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Lepcha people

The Lepcha (/ˈlɛpə/;[5] also called Rongkup (Lepcha: ᰕᰫ་ᰊᰪᰰ་ᰆᰧᰶ ᰛᰩᰵ་ᰀᰪᰱ ᰛᰪᰮ་ᰀᰪᰱ, Mútuncí Róngkup Rumkup, "beloved children of the Róng and of God") and Rongpa (Sikkimese: རོང་པ)) are among the indigenous peoples of the Indian state of Sikkim and Nepal, and number around 80,000.[1][2] Many Lepcha are also found in western and southwestern Bhutan, Darjeeling, the Koshi Province of eastern Nepal, and in the hills of West Bengal. The Lepcha people are composed of four main distinct communities: the Renjóngmú of Sikkim; the Dámsángmú of Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Mirik; the ʔilámmú of Ilam District, Nepal; and the Promú of Samtse and Chukha in southwestern Bhutan.[6][7][8]

Lepcha, Róng
ᰕᰫ་ᰊᰪᰰ་ᰆᰧᰶ ᰛᰩᰵ་ᰀᰪᰱ ᰛᰪᰮ་ᰀᰪᰱ
A Lepcha man in 1868
Total population
80,316 (2011)
Regions with significant populations
 India (Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, West Bengal76,871 (2011 census)[1]
   Nepal (Ilam District, Panchthar District and Taplejung District)3,445 (2011 census)[2]
Languages
Lepcha, Sikkimese (Dranjongke), Dzongkha, Nepali
Religion
Buddhism (Majority), Mun, Christianity[3][4]
Related ethnic groups
Tibetan, Bhutia, Limbu, Lhop, Other Sino-Tibetan people

Origins edit

 
A group of Lepcha shingle cutters at Darjeeling in the 1870s
 
A group of Lepchas in Darjeeling (circa 1880)

The word Lepcha is considered to be the anglicised version of the Nepalese word lepche meaning "vile speakers" or "inarticulate speech". This was at first a derogatory nickname, but is no longer seen as negative.[9]

The origin of the Lepcha is unknown. They may have originated in Myanmar, but the Lepcha people themselves firmly believe that they did not migrate to the current location from anywhere and are indigenous to the region.[9] They speak a Tibeto-Burman language which some classify as Himalayish. Based on this, some anthropologists suggest they emigrated directly from China in the north, Japan or from Eastern Mongolia. Others suggest a more complex migration, a migration to Thailand, Burma, or Japan, then a navigation of the Ayeyarwady River and Chindwin Rivers, a crossing of the Patkoi range coming back west, and finally entering ancient India (this supported by Austroasiatic language substrata in their vocabularies). While migrating westward through India, they are surmised to have passed through southern Bhutan before reaching their final destination near Kanchenjunga. The Lepcha people themselves do not have any tradition of migration, and hence they conclude that they are autochthonous to the region, currently falling under the state of Sikkim, Darjeeling District of West Bengal, eastern Nepal and the southwestern parts of Bhutan. In the Province No. 1, they form 7% of the population of Ilam District, 2% in Panchthar District, and 10% of the population in Taplejung District. In Sikkim as a whole they are considered to be around 15% of the population of the state.[10]

The Lepcha people were earlier ruled by Pano (King) Gaeboo Achyok. Gaeboo Achyok was instrumental in uniting the Lepcha people and to honour him, the Lepcha people celebrate 20 December of every year as Gaeboo Achyok celebrations day. Gaeboo Achyok extended the Lepcha kingdom from Bhutan in the east to Ilam (Nepal) in the west and from Sikkim to the northern tips of present day Bangladesh.[11][better source needed]

Language edit

The Lepcha have their own language, also called Lepcha. It belongs to the Bodish–Himalayish group of Tibeto-Burman languages. The Lepcha write their language in their own script, called Róng or Lepcha script, which is derived from the Tibetan script. It was developed between the 17th and 18th centuries, possibly by a Lepcha scholar named Thikúng Munsulóng, during the reign of the third Chogyal (Tibetan king) of Sikkim.[12]

