HymanGumm776 at 10:17, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T10:17:48Z

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{{Short description|Ethnic group of north-eastern India}}
{{For|the language|Tiwa language (India)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Tiwa
| image = Tiwa_people.jpg
| total = 371,000 appox.
| total_year = 2011 Census
| popplace = {{flag|India}} ([[Assam]] (in [[Tiwa Autonomous Council]]), [[Manipur]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Nagaland]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]])

{{flag|Bangladesh}}
{{flag|Myanmar}}
| 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=2017-11-03}}</ref>
| languages = [[Tiwa language (India)|Tiwa]] (native), [[Assamese language|Assamese]] (predominantly spoken)
| religions = [[Hinduism]], [[Christianity]]
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| related_groups = Other [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]] groups
}}

The '''Tiwa people''' (also known as '''Lalung''')<ref>{{Cite book |last=Driem |first=George van |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6tGLEAAAQBAJ&dq=tiwa+called+lalung&pg=PA525 |title=Languages of the Himalayas: Volume 2 |date=2022-09-12 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-51492-8 |language=en}}</ref> is a [[Tibeto-Burmese]] [[ethnic group]] primarily inhabiting the [[Northeast India]]n states of [[Assam]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Manipur]] and [[Nagaland]], and some parts of neighbouring [[Bangladesh]] and [[Myanmar]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Wouters |first1=Jelle J. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YseEEAAAQBAJ&dq=tiwa+in+Myanmar&pg=PT436 |title=The Routledge Companion to Northeast India |last2=Subba |first2=Tanka B. |date=2022-09-30 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-63699-4 |language=en}}</ref>

A striking peculiarity of the Tiwa is their division into two sub-groups, Hills Tiwa and Plains Tiwa.<ref>"Many Tiwas account for the cultural dichotomy between hills Tiwas and plains Tiwas in terms of an acculturation to the Assamese dominated plain culture"{{harvcol|Ramirez|2014|p=20}}</ref> The founder of Tiwa community is Pha Poroi "Indrosing Dewri" who has contributed a lot to the construction of Tiwa society. He also wrote the Tiwa national anthem called - O Angé Tiwa Tosima.<ref>{{Citation |last=Pha Poroi - Indrasing Dewri |title=O Ange Tiwa Tosima |url=https://archive.org/details/o-ange-tiwa-tosima |access-date=2024-10-08}}</ref>

==Etymology==
They were known as ''Lalungs/Lalong/Laleng'' in the Assamese [[Buranji]]s and in Colonial literature<ref>Bhuyan S.K. (ed.)'' Deodhai Asam Buranji.'' Gauhati: DHAS, 1932.</ref><ref>Hunter W. ''A statistical account of Assam.'' London: Trubner, 1879.</ref> and in the Constitution of India, though members of the group prefer to call themselves Tiwa (meaning "the people who were lifted from below"). Some of their neighbours still call them Lalung.<ref>"(T)he Tiwas, called Lalungs by their neighbours"{{harvcol|Ramirez|2014|p=19}}</ref>

==Origin==
According to [[Bishnu Prasad Rabha]], the Tiwas are originally the [[Pator-goya]] clan of the ethnic [[Deori people]]. He said that the word "Chutia" became "Tia/Tiwa" by omitting the first part "Chu" but there has been no scientific evidence to support the claim. At present, the Patorgoyan clan is neither found among the Deoris nor among the Chutias, and are believed to have migrated to the west. The origin of the word "Lalung" hasn't yet been decided by the historians. In the [[Karbi language]], "Lalung" means "sinking from the water", while in the [[Ahom language]], it means "migration towards the west". From this, it can be presumed that the Tiwa people first met the Karbis when they proceeded towards the west to [[Nagaon district|Nagoan]] by crossing the [[Brahmaputra]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}[[File:Jongal Balahu (Tiwa King).jpg|thumb|Statue of Tiwa chief- '''[[Jungal Balahu|Jongal Balahu (1415–1440)]] or Mriganka ''' from Jongal Balahu Garh at Raha, Nagaon, Assam]]

This is moreover supported by the folklore of the Tiwa people who believe that they migrated a long time back from their homeland which was situated in the eastern part of undivided [[Darrang district]] ([[Sonitpur district]]). The memory of their original homeland is expressed in their popular song "Lali-lai-Hilali". This folklore of Hilali is also shared by the Sadiyal Kacharis (i.e. Sonowals, Chutias, Deoris) which points out to the fact that the entire area including the hills of Arunachal, and the present-day districts of [[Sonitpur District|Sonitpur]], [[Lakhimpur district|Lakhimpur]], [[Dhemaji district|Dhemaji]], [[Tinsukia district|Tinsukia]], [[Dibrugarh district|Dibrugarh]], [[Sibsagar district|Sibsagar]] was once a single kingdom which was bounded by the [[Dikrong River|Dikarai]] and [[Dikhow River|Dikhou]].

