A Linguistic Description of Limbu Language Spoken in Sikkim State (original) (raw)
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THE LIMBUS OF NORTH BENGAL: AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDY IN TWO DISTRICTS OF WEST BENGAL
The name "Limbu" was derived from the words "Lingdong "meaning "bow and arrow, belonging to the bigger group 'Kiranti' or 'Kirati'. The Limbu is one of the indigenous tribes and ancient inhabitants in the 'Limbuwan' kingdom of the Eastern Himalayas, identified with their own language, pertaining to Tibeto-Burman, nut now on the verge of extinction and only found existing in the remote and isolated villages. The community constitutes a peculiar ethnic group adopting a form of their traditional culture, language and religion which is quite distinct from other ethnic groups of Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas Once, they were transhumant and pastoralists, so, they probably took their cattle to higher altitudes in summer and came down to the middle hills during winter, But after the declaration of their living areas as protected areas, they started their settlement in the buffer areas, after being driven away or alienated from their original settlement.They were given lands and begun agricultural and horticultural practices at the lower foothills of Himalayas. Nowadays, primarily they are agriculturists by nature and give much attention on horticultural cash crops. They have been demanding 'Tribal Status' for a long. Central Government has granted 'Scheduled Tribe' status only to 'Limbu' along with 'Tamang' in 2003. The culture is now under the influence of Nepalese culture. This study intends to focus on the origin and ethno history, social, economic and religious & political life on the empirical data, with the application of social Anthropological tools and techniques in two districts of North Bengal.
Limbu Kinship Terminology a Description
2016
The following is a description of 'the kinship terms in the Lirnbu language as it is spoken in Tamphula village in the Koshi Zone of Eastern Nepal. A brief historical sketch is provided to place the Limbus in a socio-historical perspective for the reader unfamiliar with Nepalese society. The Limbu terminology of kinship is described, and subsequently a nurober of kinship terms are related to Tibeto-Burman etyma. Finally, some concluding remarks are made, and diagrams and an alphabetical list of glossed kinship terms are included at the end of the article. The definition of kinship adhered to throughout this article is that given by Sheffler (1972): A kinship term is employed to designate a category of kinsrnen; a kinsman is an individual to whom one (Ego) is related by genealogical connection, and ge-nealogical Connections are those culturally-posited
An Analysis of the Kirat Limbu Traditional Beliefs and Culture
Global Journal of Research in Humanities and Cultural Studies, 2022
The review article provides an overview of the cultural developments of the indigenous Kirat Limbu community. The report comprehensively analyzes verifiable facts and evidence. It considers cultural, linguistic, historical, archaeological, and anthropological viewpoints. According to the Sanskrit book Yoginitantra, Kirat Limbu originated in Kushdesh, Africa. Persian history identified traces of Kirat Limbu's ancestors in Mesopotamia. Linguistic evidence also connects Kirat Limbu's ancestors to the Mesopotamian Lepmu race, which parallels Greek mythology. The history demonstrates that Kirat from that region with Shiva/Saba. They arrived at Saptasindhu and developed the Sindh-Harappan civilization, uncovered in excavations. They worshipped Shiva, Pashupati, and Shakti. Mundhum claims that their journey to Nepal took place via India's Ganga lowlands and Tibet China. When they first arrived in Himalayan Nepal, their beliefs were Shaiva and Shaivatic-Bon. Hinduism developed after Aryan accepted Shaiva, renamed Sanatan, and introduced the Brahmin-dominated caste system. As a result, some Kirats became Hindus (Kshatriya). Kashi Limbu abolished wearing the threads Janai and Kshatriya castes for Kipat right but retained native Shivaism under the Yahang, Thebasam, Mundhum, Sattehang, and other names. Another branch imported Buddhist-Bon from Tibet to Nepal under Yuma/Lhasahangma. Thus, the Kirat Limbu beliefs and culture have evolved due to reciprocal influence and assimilation.
LIMBUS: AN OUTLINE OF THEIR MUSIC AND CULTURE
BEST Journals, 2014
The Limbus are a small but historically important ethnic race of the Nepalese and Indian Himalayan regions. The etymological origin of the word ‘LImbu’ is to be traced in various literature and popular traditions of the Tibeto-Indian Himalayas. Reference to these ethnic people is also to be found in Indian traditional literature including the great epics. The present article deals with the Limbu demography and patterns of settlement, their physical features, language and script, means of subsistence, religious practices, social customs including those of dress and garments. However what makes the Limbus an especially interesting people to study is their culture wherein traditional Limbu music and folk songs feature as the most remarkable.