Clans edit

Lepchas are divided into many clans (Lepcha: putsho), each of which reveres its own sacred lake and mountain peak (Lepcha: and ) from which the clan derives its name. While most Lepcha can identify their own clan, Lepcha clan names can be quite formidable, and are often shortened for this reason. For example, Nāmchumú,[13] Simíkmú, and Fonyung Rumsóngmú may be shortened to Namchu, Simik, and Foning, respectively.[14] Some of the name of the clans are "Zuraboo"[worshippers/highest in rank of the clan], "Barphungputso", "Rongong", "Karthakmu", "Sungutmu", "Phipon", "Brimu", "Lickchingmu ", “Sadamoo”, “Kabomoo”, “Molomoo”, “Lingdamoo” etc.[citation needed]

Religion edit

 
Kinthup, a noted Lepcha Pundit, was a Buddhist pilgrim when he surveyed Nepal in the 1870s (photograph 1914).

Most Lepchas are Buddhists, although a large number of Lepchas have today adopted Christianity.[15][16] Some Lepchas have not given up their shamanistic religion, which is known as Mun. In practice, rituals from Mun and Buddhism are frequently observed alongside one another among some Lepchas. For example, ancestral mountain peaks are regularly honoured in ceremonies called tandong lho rumfát.[14] Many rituals involve local species. In Sikkim, Lepchas are known to use over 370 species of animals, fungi, and plants.[17] According to the Nepal Census of 2001, out of the 3,660 Lepcha in Nepal, 88.80% were Buddhists and 7.62% were Hindus. Many Lepchas in the Hills of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong are Christians.[18][4]

Clothing edit

 
Photograph of a Lepcha c. 1900, wearing the traditional cone-shaped hat

The traditional clothing for Lepcha women is the ankle-length dumvun, also called dumdyám or gādā ("female dress"). It is one large piece of smooth cotton or silk, usually of a solid color. When it is worn, it is folded over one shoulder, pinned at the other shoulder, and held in place by a waistband, or tago, over which excess material drapes. A contrasting long-sleeved blouse may be worn underneath.[19][20]

The traditional Lepcha clothing for men is the thakraw ("male dress"). It is a multicolored, hand-woven cloth pinned at one shoulder and held in place by a waistband, usually worn over white shirt and trousers. Men wear a flat round cap called a thyáktuk, with stiff black velvet sides and a multicolored top topped by a knot. Rarely, the traditional cone-shaped bamboo and rattan hats are worn.[19][20]

Dwellings edit

Traditionally, the Lepcha live in a local house called a li. A traditional home is made out of logs of wood and bamboo and rests around 4 to 5 feet (1.2m to 1.5m) above the ground on stilts. The wooden house with thatched roof is natural air conditioner and eco-friendly. The traditional Lepcha house has no nails used in the construction and it is seismic movement friendly since the weight of the house is rested over a large tablets of stones and not planted on the soil.[21]

Subsistence edit

The Lepchas are mostly agriculturists. They grow oranges, rice, cardamoms, and other foods.[21]

Cuisine edit

Lepcha cuisine is mild and not as spicy as Indian or Nepalese cuisine. Rice is the staple, whole wheat, maize, and buckwheat are also used. Fresh fruit and vegetables are used.[22] Khuzom is a traditional Lepcha bread made from buckwheat, millet, and corn or wheat flour. Popular Lepcha dishes include ponguzom (rice, fish, vegetable grill), su zom (baked meat dish), ihukpa (noodle, meat, and vegetable stew), and sorongbeetuluk (rice and nettle porridge).[23]

An alcoholic beverage called chi or chhaang is fermented from millet. Chi also has religious significance, as it is given as offering to the gods during religious ceremonies.[24]

Arts, crafts, and music edit

The Lepchas are known for their unique weaving and basketry skills. They have a rich tradition of dances, songs, and folktales. The popular Lepcha folk dances are Zo-Mal-Lok, Chu-Faat, Tendong Lo Rum Faat, and Kinchum-Chu-Bomsa.[25] Musical instruments used are sanga (drum), yangjey (string instrument), fungal, yarka, flute, and tungbuk.[25] One popular instrument used by the Lepchas is a four-string lute that is played with a bow.[21]