However, some other experts believe that there has been no scientific evidence to support the claim that the Tiwas are related to the Pator-goya clan, which prompted a section of the Deoris to begin a search. A preliminary investigation from 30 September to 5 October under the aegis of ''Jimachaya Giyan Aru Juktibadi Samaj'' has given a positive indication of the presence of Deori people in [[Kachin State|Kachin]] province and near [[Yangon]] in Myanmar. A team of researchers has decided to visit Myanmar, hoping to find out the lost clan.<ref group=web>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/to-myanmar-in-search-of-a-lost-clan-of-the-deoris-tribe-of-assam/article6485876.ece|title = To Myanmar, in search of a lost clan of the Deoris tribe of Assam|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 9 October 2014|last1 = Talukdar|first1 = Sushanta}}</ref>

Researchers like Robert Shafer,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shafer |first=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tuy1XwAACAAJ |title=Athapaskan and Sino-Thibetan. Robert Shafer ... |date=1952 |language=en}}</ref> [[George Abraham Grierson|George Greirson]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UkcFMwEACAAJ |title=Sir George Grierson and the Linguistic Survey of India |date=1928 |language=en}}</ref> and [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji|Dr. Suniti Chatterjee]] have all placed the [[Tiwa language (India)|Tiwa]], [[Kokborok]] and the [[Deori language|Deori]] language as belonging to a single family under [[Boro–Garo languages|Kachari]] languages.
In the ''Assam Census report'' of 1881, [[Laurence Waddell|Wadell]] made a significant proposition about the Tiwas, "The Lalungs got mixed up with the Garos and the Mikirs. They have numerous exogamous clans". This could be one of the reasons as to why the Ahom chroniclers could not differentiate between the Tiwas and the other ethnic groups of the hills, and the reason why the Tiwas developed a unique culture of their own retaining old customs from their homeland as well as getting influenced from the [[Karbi people|Karbis]] and [[Garo people|Garos]].

==Medieval Period==

The [[Buranji]]s (Assamese chronicles) recount the meeting of Assamese soldiers with "people of the margins"(''datiyaliya'') and the settlement of 12 families of Lalung and Mikir, i.e. Tiwas and [[Karbi people|Karbis]], in the plains in the 17th century.<ref>Bhuyan S.K. (ed.)'' Deodhai Asam Buranji.'' Gauhati: DHAS, 1932.</ref> Tiwa people are closely associated with the principality of ''Kobâ (Gobha)''.<ref>{{harv|Ramirez|2014|p=23}}</ref> The ''Kobâ rajâ (Gobha raja)'' belongs to a Tiwa clan and his territory covers more or less the Tiwa cultural realm. ''Kobâ (Gobha)'' is mentioned in the Buranjis since the early 18th century, as an important market for the trade between Tiwa (Lalung) Kingdom of greater Assam, and the [[Jaintia Kingdom]].<ref>Bhuyan S.K. (ed.)'' Deodhai Asam Buranji.'' Gauhati: DHAS, 1932; p.35.</ref> These two powerful neighbors have since been competing to keep Kobâ (Gobha) principality under their authority, with varying success. The historical role of ''Kobâ (Gobha)'' and the Tiwas as mediators between plains and hills in Central Assam is enacted every year during an old fair, the [[Jonbeel Mela]] (''Chunbîl Melâ'').

The Tiwas were under the [[Jaintia kingdom]] but it had to acknowledge the Ahom supremacy during the reign of [[Pratap Singha]]. The Gobha raja accepted [[Jayadhwaj Singha]] as its overlord in 1659 A.D. Gobha was used as an army base during the reign of [[Rudra Singha]] to invade the [[Jaintia Kingdom]]. The chief of the Tiwas tried to yoke off the Ahom supremacy during the reign of [[Siva Singha]] but was suppressed. This state was formerly an appendages of the government of [[Guwahati]] under the [[Borphukan]], but during the [[Moamoria rebellion]], the area came under the rule of the Jaintias.<ref>{{harvcol|Gogoi|1994|pp=248–49}}</ref>

The Gobha chief who became vassal of the Ahoms during the reign [[Pratap Singha]], died in the Battle of [[Pandu, Guwahati|Pandu]], fighting from the side of the Ahoms against the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]].

