The Banai is a sub-tribe of the
Koches
The Koch are a small trans-border ethnic group of Assam and Meghalaya in India and northern Bangladesh. The group consists of nine matrilineal and strictly exogamous clans, with some of them preserving a hitherto sparsely documented Boro-Garo ...
, a tribe of India.
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.
Etymology
The term "Dasgaya" actually refers to the areas on the southern tract of
Garo Hills
The Garo Hills (IPA: ˈgɑ:ro:) are part of the Garo-Khasi range in the Meghalaya state of India. They are inhabited by the Garo people. It is one of the wettest places in the world. The range is part of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecor ...
of
Meghalaya
Meghalaya (; "the abode of clouds") is a states and union territories of India, state in northeast India. Its capital is Shillong. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the Assam: the United Khasi Hills an ...
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.
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
References
{{reflist
Indian castes
Tribes of Meghalaya
Tribes of India
Ethnic groups in Northeast India
Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya