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WHO ARE THE KACHINS?

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Kachins are Jinghpaw, Maru (Lawngwaw), Lashi (Lachit), Zaiwa (Azi), Rawang, Lisu (some books mention Yodwin) and five other sub-groups. These six major groups, including five other different sub-groups, are together known as Kachins. They have same traditions, customs, dialects and practices. Kachins originated from Central Asia (Ka-ang Shingra). They migrated from Central Asia via Persia;

Tashkent and Sarmakand (Southern Russia); Mongolia; Huhethot, Kan Su, Tsing Hai Districts, Yalo Tsangpo of Republic of China. Then they were back to the Tsing Hai District (China) and landed to the place called: Chengtu (China).

Then they finally migrated to the present occupied land called: The Kachinland. After migrating to the land, some of them strayed away to India (Singphos), China (Jingpos or Jinghpos, most of them in China speak Zaiwa) and most of the Kachins migrated to the Northern Burma: Kachinland. It is only about 2662 years old that the Kachins live in the present land. They were explorers, and were moving along the riverbanks where they could find fertile lands.

WHERE DO THE KACHINS LIVE?

Most of the Kachins live in their own land.
They had a separate country before the British Rule, but then it became a part of Burma after the Rule. Total area of the Kachinland measures about 33,903 square miles, located between 23o-3' to 28o - 29' N Latitude and 96o - 99o E Longitudes. Kachinland is adjoining with Peoples Republic of China in the East, Democratic Republic of India in the West, Tibet in the North and Burma in the South. About 50% of the total area of the Kachinland are hills and mountains up to the height of 5,881 metres above the sea level.

Kachinland is rich in natural resources. Jades and teak-timbers are the best in quality, and production of gold per unit area is the highest, in the world.

The land is covered with undisturbed-natural forests. The rarest natural species like Black Orchids, White Pheasants, and golden fishes in the confluence of Mali and Nmai rivers are observed. There are mainly three seasons in the Kachinland viz., Yinam ta , sometimes also written as Lanam ta (Rainy Season), i.e., middle of May to middle of October; N'lum ta (Summer Season) is from middle of February to middle of May, and N'shung ta (Winter Season) starts from middle of October and ends in February. Annual Mean Daily Temperature ranges from 4 - 36 oC with 60 - 95% Relative Humidity. Hill cities, like Putao, have a very low temperature ranging from -4 to 18oC with low humidity. The uppermost part of Kachinland, including the most beautiful Plateau-city (Putao) falls in temperate zone. The maximum temperature of 40 oC was recorded in 1996. Annual rainfall ranges from 80 to 200 inches. More rainfall has been observed in mountainous parts of the land.

Myitkyina (is the capital city, estimated living about 4-6 million people including Non-Kachins (NKs.), Manmaw (Bhamo), Mukawng (Mogaung), Putau-U (Putao), Mohnyin, and Katha are the major cities of the Kachinland. International airport and the second largest station of Burmese railway are located in Myikyina.

Ledo Road (some literature mentioned as Old StilWell Road) is connected to the world via China in the east and via India in the west. The Road is one of the most ever expensive ones in the world spending more than US $ 137 millions in some 1942 - 1944, constructed under the leadership of Gen. Stil Well. Captain E R Leech, Dr Ola Hanson, were some of the famous authors who wrote about the Kachins. Meanwhile, due to envitable circumstances of communication with the people, they could not mention the true to type of the Kachins. This book though not mentions about the Kachins in detail, it gives you true colours and real History of the Kachins in brief.


This is just a brief Introduction about the Kachins. The book: Kachins are Not Tribe, is yet to be completed due to complexity of Five or more Families. The research is done by the author et al with the due effort to support the statement while taking care of the word: Tribe. Strictly speaking, Kachins are not Tribe - they have their own Class with Five Ruling families viz., Lahtaw, Lahpai, Nhkum, Maran and Marip. Kachins originated from Ka-ang shingra and the civilization started in Majoi Shingra. Most of the Kachins and other workers understand that the Word Majoi Shingra as Mount Everest as it pronounces closely to it. The right pronunciation of the word: Majoi Shingra and its meaning for what we want is entirely different from what some of others think. Majoi Shingra for Mount Everest is a bit higher as in majoi tsun ai and Majoi Shingra for what is that not clear to us pronounces a bit lower in Majoi as in Lu Htoi or wan htoi.

Thus, original place of the Kachins are not yet clear because of the gap of communication to translate Mungding Ga (Historical Words) spoken by ancestors of the Kachins. Ka-ang itself is clear, meaning: Centre while Shingra is difficult to understand at this time. Shingra, in other words, means nature or melancholy. The word melancholy is not applicable in terms of Anthropological view. Yet, there is another Mungding Ga: Majoi Shingra, to be translated. If the Word Ka-ang Shingra and Majoi Shingra is clear, the original place of the Kachins will be clear accordingly.

ref: by Jinghpaw Wunpawng jawng ma hpung web kaw na laika ngau rai li ai.