Marriage customs edit

The Lepcha are largely an endogamous community.[21]

The Lepcha trace their descent patrilineally. The marriage is negotiated between the families of the bride and the groom. If the marriage deal is settled, the lama checks the horoscopes of the boy and girl to schedule a favourable date for the wedding. Then the boy's maternal uncle, along with other relatives, approaches the girl's maternal uncle with a khada, a ceremonial scarf, and one rupee, to gain the maternal uncle's formal consent.[26]

The wedding takes place at noon on the auspicious day. The groom and his entire family leave for the girl's house with some money and other gifts that are handed over to the bride's maternal uncle. Upon reaching the destination, the traditional Nyomchok ceremony takes place, and the bride's father arranges a feast for relatives and friends. This seals the marriage between the couple.[26]

Lepcha people in Nepal edit

The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Lepcha as a subgroup within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.[27] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 3,445 people identified as Lepcha, one in every 7,690 or the total Nepalese population (26,494,504).

Bhujel people formed more than 1% of the population in only one district, Ilam:[28]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b ORGI. "A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "National Population and Housing Census 2011" (PDF). UN Statistical Agency.
  3. ^ Semple 2003, p. 233
  4. ^ a b Joshi 2004, p. 130.
  5. ^ "Lepcha". Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
  6. ^ Plaisier 2007, p. 1–2.
  7. ^ SIL 2009.
  8. ^ NIC-Sikkim.
  9. ^ a b West, Barbara A. (2009). Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania. Facts on File. p. 462. ISBN 978-0816071098.
  10. ^ "Lepchas of Dzongu, Sikkim".
  11. ^ "B'day bash for Lepcha king". Telegraph India-1. 18 December 2006.
  12. ^ Plaisier 2007, p. 34.
  13. ^ A.R.Foning, Lepcha My Vanishing Tribe, Sterling Publishers, 1987, pp. 123-136
  14. ^ a b Plaisier 2007, p. 3.
  15. ^ Joshi 2004, pp. 130, 157.
  16. ^ Semple 2003, p. 123,233.
  17. ^ O'Neill, Alexander; et al. (29 March 2017). "Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas". Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 13 (21): 21. doi:10.1186/s13002-017-0148-9. PMC 5372287. PMID 28356115.
  18. ^ Semple 2003, p. 233.
  19. ^ a b Plaisier 2007, p. 4.
  20. ^ a b Dubey 1980, p. 53, 56.
  21. ^ a b c d Human: The Definitive Visual Guide. New York: Dorling Kindersley. 2004. p. 437. ISBN 0-7566-0520-2.
  22. ^ "Lepcha". Encyclopedia. 1 August 2019.
  23. ^ "Some nonfermented ethnic foods of Sikkim in India". Science Direct. December 2014.
  24. ^ "Chhang: The Beer of the Himalayas". Live History India. 28 May 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Lepcha Folk Dances". Sikkim Tourism.
  26. ^ a b Gulati 1995, pp. 80–81.
  27. ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
  28. ^ 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report

Further reading edit

  • Plaisier, Heleen (2007). A Grammar of Lepcha. Tibetan studies library: Languages of the greater Himalayan region. Vol. 5. Leiden, The Netherlands; Boston: BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-15525-1.
  • Lewis, M. Paul, ed. (2009). "Lepcha". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  • . Official Portal of NIC Sikkim State Centre. National Informatics Centre, Sikkim. 25 January 2002. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  • Joshi, H.G. (2004). Sikkim: Past and Present. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-7099-932-4. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  • Semple, Rhonda Anne (2003). Missionary Women: Gender, Professionalism, and the Victorian Idea of Christian Mission. Rochester, NY: Boydell Press. ISBN 1-84383-013-2. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  • Gulati, Rachna (1995). "Cultural Aspects of Sikkim" (PDF). Bulletin of Tibetology. Gangtok: Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  • Dubey, S. M (1980). S. M. Dubey; P. K. Bordoloi; B. N. Borthakur (eds.). Family, marriage, and social change on the Indian fringe. Cosmo.
  • "Lepcha script". Omniglot online. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  • Plaisier, Heleen (13 November 2010). "Information on Lepcha Language and Culture". Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  • Bareh, Hamlet (2001). "The Sikkim Communities". Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-7099-794-1.

