Genesis

The Ahoms arrived from Myanmar and reached the Brahmaputra valley of Assam in the first half of 13th Century AD. When they were crossing the Pangsau Pass in 1228 AD, the Ahoms had to face violent oppositions from the Nocte, Tangsa and Wancho tribes in the slopes of the Patkai hill range of Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, from this historical fact, it is quite evident that the Nocte tribe was settled way before the arrival of the Ahoms, and as per the Ahom Buranjis/Chronicles, the Nocte tribe was living in the area since the 11th/12th Century AD. [1] [2]

As per the Ahom Buranjis, Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa and Wancho tribes were the first to be called Naga. Shredding the speculation around the meaning of the word Naga, Prof. Xavier Pfokrehe Mao of NEHU, Shillong, writes in Nagaland Post that Naga means highlanders, not naked. [3]

The term Nocte, sometimes spelled as Nokte, was coined in the 1950s. As per some non-native authors, the term has been derived from two words: 'Nok' meaning village, and 'Tey' meaning people. However,  it also means 'our people' when the word 'Nang' is added before 'Nocte'. Therefore, it is possible that when the authors were doing their research, the villagers must have simply said that they are our people and the authors mistook it as their tribe's name.

Infact, before the 1950s, the Nocte tribe was a collection of numerous independent chiefdoms. In the medieval and the colonial period, the Nocte tribe was known as Namsangia Naga, Borduaria Naga, Paniduaria Naga, Borkhunma, Jaipuria Naga, Mohongia etc. Here, Namsangia/Mohongia/Jaipuria Naga are the people of present Namsang village, originally known as Hakhunthin/Thinnyan; Borduaria/Paniduaria Naga are from present Borduria and Paniduria villages, originally known as Sah-Lah and Longchaang, respectively; and Borkhunma are the people from present Kheti, Khela, Thinsa and Notun Kheti villages.

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.

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 Dibrugarh district of 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. 

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

A small village called Hiloni gaon in Assam's Sibsagar district is also inhabited by the Nocte tribe.

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. 

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.

Tewang Lowang and Tumwang Lowang were the leaders of the Khunnu group who migrated from Tangnyu/Tang in present-day Myanmar.

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

The group led by Wang Hang migrated from Hukong/Hukawng 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. 

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.

The monarchs of Khela and Kheti were brothers and ruled over  the Hakhun-thong area covering/stretching from Tarung river in the south, to Baamat river (which belongs to Longrak) in the north of Tirap district. They prefer to be called as “Khunnu”, while the Ahoms identified them as Borkhunma. Tracing their origins from Tang/Tangnyu in present-day Myanmar or maybe beyond, Kheti and Khela are believed to have migrated to present-day Tirap not later than 16th century CE, taking into account their arrival before the advent of Vaishnavism in the Nocte area during the 17th-18th century. While Khela is the elder of the two, it is Kheti that is said to have migrated first to their present settlement. Led by Chief Tewang Lowang and his younger brother Witwang Lowang, Kheti separated from Khela at a place called “Phanyyu”. “Phannyu” loosely translates to place of separation and isn’t the name of a place. Khela, led by the Elder Chief Tumwang Lowang and Liamwang/Liamlang Lowang ( Galey and Nyamnya) ended up taking a different route through the lower Nocte belt of Borduria and Paniduria.

After Phanyu, Khela made their way through Longchaang or the present-day Paniduria, where they were accorded a very warm welcome. Longchaang at the time was inhabited by Khapá speaking people who are believed to have migrated or fled to Siloni Gaon in Sibsagar district of Assam. Khapa dialect is widely used in Nocte folk songs (Si-Thaak) and tales to this day. Tupi and Nokchha villages in present-day Tirap are keepers of this ancient dialect. Si-Thaak (loosely translating to referencing/comparing through songs) during ceremonies of importance still employ Khapa extensively. On enquiring of their Kheti kins, the Khela group was pointed towards the Saan Sahla Ho (present-day Borduria) which translates to “Where the Sun Shines Bright”.  Khela departed from Longchaang with provisions of food from their hosts and marched towards Borduria. Like at Longchaang, the Khela people were welcomed at Saan Saahla Ho with vigour. An interesting development took shape there between the people of Borduria and Khela with a mutual agreement to foster matrimonial relations between the two. Matrimonial relations at the time primarily meant intermarriages between the royal families of the two villages. The Khela people then marched on towards “Kiet Dong Wang Thong” pointed out to them by their hosts at Borduria. It was the present-day Khonsa. To this day, Khonsa town is referred to as “Kiet” by the travellers from Khela and Kheti villages. 

Before departing, the Borduria Chief gifted an Ox to the Chief of Khela as a mark of their friendship and agreed upon terms of maintaining cordial matrimonial ties. The Ox was a sacrificial beast, marked to be slaughtered for the feast if and when the Khela united with its Kheti kins. It is said the Ox’s hooves were painted white as a mark of distinction for the animal destined to be slaughtered to sanctify the reunion of the two forlorn brothers. Khela continued their journey towards Khonsa or Kiet. During the night halt at the western hilltop of Khonsa town, the travellers were terrified by the constant roars of a “Saah” (any wild cat of sizeable make is called a Saah in Nocte). The name of the hill, which is currently the helipad at Khonsa, hence came to be known as "Saah Jup Ho" (translating to the place where the tiger sleeps). Due to the sheer fright, the ceremonial Ox gifted by the Chief of Borduria was cut loose to lure away the tiger. This frightful ordeal was quickly forgotten the next day when three hunters stumbled upon the tired and exhausted group of travellers the next morning. They were from Kheti village. Months and perhaps years after they parted ways at Phannyu, the two villages were finally reunited. Overwhelmed with joy and relief on seeing familiar faces, they danced together at the spot which they named “Bongthin Ho” (present-day SP bungalow area at Khonsa). Bongthin Ho means “the Place of Dancing”. Dancing on these occasions is orchestrated by a Si-Wa (a singer of repute) in the Khapa language to this day.

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.

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.

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.

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

The migratory groups from Hukong, Hakhi Haja and Tangnyu 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. 

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.

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 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.

Concentrated in the Lazu area, Ollo is a sub-tribe of the Nocte tribe. They also inhabit one village, Longkhong, in Namsang constituency, and a small settlement, dubbed as Lazu Basti, near the Deomali-Namsang border of Namsang constituency.

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

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.

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.