PEOPLE
The present population of Sikkim is primarily
composed of different races or ethnic groups. They are the Lepchas, the
Bhutia, the Nepali and the plainsmen. These different ethnic groups have
their distinct languages and cultural pattern. This cultural
diversity of the ethnic groups who have no common racial backgrounds
has become the central point of socio-economic and political
problems in Sikkim. Over centuries, the narrow fertile valleys
of the inner Himalayas and the rugged hill tracts of the greater Himalayas have
been settled by the Tibeto-Burmese, Tibeto-Mongoloid and Indo-Aryan
races who
have adjusted themselves to the rigorous climate of this state. Thus
Sikkim has become a state of multi-racial inhabitants. The oldest
inhabitants are the Rongs or Lepchas who migrated via Assam to this
mountain state. Next came the Khampas from the Tibetan province of Kham, they are now commonly known as Bhutias. The Limbus who are considered
by some as belonging to Lhasa gotra are believed to have migrated from
Shigatse, Penam, Norpu, Giangtse etc of the Tsong province of Tibet. These
Limbus and other Magar, Rai, Gurung, Murmi etc are allied races and in fact belong
to the Kirati sub-cultural stock of the Nepali race who migrated to Sikkim from
Nepal in the west.
English is the official language of Sikkim. The
Lingua-franca is however Nepalese. It closely resembles Hindi. The Lepcha
language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family. The languages of the Bhutias,
Limbu, Murmi, Magar, Khamba and Mewar also belongs to it.
High priority has been given to education. Education is
free upto the primary school level. While in the higher classes the
fee is nominal, for girls education is free up to class XI.
The Lepchas
The central zone,
the lands of the Lepchas, roughly covers the area from
the junction of the river Teesta and the Lachung river to the
junction of the Teesta and the Dikehee rivers. The Rong-pas, who are known as
the Lepchas are the original inhabitants of Sikkim. Earlier it was believed that, the
tribe was a very ancient colony from southern Tibet. Their physical characteristics
showed them to be a member of the Mongolian race. But later, it was supposed
that they had come from the east, from the direction of Assam and Burma. The
Lepchas are markedly Mongolian in features and differ from the
Tibetans. It is also said that the Lepchas have similarity with the tribes of
Hangarang in the North West Frontier Province and with the mountain
tribes of the Laree area in Ladakh. Others content that the Lepchas and
the Khasias of Khasias of Khasi -Jaintai area are two different branches of the same
ethnic group. Though, at one time,
the Lepchas had blood relation only with the Limbus at present no
restriction is maintained in establishing matrimonial
relations with other tribes. The Lepchas have no caste
distinction, but they believe that they belong to either of the five
classes of Syang-Den, Mu, Ling-SingMu, Himu, Karthak Mu and Thikung Syalang.
There
are certain other classes based on the places of residence.
Polyandry was prevalent
among the Lepchas in the past. Marriage of wards is normally negotiated by the parents
and after fulfilling certain condition, the marriage is publicly
celebrated with much feasting. The Lepchas are primarily animists. They
acknowledge the existence of god and the bad spirits and do a lot to appease the bad one. Every class has a priest doctor,
who is in fact an
exorcist. The priest doctors may be either male or female. The male one is
called bon and the female one is called generally monn. The Lepchas have their
own language which according to Mainwaring is the oldest of all the hill
dialects. It is contended that the language they speak is of the Tibeto-Burmese family.
The Lepchas are very intelligent,
amiable and always cheerful. They are very modest, extremely hospitable people.
They love sports and games
and are sociable. They are innocent and good humoured. They are peace-loving
people who avoid quarrels.
|
