Socio-Cultural Environment - Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT)

constantly intermarry with them”. (Hooker, J.D., 1855, p.128-129).
According to Waddell, Tshong meant merchants, since the Limbus were
the chief cattle merchants and butchers in Sikkim. According to Sprigg,
“The word ‘TSHONG’ or ‘TSONG’ is important because it occurs in the
Tibetan phrase ‘LHO-MON-TSONG-GSUM’, which identifies the
TIBETANS, LEPCHAS and LIMBUS as the three ORIGINAL RACES OF
THE KINGDOM OF SIKKIM at the time of the First Chogyal (1642-70)”.
Of late the Limbus have been accorded the status of Scheduled Tribes
at par with the Lepchas and the Bhutias of Sikkim.
3.3.3 Nepalese
Numerically, the Nepalese are the largest ethnic group not only in
South district, but also in entire Sikkim. The Nepalese are a
heterogeneous group. They consist of many castes and tribes of which
Bahun, Chhetri, Newar, Rai, Gurung, Tamang, Mangar, Sunwar, Bhujel,
Thami, Thakuri, Kami, Damai, Sarki and Majhi are conspicuous. Each
of these exhibits diverse physical and cultural characteristics. While the
Bahun, Chhetri and Newar, belong to the so-called upper castes of
Hindu Nepalese, the Kami, Damai, Sarki, and Majhi are the Scheduled
Castes. Other backward classes of the region include Rai, Yakha,
Gurung, Mangar, Sunwar, Bhujel, Thami and Thakuri. The Bahuns are
the priests, while the Chhetris are traditional warriors. The Newars are
the merchant class and have still retained their supremacy in trade and
commerce. Risley commented that at his time they were the most
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