Thadou is a distinct tribe with their own distinct identity., UPSC.

Description

Thadou Tribes

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Context: A section of the Thadou tribes represented by the Manipur-based Thadou Students' Association (TSA) has formed a global platform to look into critical issues facing the community, particularly in Manipur.

Details

Name	Thadou Tribes
Other names	Chillya; Kuki; Kukihin; Teizang; Theruvan.
Inhabitants of	Adjacent to the Imphal Valley in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. Thadou population have been reported only in India, some small population have settled in Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Delhi.
Population	2,45,000.
Language	Chin and Thadou language, belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of the Sino-Tibetan languages.
Sociopolitical Organization	The position of chief/headman was of primary importance. The chief is owner of all village lands and receives the benefit of dues.
Economic activity	Thadou subsistence activities include animal domestication, cultivation , hunting, and fishing. Jhum (slash-and-burn) agriculture is predominant.
Beliefs	Almost all Thadou claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, around 96%. The *thempu* (medicine man/priest) is the chief religious practitioner of the Thadou.
Festival	The Hun-Thadou cultural festival is an annual celebration of the Thadou community in Manipur, celebrated at the arrival of the new year.
Historical event	Anglo-Thadou War/Kuki rebellion of 1917-1919.