Assamese

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Scope note
The Assamese are a major ethnic group of approximately 19.5 million people centered in the Indian state of Assam in northeastern India, speaking Assamese, the easternmost Indo-Aryan language with over 15 million native speakers. Their culture developed largely in isolation along the Brahmaputra River valley, shaped by centuries of interaction with neighboring Tibeto-Burman peoples, Tibetan influences, and the Ahom kingdom established by Tai invaders in 1229. Predominantly Hindu with animist traditions, the Assamese reflect a diverse heritage of Aryan, Ahom, and indigenous influences, and their language has historically served as a regional lingua franca across parts of northeastern India.
Assamese
Accepted term: 09-Mar-2026