The Banai is a sub-tribe of the
Koches, a tribe of
India. The Banai first finds mention in the census report of 1891, which states about the sub-communities of the Koches as follows : (of the Koch Garo Hills)Six sections are recorded namely Harigaya, Satparia, Dasgaya or Banai, Chapra, Wanang, Tintekiya which rank in order in which named. The first five are said to be named after the places where they formerly resided, and the last, or Tintekiya, from the dress of the women, who wear one cloth round the waist, another over the body and the third on the head.
The term "Dasgaya" actually refers to the areas on the southern tract of
Garo Hills of
Meghalaya and includes the villages Batabari, Kapasipara, Gasuapara, Jatrakona, Makkabaripara (etc.), which had been inhabited by the Banai since ancient times. These areas are still referred to as Daskaniya or Dasgaya by the oldest living people of the area.
Eminent linguist
G.A. Grierson
Sir George Abraham Grierson (7 January 1851 – 9 March 1941) was an Irish administrator and linguist in British India. He worked in the Indian Civil Service but an interest in philology and linguistics led him to pursue studies in the languag ...
noted the six sections of the Koches of Garo Hills as being: Harigaya, Satparia, Dasgaya or Banai, Chapra, Wanang and Tintekiya. He believed them to be only pure Koches in existence.
B.C. Allen recorded three divisions of the Koches of Garo Hills, being Dasgaya, Harigaya and Anang.
The
Anthropological Survey of India
Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) is the apex Indian government organisation involved in anthropological studies and field data research for human and cultural aspects, working primarily in the fields of physical anthropology and cultural ...
survey of the state of
Meghalaya included the "Banai" as a sub-tribe of Koches of Meghalaya.
S.N. Koch, who championed the cause of the Koches for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list of Meghalaya states about the divisions of the Koches as follows. The groups or divisions of the Koches of Garo Hills as found now are Wanang, Harigaya or Sanga, Satparia, Chapra or Dasgaya or Margan, Tintikiya, Banai and Sankar Koch.
The Clans
The Banais refer to their clans as "Nikini" just like the Koches do. The list of Banai clans is as follows:
*Ampabni
*Dewa
*Banai
*Dasu
*Dusa
*Dhiru
*Wanang
*Bel
*Dao
*Ditla
*Bakla
*Dankhin
*Balihata
*Chapra
*Chandigaia
*Sati
*Hari
*Noksi
*Tong
*Nakola
*Kendlai
*Kamoli
*Lamuk
*Langka
*Raba
*Pakhra
*Simsang
*Manda
*Luga
*Danggo
*Moah
*Thekao
*Chamru
*Kangkala
*Kangklai
*Lebera
*Lalung
*Hasang
*Khagra
*Khenda-gaia
*Maji
*Miri
*Chulta
*Pachwa
*Gasa-Musi
*Pira
The Banai clans as cited above are matrilineal and strictly exogamous, similar to the Koch clans. In view of the existence of such clans, A. Basu remarked, "It is significant that the Banai have a clan organization in which descent is traced through the mother."
[
A. Basu. People of India Meghalaya, Vol XXXIII, 1994: p. 126.
]
References
{{reflist
Indian castes