lepcha, people, lepcha, also, called, rongkup, lepcha, mútuncí, róngkup, rumkup, beloved, children, róng, rongpa, sikkimese, among, indigenous, peoples, indian, state, sikkim, nepal, number, around, many, lepcha, also, found, western, southwestern, bhutan, dar. The Lepcha ˈ l ɛ p tʃ e 5 also called Rongkup Lepcha ᰕ ᰊ ᰆ ᰛ ᰀ ᰛ ᰀ Mutunci Rongkup Rumkup beloved children of the Rong and of God and Rongpa Sikkimese ར ང པ are among the indigenous peoples of the Indian state of Sikkim and Nepal and number around 80 000 1 2 Many Lepcha are also found in western and southwestern Bhutan Darjeeling the Koshi Province of eastern Nepal and in the hills of West Bengal The Lepcha people are composed of four main distinct communities the Renjongmu of Sikkim the Damsangmu of Kalimpong Kurseong and Mirik the ʔilammu of Ilam District Nepal and the Promu of Samtse and Chukha in southwestern Bhutan 6 7 8 Lepcha Rongᰕ ᰊ ᰆ ᰛ ᰀ ᰛ ᰀ A Lepcha man in 1868Total population80 316 2011 Regions with significant populations India Sikkim Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts West Bengal76 871 2011 census 1 Nepal Ilam District Panchthar District and Taplejung District 3 445 2011 census 2 LanguagesLepcha Sikkimese Dranjongke Dzongkha NepaliReligionBuddhism Majority Mun Christianity 3 4 Related ethnic groupsTibetan Bhutia Limbu Lhop Other Sino Tibetan people This article contains uncommon Unicode characters Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols instead of the intended characters Contents 1 Origins 2 Language 3 Clans 4 Religion 5 Clothing 6 Dwellings 7 Subsistence 7 1 Cuisine 8 Arts crafts and music 9 Marriage customs 10 Lepcha people in Nepal 11 See also 12 References 13 Further readingOrigins edit nbsp A group of Lepcha shingle cutters at Darjeeling in the 1870s nbsp A group of Lepchas in Darjeeling circa 1880 The word Lepcha is considered to be the anglicised version of the Nepalese word lepche meaning vile speakers or inarticulate speech This was at first a derogatory nickname but is no longer seen as negative 9 The origin of the Lepcha is unknown They may have originated in Myanmar but the Lepcha people themselves firmly believe that they did not migrate to the current location from anywhere and are indigenous to the region 9 They speak a Tibeto Burman language which some classify as Himalayish Based on this some anthropologists suggest they emigrated directly from China in the north Japan or from Eastern Mongolia Others suggest a more complex migration a migration to Thailand Burma or Japan then a navigation of the Ayeyarwady River and Chindwin Rivers a crossing of the Patkoi range coming back west and finally entering ancient India this supported by Austroasiatic language substrata in their vocabularies While migrating westward through India they are surmised to have passed through southern Bhutan before reaching their final destination near Kanchenjunga The Lepcha people themselves do not have any tradition of migration and hence they conclude that they are autochthonous to the region currently falling under the state of Sikkim Darjeeling District of West Bengal eastern Nepal and the southwestern parts of Bhutan In the Province No 1 they form 7 of the population of Ilam District 2 in Panchthar District and 10 of the population in Taplejung District In Sikkim as a whole they are considered to be around 15 of the population of the state 10 The Lepcha people were earlier ruled by Pano King Gaeboo Achyok Gaeboo Achyok was instrumental in uniting the Lepcha people and to honour him the Lepcha people celebrate 20 December of every year as Gaeboo Achyok celebrations day Gaeboo Achyok extended the Lepcha kingdom from Bhutan in the east to Ilam Nepal in the west and from Sikkim to the northern tips of present day Bangladesh 11 better source needed Language editMain article Lepcha language The Lepcha have their own language also called Lepcha It belongs to the Bodish Himalayish group of Tibeto Burman languages The Lepcha write their language in their own script called Rong or Lepcha script which is derived from the Tibetan script It was developed between the 17th and 18th centuries possibly by a Lepcha scholar named Thikung Munsulong during the reign of the third Chogyal Tibetan