The Tai-Khamtis of Northeast India: Negotiating Tradition and Modernity

The Tai-Khamtis of Northeast India represent a unique convergence of South and Southeast Asian cultural traditions. As practitioners of Theravāda Buddhism and speakers of a Tai language, they embody a distinctive identity within the multicultural landscape of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. This secondary data-based research paper draws upon historical accounts, linguistic studies, and anthropological literature to analyze the migration history, language, religious practices, social life, and contemporary challenges of the Tai-Khamtis. The paper argues that while the Tai-Khamtis continue to uphold their religious and cultural traditions, they are also negotiating adaptation and resilience in the context of globalization and socio-political change.