==Hills Tiwa==
The Hills Tiwa live in the westernmost areas "The Ancient Lalung - Tiwa Hills" now known as Umswai Valley of Amri Constituency under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council of Amri block in West [[Karbi Anglong district]] (Assam) and as well as in the Northeastern corner of [[Ri-Bhoi district]] (Meghalaya). They speak their own [[Tiwa language (India)|Tiwa language]] which is a part of [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman language]] of the [[Bodo-Garo languages|Bodo-Garo group]]. They are divided into a dozen clans recognized by specific names which they use as [[patronymic]]s. Their descent system can be said to be [[ambilineal]].<ref>Ramirez, Philippe, ''People of the Margins'', Spectrum, 2014</ref> In most cases, the husband goes to live in her wife's family settlement ([[matrilocal residence|matrilocality]]), and their children are included in their mother's clan. However, in about 30% of unions, the woman comes to live with her husband. In such cases, children take the name of their father. This trend is on the rise under the influence of neighbouring populations which are mostly [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]]. Around 97.98% of Tiwas follow [[Hinduism]] blend with their traditional beliefs, and around 1.71% follows [[Christianity]].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} The Hill Tiwas society is organized around seven old villages which constitute its political as well as ritual center. Each of them harbors a chief (''loro'') who performs judicial and religious duties for a network of settlements. Old villages are also characterized by their bachelor dormitory (''shamadi'').
[[File:Tiwa man folks working in the Paddy field.jpg|thumb|Tiwa man folks]]

==Plains Tiwa==
Plains Tiwa live on the flatlands of the Southern bank of the Brahmaputra valley, The following places below are the areas mostly in [[Morigaon]], [[Nagaon]], [[Hojai]], [[Kamrup district|Kamrup]] (Rural) and (Metro), [[Sibsagar district|Sibsagar]], [[Jorhat district|Jorhat]], [[Sonitpur District|Sonitpur]], [[Lakhimpur district|Lakhimpur]] and [[Dhemaji district|Dhemaji]] districts.They speak Assamese as their mother tongue. Their descent system is definitely patrilineal. Their patronymics are not derived from their clan's names but are common Assamese surname-names instead (mostly Lalung, Pator, Senapati, Manta, Dekaraja, Dewraja, Bordoloi, Konwar, Doloi, Kakoti, Deka, Dewri, Deuri, Deory, Deori, Bhuyan, etc.). Their religion shares many elements with Assamese Hinduism but remains specific. And plains Tiwa's sang "Godalboriya Geet", plains Tiwa's folk songs sang in Assamese & Tiwa mixed.

==Tiwa Language==
{{CSS image crop
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|bSize = 937
|cWidth = 200
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|Description = Distribution of Lalung(Tiwa), as reported in the Language Survey of India 1903
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[[Tiwa language (India)]] is spoken in northwestern [[Karbi Anglong district|Karbi Anglong]] district and further north in parts of [[Morigaon district|Morigaon District]] / [[Nagaon district|Nagaon District]] in the plains of [[Assam]]. There is a cluster of Tiwa villages in the northeastern [[Ri-Bhoi district|Ri-Bhoi District]] of [[Meghalaya]]. For want of precise knowledge, it is difficult to speak of strictly delimited Tiwa dialects. On the one hand, Tiwa, probably with the exception of the variety of Tiwa spoken near [[Sonapur, Assam|Sonapur]] in Assam, is a single language, any of its dialects being mutually intelligible with any other. Like most languages of the hill tribes of the [[Northeast India]], [[Tiwa language (India)|Tiwa]] people do not have their own script. Therefore, they use the [[Latin script|Latin]] script and occasionally use [[Bengali–Assamese script|Assamese]] script.

[[File:Tiwa Mor (Tiwa Community Alphabet of India).jpg|thumb|Tiwa Mor (Tiwa Alphabet)]]

==Tiwa Clan System==
The Tiwa community is divided into several ''Phoit (Wali)'' and ''Dilok'' (divided into exogamous clans and again the clans are sub-divided into many sub-clans) Example - ''Amsai wali, Marjong wali, Magro, Sagra, Mayong, Lingra, Lumphui, Amkha, Amlera, Amni baro, Amnisa, Rongkhoi baro, Rongkhoisa'' etc. The''Wali or Phoits'' have their own ''Loro''. The ''Loro'' (priest) is the Governor of the ''12 Phoits or Wali'' kingdoms. Now in every ''Phoits'' there is a ''Sat Phuni, Baro Phuni'' called ''Khul'',''Pongos, Khel, Mahar, and Warang''. Tiwa have various ''Khuls'', they can marry with other ''Khul'' but not with ''Pongos, Khel, and Warang'' (means that they are allowed to marry people from other clans). A single ''khul'' consists of several ''Khel Mahar''. In every ''Khul'' there are different ''Khel'' called ''Warang''.

