Socio-Cultural Dynamics and Livelihood Strategies of Tripura Tribe

The Tripura tribe which dominates the ethnographic landscape of the Tripura state of North Eastern India has been surviving on the slush and burn cultivation known as Jhum as their traditional livelihood strategy. They belong to Mongoloid stock, and they all speak Tibeto-Burman language. Social and cultural diversity of Tripura tribe is so rich and interwoven with their local environment that their Priests and shamans maintain communications with the nature gods and spirits in the management and use of different natural resources for their survival. While the fabric of primitive life style is still present in Tripura tribe as prevalent in other tribal societies of North Eastern India, the disruption caused by the political unrest and mounting social pressure from the external societies, