Paite
Total population
c. 79,000+[1][2]
Regions with significant populations
Manipur, Chin State, Assam, Mizoram
Languages
Paite language
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups

Ranglong

The Paite people[a] are an ethnic group in Northeast India, mainly living in Manipur and Mizoram. The Paites are recognized as a scheduled tribe in these two states.[4] They are not regarded as part of the Kuki group,[b] but may be considered part of the wider "Lushai" or Zomi group.[6] "Guite" is a major clan of the Paite people.[7]

Manipur

In Manipur, the Paites number about 55,000 as of 2018, forming 1.94 percent of the state's population.[1] They are concentrated in the Churachandpur district and dominate the Churachandpur Town (locally known as Lamka). The Paite language is considered the lingua franca of the town.[3] They can also be found in the neighbouring districts like Pherzawl district, Chandel district and Jiribam district.

They have local organisations such the Paite Tribe Council, Young Paite Association, Paite Literature Society and Siamsinpawlpi (SSPP, students' welfare body). They mostly follow the Christian faith, with the majority belonging to the Evangelical Baptist Convention Church.[4]

Paites also dominate the underground group United People's Front (UPF), which has been in talks with the central government of India since 2008, demanding "a state within a state" for the tribal communities of Manipur.[6]

During 1997–1998, there was an ethnic clash between the Paiteis and Thadou-speaking Kuki tribes in the Churachandpur district, which saw 352 people dead and thousands displaced, but a peace agreement was reached in the end. On this occasion, the Paite tribe formed, along with other kindred tribes, an organisation called the Zomi Reunification Organization, and an underground militant wing, the Zomi Revolutionary Army.[8]

Mizoram

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In Mizoram, the Paites number about 23,000 as of 2011.[1] They are found living in more than 20 villages spread across 4 districts namely Saitual district, Champhai district, Aizawl district and Khawzawl district.[9]

The Paites living in the region "Sialkal Tangdung" are given a special administration in aid to develop and uplift the local areas called the Sialkal Range Development Council (SRDC). Mimbung, Teikhang, Hiangmun, Kawlbem, Selam and Vaikhawtang villages are included in it.

SRDC was first set up as the Sialkal Tlangdung Development Board by the Government of Mizoram in February 2012. It was changed to a Council in 2013.[10]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Alternative spellings: Paitei.[3]
  2. ^ See the list of Kuki tribes in the Gazetter of Manipur.[5] The Churachandpur district, where the Paites are concentrated, was regarded as part of the "Lushai hills" region when the Gazetteer was compiled. It was added to the territory of Manipur later in 1894.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Religion Data of Census 2011: XXXI Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland". Centre for Policy Studies. 18 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Census of India - Language tools". Censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b Guite & Vualzong, Paitei Tribe of Churachandpur (2018), p. 334.
  4. ^ a b Guite & Vualzong, Paitei Tribe of Churachandpur (2018), pp. 334–335.
  5. ^ Dun, E. W. (1992) [1886], Gazetteer of Manipur, Manas Publications, pp. 32–33 – via archive.org
  6. ^ a b Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, Fears Over Land, Identity Fuel Manipur's Bonfire of Anxieties, The Wire, 9 September 2016.
  7. ^ Jangkhomang Guite; Thongkholal Haokip, eds. (2019), The Anglo-Kuki War, 1917–1919: A Frontier Uprising against Imperialism during World War I, Routledge, p. 55, ISBN 978-1-138-50704-3
  8. ^ Choudhury, Sanghamitra (2016), Women and Conflict in India, Routledge, pp. 38–39, ISBN 9781317553625
  9. ^ "A-11 Appendix: District wise scheduled tribe population (Appendix)". censusindia.gov.in.
  10. ^ "Brief History of Sialkal Range Development Council". gad.mizoram.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
Sources


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