|
Kuki
- It is a word pronounced by outside people to refer to a group of tribes like Darlong and Lusai.
- The Lusai of Tripura used to live in Jampui and Shakan Hills of North Tripura.
- They call them Mizos. They never call them Lusai as the word ‘LU’ means Head and ‘SAI’ means cutting (Head Hunter). Though once they were treated as headhunters.
- Darlong is another tribe known as Kukis.
- All together Kukis are 11,674 persons in Tripura.
- They live in hill tops and maintain their livelihood through Jhum Cultivation and producing fruits. nowadays they are also accustomed with plain land cultivation and rearing of animals.
- Kukis are very much experts in hunting wild animals.
- Linguistically they speak a language that originated from the Kuki-Chin linguistic family and they have so many clans.
- Kukis are fond of music and dance.
- They do not arrange any marriage alliances outside their community.
- Tradition-ally they were not Christian. They had faith in lord Shiva beside different deities and spirits. But for the last fifty years the majority of them have embraced Christianity.
- They have their own customary laws and village council. LAL is a term to denote village chief. This is the reason for which Darlong uses Lal before their name.
- Kukis are presently a small tribe in the state and socio-economically more advanced.
Other Tribal communities of Tripura
- The tribal communities of the state include Tripuri or Debbarma, Reangs or Brus, Jamatia, Noatia, Uchoi, Chakma, Mog, Lushai, Kuki, Munda, Kour, Oram, Santhal, Bhul, Bhutia, Chaimar or Sermai, Garo, Khasi, Lepcha and Halam.
- The Halam community has several small tribal clans within it. Many of these are linguistically endangered groups like Bongcher, Karbongs etc.
|