Limbus in the UK The main aim of the article is to provide information about Limbus in the UK, as well as about the Kirat Yakthung Chumlung UK (KYCUK) and its role in the welfare, education, and preservation of religion, culture, and language. It is aimed particularly at the second generation Limbus in the UK whose main language is English and who are literate primarily in English. Historical background The Limbu people, who are called Yakthung in Limbu language, are a branch of the Kirat people. According to the Limbu myth passed over generations through an oral tradition (Mundhum), they are the descendants of Susuwa Lilim Yakthunghang who are indigenous people of the land to the east of Arun River, Nepal, and in the South and West Districts of Sikkim, India. This land was historically occupied and ruled by Yakthunghangs until 1774 (242 years ago). They are believed to have originally migrated from Mongolia (Munaphen Tembe/Mangjiriden). Before they came to the east of Arun River and moved up to Sikkim, they first migrated to what is today known as China, and then to Tibet (Muden/Mudenbaden) and Sichuan/Yunan (Sinyukden). According to Mangena Mundhum, those who migrated from Tibet travelled by following rivers passes-those of the Arun, the Barun, the Likhu, the Indrawati, the Sun Koshi, the Dudh Koshi, the Tamba Koshi, and the Tamor-to cross the Himalayan region. On their descent, at one point their route was completely blocked by a big lake named Walleso Pulleso (Sodho warak/arak) and the lake was surrounded (Pakwaphangma) by the mountain Tangwara. The journey was very demanding and they used various means to overcome it. Maden Phenduwa and Labung travelled riding on buffalos' back, by which means they found easy to cross the rivers and the lake. It is believed that for this reason, their descendants do not eat buffalo meat until today. They are Mudenbaden nu keyubasi as migrated from Tibet. In Sikkim, Limbu people are called Tsong as they migrated from U-Tsang province of Tibet. Those who migrated all the way from Sichuan and Yunnan to the east through Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Bhutan, and Meghalaya are known as Sinyukden lam kebhembasi. Some from Sichuan and Yunnan travelled to the southwest and spent up to 10 or 12 generations in the periphery of Kashi (Yetchiri Yetchwakhu Tembe) and then migrated towards the north to Morang and Sunsari (Murong) and Dhankuta. They are known as Kashi nu kedhangbasi. During the early period there were extraordinary and powerful people such as Sawa Yukphung Kemba, Sawa Yethangs, Pegi Phanghangs, Sutchuru Suhangpheba, Tetlera Lahadongna, Sodung Lempumuhang and Khambongba Lungbongba existed in the community. They played an important role in the process of migration and settlement at the formative stage.
Bordering between Sikkim and Nepal The Making of the Limbu as a Borderland People Vandenhelsken
Traditional Neighbors, Different Modernities, 2024
The Limbu community’s ancestral territory stretches roughly between the rivers Arun, in Nepal, and Teesta, in Sikkim. It was divided into two parts by the border that separates eastern Nepal from the Indian state of Sikkim and that was established by two treaties: one between the East India Company and the Nepali rulers (Treaty of Sugauli, 1816), and the other between the East India Company and Sikkim (Treaty of Titalia, 1817). Today, a number of Limbu intellectuals in Sikkim claim, ‘We have our own culture, religion, language and script; we have everything’. The Limbu also feel the need to reassert their indigeneity in Sikkim.
Kirat Limbu Culture -Anthropological Investigation into Samba Phyang Ethnicity
Hamro Idea, Biratnagar, Nepal, 2023
Human existence is believed to be incomplete without the enrichment of culture. Some individuals wholeheartedly immerse themselves in their cultural surroundings, while others observe from a distance. The ancient Kirat civilization of Nepal predates any religious texts we have. Unfortunately, their profound cultural wisdom has primarily faded, leading to a disheartening void in our understanding of ancient knowledge. The plight of the indigenous communities in the land nurtured by their toil and sacrifice is a cause for concern. Neglecting the valuable contributions of these indigenous communities in the name of progress leaves us incomplete. Through a thorough anthropological study of the Kirat Limbu community, we've arrived at factual and logical conclusions regarding the questions they've raised. This writer endeavors to share this information, driven purely by academic value and recognition. Recognizing his responsibility, this writer, in the later stages of life, has felt a sense of urgency in preserving the positivity of research. The book is published to document synthesized knowledge based on trustworthy information and data, thereby sharing it with readers. This book has expected to be a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the true essence of Nepali soil, to explore the rich Kirat civilization, its culture, and the intricate tapestry of ethnic issues—best of luck on this enlightening journey.
Linguistic Typology of the Limbu Mundhum: A Diglossic Case
Dristikon: A Multidisciplinary Journal
This paper aims at looking into varieties of the Mundhum language and reasons for its intricacies to the Limbu natives. The study attempts to follow the qualitative research design which involves collecting non-numerical data especially the religious text or discourse for analysis and interpretation. After the related data were collected, the linguistic theory specifically linguistic typology is used to analyze, compare and interpret them. The findings ofthis study indicated that the Mundhum or the religious scripture of the Limbu community does have a specific language variety which emerges out from the diglossic situation. According to the diglossic situation, the Mundhum serves as the high variety. This high variety is employed in formal social functions and ritual performances. To the contrary, the ordinary languagevariety of Limbu is used in every day communicative purposes and this type of speech variety is considered to be low variety in the sociolinguistics' field. There...
Ethno history and fluid identity of the Limboo tribe of Sikkim
2015
Sikkim, before the formation of the Namgyal Dynasty was occupied by the Lepchas and the Limboos, ruled independently by their own chiefs. The political tension prevailing in Tibet made the Tibetan monks flee to Sikkim which led to the establishment of the Namgyal Dynasty and this dynasty unified the three ethnic communities of Sikkim i.e. the Lepchas, the Bhutia and the Limboos under one umbrella, established what is now known as „Sikkim‟ and ruled this region for more than three hundred years. In the beginning, the Limboos opposed the rule of the Namgyals, fought against them but ended with the acceptance of the Namgyal rule, for they were offered better position by their ruler. The treaty of Lho Mon Tsong sum stands upright reminding of the old brotherhood treaty among the Lepchas, Bhutias and the Limboos. These three communities had taken a solemn oath that they would not fight among themselves and would remain united with one another.