Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh, India
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The Nocte Digest

Genesis

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As per the Ahom Chronicles, the Nocte tribe have been living in Tirap since the beginning of 12th Century AD. The Nocte tribe migrated from at least five places of Myanmar, and speak four dialects.

Terminology

The term Nocte/Nokte, was coined in the 1950s. It has been derived from two words: Nok, which means village, and Tey, which means people. In the medieval and pre-colonial period, the Nocte tribe was called Noga or Naga, because of the tribe's close ethnic relation with the Naga tribes of Nagaland. As per the location of the village, the Ahoms called the Noctes as Namsangya or Namsangia, Borduaria or Bor Duris and Paniduaria. The native name of the above villages are Hakhunthin or Thinnyan, Sahla and Longchang, respectively. Read about the History of the Nocte term.

Homeland

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Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh

Formally known as Tirap Frontier Tract, the Nocte tribe is concentrated in the southernmost part of Arunachal Pradesh, Tirap District. The district measures approximately 2362 square kilometres, surrounded by unique picturesque hills. It lies between the latitudes 26º 38’ N and 27º 47’ N and the longitudes 96º 16’ E and 95º 40’ E. 


The district's name has been derived from the River Tirap, which originates from a high peak in Laju Circle. The river flows from the southeast to the northeast part of the district and then crossing over to Changlang district and finally joins into the Buri-Dihing river near Ledo of Assam. It shares a state border with Nagaland and Assam, an international border with Myanmar and a district border with Changlang and Longding Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Changlang bifurcated from Tirap in 1987, and Longding in 2012.

Pontuan, Assam

In 1814, under the lead of Lowang and Mongwang families of Namsang, a small group of Noctes belonging to various villages came down from the hills and settled on the banks of Dihing River at Jeypore in Naharkatia (Assam), which is about 30 kilometres away from the tribe’s mainland. This Nocte village in Assam is called Pontuan. As of 2020, there are around 38 houses in Pontuan village with a population of not more than 200. Read more on Pontuan Noctes. 

Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh

A considerable number of Nocte families reside in Rajanagar area of Changlang district.

Ancestors

Wang Hang

Wang Hang, was the name of the chief who led the migration of the Nocte group from Hukong in Myanmar. He is the ancestor of the ruling families of Borduria, Namsang and Laptang villages. In some texts, he is mentioned as Khunbao. Khunbao is actually a Tai word which is used to signify a person of a royal blood and given the fact that the Noctes were Buddhist in Myanmar, the name should not sound alien. Wang Hang had two sons Khunlang and Khunlai. They were succeeded by Tangthok and Tankam. 

Dambang Kakon

Another group of Noctes migrated from Hakhi Haja in Myanmar under the lead of Dambang Kakon . He is the ancestor of the ruling family of Dadam village.

Naisan

Naisan led another group from Wakka area of Longding district. He is the ancestor of the ruling family of Lapnan and Luthong villages.

Migration routes

Hukong

The group led by Wang Hang migrated from Hukong Valley in Myanmar. They came via Pongsau Pass and down to Jeypore in Assam, along the Dihing river. Then they came up the hill and settled near the present Laptang village. They followed Buddhism in Myanmar. Golden umbrellas, stone tablets and wood bark writings in Bali or Pali language, were found in the possession of Wang Hang's descendants, as a testimony of their origin. 

Hakhi Haja

Dambang Kakon and his group migrated from a place called Hakhi Haja, under Patkai Hill range, in Myanmar and settled in present Dadam village. On their way, they stayed in the Laju circle, home of Ollo and Tutsa tribes, for three days and three nights.

Dadam was originally inhabited by the Wakka Wanchos. To clear them away, Kakon invited Kamhua Wanchos and then settled down together. For this reason, Dadam have two chiefs, representing two different groups - one, the group of Kakon, and two, the group of Kamhua. However, Kamhua group speaks the Nocte language.

Ofanu

Under the lead of Naisan, a group of eighty families migrated from a place called Ofan nu, from Myanmar. Then they migrated to Wakka village of Longding district. After that, they moved to Kam Sinjong near present Kheti village. The people of Kheti frequently attacked them, and thus, they migrated to Luthong or Lothung. When their population increased, Lapnan village was formed.

Mankong

The forefathers of Doidam village migrated from a place called Mankong in Myanmar and came to the Patkai Hills via Soro and Tilang. Crossing the hills, they came to Changlang district. From there, they went to Fanglim. Then they moved to Tutnu, Wakka, Tilang etc., and finally to Doidam. The main cause of their migration was to find suitable land for cultivation. At Tilang, they were divided into two groups - one settled in Doidam, and the other went to Changlang.

