Introduction to Chhantyal Community and Their Ingenuity

Chhantyal Community is an ethnic group among nearly seventy nationalities in Nepal, who has concentration in western part of the country. Chhantyals are considered as indeginious nationality by the Government of Nepal. Baglung and Myagdi are two districts in Dhaulagiri Zone where most of chhantyals are living. Other districts includes Mustang, Gulmi , Rukum, and Parbat. Nowadays, because of migration trend there is notable population of chhantyals in Kathmandu Valley, Rupandehi, Kaski, Dang and Chitwan districts. Chhantyals are traditionally living with other castes commonly. There is hardly any village totally controlled by chhantyals. Instead population of village is composed of two or more than two ethnic groups. In some villages chhantyals are major group and in other villages as minority group.

Chhantyals have their own culture, tradition, rituals, language, and religion. However chhantyals’ language known as chhantyal kham is near to extinct. Most of chhantyals in Baglung have ceased to speak chhantyal kham many years ago. Some efforts has been made but the goal to preserve it is somewhat far from current efforts. Main problem with chhantyal kham is that there is no written alphabets. Some words and expression are akin to (Tamu) Gurung kham language, but these two are separate khams with distinct identity and history.

Currently they are estimated to be around 20,000. According to a survey conducted my its sole organization, Nepal Chhantyal Sang, total population was 10,521 and 1,519 households. One of the major distinct characteristics of the community is marriage tradition. It is different from Magars, their closest group, and also with Aryans. Traditionally they marry inside their twelve clans. Community’s clans or family groups are given below.

Clans or Family Groups inside Chhantyal Community

1. Bhalanja (Valanja) Chhantyal
2. Budhathoki Chhantyal
3. Dandamare Chhantyal
4. Gharabja Chhantyal
5. Gharti Chhantyal
6. Ghyapchan Chhantyal
7. Jhingraja Chhantyal
8. Khadka Chhantyal
9. Potlange Chhantyal
10. Purane Chhantyal
11. Tathapja Chhantyal
12. Singe Chhantyal

As a matter of faith, chhantyals worship nature and their ancestor’s spirit. They give animal sacrifice on trees, hills, source of water and other special places like farm, inside house etc. Because of Hinduism’s pressure in 19th century, chhantyals have mixed worshiping style after that time. Historically, many mongoloids are close to Buddism including chhantyals. But Buddism has less effect on the original tradition, which chhantyal community is still following. Mghe-Sankranti and Saune-Sankranti are two major festivals. These two festivals has special importance on nature and ancestor’s spirit worship. Dashain and Tihar, Hindu’s major festivals, are also celebrated as special occasition.

Chhantyals were skilled miners. They used to mine copper ores. Amazing point about the chhantyals is that they didn’t used any scientific tools to mine. They could survey the area with mind, taste and smell the soil and rock to locate the copper ore. When found, they used to go far inside the hills and it took many years to complete. There are many caves, long and big holes inside mountains, landslides, cut hills which were made during the mining time. This fact says their braveness, ingenuity and ability to discover the particular things. Sadly, they left their original profession because of Nepal Government’s intense pressure by imposing high tax rate. Today, farming is major occupation for survival in the community. Foreign remittance also plays vital role as most of the young people goes to other countries as labor force.

(This is short account about the chhantyal community. People anyone can join in this discussion. I have taken help from some books written by chhantyals but most of the article is designed with real experience as being myself a chhantyal. I m still in my quest on the economic impact of mining and price of loss after chhantyals left the profession)