* Note: Khul = Clan,
**(i) Pongos,
**(a) Khel, Warang

The Tiwa clans cooperate with one another as a community, whether constructing a house, harvesting rice, or worshiping. Every clan has its own place of community worship where there is a titular for the clan's god.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+List of Tiwa Clans and Sub-Clans
!Number
!Clans
|-
| 1
| Agari
|-
| 2
| Amphi
|-
| 3
| Amphili
|-
| 4
| Amchi/Amsi
|-
| 5
| Amchong/Amsong
|-
| 6
| Aphi
|-
| 7
| Agar
|-
| 8
| Amji
|-
| 9
| Akawang
|-
| 10
| Anchong/Ansong
|-
| 11
| Buma/Puma
|-
| 12
| Borong
|-
| 13
| Chagra/Sagra
|-
| 14
| Cholong/Solong
|-
| 15
| Chomsol/Somsol
|-
| 16
| Chongrang/Songrang
|-
| 17
| Chomchong/Somsong
|-
| 18
| Chomcha/Somsa
|-
| 19
| Chongcha/Songsa
|-
| 20
| Chanchor/Sansor
|-
| 21
| Cholo/Solo
|-
| 22
| Darang
|-
| 23
| Darphang
|-
| 24
| Daphor
|-
| 25
| Dakhor
|-
| 26
| Datrang
|-
| 27
| Dongkhoi
|-
| 28
| Damo
|-
| 29
| Dumura
|-
| 30
| Hukai
|-
| 31
| Khorai/Kharai
|-
| 32
| Kholar
|-
| 33
| Khajar/Khachar/Khasar
|-
| 34
| Karkha
|-
| 35
| Kharal
|-
| 36
| Khamli
|-
| 37
| Khonjai
|-
| 38
| Kocho/Koso
|-
| 39
| Lumphoi
|-
| 40
| Ladur
|-
| 41
| Laram/Lara
|-
| 42
| Lupu
|-
| 43
| Madar/Mathar
|-
| 44
| Madur
|-
| 45
| Magor
|-
| 46
| Marjong
|-
| 47
| Malang/Melang
|-
| 48
| Machlai/Maslai
|-
| 49
| Markang
|-
| 50
| Machereng/Masereng
|-
| 51
| Mithi
|-
| 52
| Maloi
|-
| 53
| Muni
|-
| 54
| Mathlai
|-
| 55
| Mothrong/Mosorong
|-
| 56
| Phangchong/Pamchong/Phangsong/Phamsong
|-
| 57
| Pulu
|-
| 58
| Puru/Pu
|-
| 59
| Radu
|-
| 60
| Rongkhoi
|-
| 61
| Taram
|}

==Tiwa Festivals==
Festivals constitute a significant part of the culture of the Tiwa people. There are many festivals of Tiwa people. Tiwa people celebrate several occasions and festivals. The main festivals of the Tiwa [[ethnic group]]s are: Three ''Pisû'' (Bihu), ''Borot Kham'' (Borot Utsav), ''Kablâ Phûja'', ''Khel Cháwa Kham'', ''Langkhôn Phûja'', ''Sôgra Phûja'', ''Wanshúwa Kham'' ([[Wanshuwa Festival|Wanshuwa]]), ''Yanglî Phûja'', etc. (Note: Pisû = Bihu Kham = Festivals, Phûja = Puja).They also organize the [[Jonbeel Mela]] every year in which the barter system of trade is still prevalent.
[[File:Jonbeel_Fair_12.jpg|220x124px|thumb|right|alt=Jinbeel Mela|Jonbeel Mela]]

[[File:Khelchawa festival of the Hill Tiwas.jpg|border|center|thumb|Khelchawa Festival of Hills Tiwa.]]
[[File:Langkhon Phuja.webp|thumb|Langkhon festival]]

In the festivals, the Tiwa communities sing two types of songs. These are:

#'''Lo Ho La Hai''' - songs of the ceremony of name-giving, wedding, and harvesting, etc.
#'''Lali Hilali Lai'''– song of the marriage ceremony, Karam, and similar festivals.

