Tanchangya people

The Tanchangya people, Tonchonga, Tanchangyas or Tonchongyas are an Chinwin valley origin ethnic group living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, Indian states of Tripura and Mizoram, and Rakhine state of Myanmar.
According to the 2022 census, there are 45,972 Tanchangyas in Bangladesh.

Origin

No history of Tanchangya has been published on the origin, development, and present of Tanchangyas.
Only a brief history of the Tanchangyas is found in the history of the Chakma nation. The Tanchangyas have been identified as a branch of the Chakma nation based on speculative information. The Chakmas also recognize the Tanchangyas as a branch of the Chakmas. Even Chakma claim Tanchangya as original Chakma. Surprisingly, there is no similarity between the Gocha group of the Chakmas and the names of the twelve Gocha groups of the Tanchangyas.
Historians of the Chakma community rarely mention the Gosa group or the social customs of the Tanchangyas in their writings on Chakma history. Even modern Chakma writers often overlook these aspects, despite the recognition of the Chakma and Tanchangya as belonging to the same caste. Similarly, Hindus claim Buddhism as Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma, so they worship the Tathagata Buddha as the Hindu incarnation. However, Hinduism and Buddhism are on two poles.
The Tanchangya language is a mixture of Pali, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Chakma and Bengali, with some English words incorporated. In Arakanese language, "Taung" or "Tong" means 'hill', while "Taungya" refers to hilltop swidden cultivation, commonly known as jhum. Therefore, "Tanchangya" translates to "hill swidden farmer."

History

The Chakmas and Dainnaks are mentioned together in history in the early fourteenth century AD. Due to the similarity of religion and language, there is a history of closeness and friendship between the two communities. The Daingnaks did not have any conflict with the Arakanese. At least there is no mention of conflict in history.
Arakan and Uchchbrahma are among the other Mongol Southeast Asian races found in ancient Arakan history. For example, the ancient kingdom of Arakan was inhabited by the Mongols, the Tibetan Burman people, and the Kirat tribes of Murung, Khumi, Chak, Sin, Shenduz, Mro, Khyang, Daingnak, and Marumimu.

Geographical location

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, there are 45,972 Tanchangyas in Bangladesh. They are mainly found in Chittagong Division: 27,975 in Rangamati District, 14,889 in Bandarban District, 1,674 in Chattogram District, and 977 in Cox's Bazar District.
They are the largest ethnic group in Belaichhari Upazila and second largest in Rowangchhari Upazila.

Upazila	District	Population	Percentage of Tanchangya
Belaichhari Upazila	Rangamati District	11,452	38.77%
Kaptai Upazila	Rangamati District	6,881	12.42%
Bandarban Sadar Upazila	Bandarban District	5,605	5.05%
Rajasthali Upazila	Rangamati District	4,542	16.30%
Rowangchhari Upazila	Bandarban District	3,990	14.39%
Rangamati Sadar Upazila	Rangamati District	3,488	2.38%
Naikhongchhari Upazila	Bandarban District	2,881	3.77%
Alikadam Upazila	Bandarban District	1,977	3.10%
Rangunia Upazila	Chattogram District	931	0.24%
Juraichhari Upazila	Rangamati District	858	3.33%
Kawkhali Upazila	Rangamati District	677	1.02%
Ukhia Upazila	Cox's Bazar District	469	0.18%
Teknaf Upazila	Cox's Bazar District	467	0.14%
Ruma Upazila	Bandarban District	241	0.74%
Chandanaish Upazila	Chattogram District	240	0.09%
Lama Upazila	Bandarban District	183	0.13%
Others		<100

Culture

Language and script

Tanchangyas people primarily speak Tanchangya language. The language category is debateble. According to Rupak Debnath Tanchangya retains several features of Tibeto-Burman. Tanchangya people have their own script

Religion

The fact that the Daingnaks are Buddhists was mentioned by AP Phayre, the then commissioner of the Arakan Division, the author of 'History of Burma'. With them was the Buddhist scripture Tipitaka. The saw are also Buddhists. Although hundreds were persecuted and oppressed, they did not abandon Buddhism when they left Arakan. Their later history testifies that they carried with them theology on the eve of leaving Arakan. But they could not take the original Tripitaka with them because of scarcity or lack of it. From the original Tripitaka, the necessary formulas used in daily work or social occasions like death, marriage, etc., are recorded.
Tanchangya peoples are religious Buddhists and observe religious rites such they worshipping Gautama Buddha and listening to Buddha sermons. Tanchangyas also maintains the kathino chivar dan, Buddha Purnima, maghi purnima etc. They have at least one Buddhist vihara in their localities.

Dress and ornaments

Traditionally, a Tanchangya woman wears colorful dresses and ornaments. The full dress of a Tanchangya woman is collectively known as "Paiet Kapor", which literally translates to "five parts." These five parts are

"Pinon", which is in seven colors with stripes
"Phadhuri", which is used as a belt
"Mada-kobong" which is worn on the head
"Khadi", which is used as a scarf,
"Shalom", which is a blouse.

Tanchangya women also wear various ornaments. These include "Rajjur & Jhanga" for the ears, "Baghor & Kuchikharu" for the wrists, "Tajjur" for the arms, "Chandrahar, Hochuli, and Sikchara" for the neck. These ornaments are made mainly of silver. Tanchangya men traditionally wear a loincloth and long-sleeved shirts.

Musical instruments

Some of the Tanchangya musical instruments include the Bashi, Kengkrong, Chobuk, and duduk

Occupation

Agriculture is the main occupation of the Tanchangyas. Even today most Tanchangyas do jhum cultivation. They cultivate paddy, ginger, garlic, bagurpada, etc. on hill slopes. Literacy among Tanchangyas is low. A few of them serve in government and non-government organizations. Today, Tanchangya is a developing ethnic community on the international level. Nowadays many Tanchangyas are service people and professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, etc. They also are trying hard to become retail traders.

Traditions

Tanchangyas celebrate 'Bishu' as a main enjoyable festival at the end and beginning of the new year. "Pachon" is a special item for Bishu. "Pachon" is a mixed vegetable with dried fish etc. Nowadays "Bishu mela" were organized in Tanchangyas localities. "Ghila kala", "Nahdeng kala", and "Gudhu kala" are the Tanchangyas Traditional sports.
Upon the death of an individual, the body is bathed and covered with a white cloth. People pray for the departed soul in the presence of monks. The eldest son or a close relative of the deceased then shifts the body to the funeral pyre. The next day, they collect the burnt bones in a pot and cover it with a piece of cloth. Then they throw the burnt bones into a river.
The male children of a deceased Tanchangya father divide the property equally among themselves. The daughters cannot claim any share of the property except when they have no brothers. If the deceased father has no children, an adopted son inherits all the property. If a wife is separated when she is pregnant and if she gives birth to a male child, he will inherit her ex-husband's property. If someone dies as a bachelor or without any children, his property will go to his brothers.