ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to bring together a profile of the Khamtis of Arunachal Pradesh within the larger canvas of Asian history. In the spiritual domain of the Khamti people Theravada Buddhism plays an extremely important role, while their Tai-Shan linguistic identity brings them close not only to Myanmar, but also to Thailand. Among the people of India’s north-eastern states, the Khamtis are one of the very few people who have their own script. The Khamtis, who can claim their due share in preserving the heritage of Myanmar model of Buddhism, impressed Lila Gogoi to the extent of stating, ‘The Khamtis profess the Hinayana or Theravada faith after the Burmese church’. The most interesting phenomenon appears to be the manner in which the Khamtis subjugated the Assamese people and proclaimed their superiority. After all, the Khamtis belonged to the same Tai-Shan race, to which their forefathers, the Ahoms, also belonged.
