India 300,000 | Bangladesh 23,000 | |
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The Pangalis, also pronounced as Pangans are the minority ethnic group of people reside in Northeast India (Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Nagaland) and also found in Bangladesh. Pangalis are also known as Miah Meitei or Manipuri Muslim.
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History
Manipur is an ancient kingdom; its first historical king was Nongda Lairen Pakhangba of 33-154 AD. Muslims of Manipur are historically called Pangali or Meitei-Pangali which derives from "Pang" which was a Tai cognate tribe, although it may derive from "Banga", from where they came in the early seventh century.1 The word “Bangal” (“Bengal”) itself was coined from “Bang” by adding the suffix ‘al’, but the terms “Pang” and “Pangal” or Pangali existed in Manipur (formerly Poirei or Meitrabak or Mekhli/Mughlai or Kathe) since the seventh century. “Pangali” simply means “Manipuri Muslims”, as they follow Islam. They are also known as Meitei Pangali indicating the extent of acculturation and assimilation with the Meitei culture.
The Muslims of Manipur were result of two Muslim migrations in 1606 and 1724. Manipur provided shelter to Shah Shuja, the Mughal prince who fled (and was pursued) to save himself from the wrath of his brother Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. According to Henry Rule Kathe, Muslims are the result of intermixing (melting pot) of Muslims coming in different eras from different directions – Bengal, Arakan, Cachar and Manipur itself. Silk-spinning was a trade widely practised by them.
The Muslim Pangals of Manipur devastated and were taken as slaves by the invading Burmese armies.
Population
Their present population is 239886, making up 8.40% of the state of Manipur population as per 2011 census. The Pangali are mainly concentrated in and around Imphal, the capital of Manipur. There is large number of pangals live in Cachar in Assam, Hojai in Assam, Komolpur in Tripura and Bangladesh. It is believed that the ancestors of the Pangals settled in this region are migrated from Manipur during the seven years devastation also known as Chahi-Taret Khuntakpa, the black period in the history of Manipur when Burmese invasions of Assam and their conquest of Manipur around 1815 AD.
Family titles
Today there are more than 50 Muslim family title names. They are an indigenous and peace-loving community. Traditional dress for men is Lungis and pajamas, and for women is Fanek and Shalwar. Both also wear western attire. They maintained their own identity though they assimilated and intermixed with the local community.
Stratification
According to British writers, Manipuri Muslims (Pangals) were divided into four groups or clans- Shaikh, Syed, Mughal (Chaghtai Turks) and Pathan (Afghans) which have been further subdivided into 77 sub-clans or family titles. viz, Nongjai, Singa, Makak, Basai, Chesabam, Maibam, Lunggai, Sajabam, Wangmayum, Fundreimayum, Yumkhaibam, Sangomsumbam, Dolai pubam, Fisabam,...