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Bhutan
- Ethnic Groups & People
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Bhutan's People Merak - Sakten |
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Bhutan Information |
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A
closer look at the Brokpas of Merak - Sakten
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| The
geographical location |
| Located
in the two eastern most geogs in Trashigang dzongkhag and wedged between
the glacial valleys of Greater Himalayas, and bordering the Indian state
of Arunachal Pradesh in the North and North East lies Merak and Sakteng.
At about 3000 m above sea level-the lower limit of glaciation in Bhutan
- even during the summer months the Brokpa habitat is a glacially sculptured
landscape. |
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| While Merak is an upland valley along Nyera Ama Chhu Sakteng is located on the
lower valley along Gamri Chhu. According to the demographic of the
geogs, Merak has about 213 households with a population of 1,908 while
Sakteng 330 with about 2,126 residents. Together they form 0.12 percent
of the total population of the country. Gender ratios in the two geogs
vary from 1141.4 males per thousand females in Merak to 1051 males in Sakten.
"The gender ratio of both the gewogs are higher than that of the country
because of nature of Brokpa economy which requires more manpower," said
the study. |
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Brokpa people:
The
Brokpas: Clinging to age old traditions
| I what is considered the first comprehensive study of one of Bhutan's most
remote tribes - the Brokpas of Merak and Sakten interesting facts of this
wellknown yet obscure nomadic tribe comes to light. Conducted by
a group of Sherubtse students the study looks at the various aspects of
Brokpa life from its locations to its ancient roots, customs and traditions. |
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top
Folklore,
travel and intrigue surrounds the Brokpa origins. Their story begins during
the reign of King Songtsen Gombo in 640 AD, in the land of Komley Roksum
in Tibet, where there lived a local ruler named Yezang Penpo of Tsona.
According to Brokpa folk lore, one day the king ordered his people to destroy
the mountain peak that blocked the sun so it could shine brightly on his
fort. The people worked for several days, months and years, in vain. Over
the years out of sheer desperation the people, led by a young woman called
Jhomo, murdered the king and fled Tsona into Bhutan.
Those
who fled Tsona was divided by Ama Jhomo into three groups. The first group
was known as Sharpa Dengze (Eastern group) who settled down in Sakteng
near a place called Domego Mirtsheng in Arunachal Pradesh. The second and
third group-the Lhopa Dengze (Southern group) and the Nuppa Dengze (Western
group) settled down in Lung Zempo for many years, where the ruins of the
stone houses are still visible.
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Brokpa people
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a few years the Lhopa Dengze and the Nuppa Dengze moved to Sakteng and
later started making their way to present day Merak. However, with the
harsh geographical conditions and the tough journey only a few proceeded
to Merak led by Ama Jhomo and Lam Jarrapa. When Ama Jhomo's group
reached Merak, the plateau of Merak was full of trees which had to be cleared
and burnt down for the settlement. Thus, the place got its name, Methra
(meaning to set on fire in dzongkha), which was later changed to Merak. |
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Sakteng
meanwhile got its name from the vegetation in the area - Bamboos. The Brokpas
named their area Sakteng the 'Plains of Bamboo'.
Over
the years the Brokpa settlements in Sakteng spread to areas like Borangtse,
Borangmang, Tengmang, Pusa, Thakthri and Manidungur, Murphey, Jongkhar
and Tholong. These movements were largely fuelled by the search for warmer
climates for agriculture and for easier access to trading. In Merak the
first phase of settlement took place around Merak and Gengor later spreading
out to the lower regions of Khiliphu and Chaling. However, according to
the study, the proper settlement in Merak and Sakteng were established
after 240 years during the tenure of the third Jekhenpo Tenzin Rabgay.
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| Contributed
by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper |
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information |
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