Ngeimung

In search of suitable land for cultivation, the forefathers of Soha village abandoned their homeland called Ngeimung in Myanmar. Crossing the Patkai Hills, they came to a place called Thungja and then to Phungsa. Both these places are on the bank of Barap river in Laju circle. From Phungsa, they crossed a Langtok Hill and briefly stayed in Longcho. Then they came to Moinak, and finally to present day Soha village.

Dialects

The Nocte language falls within the Tibeto-Burman language family. There are four main dialects in the Nocte language, and they are:

Hawa

The migratory groups from Hukong and Hakhi Haja speak the Hawa dialect. There are many villages who speak the Hawa dialect, and some of them are Bera, Borduria, Chinkoi, Dadam, Namsang, Hunkan, Kaimai, Kheti, Kuthin, Laho, Laptang, Moktowa, Sipini, Sumsi, Khunchha, Wasathong etc.


Hawa dialect has been given the code ISO 639:3:njb Naga, Nocte. As per renowned anthropologist and linguist, Robbins Burling, the Nocte language can be categorized together with Bodo-Garo, Koch, Konyak and Jingphaw languages into the Sal subgroup of Tibeto Burman language family. 


Know more about the Hawa dialect from Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal (1849) and Verbal Agreement and Grammatical Description of Hawa (2016).

Khappa

Khappa dialect is rich in terms of vocabulary and grammar. It is spoken in only three villages, namely, Noksa, Tupi and Polung. Khappa people also migrated from Hukong. In the beginning, they were ruled by the Tangdong dynasty, but with the passage of time, Wang Hang and his descendants became the ruling family. An agreement was reached between them, and it was decided that the common tongue of the Noctes will be the Hawa dialect, and all the folk songs will be sung in Khapa dialect.

Fong

People who migrated from Mankong and Ngeimung, speak the Fong dialect, sometimes also written as Phong. This dialect is spoken in a number of villages such as Doidam, Dongrong, Kenon, Makat, Mopaya, Soha etc. They are originally Tangsa tribe of Changlang district.

Wancho

Wancho is not a dialect, but a rich language, with script, of the Wancho tribe of Longding district. Villages such as Lapnan, Luthong and Chasa, speak the Wancho language.

Ethnic Related Tribes

Wancho Tribe (Nocte Digest)

Wancho

Wancho tribe is one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. They are concentrated in Longding district. Oriah is the name of their major festival, which is celebrated on  February 16, every year. In 2019, Banwang Losu developed a Wancho script.

Tutsa Tribe (Nocte Digest)

Tutsa

Tutsa tribe resides in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Pongtu is the name of their major festival. It is celebrated every year on April 11.

Ollo (Nocte Digest)

Ollo

Ollo tribe belongs to Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Worang is the name of their festival, and is celebrated every year on February 12.

Tangsa (Nocte Digest)

Tangsa

Tangsa tribe is one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. They reside in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Moh-Mol is the name of their major festival, and it is celebrated every year on April 24.

Naga (Nocte Digest)

Naga

Nocte and all the above-mentioned tribes are ethnically related to the Naga tribe of Nagaland. There are many Naga tribes such as Konyak, Tangkhul, Angami, Ao etc. Every year, they celebrate Hornbill Festival on December 1, as the state festival of Nagaland.

Speculations

The following articles are speculative in nature, and open to interpretation:

Sir Richard Carnac Temple - Tribes of Burma from Southeast Asian Digital Library

1. Wa Tribe

The Wa people have the traditional customs very similar to those of the Noctes, the Wanchos and the Naga tribes. Wa are an ethnic group that lives mainly in East Kachin and North Shan of Myanmar and Southwest Yunnan of China.

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Cultural Similarities between Wa and Nocte

Log Drum

They both have the practice of carving out a large hollow drum from a single tree and then dragging it to the village. The drum plays an important role in their culture and is used during festivals, attacks, meetings etc.


Head Hunting

Head hunting was parcticed by them and the head taken from their rivals were kept in a designated place for display.


Chieftainship

The villages are headed by a hereditary chief (usually the head of the oldest clan). The chief was assisted by a council of the heads of other clans and a religious expert.


Marriage

They predominately practice monogamy. However, there are few instances of polygamy. Marriage within the same clan is considered a taboo. The most preferable match for a man is to marry his maternal uncle's daughter.


Food Habits

Both the cultures put immense importance upon the consumption of betel leaves, areca nuts and edible tree barks. The Noctes used them for religious ceremonies and before a festival a ritual called Sali Hun is performed where the girls go to forest and collect edible tree barks.

N.B.: The above information is not exhaustive and is subject to change with new findings and research. Valuable suggestions with references is welcome.


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