Do you ever wonder where the names of the Northeastern states came from? Each state, including Assam, Sikkim, and others, has a fascinating, and even divisive, story to tell about how its name came to be.
In the following article, we analyzed each name of the Seven Sisters (and their brother Sikkim):
- Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal is a Sanskrit name that translates to “Sun rising land” (Aruna + Chala). Few people, nonetheless, translate it as “Dawn lighted mountains.”
- Assam: The word Assam is derived from AHOMS, the Assami king.
- Manipur: Manipur’s Sanskrit name translates to “Jewel city.” Kangleipak was the state’s original name, and Kangla served as its capital. Kangleicha is a term for Kangleipak residents.
- Meghalaya: Megha (rain clouds) and Alya (abode) are the Sanskrit translations of Meghalaya. Meghalaya means “abode of clouds” as a result.
- Mizoram: Since MI stands for “people,” ZO for “hill,” and RAM for “land,” Mizoram literally translates to “land of the hill people.”
- Nagaland: The Burmese word NAKA, which means “those with earrings or pierced noses,” is where the name Nagaland originates. However, only a small number of people think that the NAGA tribe, which historically controlled the area, is where the word NAGA came from.
- Sikkim: According to some historians, the word Sikkim derives from the Limbu language, where “SU” stands for “New” and “KHYIM” for “Place,” making it a “New place or land.”
- Tripura: This name is a combination of the Kokborok terms TUI, which means near, and PRA, which means water.
News Mania Desk
