Molecular Genetic Perspectives on the Origin of the Lyngngam Tribe of Meghalaya, India
[2023-08-01 11:28:39]
Meghalaya is a state in northeastern India and has two major tribal groups, Khasi and Garo. The controversial origin of the Lyngngam tribe of Meghalaya is the result of their geographical distribution, sandwiched between two major tribes. Analysis of historical, language and demographic data of the past so far suggests that neighboring Khasi and Garo are Lyngngam's putative parent group. In this paper we explored the origin of the Lyngngam tribe using autosomal, Y chromosome and molecular genetic markers of mtDNA to study all seven subgroups of Lyngngam, Garo and Khasi of Meghalaya. An estimate of the mixture of Lyngngam and putative parent population was obtained. The autosomal STR and mtDNA results clearly show the origin of Lyngngam by Khasi, but the Y-STR distance shows that Lyngngam is more closely related to Garo. In addition, previous comparative analysis of Y chromosome and mtDNA haplo group data from related Asia - Asia and Tibet - Burmese populations from South and Southeast Asia clearly excluded the possibility of the origin of Lyngngam from outside of Meghalaya. The combination of molecular genetic evidence and language, population and ethnic history information clearly shows the origin of the Khang origin of the Lyngngam tribe
Langstieh, B., Kumar, V., Aruna, M., Reddy, A., Dasgupta, S., Nirmala, A., Thangaraj, K., Singh, L. & Lady, (2012). Molecular genetic perspectives of the origin of Lyngngam tribe in Meghalaya, India Advances in anthropology, 2, 181 - 197. Doi: 10.4236 / aa.2012.24021
Lyngngams is a subordinate tribe of the people of Khasi. Our fathers told Lyngngams that they came from Myanmar before 1200 BC. The original name of this Lyngngams is "Ingam" and Garos calls it "Megarm". However, later changed to "Langam" and "Lyngngam". The first village of Lyngngam is Nongkulang and still exists in the southwestern part of Khasi Hills near the border with Bangladesh. After centuries of relocation from Myanmar, Lngams / Langams / Lyngngams has expanded from Nongkulang Village to three different sections. Some of them moved northeast of Nongkulang, some of them moved southwest of Nongkulang, some of them stayed in Nongkulang area. The person who moved northeast was called 'Lyngngam Hynneng brei', the person who moved southwest was called 'Lyngngam Hyrrum - brei', and the one who stayed in Nongkulang was called 'Lyngngam Langkymma'.
Meghalaya is a state in northeastern India and has two major tribal groups, Khasi and Garo. The controversial origin of the Lyngngam tribe of Meghalaya is the result of their geographical distribution, sandwiched between two major tribes. Analysis of historical, language and demographic data of the past so far suggests that neighboring Khasi and Garo are Lyngngam's putative parent group. In this paper we explored the origin of the Lyngngam tribe using autosomal, Y chromosome and molecular genetic markers of mtDNA to study all seven subgroups of Lyngngam, Garo and Khasi of Meghalaya. An estimate of the mixture of Lyngngam and putative parent population was obtained. The autosomal STR and mtDNA results clearly show the origin of Lyngngam by Khasi, but the Y-STR distance shows that Lyngngam is closer to Garo.