A Study on Garo Language

Abstract

The Garo tribe is one of the major tribe of the state of Meghalaya, other two being Khasis and Jaintias. Besides Garo Hills, sizeable Garo pockets are located in Kamrup, Goalpara and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam. A considerable number of Garos also live in the Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya as well in the State of Nagaland. Substantial Garo population is also found in Mymensing district of Bangladesh. The Garo inhabited areas of Mymensing are Tangial, Jamalpur, Sherpore, Netrokona and Mymensing. Garos also live in some areas of Dhaka, Gazipur, Sirajpur, Rangpur etc, of Bangladesh. Garo language is one of the most important languages of the Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya. It is one of the Bodo groups of Sino-Tibetan language and is considered as having a close affinity with it in the distant past which was separated about two thousand years ago. The languages of Koch branched off from Garo and Bodo much before that period. In light of this, this study attempts to understand the history, life and present of the Garo language, while also making careful attempt at documenting it. The study although is primarily a language study, in the opening chapters it succinctly describes the origin and history of the Garos, their material culture, family and clan tradition, religious beliefs, rites etc.