Khamyang, also known as Shyam, is a tribal group found primarily in Tinsukia, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts of Assam as well as adjacent parts of Arunachal Pradesh. They have a population of 35,000, of which only a small minority speak the native Tai-based language. They are followers of Theravada Buddhism and are closely related to the Khampti.
The Khamyangs, who are popularly known as Noras are a section of the Great Thai or Tai-stock. They had their independent principality in Mungkong up to the end of the 18th century. These people are also popularly known as the Shyams. It may be relevantly noted here that Khamyang is a Tai word. Kham means ‘Gold’ and Yang or Jang means ‘to have’. So etymologically, the term Khamyang stands for the people from the land of Gold. Linguistically, the Khamyangs belong to a Tai-speaking group and they are Buddhist of Teravada School. At present, however, Tai language is not in use among the Khamyangs of Assam except in a small settlement named Powai Mukh near Margherita. The rest speak Assamese. But many Tai terms are still retained in their vocabulary. Thus in respect of language and some other cultural traits the Khamyangs are in the process of harmonious assimilation with the local Assamese culture. Their population is around 35,000, but only 200 of them can speak their Tai language and the rest speak Assamese. They maintain good relations with other Tai-Buddhist tribes of Assam.
The Tai Khamyangs, after crossing over the Patkai, got divided in to two groups namely the Mon Nam or Pani (Lao Land Nora). They are called Khamyangs in view of the fact that after their migration from Mungkong they settled at a place having that name. With regard to their migration to Assam, it may be noted that some Noras had accompanied Swargadeo Sukhapha and later on their separate identities were merged with the Ahoms. History bears testimony to the fact that in 1524 Swargadeo Chukungmong married the daughter of the Nora Raja and Nora Raja equally was honoured with an Ahom damsel. It is quite probable that some Noras might have accompanied the princess in 1576. Swargadeo Chukhamfa also married one Nora princess. The princess was accompanied by a Nora prince, a priest and 1000 Nora people. Again during the reign of Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha (1751–69), an Ahom officer named Kirti Chandra Barbaruaa brought many Nora people in order to prove his identity of being a real Ahom. According to Ahom history, the Khamyangs (Nora) people had a kingdom somewhere on the otherside of the Patkai range and it was known as Khamjang.
At present, the Nora as a distinct tribe, are found in Disangpani and Cholapather villages of Sibsagar District, Powaimukh village in Tinsukia district and near Titabar in Jorhat district. Many people also live in the urban areas of Duliajan, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar and Jorhat town. There are also a few Khamyang families in Arunachal Pradesh also, especially in Lohit district.
Most of them use Shyam as their surnames, which derive from their original home that is Siam (Thailand). Nowadays people use their original surnames like Pangyok, Thaomung, Wailong, Bailong, Tungkhang, Maloy, Kamthoung, Chaohai, Chaolek etc.
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