Khamyang people

The Tai-Khamyangs (Thai:ชาวไทคำยาง, Chao Thai Kam Yang) also known as Shyam, represent a brethren of Great Tai/Thai family of South East Asia. They are numerically tribal group found in Tinsukia, Jorhat, Sivasagar and Golaghat districts of Assam as well as adjacent parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Their population totals about 7,000 of which only a small minority speak the native Tai Khamyang language. The Khamyang are followers of Theravada Buddhism and are closely related to the Khamti. They maintain good relations with other Tai Buddhist tribes of Assam.

The Khamyangs, who are popularly known as Noras, are of Tai-stock. Nora is the name by which Hiing Xang Shans (Tais) of Myanmar are known to Ahoms. "Khamyang" itself is a Tai word, deriving etymologically from "kham" (gold) and "yang" or "jang" (to have), and meaning "people having gold". They ruled an independent principality in Mungkong until the end of the 18th century.

Many Khamyang have historically used "Shyam", which is a cognate with "Siam", the old word for Thailand, as a surname. The modern trend is for mostly their family names: Thaomung, Chowlu, Chowlik, Tunkhang, Wailong, Pangyok, Chowsong, Pangyok and Chowhai.

The Khamyang, as a distinct tribe, are found in Balijaan Shyam Gaon, Na Shyam Gaon and Betbari Shyam Gaon (Betoni)near Titabor in Jorhat district, Disangpani, Chalapather Shyam Gaon and Rahan Shyam Gaon near Sapekhati in Sibsagar District, Powaimukh Shyam Gaon near Margherita in Tinsukia district and Rajmai Shyam Gaon near Sarupathar and Rajapukhuri Shyam Gaon Golaghat District.There are also a few Khamyang villages in Arunachal Pradesh . In Namsai district they are settled in: Namsai town, Nanam Khamyang I, Nanam Khamyang II, Maan Ho Fai, Kaichu, Nongtao Khamyang, WeingSeng Nongtao, Jona Pathar IV, Lathao and Deobil villages. In Changlang district they are found in Bordumsa town, Namleng, Bengmora, Sumboi villages etc.

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