The Ties that Bind the Tai Phakes

A GLIMPSE OF ASSAM’S TAI PHAKE BUDDHIST COMMUNITY.

- SUMITA ANAND

WHILE GROWING up, I was fascinated by my school-mate Naewon Hailowong’s moth-er, who seemed to dress differently from the other women. I soon figured out something similar between my mother, Arunima Singh Gohain and Naewon’s mother, Amchon Gohain: their language, Tai. Naewon’s family still speaks Tai to this date and my mother is an Ahom, a clan from the Tai race. Surprisingly, none of my mother’s family members knows how to speak Tai. Many of my mother’s relatives told me that the scriptures were lost. The surprising fact is that the Tai language is registered in Dibrugarh University and anyone interested can learn it from certain Tai language experts who reside in Dibrugarh. I have often wondered how Naewon’s family knew the language. This information was lying dormant somewhere in my memory till Naewon invited me for his wedding and our discussions led to his culture, language, religious beliefs, dressing, and festivals. I could not make it to his wedding but the conversation with him led me to the decision that I must visit the Namphake (Taiphakial) Village.

Finally, when I visited his village with my family, I realized the reason behind my mother’s (and her family’s) inability to speak the Tai language. Here goes the tale: