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{{Short description|Ethnic group living in Northeast India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox ethnic group|
| group = Sherdukpen
| native_name = Ngnok
| native_name_lang =
| image = File:Sherdukpen diorama.JPG
| caption = Diorama and [[wax figures]] of the Sherdukpen people at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Museum, Itanagar]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| population = 9,663 (2011 census)
| popplace = {{flag|India}}<br>[[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| total_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner,India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2017-11-18}}</ref>
| langs = [[Sherdukpen language|Sherdukpen]], [[Tshangla language|Tshangla]], [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
| rels = [[Buddhism]], [[Animism]]
| related = [[Monpa people|Monpa]], [[Aka (tribe)|Aka]], [[Khowa people|Khowa]]
}}

The '''Sherdukpen''' are an ethnic group of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] state of India. Their population of 9,663 is centered in [[West Kameng|West Kameng district]] in the villages of Rupa, Jigaon, Thongri, Shergaon, to the south of [[Bomdila]]. All of these are at elevations between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level. Of late, some of them have settled in Kameng bari areas, a new settlement area under [[Bhalukpong]] circle.

== Society ==

Sherdukpen society is divided into two classes: The Thong and Chao, the former of which–the higher caste–are divided into eight clans. Marriage between inter-castes are considered taboo within the tribal society and are strongly discouraged.<ref>{{cite book|title=District Census Handbook: Series 24 : Arunachal Pradesh|author=J. K. Barthakur|publisher=Director of Census Operations, Arunachal Pradesh|year=1976|pages=17–8}}</ref> Local legend mentioned that the upper caste are the descendants of a Tibetan king (a grandson of [[Songtsän Gampo]])<ref>{{cite book|title=British Policy in the North-East Frontier Agency|author=Manilal Bose|publisher=Concept|year=1979|page=16}}</ref> and Ahom princess, of which they bore two sons. The Chao are the descendants of the king's porters and servants.<ref>{{cite book|title=Land of the Hornbill and Myna|author=Muktinath Bardoloi|publisher=North-East Frontier Agency|year=1970|page=19}}</ref> The Sherdukpens migrate to Doimara (a lowland hamlet close to the Assamese border) and stayed between December and March on an annual basis during the winter months, a tradition with which the tribe maintain the memory of their Assamese ancestry. In Doimara, the Sherdukpens mingled with the nearby Assamese natives and traded for rice.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sherdukpens|author=R. R. P. Sharma|publisher=P. C. Dutta for the Research Dept. Adviser's Secretariat|year=1961|pages=2–7}}</ref>

The Sherdukpen generally practice [[monogamy]] and trace their descent [[patrilineally]]. Their houses are built on strong stone foundations with their wall and floor made from thick wooden planks.<ref>{{Citation |title=Sherdukpen |date=2014-01-01 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004263925_011 |work=Tribal Architecture in Northeast India |pages=101–107 |access-date=2023-05-24 |publisher=BRILL}}</ref>

== Economy ==

The Sherdukpen are [[agricultural]]ists, although hunting and [[artisanal fishing|traditional fishing]] methods are practised as well. Using simple tools, both shifting and permanent farming methods are used, and livestock such as ponies, cows, goats, sheep, fowls and bullocks are kept.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Language==
The Sherdukpen speak their own language, [[Sherdukpen language|Sherdukpen]], which isn't directly related with the neighboring [[Khowa language|Bugun]] and [[East Bodish languages|Monpa language]]. It is possibly of [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]] derivation.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

== Dress ==

The Sherdukpen men wear a sleeveless cloth, which is made out of silk, with the two ends of the cloth which pins onto the shoulders that reach down to the knees. Made from [[yak]]'s hair with tassels jutting down over the face, the gurdam skull-cap is mainly worn by the men. It is decorated with a white cockade and colourful band around its brim. The warriors are often seen carrying their [[Tibet]]an sword, with the support of a waistband. A bogre, a cloth woven from natural fibres, is tied around the shoulders to form a fold at the back.

The women wear a collarless and sleeveless cloth to cover them from the shoulders to the knees. A full-sleeved embroidered jacket and waist cloth, known as mushaiks, is worn over the cloak. The ladies tie their hair tied into a bun at the back, although most grown-up girls do not tie their tresses into a knot. Weaving is considered a feminine art, and most women are able to weave different kinds of clothing in a highly artistic manner.<ref>{{cite book|title=Arunachal Panorama: A Study in Profile|author=Jyotirindra Nath Chowdhury|publisher=Directorate of Research, Arunachal Pradesh|year=1982|pages=10–11}}</ref>

== Religion ==
The Sherdukpen adopted the [[Gelugpa]] sect of [[Tibetan Buddhism]] as with their northern neighbours, the [[Monpa people|Monpa]] who were also subjected to the evangelical influence of Mera Lama.<ref name="Col Ved Prakash 1206–7">{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of North-east India, Vol# 3|author=Col Ved Prakash|year=2007|publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors|pages=1206–7|isbn=978-81-269-0705-2}}</ref> However, contrary to the Monpas, Sherdukpens are more inclined to their pre-Buddhist Animistic traditions, which is shown by the relative absence of any Buddhist Lamas within their tribe. Lamas from the Monpa and refugee Tibetan communities were invited to conduct Buddhist communal rituals whenever necessary.<ref name="Col Ved Prakash 1206–7"/> The profound Animist influence is attributed to the prevalence of their traditional Shamans with which they also employ for certain religious activities, known as "Jiji" in the local tongue. Rituals pertaining to indigenous spirits, human sacrifice and blood are prevalent within Sherdukpen mythology and legends, which is characteristically absent in Tibetan Buddhism.<ref>{{cite book|title=Contemporary Philosophy: A New Survey|author=Fløistad, Guttorm|author-link=Guttorm Fløistad|publisher=Springer|year=1987|isbn=0-7923-1762-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/asianphilosophy0007unse/page/128 128]|url=https://archive.org/details/asianphilosophy0007unse/page/128}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061026064410/http://www.nezccindia.org/arunachalpradesh/default.asp North East Zone Cultural Centre]
* [http://siris-archives.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=new&menu=search&aspect=power&npp=10&ipp=20&profile=all&ri=&index=.GW&term=Sherdukpen+http+image&oper=and&aspect=power&index=.AW&term=&oper=and&index=.SW&term=&oper=and&index=.TW&term=&limit=LO01+%3D+naa&sort=3100014&x=12&y=9#focus Sherdukpen Image Gallery]
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=sdp Ethnologue profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050411110855/http://www.iitg.ernet.in/rcilts/sherdukpen.htm RCILTS, IlT Guwahati]
* [http://community.webshots.com/photo/370039564/1370051612072366820WtdTSQ A Monpa/Sherdukpen woman in webshots]
* [http://www.grida.no/impact/gc21panel/thorose.ppt Sherdukpen conservation]

{{Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sherdukpen People}}
[[Category:Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:West Kameng district]]

Sherdukpen people - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article