Tanchangya people

Tanchangya
๐‘„–๐‘„ง๐‘„๐‘„ด๐‘„Œ๐‘„ง๐‘„๐‘„‰๐‘„ด๐‘„ก
เฆคเฆžเงเฆšเฆ™เงเฆ—เงเฆฏเฆพ
Tanchangya women
Total population
โ‰ฅ45,972 [1]
Regions with significant populations
Bangladesh, India, Myanmar
Bangladesh45,972 (2022)[1]
Indiaunknown
Myanmarunknown
Languages
Tanchangya
Religion
Buddhism โ€ข Christianity โ€ข others
Related ethnic groups
Chakma, Daingnet, Chak, Rakhine, Bamar
PeopleTanchangya
LanguageTanchangya (๐‘„–๐‘„ง๐‘„๐‘„ด๐‘„Œ๐‘„ง๐‘„๐‘„‰๐‘„ด๐‘„ก)
CountryChapre (ancient homeland), Bangladesh, Myanmar, India

The Tanchangya people, Tonchonga, Tanchangyas or Tonchongyas (/หˆtษ’ntสƒษ’ล‹ษ›/) are an ethnic group living in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh,[2] Indian states of Tripura and Mizoram, and Rakhine state of Myanmar.

According to the 2022 census, there are 45,972 Tanchangyas in Bangladesh.[1]

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 Tanchangya people migrated to present-day Bangladesh after facing severe oppression in Arakan. According to historical accounts, the Rakhines persecuted the Dainaks (Tanchangyas). Unable to endure the mistreatment, the Tanchangyas left their homeland of Chaprei in 1418 AD. Traveling through dense forests and crossing the Naf River, they eventually arrived in Chittagong. At that time, the ruler of Chittagong, Jamal Uddin, granted them permission to settle in twelve villages located in the Taingang River basin near the Matamuhuri River, an area that is now part of Alikadam upazila. Over time, the Tanchangyas gradually dispersed and established communities across various regions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.[3]

Geographical location

Map showing the percentage of Tanchangya population by Upazila in Bangladesh

According to the 2022 Bangladeshi census, there are 45,972 Tanchangyas in Bangladesh.[1] 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.[4][5][6][7]

They are the largest ethnic group in Belaichhari Upazila (38.77%) and second largest in Rowangchhari Upazila (14.39%).[7][4]

Upazila District Population Percentage of Tanchangya[4][5][6][7]
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.[8] Tanchangya people have their own script [9]

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."[10]

Religion

Tanchangya people are Buddhists and observe religious rites such as 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

  • (1) "Pinon", which is in seven colors with stripes
  • (2) "Phadhuri", which is used as a belt
  • (3) "Mada-kobong" which is worn on the head
  • (4) "Khadi", which is used as a scarf,
  • (5) "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 (flute), 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 (e.g.coriander), 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.[11] "Pachon" is a special item for Bishu. "Pachon" is a mixed vegetable with dried fish etc. Nowadays "Bishu mela" is 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 them 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.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Table 1.4 Ethnic Population by Group and Sex" (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2021. p. 33. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Tanchangya, The". Banglapedia. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  3. ^ Shakil Kalam (7 March 2025). "Bangladesh: History of Tanchangyas Minority". Sindh Courier. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Bandarban (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 202โ€“206. ISBN 978-984-475-276-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  5. ^ a b Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Chattogram (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 319โ€“326. ISBN 978-984-475-276-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  6. ^ a b Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Cox's Bazar (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 258โ€“262. ISBN 978-984-475-257-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  7. ^ a b c Population and Housing Census 2022 - District Report: Rangamati (PDF). Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. June 2024. pp. xiv, 235โ€“239. ISBN 978-984-475-257-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  8. ^ Debnath, Rupak (2008). Ethnographic Study of Tanchangya of CHT, CADC, Sittwe, and South Tripura. Kolkata: Kreativmind, India. p. 71.
  9. ^ Alphabets.
  10. ^ "Tanchangya Tribe โ€“ BoNY". Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  11. ^ "Biju, Bishu festivals begin in Bandarban". The Daily Ittefaq. Retrieved 2026-04-16.
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