well as Pailibo/Libo, Ramo, Hills Miri, and Nah. There is some degree of mutual intelligibility between Galo and these languages, although it depends on the specific dialects involved.
Over time, because the Galo and Minyong Adi tribes had a lot of contact and spoke both languages, they influenced each other. Some people mistakenly thought that Galo was just a version of Adi, but that's not true. While some Adi and Galo folks can talk easily, it mostly depends on their personal experiences with the language. When you look at them in their original forms, Adi and Galo are really different. If you know one, it doesn't mean you can understand the other. They come from different parts of the Tani group.
Now, let's talk about the unique naming tradition of the Galos. It's the most special among all the Tani ethnic groups. It's their way of remembering their ancestors who lived a long time ago.
The Adi people, also known as the Bangni-Bokar Lhoba, are a big group living in the Himalayan hills of Nyingchi Prefecture. You can also find them in areas with mild and warm weather in places like East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang, and Dibang Valley. The old term "Abor," which comes from Assamese, is not used anymore and means "uncontrolled."
Some Adi people live in Southern Tibet, a bit north of South Tibet, close to the border with India. The name "Adi" actually means "hill" or "mountain top."
Tribes and organisation
The Adi people live in hill villages, and each village usually keeps to itself. Many people in these villages don't usually leave. They have a chosen leader called a Gaon Burra, which was a title established during the British era. This leader oversees the village council, which also functions as a traditional court known as Kebang.
In the olden days, these councils were made up of all the village elders, and they made decisions in a Dere, which is like a village community house. They would go with whatever most of the elders agreed upon.
Here are some of the tribes within the Adi community:
Shimong tribe
Karko tribe
Milang tribe
Minyong tribe
Padam tribe
Pasi tribe
Ramo tribe
Shimong tribe (mentioned twice, is this intentional?)
A long time ago, even the Galo people were considered part of the Adi tribe. But now, the Galo have become a separate and fully recognized tribe, distinct from the Adi.
Language
The language spoken by this group is also called Adi, which is distantly related to the Chinese and Tibetan languages. It is spoken with minor variations among all the Adi tribes
Religion
Originally, from what I know, Adis and other Tani ethnic groups typically followed Animism. Nowadays, more and more young Adis are becoming Christians. Adis in Tibet, especially the Bokars, have also picked up some aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, influenced by the Tibetans.
However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the traditional faith and a strong desire to reconnect with their indigenous roots among the people. This has gained popularity especially among the youth.
HISTORY BY Jon Pebi Tato
Hello! Today, I want to share a little about the history and facts of the Adi people.
A long time ago, the Adis were known as Abhors, especially during the colonial period and the rule of the Ahom Empires. This term was used to describe them as somewhat barbarous or uncontrolled.
Throughout history, the Adis, especially the Minyong, Milang, and Padam groups, were known for being fierce warriors. The British took many pictures of the Adi/Abhor people from around 1912 to the 1940s. However, it's worth noting that the colonial influence in NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) dates back even before the 1900s. The colonial expeditions began as early as the 18th century, but because there isn't much evidence remaining from that period, it's challenging to trace its history. Back then, photography wasn't as advanced, and it was only after the 1990s, with the work of British men like Christopher Pintey and John Falconer, that we saw significant advancements in photography. This led to expeditions to hill tribes and the documentation of NEFA's ethnic groups.
Now, let's focus on the Abhors/Adis. The British were also involved with other tribes, but for now, I'll stick to discussing the Abhors/Adis. In the 1900s, the British began their expedition into the Adi/Abhor region. In 1905, Noel Williamson, a British servant working as an Assistant Political Officer in Sadiya, had many guides during his expedition, including Tibetans and Abhors themselves who served as guides and porters in the dense jungles and mountain tracks. During these times, there were many conflicts between the British and the tribal communities, including the Apatani incident before 1905.
Officer Noel Williamson gathered valuable information from the local people, learning about a fierce war between the Adis and the British led by Sergeant Major Carter in the 1850s. In 1911, Officer Noel Williamson safely returned from his travels in Upper Siang and reached Kebang village. This marked the first successful attempt by the British to enter that village since Carter's time in the 1850s.
