Language and Culture
A number of resources exist for learning more about the Thangmi language and culture
Language
- THDL's Thangmi - Nepali - English Dictionary
- Mark Turin's publications on the Thangmi language
- Nepali language resources
- Summer Institute of Linguistics page on Thangmi
Culture
The Thangmi Ethnic Community of the Himalayas
This page is devoted to the culture and language of the Thangmi people
of the Himalayas. The Thangmi, 'Thami' in Nepali, are an ethnic group of over 30,000 indigenous
to central eastern Nepal who speak a Tibeto-Burman language of the
same name. Aside from the districts of Dolakha and Sindhupalcok in
Nepal, there are Thangmi communities in Darjeeling and Sikkim in
India, and in southern Tibet. Mark Turin and Sara Shneiderman have
been working with ethnic Thangmi and Thangmi-speaking communities in
Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim since 1996, and have compiled various
resources and publications about them which are linked on this page.
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Spotlight: The Kodari Guru
 |
In January 1998, Shneiderman and Turin visited Thami Gau, a largely Thangmi village close to the Tibetan border. For a full day, the anthropologists accompanied Jhankri Maila, the Thangmi shaman shown in the image to the left, as he made his rounds through the settlement diagnosing illnesses and curing a case of spirit possession. Shneiderman later had a photo exhibition in Kathmandu which prominently featured this shaman. Jhankri Maila passed away two years ago, and his memory and vitality are honoured with this spotlight. |
Video & Film
Five short digital video clips of Thangmi shamanism are available from the link below.
Photos & Images
Some of Sara Shneiderman's black and white photos of Thangmi communities can be seen by clicking the link below.