Gangte is an ethnic group mainly living in the Indian state of Manipur. They belong to the Zo people and are parts of the Kuki or under Mizo tribe and are recognised a tribe of Manipur, India. They are also indigenous inhabitants of Mizoram, Assam and Myanmar, and a recognised tribe under the Indian Constitution. With a population of approximately 40,000 worldwide (), they primarily live in Manipur's southern Churachandpur district and neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam. Gangte also live in Chin State and Kabaw Valley of Myanmar. Other clans or ethnic people in this group are the Thadou, Lushei, Paite, Vaiphei, Simte, Zou and any other Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribes. Gangte is also the name of the language spoken by the Gangte people of northeast India and Burma, one of the northern Chin, Kuki and Mizo languages of the Tibeto-Burman family. History The Gangtes, like the rest of their brethren (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) traced their origin from Khul, which means 'Cave'. This cave is believed to be in present-day China. Folktales and folk songs describe places such as Shan, Raken (known as Arakan in Myanmar), etc. which are located in present-day Myanmar. Washed up and over by myriads of interpretations and takes, the genesis of the Gangtes is almost like a well-kept secret bedimmed by theories of grandeur or otherwise. As is won't to any tribal history wanting in documentation, the Gangtes have their chronicle etched in folklores and traditional oral transmissions and legends. There are two theories regarding the origin of Gangte. Firstly, the name Gangte derived from a place called "Ganggam" and all the inhabitants were called Gang-te, meaning "from Gang" or "people of (from) Ganggam or Gangland". Secondly, Gangte is believed to be the name of the ancestor of the Gangte. According to one folktale, Gangte progenitor wandered through the forest with his dog and finally build a village. He had three sons namely Mangte, Mate, and Tukgek. Tukgek had a son named Thanglun, who in turn had 10 (ten) sons. These three sons of the progenitor viz Mangte, Mate, and Tukgek along with their sons are the clans and sub-clans of present-day Gangte. At present days, most Mangte and Mate people do not speak Gangte as they are mingled with other tribes or communities while most of the descendants of Tukgek speak Gangte, preserving the custom and culture. Though the term Gangte is much wider used than