When Williamson arrived in Kebang, the leaders, who were Minyong people from Rima village, described him as a "war minister" to the Adis. They said he was tall, wearing a round cap made of deer skin, with attendants who were equally tall. He had a long fur coat with a Tibetan texture, a moustache, and he held a spear in his left hand while gesturing with his right hand. It was quite an interesting sight!
AT PANGIN VILLAGE
In 1911, Noel Williamson was told to turn back because the area he was heading into was too dangerous. Later that year, when he wasn't even near Kebang, he noticed that his supplies were missing. He accused the Adi porters, who were also his guides, of taking them. The Adis were already very angry with him, but they didn't harm him right then.
There was a big misunderstanding that arose due to Williamson's actions. He sent the Miris (Adi-Padams) who were carrying his supplies back to get more rations and also gave them letters to be sent to the post office along the way. The carriers, however, reportedly showed the official red and black envelopes to the Adis and bragged that there was an order to punish the villagers of Kebang, Rotung, and Rima. The Adi porters who ran away from Williamson's order later told others that Williamson had slapped them and accused them.
During that same year, in 1911, five Adi individuals attacked Noel Williamson. Unfortunately, both political officer Noel Williamson and his partner Dr. Gregoerson lost their lives in this incident.
In the 1850s, during Sergeant Major Carter's period, there was the first Anglo-Adi War. Then in 1911, after the tragic incident involving the murder of Noel Williamson and Dr. Gregoerson, the second Anglo-Adi War took place.
The Anglo-Adi War of 1911 was a significant event. The British responded with a force of nearly 1000 soldiers and military police to apprehend the murderers of Noel Williamson and his companions. This marked a massive and intense conflict between the British colonial forces and the Adi people, making it a memorable chapter in their history. In my opinion, this war was even more deliberate and intense compared to the Anglo-Adi War of the 1850s led by Major Carter.
The Abhors/Adis in Riga Village spot the British officer Major Bower and his troops approaching.
On the 18th of December, the British set up camp at Yambung Village, not too far from Kebang Village. On that day, headmen from Komsing and Riu Village approached the British camp in a friendly manner. They explained to Major Bower that the incident involving Noel Williamson was an innocent act. The British viewed this as a brave move by the Adi people to come and talk to them. This story was reported by a British journalist in Calcutta. It was also mentioned that Major General Bower believed the account given by the Adi headmen.
However, despite this communication, the British still needed to apprehend the culprits. This led to a tragic event where the British army set fire to Kebang Village. Upon learning of the attack, the Adis came down from Rima-Ruksin to try and defend their village, but they were unable to succeed.
PICTURE:DOWN—1/ BURING DOWN OF KEBANG BY THE BRITISH ARMY.
KEBANG VILLAGE ATTACKED
2/ CAPTURED MURDERERS OF NOEL WILLIAMSON AND DR.GREGOERSON(1911)
ADIS WHO KILLED NOEL WILLIAMSON AND DR. GREGOERSON- The picture depicts the captured murderers, who were chained by the British. Matmur Jamoh was among those accused, along with other porters who were involved in the killing of Dr. Gregoerson.
In
the heading above, I provided a brief explanation of Tani Clans. The term
"TANI" holds significant ancestral importance for certain ethnic
tribes in the present time. If we look at it from the perspective of what the
Tani people believe, "tani" means "human". According to the
mythology of the Tani ethnic group, they believe they may have originated from
Abo Tani, where "abo" means "father". Abo Tani is also
considered their primal ancestor with immense supernatural abilities.
Especially in matters of spiritual activities, cultivation, and harvest, Abo
Tani plays a significant role in the folk stories of all the Tani Clans. The
ethnic tribes that fall under the category of Tani Clans include Adi, Galo,
Apatani, Nyishi, Hillsmiri, Tagin, and many others. ORIGIN:
There
are no written records on this matter, but we can observe that the same old
ethnic tribes still exist, though they are scattered here and there. They
continue to follow the same ancient rituals, traditions, and stories of the
past. This continuity is significant, as the saying goes, "The past is the
key to the future." We have the same old people, the same old rituals, and
the same ancient folk songs with deep stories, which help excavate our origins. The
Tani clans, various indigenous tribes, didn't just appear in the plains and
hills of Arunachal Pradesh, India. There is a specific era and period to their
emergence. Today, these same Tani clans are known as Lhobas in Loyu, Tibet, but
their population there is smaller compared to the population in South Loyu
(Arunachal Pradesh, India), which is a region claimed by China.
