Galo Nyi

adi/abhor/Lhoba or GALO warrior

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.