king of Sikkim 12 Clans editLepchas are divided into many clans Lepcha putsho each of which reveres its own sacred lake and mountain peak Lepcha da and cu from which the clan derives its name While most Lepcha can identify their own clan Lepcha clan names can be quite formidable and are often shortened for this reason For example Namchumu 13 Simikmu and Fonyung Rumsongmu may be shortened to Namchu Simik and Foning respectively 14 Some of the name of the clans are Zuraboo worshippers highest in rank of the clan Barphungputso Rongong Karthakmu Sungutmu Phipon Brimu Lickchingmu Sadamoo Kabomoo Molomoo Lingdamoo etc citation needed Religion editMain article Mun religion nbsp Kinthup a noted Lepcha Pundit was a Buddhist pilgrim when he surveyed Nepal in the 1870s photograph 1914 Most Lepchas are Buddhists although a large number of Lepchas have today adopted Christianity 15 16 Some Lepchas have not given up their shamanistic religion which is known as Mun In practice rituals from Mun and Buddhism are frequently observed alongside one another among some Lepchas For example ancestral mountain peaks are regularly honoured in ceremonies called tandong lho rumfat 14 Many rituals involve local species In Sikkim Lepchas are known to use over 370 species of animals fungi and plants 17 According to the Nepal Census of 2001 out of the 3 660 Lepcha in Nepal 88 80 were Buddhists and 7 62 were Hindus Many Lepchas in the Hills of Sikkim Darjeeling and Kalimpong are Christians 18 4 Clothing edit nbsp Photograph of a Lepcha c 1900 wearing the traditional cone shaped hat The traditional clothing for Lepcha women is the ankle length dumvun also called dumdyam or gada female dress It is one large piece of smooth cotton or silk usually of a solid color When it is worn it is folded over one shoulder pinned at the other shoulder and held in place by a waistband or tago over which excess material drapes A contrasting long sleeved blouse may be worn underneath 19 20 The traditional Lepcha clothing for men is the thakraw male dress It is a multicolored hand woven cloth pinned at one shoulder and held in place by a waistband usually worn over white shirt and trousers Men wear a flat round cap called a thyaktuk with stiff black velvet sides and a multicolored top topped by a knot Rarely the traditional cone shaped bamboo and rattan hats are worn 19 20 Dwellings editTraditionally the Lepcha live in a local house called a li A traditional home is made out of logs of wood and bamboo and rests around 4 to 5 feet 1 2m to 1 5m above the ground on stilts The wooden house with thatched roof is natural air conditioner and eco friendly The traditional Lepcha house has no nails used in the construction and it is seismic movement friendly since the weight of the house is rested over a large tablets of stones and not planted on the soil 21 Subsistence editThe Lepchas are mostly agriculturists They grow oranges rice cardamoms and other foods 21 Cuisine edit Lepcha cuisine is mild and not as spicy as Indian or Nepalese cuisine Rice is the staple whole wheat maize and buckwheat are also used Fresh fruit and vegetables are used 22 Khuzom is a traditional Lepcha bread made from buckwheat millet and corn or wheat flour Popular Lepcha dishes include ponguzom rice fish vegetable grill su zom baked meat dish ihukpa noodle meat and vegetable stew and sorongbeetuluk rice and nettle porridge 23 An alcoholic beverage called chior chhaang is fermented from millet Chi also has religious significance as it is given as offering to the gods during religious ceremonies 24 Arts crafts and music editThe Lepchas are known for their unique weaving and basketry skills They have a rich tradition of dances songs and folktales The popular Lepcha folk dances are Zo Mal Lok Chu Faat Tendong Lo Rum Faat and Kinchum Chu Bomsa 25 Musical instruments used are sanga drum yangjey string instrument fungal yarka flute and tungbuk 25 One popular instrument used by the Lepchas is a four string lute that is played with a bow 21 Marriage customs editThe Lepcha are largely an endogamous community 21 The Lepcha trace their descent patrilineally The marriage is negotiated between the families of the bride and the groom If the marriage deal is settled the