Khumi people
Encyclopedia
The Khumis are a community inhabiting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
of Bangladesh
. The Khumis are one of smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh
with a population of only 1214 according to the 1991 census (in the census of 1981 their population was recorded as 1258), though there are another 120,000 across the border in Burma.
the Khumis were the war like people. Earlier they were very often engaged in internecine or intertrinal warfare with the Bawms
and the Mros
. The Khumis used to live in Arakan
; when there was fierce battle between them and the Mros, the latter being defeated fled to Chittagong Hill Tracts
. But later the Khumis themselves entered Chittagong Hill Tratcs after being defeated by a more powerful tribe.
Now the Khumis live in Ruma and Thanchi areas of Bandarban District
.
. Only in 1995 did one of their members passed Secondary School Certificate
examination.
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. The Khumis are one of smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
with a population of only 1214 according to the 1991 census (in the census of 1981 their population was recorded as 1258), though there are another 120,000 across the border in Burma.
History
Among the ethnic groups in Chittagong Hill TractsChittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
the Khumis were the war like people. Earlier they were very often engaged in internecine or intertrinal warfare with the Bawms
Bawm people
The Bom , are a community inhabiting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The Bom are one of smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh with a population of only 6978 according to the 1991 census.They are famous for their simple lives, honesty and truthfulness.-History:The Bawms of the CHT call...
and the Mros
Mro people
The Mros also known as Murangs or Mru, are a community inhabiting the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and also in Burma with a population of 21,963 in Bangladesh according to the 1991 census. The Mros are the 2nd largest tribal group in Bandarban District of the Chittagong Hill Tracts...
. The Khumis used to live in Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
; when there was fierce battle between them and the Mros, the latter being defeated fled to Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
. But later the Khumis themselves entered Chittagong Hill Tratcs after being defeated by a more powerful tribe.
Now the Khumis live in Ruma and Thanchi areas of Bandarban District
Bandarban District
Bandarban is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of the Chittagong Division and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bandarban , or in Marma or Arakanese language as "Rwa-daw Mro" is also known as Arvumi or the Bohmong Circle Bandarban is a district in South-Eastern Bangladesh, and a part of...
.
Religion and Culture
The Khumis are animists. The men keep long hair and tie it into a tuft on the head. They are dependent on shifting cultivationShifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
. Only in 1995 did one of their members passed Secondary School Certificate
Secondary School Certificate
The Secondary School Certificate, also known as SSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Tamilnadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa in India after successfully completing at least ten years of schooling. It is followed...
examination.