| Total population |
|---|
| 80,597(2001 census) |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Mostly in Siang belt of Arunachal Pradesh |
| Languages |
| Religion |
The Galos constitute a tribe inhabiting the West Siang, southwestern side of East Siang, southeastern side of Upper Subansiri, as well as in some small pockets in Itanagar and Lower Dibang Valley, Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. They were earlier known variously as Duba, Doba, Dobah Abor, Gallong Abor, Galong, etc.
The Galo community has been listed as a scheduled tribe with the term Galong since 1950.[1] Now effort has been made to get the change of this term to Galo.
Contents |
The Galo population estimated at 80,597 (2001 census) makes them the one of the most populous tribe of Arunachal Pradesh . Galo people are found primarily in West Siang, southwestern side of East Siang, southeastern side of Upper Subansiri, as well as in some small pockets in Lower Dibang Valley and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Normally, they practice monogamy but polygamy is also practiced by rich and affluent people as a symbol of one's prosperity and prestige. Traditionally Galos practice shifting cultivation since olden days. But, after 1960s and 1970s, Wet rice and terrace cultivation was introduced with the efforts of the Govt. officials under IRDP (Integrated Rice Development) Programme in the hilly areas and foothills also. Since, then Wet Rice Cultivation is dominant, though jhumming cultivation is also still practiced, especially in remote villages away from urban townships. Galos are socio-economically dominant in their area. Around 95% of Galo children learn Galo as a first language, although most are also bilingual and borrow frequently from Assamese, Hindi and English. Donyi-Polo religious traditions persist to a degree in most Galo areas(this should not however be confused with the institutionalized form of 'Donyi-Poloism', which to many Galos is merely an adaption of 'alien' religion), although Christianity is on the rise in recent years especially in the foothill areas. Galos are often referred to by non-Galo(especially the Minyong-Padam group) as Gallong – an archaic pronunciation reflecting an earlier stage of the Galo language prior to its loss of the velar nasal in codas – and also as Adi – a generic term for a loose grouping of several central and eastern Tani tribes speaking several distinct languages. In most Tani languages, Adi (Galo adìi) means simply ‘hill (people)’.
Among the various tribes inhabiting the hills of Arunachal Pradesh, the Galo follow a unique method to name their children. The last syllable of the father's name is used as the first syllable of the child's name. For instance, if the father's name is Tani, then the children may be named as Nito, Niya and Nishi. Now this may continue as Tani---Nito---Topo---Polo---Loshi---Hiko---Kopak---Paktu---Tuni---Nigo---Goaa---Aalo for the Pugo people of Aalo area AND Abo(Tani)---Nito---Topo---Pone---Neur---Urchi---Chikar---Karko---(Kori-Riba, Rike, Rihar (Basar), Riram, Rina) (Kokar-Karbi, Karbak), (Koge-Geyie, Gerum), (Koie-Ering) etc. of Laare people of Basar area and so on. In fact this is how the name Aalo (Along) - headquarters of West Siang district - has come about. It might be noted that since it is a patriarchal system, children are not named after their mother. This unique method has been practiced since time immemorial. Since the Galo people had no written language of their own, this method of naming helped them in remembering their origins. It is believed that there were two kinds of Tani's, first one who do not have structural description and said, that was the first living thing on this earth which came out from water or sea, but that was not a human being, (like modern science believed in Blue-Green algae). After many centuries of evolution only Tani the Human being came to this earth.
Galo is a Tibeto-Burman language of the Western Tani branch. It is genetically closest to Nyishi/Nishi, Tagin, Bokar or Lhoba of Tibet, China, Pailibo/Libo, Ramo, Hills Miri and Nah and is to some degree mutually intelligible with them (depending on the dialects in question). However, due to a very long period of close contacts with and frequent bilingualism in the Eastern Tani language Minyong Adi - whose villages directly abut the Galo in several areas - Galo and Minyong languages have to some degree structurally converged. A mistaken belief has thus come about to the effect that Galo is a dialect of Adi language. In fact, although certain Adi and Galo tribespeople are in practice able to converse without great difficulty, this has mostly to do with the specific language experiences of the individuals involved. In their pure forms, Adi and Galo languages are mutually unintelligible and descend from distinct ancestors within opposite branches of the Tani subgroup.