lama checks the horoscopes of the boy and girl to schedule a favourable date for the wedding Then the boy s maternal uncle along with other relatives approaches the girl s maternal uncle with a khada a ceremonial scarf and one rupee to gain the maternal uncle s formal consent 26 The wedding takes place at noon on the auspicious day The groom and his entire family leave for the girl s house with some money and other gifts that are handed over to the bride s maternal uncle Upon reaching the destination the traditional Nyomchok ceremony takes place and the bride s father arranges a feast for relatives and friends This seals the marriage between the couple 26 Lepcha people in Nepal editThe Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Lepcha as a subgroup within the broader social group of Mountain Hill Janajati 27 At the time of the 2011 Nepal census 3 445 people identified as Lepcha one in every 7 690 or the total Nepalese population 26 494 504 Bhujel people formed more than 1 of the population in only one district Ilam 28 See also editEthnic groups in Bhutan Ethnic groups in Nepal Indigenous peoples of Sikkim Lepcha language Lepcha scriptReferences edit a b ORGI A 11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix www censusindia gov in Office of the Registrar General amp Census Commissioner India Retrieved 20 November 2017 a b National Population and Housing Census 2011 PDF UN Statistical Agency Semple 2003 p 233 a b Joshi 2004 p 130 Lepcha Random House Webster s Unabridged Dictionary Plaisier 2007 p 1 2 SIL 2009 NIC Sikkim a b West Barbara A 2009 Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania Facts on File p 462 ISBN 978 0816071098 Lepchas of Dzongu Sikkim B day bash for Lepcha king Telegraph India 1 18 December 2006 Plaisier 2007 p 34 A R Foning Lepcha My Vanishing Tribe Sterling Publishers 1987 pp 123 136 a b Plaisier 2007 p 3 Joshi 2004 pp 130 157 Semple 2003 p 123 233 O Neill Alexander et al 29 March 2017 Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 13 21 21 doi 10 1186 s13002 017 0148 9 PMC 5372287 PMID 28356115 Semple 2003 p 233 a b Plaisier 2007 p 4 a b Dubey 1980 p 53 56 a b c d Human The Definitive Visual Guide New York Dorling Kindersley 2004 p 437 ISBN 0 7566 0520 2 Lepcha Encyclopedia 1 August 2019 Some nonfermented ethnic foods of Sikkim in India Science Direct December 2014 Chhang The Beer of the Himalayas Live History India 28 May 2017 a b Lepcha Folk Dances Sikkim Tourism a b Gulati 1995 pp 80 81 Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II 2011 Nepal Census District Level Detail ReportFurther reading editPlaisier Heleen 2007 A Grammar of Lepcha Tibetan studies library Languages of the greater Himalayan region Vol 5 Leiden The Netherlands Boston BRILL ISBN 978 90 04 15525 1 Lewis M Paul ed 2009 Lepcha Ethnologue Languages of the World 16th ed Dallas Texas SIL International Retrieved 24 June 2011 Lepchas and their Tradition Official Portal of NIC Sikkim State Centre National Informatics Centre Sikkim 25 January 2002 Archived from the original on 17 October 2017 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Joshi H G 2004 Sikkim Past and Present New Delhi India Mittal Publications ISBN 81 7099 932 4 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Semple Rhonda Anne 2003 Missionary Women Gender Professionalism and the Victorian Idea of Christian Mission Rochester NY Boydell Press ISBN 1 84383 013 2 Retrieved 24 June 2011 Gulati Rachna 1995 Cultural Aspects of Sikkim PDF Bulletin of Tibetology Gangtok Namgyal Institute of Tibetology Retrieved 24 June 2011 Dubey S M 1980 S M Dubey P K Bordoloi B N Borthakur eds Family marriage and social change on the Indian fringe Cosmo nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lepcha people Lepcha script Omniglot online Retrieved 17 April 2011 Plaisier Heleen 13 November 2010 Information on Lepcha Language and Culture Retrieved 16 April 2011 Bareh Hamlet 2001 The Sikkim Communities Encyclopaedia of North East India Sikkim New Delhi Mittal Publications ISBN 81 7099 794 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lepcha people amp oldid 1218943401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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