Eastern Indian ǀ South Asian
The India – Indo-Mongoloid– Meitei population data represent DNA samples from 105 individuals in one of two major ethnic groups (Indo-Caucasoid and Indo-Mongoloid) in Eastern India. Samples were obtained by the DNA Typing Unit of the Central Forensic Science Library, based in Calcutta/West Bengal, India. This effort was supported by a government grant from India’s Bureau of Police Research & Development, a part of the Police Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Meitei people are made up of seven clans that trace their written history back to 33 AD. For details on this population, see Wikipedia – Meitei people;
www.ethnologue.com; s1.zetaboards.com
Source publications: STR Data for the AMPFlSTR Profiler Plus Loci among Four Predominant Populations of Eastern India, JFS, 2000, p1353-1357.
The India – Indo-Mongoloid – Garo population data represent DNA samples from 110 individuals living in a major Indo Mongoloid tribal population from the Tibetan-Himalayan region, and currently located in an isolated region of eastern and northeastern India. Samples were obtained by the DNA Typing Unit of the Central Forensic Science Library in Calcutta/West Bengal, India. This effort was supported by a government grant from India’s Bureau of Police Research & Development, which is part of the Police Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs. For more details on this population, see
From www.state.gov:
“The Hindu caste system reflects Indian occupational and socially defined hierarchies. Ancient Sanskrit sources divide society into four major categories, priests (Brahmin), warriors (Kshatriya), traders/artisans (Vaishya) and farmers/laborers (Shudra). Although these categories are understood throughout India, they describe reality only in the most general terms. They omit, for example, the tribal people and those outside the caste system formerly known as “untouchables”, or dalits. In reality, Indian society is divided into thousands of jatis–local, endogamous groups based on occupation–and organized hierarchically according to complex ideas of purity and pollution. Discrimination based on caste is officially illegal, but remains prevalent, especially in rural areas. Nevertheless, the government has made strong efforts to minimize the importance of caste through active affirmative action and social policies. Moreover, caste is often diluted if not subsumed in the economically prosperous and heterogeneous cities, where an increasing percentage of India’s population lives. In the countryside, expanding education, land reform and economic opportunity through access to information, communication, transport, and credit are helping to lessen the harshest elements of the caste system.”
Source publications Population Data for Nine Fluorescent Based STR Loci Among Four Important Tribal Populations of India, JFS, 2001, p184-188.
The India – Indo-Mongoloid – Naga population data represent DNA samples from 106 individuals living in a major Indo Mongoloid tribal population from the Tibetan-Himalayan region of Nagaland, currently located in an isolated region of northeastern India. Samples were obtained by the DNA Typing Unit of the Central Forensic Science Library in Calcutta/West Bengal, India. This effort was supported by a government grant from India’s Bureau of Police Research & Development, which is part of the Police Division in the Ministry of Home Affairs. For more details on this population, see Wikipedia – Naga people;
Wikipedia – National Socialist Council of Nagaland;
From www.joshuaproject.net:
The Naga people come from Nagaland, a state in extreme Northeast India. It is believed that these hill-tribes of an Indo-Mongoloid stock have migrated from other countries in Southeast Asia. The Naga have 16 major tribes that include: Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khemungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sema, Yimchunger and Zeliang. Each tribe has its own language and cultural features. They communicate in Nagamese — which is a mixture of Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi. Hindi also is used in Nagaland, while English is the state language. They use the Roman script that was introduced to them by American missionaries. The organization of each village community differs from tribe to tribe, but most of the tribes have a democratic structure called village councils. An exception is the Konyak tribe, which has a village chief called ‘Ahngs’. Weaving is a traditional ar tin Nagaland that is handed down through the generations. Each of the major tribes has its own unique pattern and color scheme. Popular products and souvenirs made by the tribes include warm and colorful Naga shawls, hand-woven shoulder bags, decorative spears, tablemats, wood carvings and bamboo works. The formerly common practice of tattooing is slowly decreasing. Agriculture is their main occupation and rice is their staple food. The Naga tribes are exogamous in matters concerning marriage, meaning that marriages between the same clans are strictly prohibited.
Naga villages are located atop hills and every village has a ‘Morung’ or a meeting house where weapons and prizes of war are stored. Tribal dances that are distinctive to each tribe are the major Nagaland art form. Each tribe celebrates its own festivals, which honor individual gods related to agriculture and the harvest. The early Naga worshipped nature gods, but the advent of Christianity in the late 19th century – as spread by missionaries — brought a total transformation of the people. The spread of Christianity, the growth of education and area development programs have rapidly changed Naga culture. Political problems persist between the state government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) — a group of Naga underground soldiers.
Source publications: Population Data for Nine Fluorescent Based STR Loci Among Four Important Tribal Populations of India, JFS, 2001, p184-188.
[Population 85, 86, 90]
