The dying voices of Tripura's Karbongs

Jan23,2024

Credit: Google

The Karbong community is one of the nineteen recognized tribes of Tripura, consisting of only two villages and a population of nearly 200 only

Credit: Facebook

Only few hundreds left

A sub-clan of the Halam community, the Karbong tribe's history is now a dim and distant memory

Credit: Bikranjeet Sengupta (Pari website)

Dim history

The main reason behind their vanishing population can be attributed to inter-caste marriage and migration to the cities for better opportunities

Credit: Google

Inter-caste marriage, migration

They believe that one anonymous tribal queen had cursed the entire Karbong community to a short and impoverished life. Since then, no one has lived a long life in the community, dying at a very early age

Credit: facebook

Mythical narratives

Karbong dialect is the same as that of the Halam. The Halam dialect belongs to Kuki-chin language of the greater Tibets Burman language group.

Credit: facebook

Karbong dialect

The Karbong are generally engaged in farming activities that consists of gathering leaves, foots, tubers from the jungles, hunting wild animals and birds, catching fishes from rivulets

Credit: Daily Guardian

Traditional Economy

The Karbongs generally like to name their villages after the names of famous leaders along with the name of their group. 

Credit: Tripura.Info

Naming villages after their leaders

Similar to other tribal groups of Northeast, the Karbongs too love their rice wine - Chekharakzu

Credit: Tripura.Info

Wine - Chekharakzu

The male dress if called Dhutibarak and Kamcaulani while the female dress is called Rignai Barak with Risa. 

Credit: Tripura.Info

Common dress