The Toto people are one of the world's smallest indigenous ethnic groups, living in a village of Totopara on India's border with Bhutan.[2][3] Totos were nearly becoming extinct in the 1950s, but recent measures to safeguard their areas from being swamped with outsiders have helped preserve their unique heritage and also helped the population grow. The total population of Totos according to 1951 census was 321 living in 69 different houses at Totopara. In 1991 census, the Toto population had increased to 926 who lived in 180 different houses. In the 2001 census, their number had increased to 1184 - all living in Totopara.
Anthropologists agree that the Toto culture and language is totally unique to the ethnic group, and is clearly distinguished from the neighbouring Rajbongshis, Koch, Mech or the Bhutanese Sharchop ethnic groups.
- ^ "Redirect Notice". www.google.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ Gurvinder Singh (2021): "The entire population of one of the world’s smallest indigenous groups, the Toto, live in a village on the India-Bhutan border."[1]
- ^ "Padma for Toto alphabet creator brings hope for community". The Times of India. 2023-01-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-12-13."Nearly 22 km from Madarihat in Alipurduar district, the Totos of Totopara have been fighting a silent war to keep their language, identity and culture alive."