Kachins are Jinghpaw, Maru
(Lawngwaw),
Lashi
(Lachit), Zaiwa
(Azi),
Nung
(Hkanung), Rawang, Lisu (some books mention
Yodwin) and five other sub-groups. These seven major groups,
including five other different sub-groups, are together known as Kachins. They
have same traditions, customs, dialects and practices. Kachins believed to be originated themselves from Central
Asia
(Ka-ang Shingra). They are
believed to migrate 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
(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' to28o - 29' N Latitude and 96o - 99o E
Longitudes ( Lebar, Hickey and Musgrave,
1964:12). 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, llliike 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
mountaineous 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
literatures 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, By George Zunwa La Nu, is coming soon.
Zunwa or Zinwa received his education from Indian Universities and he has done
intensive research on the subject. 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.
