Bhotiyas are people of presumed Tibetan heritage that live along the Indo-Tibetan border in the upper reaches of theGreat Himalayas, at elevations ranging from 6,500 feet (2,000 m) to 13,000 feet (4,000 m). InUttarakhand, they inhabit seven river valleys, three in theGarhwal division (Jadh, Mana and Niti) and four in theKumaon division (Johar, Darma, Byans and Chaudans). They followHinduism withBuddhism and traditionally speakWest Himalayish languages related to the oldZhangzhung language. Their main traditional occupation used to beIndo-Tibetan trade, with limited amounts of agriculture and pastoralism.[1] The Indo-Tibetan trade came to a halt following the 1962Sino-Indian war, and resumed only in the early 1990s under state-regulated mechanisms. Their major livelihood at present is the collection of medicinal and aromatic plants in the Himalayas. Many have also migrated out of their traditional habitats to towns at lower elevations. The traditionaltranshumance and pastoralism have also drastically reduced.[2]
The name,Bhotiya (also spelt "Bhotia"), derives from the word Bod (བོད་), which is theClassical Tibetan name for Tibet.[3] It was the term used by the British to refer to the borderland people, due to a presumed resemblance to the Tibetans. The Government of India continues to use the term.[4]
Bhotiyas themselves self-describe themselves asRung. Possible etymologies of the term include theByangko word for mountain and the Tibetan term for valley (Rang-skad = valley language).[5]
The Kumaonis refer to them asShauka which means 'money' or 'rich'.[5]
The Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand are scattered over the seven main river valleys in the three border districts ofPithoragarh,Chamoli andUttarkashi. The seven major Bhotiya groups in Uttarakhand are the Johari, Darmiya, Chaudansi, Byansi, Marchha (Mana Valley), Tolchha (Niti Valley) and Jadh.
The isolated Rangkas (Rang, Rung) tribe has a population of thousands and is found on the outskirts of theMahakali valley. According toEthnologue, the Rangkas are ethnically related or are of theJohar tribe.[6]
The religion practised by the Byansis leans towardsBön-Animism, with influences fromTibetan Buddhism andHinduism.[7]
TheJad people are Bhotiyas who lived in Nelang and Jadung valley, some were relocated to the Bhagirathi valley area after the 1960s Indo-China political conflict. The religion practiced by Jad people isTibetan Buddhism.
The Marchhas and Tolchhas are the major bhotiya subgroup who live along the indo tibetan border of chamoli and rudraprayag. The religion practiced by them is Hinduism theirIshta Devta isBadrinath,Pandavas andKedarnath.
As of 2001[update], the Uttarakhandi Bhotiyas were classified as aScheduled Tribe under theIndian government's reservation program ofpositive discrimination.[8]
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As per the 2011 Census, there were a total of 39,106 Bhotia in Uttarakhand with ST status. Of them, 31,916 were Hindus and 7,190 were Buddhists. The most popular languages among the Bhotia are Kumauni (13,150 speakers), Garhwali (5,765), Hindi (5,809), Bhotia (7,592), Halam (5,300) and Rongpa (481).
There were a total of 510 births in 2010, corresponding to a birth rate of 13.04 per 1,000.