Magar

Magars are settled in various places of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Assam and other North-East states of India and in Nepal. The Magar population is spread across all the districts of Sikkim. The Magar speakers are found in Kamling, Suldung, Khanisirbung and Karjee in West Sikkim; Assangthang, Salghari, Mamley, Kamrang, Kateng, Ruchung in South Sikkim; Kadamtam, Assam-Linzey, Sirwani, Khamdong, Lagamtham in East Sikkim and Rangrang in North Sikkim. The Gazetteer of Sikkim (2013) shows 15,702 Magars in Sikkim which is 2.7% of Sikkim’s total population.

The word ‘Magar’ originated from the word Mangol. Magar is the combination of two word mag and ar, ‘mag’ refers to a Manggal while ‘ar’ refers to children. It means the children of Manggal. In Eastern Nepal and Sikkim, they call themselves as the children of Mang or Mong or the children of Mangol. The Sikkimese people are called as Mangar (Allay 2003: 6).

Magar belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family. In Sikkim, the variety that is found to be spoken is called Magar Dhut. The Government of Sikkim has recognised Magar as one of the State Official Languages in 2003. The Magars have their own script called Akkharika. Magar language (in Akkharika) is taught as a school subject in government schools in Sikkim unto class VIII. Sikkim Herald (Magar edition) is published in Akkharika.