Who are Kirats? Kirat or Kirants are the indigenous ethnic group of Himalayas. Although only Sunuwar, Limbu, Yakkha, Yakthunba, Bahing, Jero, Kulung, Khaling, Chamling, Nachhiring, Lohorung are generally called as Kirati, Gurung, Tamang, Tharu, Meche, koche, Jirel, Magar, Thakali, Sunuwar, Newar, Kagate, Lapche, Dhimal, Danuwar, also claims themselves to be a Kirati. Outside Nepal original inhabitants of Dooars i.e. Meche and koche, Bodo and Kachari tribes of Assam, also claims themselves to be a Kirati-mongolian. Their languages belong to Tibeto-Burman family of languages and have been living in this land of Himalaya since 2500 years ago. They are well known as a great warrior and hunter. There are many views, opinions, regarding the Kirat identity expressed by various writer, intellectuals, scholars and historians. Some are listed below: 1. All the Mongoloids who speak Tibeto-Burman language residing within the territory of Nepal like Rai Limbu, Meche, koche, Sunuwar, Danuwar, Hayu, Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa, Thakali, Chepang, are Kirat. Tanka Bahadur Rai, Kirat Bhumi Ra Kirat Janjiwan 2. Kirats are the inhabitants of Himalayan Mountains whose inhabitation extends from Chambaa in the west to Aasam, Nagabhumi, Meghalaya, Burma and Cambodia in the east. They are known by different names in different places like Bhota in Ladakh, Lahuli in Chamba, Kannor in Satjal valley, Jaad in Nelang, Marchha in Marrniti, Magar and Gurung in western Nepal, Tamang in mid-Nepal, Newar in Kathmandu valley, Rai, Limbu and Yakkha in eastern Nepal, Lepcha in Sikkim, Naga in Nagaland and Aasam. Dr. Kamala Saskritayan, Kirat Jatiko Eetihas 3. Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Sunuwar, Newar, Tamang, Sherpa, Kagate, Lapche, Mechekoche, Dhimal, Tharu, Danuwar,Limbu, Rai, all are Kirats even though mainly Rai and Limbu are considered as Kirats at present in Nepal. All the hill people of Aasam, Shaan, Kachin, Karen of Burma, Tai of Thailand, Khambooj of philiphines and Yuyani of China are also Kirats. Eman Singh Chemjong, Limbu-Nepali-English dictionary 4. Rai, Limbu, Sunuwar, Jirel, Koyu, Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Mechekoche and Newar of Kathmandu valley who speak Tibeto-Burman language are Kirats. Door Bahadur Bista, Fatalism and Development, Culcutta 5. Generally Rai are considered as Kirats but at some places Limbu are also known as Kirats who are the ancient people of Himalayan region, residing in eastern part of Nepal at present. The inhabitation areas of kirats are divided into three regions: Wallo Kirat Pradesh, Majh Kirat Pradesh and Pallo Kirat Pradesh. Janaklal Sharma, Hamro Samaj(Ek Aadhyan) 6. Kirats arrived at their present day habitats some 2000-2500 years ago. They were powerful and their territory was vast. They possibly reach the Ganga valley at one time. Brian Houghton Hudson 7. Kirats are found abundantly in the eastern part of Nepal. They are brave and great warrior, rude at the same time. F.B. Hamilton, an account of the kingdom of Nepal, New Delhi 8. Kirat mainly refers to Khambu. Yakkha and Limbu describe themselves to be different. But they intermarry with each other and it has been in practice since long back which merged the tradition, religious ceremony and facial structure of these three different groups into similar one. Practically, these three groups are very much similar with each other so all of them can be referred as Kirati. Eden Vansittart, Gurkhas Culcutta.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 04:54:20 +0000
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