Thadou

Thadou, sometimes rendered as Thado or Thadu, is an indigenous ethnic group of the Northeast region of India and areas of Myanmar. They are part of the broader Kuki-Chin-Mizo linguistic and cultural complex and constitute one of the major Kuki sub-tribes. In India, Thadou communities are concentrated in Manipur, especially in the hill districts of Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Kangpokpi, with smaller populations in Assam and Nagaland; groups in Myanmar border areas also identify as Thadou.

Language and classification

The Thadou speak Thadou (also called Thadou-Kuki), a Tibeto-Burman language within the Kuki-Chin subgroup. The language is spoken alongside regional linguae francae, and many Thadou people are bilingual in Manipuri (Meitei) or Assamese. Thadou is closely related to other Kuki languages and shares cultural and historical ties with neighboring hill communities.

Society, economy, and culture

Traditional Thadou social organization is clan-based, with exogamous marriage patterns and kinship ties central to community life. Traditionally, subsistence farming—primarily shifting cultivation (jhum)—and horticulture formed the economic base, complemented by wage labor and local trade. Christianity is the dominant religion among Thadou today, a result of missionary activity in the 19th and 20th centuries, though some communities retain ancestral beliefs and rituals. Cultural life includes music and dance, festivals linked to agricultural cycles, and church-centered activities that shape communal identity.

History and modern status

Historically, the Thadou participated in broader Kuki political movements and conflicts, including the Anglo-Kuki War of the early 20th century. In contemporary times, they are recognized as part of the Scheduled Tribes in India and participate in regional politics and development within Manipur and the wider Northeast. Cultural associations such as the Thadou Inpi play a role in preserving language, customs, and community welfare.