Who Are the Tripuri?
The Tripuri (also Tipra or Tipperah) are a Tibeto-Burman people of Tripura state in northeastern India, numbering approximately 1.2 million. They speak Kokborok (Tripuri), a Tibeto-Burman language. The Tripuri ruled an independent kingdom from antiquity until British annexation in 1949. They have become a minority in their own homeland—comprising only about 30% of Tripura's population—due to massive Bengali migration, particularly during and after the 1971 Bangladesh war. This demographic transformation drives contemporary Tripuri political movements.
Lost Kingdom
The Tripura Kingdom (Twipra Kingdom) was one of northeastern India's longest-ruling indigenous states, claiming history back to the ancient Manikya dynasty. The kingdom maintained independence through Mughal and British periods before merging with India in 1949. The last king, Kirit Bikram Kishore Manikya, signed the merger agreement. This royal heritage distinguishes the Tripuri from many other tribal groups—they were rulers, not subjects, with written chronicles, organized administration, and diplomatic relations. Loss of the kingdom to Indian integration and subsequent demographic marginalization fuels resentment.
Demographic Marginalization
The Tripuri have experienced one of India's most dramatic demographic transformations. At independence, they were the overwhelming majority in their state. Bengali migration—especially refugees from East Pakistan/Bangladesh—reduced them to a minority by the 1980s. The Tripuri insurgency emerged partly from this displacement. Violence between tribals and Bengali settlers has killed thousands. The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council provides limited self-governance, but demographic reality limits actual autonomy. The Tripuri case demonstrates how migration can fundamentally alter indigenous political standing within a generation.
Contemporary Tripuri
Modern Tripuri navigate minority status in their ancestral homeland. Political parties advocate for tribal rights within the Indian system. Some armed groups continue low-level insurgency. Kokborok language receives official recognition but competes with Bengali. Traditional religion (worship of the fourteen gods) coexists with Hinduism. Economic development remains limited; many Tripuri practice shifting cultivation while Bengali settlers dominate commerce. Cultural festivals like Garia Puja maintain identity. How the Tripuri assert indigenous rights while a demographic minority in their own state—a kingdom they once ruled—shapes this royal tribe's complex present.
References
- Gan-Chaudhuri, J. (1980). A Constitutional History of Tripura
- Bhattacharya, S. (1989). Genesis of Tribal Extremism in Tripura
- Debbarma, S. (1996). Origin and Growth of Christianity in Tripura