*Songs and dances are the living spirits of the Tiwa community; the Tiwa people is considered to have one of the richest reservoirs of folk songs and dances in the state of Assam and Meghalaya.

==Population==
[[File:TiwaHouse.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A Hill Tiwa house]]
Tiwa population in India is 371,000 approx. (2011 census). But according to the 2001 Census reports 161,000 approx. "Tiwas/Lalungs"; this figure comprises only the Plains Tiwas. As they became a Scheduled Tribe after the 2001 Census, the Hill Tiwas were not taken into account. Their population may be estimated at 10,000 approx. The total number of Tiwa speakers amounts only to 34,800 approx. (2011 Census).

==Tiwa Autonomous Council (Tiwashong)==

Tiwa people have an [[Autonomous administrative divisions of India|autonomous council]] consisting of 36 seats for their special representation in [[Assam]] called the [[Tiwa Autonomous Council]]. The last election was held in 2020.<ref group=web>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/tiwa-autonomous-council-bjp-wins-16-seats-leading-in-many-others/articleshow/79816381.cms|title=Tiwa autonomous council elections: Tiwa Autonomous Council: BJP wins 16 seats, leading in many others | Guwahati News - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=19 December 2020 }}</ref><ref group=web>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tiwa-autonomous-council-bjp-wins-6-seats-leading-in-12-more-2340923|title = Tiwa Autonomous Council: BJP Registers Landslide Victory}}</ref>

[[File:Tiwa Autonomous Council 2020.svg|thumb|300px|Composition of Tiwa Autonomous Council]]

'''Government (35)'''<br/>
[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]: 33 <br/>
[[Asom Gana Parishad]]: 2

'''Opposition (1)'''<br/>
[[Indian National Congress]]: 1

==Official status==
Tiwas, under the denomination of "Lalung", have been recorded as a [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribe]] since the first Constitution Order (1950) for the State of Assam excluding the autonomous districts of [[Karbi Anglong]] and North Cachar Hills (now named [[Dima Hasao]]), thus leaving the Hill Tiwas out. It was only in 2002 that the Tiwa (Lalung) Scheduled Tribe status has been extended to Karbi-Anglong district and thus to the Hill Tiwas. Tiwas still do not benefit the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in the State of [[Meghalaya]].

==Notable people==
* [[Rama Kanta Dewri]], politician

==See also==
*[http://tiwatribe.blogspot.in Tiwa Tribe]
*[https://tiwatribe.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-study-on-autonomy-movement-of-tiwa.html?m=1 History of Tiwa Autonomy Movement]
*[[Jonbeel Mela]]
*[https://www.facebook.com/tiwayouthassociation Tiwa Youth Association (TYA)]
*[https://www.facebook.com/thewildlalungsnortheastindia The Wild Lalungs]
*[[Tiwa language (India)]]
*[[Sogra Festival]]
*[[Deo Langkhui]]
*[[Wanshuwa Festival]]
*[[Shikdamakha]]
*[[Tiwa Autonomous Council|Tiwa Autonomous Council (Tiwashong)]]
*[[Tiwa musical instrument]]
*[[Tiwa-English Dictionary]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
===Printed sources===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite book|last=Ramirez|first=Philippe|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01446144/document|title=People of the Margins - Across Ethnic Boundaries in Northeast India|year=2014|publisher=Spectrum Publications}}
*{{Cite book|last=Dalton|first=Edward Tuite|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9wxWAAAAcAAJ&dq=bihiya+ahom&pg=PA77|title=Descriptive Ethnology of Bengal|date=1872|publisher=Office of the superintendent of government printing|language=en}}
*{{Citation|last1=Gogoi |first1=Nityananda |title=Historical Geography of Medieval Assam |date=1994 |publisher=EBH Publishers (India)}}
*{{Citation |last=Jacquesson |first=François |title=Discovering Boro-Garo: History of an analytical and descriptive linguistic category |journal=European Bulletin of Himalayan Research |volume=32 |year=2008}}
{{refend}}

===Web-sources===
{{reflist|group=web}}
{{Commons category|Tiwa people}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Social groups of Assam]]
[[Category:Tribes of Assam]]
[[Category:Tribes of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
[[Category:Tiwa (India)| ]]
[[Category:Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]

Tiwa people - Revision history

HymanGumm776 at 10:17, 26 March 2026