Khamiyang in India

Introduction / History

Few sources have ever mentioned the Khamiyang, although one described them as "a small Buddhist peasant community with a close affinity with the Khamtis of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aiton and Tai Phake of Assam. They are also called Khamjang and use Shyam as their surname." The name Khamiyang means "a place where gold is available." This name probably comes from their homeland. They probably originally lived in the Patkai mountains, but they left because of oppression from the Singpho (Kachin) and moved to Assam between 1807 and 1814.

Khamiyang people live in the north-east Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, inhabiting communities near the Khamtis in the Lohit and Tirap districts. They dwell in the plains drained by the Tengapani and Noa-Dihing rivers and within the vicinity of dense tropical moist and deciduous forests. A small number of Khamiyang live in the Rowai Mukh village within Assam State.

The Khamiyang originally spoke a Tai language, similar to Khamti. Over the centuries, however, the Khamiyang have gradually lost the use of their mother tongue, and most have adopted Assamese, which is spoken by more than 15 million people in north-east India. They also use the Assamese script for reading and writing. Their original Tai script is now used only for Buddhist rituals.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite losing their linguistic identity, the Khamiyang retain their cultural and ethnic distinctiveness, which qualifies them as a mission-significant people group.

Since they live in a place with abundant natural resources, the diet of the Khamiyang includes a large variety of wild and domestically grown vegetables, roots and tubers such as pumpkins, brinjals, ginger and onions; mustard leaves; chilies; flower of plantains; mushrooms; shoots of bamboo and cane and many types of leaves.... They eat a variety of fish ... fowls, pigs, goats, wild bears, deer and tigers, but abstain from taking beef.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Theravada Buddhism is the religious choice of an overwhelming number of Khamiyang people. The Khamiyang have been Buddhists since long before their migration from the Shan State area of northern Myanmar many centuries ago.

What Are Their Needs?

Buddhism forms a major part of their identity, and few seem open to change. Consequently, there are no known Christians among the Khamiyang people of India today. Each village has its own temple or monastery.

Prayer Points

Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Khamiyang communities.

Pray for the Khamiyang people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.

Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Khamiyang people to change their society from within.

Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples.

Text Source:   Joshua Project