Role of taklung Dzong among the Monpas of Kalaktang Area: A Preliminary study

Abstract

The central idea of this paper is to examine the role of Dzong in socio-cultural practices of the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh from historical perspective with special reference to Taklung Dzong. Dzong a distinctive type of fortress found among the Himalayan states’s is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, etc. This magnificent, Dzong (fortress) is an architectural masterpiece of Himalayan states of both in Bhutan and Tibet. Dzongs were used for political and administrative purposes. It was provincial administrative centre through which these states used to control the local people. In each politico-administrative division there was a Dzong which served as the religious, military, administrative, and social centre. Inside this typical fortress, half of the rooms were allocated to administrative function headed by Dzongpan, and half to religious functionaries, primarily consisting of a temple and housing for monks. Culturally being akin with the Bhutanese and Tibetans, the Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh also has a Dzongs in their area. So here in this paper attempt will be made to describe the role of Dzong in socio-cultural practices of the Monpas. For these both the primary and secondary data have been collected from area under the study and collected data have been interpreted with historical method to draw a logical conclusion.