Some
Tani groups are known as Lhobas in Tibet, China. A few Lhobas know the Tibetan
language. In the past, when there was no writing, the Lhobas kept track of
their history by passing it down through generations and using knot codes to
represent their past. Their literature also has a significant influence on
their Tibetan counterparts. They are known as Bokar in Arunachal Pradesh,
Northeast India, and are found in Pidi and Monigong circles of Arunachal
Pradesh. They trace their origin from a common forefather, Abotani. They follow
the genealogy counting from Abotani as
Nijum-Jumsi-Siki-Kiyor-Yorkar-Kardung-Duram-Ramdung/Ramgu/Ramgo. All Bokar
groups have originated from Ramdung, Ramgo, and Ramgu. Their immediate brothers
are Galo, Ramo, Libo/Pailibo, and Tagin.
In
the early 7th century, the area where the Lhoba (indigenous Tani clans) lived
was under the Tibet kingdom. It is likely that their origin predates this
period. As different civilizations emerged, the tribal groups, who were mostly
nomads (hunters and gatherers) at that time, moved from one place to another -
some along the river, some along the valleys, and others through different
paths. The emerging civilization marked the upcoming days for these ethnic
groups. Since most of the civilization was near rivers, migration followed
suit. It's certain that small groups from the clans must have migrated in
search of a livelihood or food. People migrated to different areas, sometimes
1000 kilometers away, after 100-120 years, evolving into a new era. They might
have reached new places, and settled, and the cycle continued.
This pattern also
held true for their generations. With modified language, culture, and dialects,
it's likely that these changes occurred after a gap of 100-120 years, or
perhaps even within 60 years. As clans separated and started living in
different environments - some in plains and others in hills - their thinking
changed, leading to a chronological and dynamic paradigm shift in the clans.
This process has continued until today, even though the origin remains the
same. Currently, it's not known whether modern-day "Lhoba" peoples
actually inhabited Luoyu at the time of Tibetan conquest, nor whether the
languages spoken by modern-day "Lhoba" peoples are indigenous to this
region. While most Tani tribespeople living in modern-day Arunachal Pradesh
believe in a traditional homeland in or around this region, there is currently
no independent means of verification.
river Yarlung
*The picture which you see is of river Yarlung (china) and now you can aslo see the country boundaries, just see:: and think about the civilization developed there along the river basin and later migration. * One of the oldest civilizations, known as the Yangtze River Valley Civilization in China, reveals the origins and development of various Mongoloid groups. As its tributaries branched out, small settlements began to emerge. This led to a continuous migration along the river basins, ultimately reaching new environments where people had to adapt to different climates, temperatures, and seasonal variations. These differences resulted in cultural shifts and changes in the way ethnic festivals were celebrated in accordance with the seasons.
What I want to emphasize is that due to these adjustments and adaptations over time and space, the culture underwent modifications. Even though these ethnic groups share a common origin, their practices evolved and changed. This includes the way they celebrate, their fashion sense, their weaponry, and yes, even their language underwent specific modifications.
It's worth noting that the migrations we observe today likely began more than 2000 years ago.
LANGUAGE:
The Tani branch predominantly speaks Tibeto-Burman dialects, which belong to the Sino-Tibetan language family. The various tribes under the Tani Clans share similarities in language and culture, to some extent, regardless of their specific locations.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the links provided on your right side. Feel free to explore and verify this information for yourself.
TANI CULTURE
CULTURE :
Culture" means all the stuff that a group of people learn and pass down over time. It includes things like knowledge, beliefs, values, and how they see the world. It's everything they think is important. This knowledge gets collected over many years through what each person learns and what the group learns together.
This includes ideas about how things should be done, what's right or wrong, and what's important in life. It also involves how they think about time, space, and their place in the world. All the physical things they own, like tools or possessions, are part of their culture too. So, culture is like a big treasure chest of knowledge and beliefs that a group of people shares and adds to over time. This happens through what each person learns and what they learn together as a group. It's like a special way of life that's been passed down through the years. Understanding culture helps us analyze things in research and other studies.
