Gangte in Myanmar (Burma)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Identity

Identifying Gangte as a specific group in Myanmar is problematic, as linguists do not recognize their language apart from its close relationship to Saizang, Thado, and Zo. The Gangte retain a proud ethnic and cultural identity, however. Across the border in India, the Gangte enjoy recognition as one of that country’s Scheduled Tribes, with Gangte youth and cultural associations actively promoting their culture.

Location: The Gangte tribe numbers more than 30,000 people spanning both sides of the Myanmar-India border. The majority (24,000) live in northeast India, particularly in 37 villages within the state of Manipur. Others live in Assam, Nagaland, and Tripura. In Myanmar, the 6,600 Gangte people inhabit the Kabaw Valley in Chin State’s Tedim District, while some also spill over into three districts of southern Sagaing Region.

Language: The Gangte people in Myanmar speak a Northern Chin language related to Tedim and several other Tibeto-Burman varieties. In India, their language is under pressure from the dominant Meitei language in Manipur.


History

The name Gangte was originally a term “employed to denote the children of a remote ancestor, Tukgek. As they once lived in the Gang Valley, somewhere in Myanmar, they came to be known as Gangte (people of the Gang Valley).” For much of their history, the Gangte have been respected as brave warriors who never take a backward step. In recent years many of the tribes in Manipur, including the Gangte, have been subjected to ethnic cleansing by the dominant Hindu Meitei people. Since 2022, clashes over land rights led to hundreds of people being killed and women and girls raped.


Customs

Traditionally, when a young Gangte man wanted to marry, his parents visited the girl’s home, taking with them a jar of rice beer. If the proposal was not accepted, the girl’s parents would give a jar of beer in return and send them on their way. On the wedding day, the groom would send an advance party to fetch the bride. On their arrival at the girl’s village, “wrestling between the boy’s party and the girl’s party ensued. Strong and expert wrestlers from both sides were selected, but the boy’s side would allow the girl’s side to take the upper hand. It was considered that the boy had already won the competition by winning the hand of the girl in marriage, therefore her side should be allowed to win the wrestling as a consolation.”


Religion

For centuries the Gangte were animists, offering sacrifices to placate spirits that could wreak havoc on their communities. Fear of demons affected every area of their lives. For example, if a newborn baby was not immediately given a name, “thita (evil spirits) would do so, resulting in ill health or short life for the child.”4 In Manipur, the North-East India General Mission spearheaded Christian work among the Gangte and other tribes in the area. Progress was slow until the aftermath of the so-called Kuki Rebellion that occurred between 1917 and 1919, when the British subdued and disarmed the tribes.5 This military defeat “was more than a defeat at arms. It was a defeat of the old way of life, and large numbers of people began to turn towards Christianity. The Gospel of Christ brought a welcome word of peace and brotherhood to a people so recently ravaged by war.”


Christianity

Today, Jesus Christ has conquered the hearts of the Gangte people. In India, over 20,000 Gangte people (96 percent of their population) declared they were Christians in the 2011 census. On the Myanmar side of the border, many Gangte are also strong Christians, although animistic beliefs persist in some communities, especially those living in the Sagaing Region. Although the Gangte New Testament was published in 1959 and the full Bible in 1991, it is primarily only available and used on the Indian side of the border.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Gangte in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Asia Harvest  

People Name General Gangte
People Name in Country Gangte
Alternate Names Chin; Chin Gangte; Gante; Khangangjai; Khochung; Khongjar; Khongsai; Khotsoma; Kuki Chin; गंगते
Population this Country 6,600
Population all Countries 31,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 16819
ROP3 Code 112087
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Chin State: Kabaw Valley in Tonzang District; Sagaing Region: Tamu, Homalin, Layshi districts   Source:  Field researcher
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Chin State: Kabaw Valley in Tonzang District; Sagaing Region: Tamu, Homalin, Layshi districts.   Source:  Field researcher
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 35.00 %)
60.00 %
Ethnic Religions
40.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Gangte (6,600 speakers)
Language Code gnb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Gangte (6,600 speakers)
Language Code gnb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Gangte

Primary Language:  Gangte

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1952-1955)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1959)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1991-2021)
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gangte YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Gangte Kristien Labu (song book) Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gangte YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source B. John Gangte 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Asia Harvest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.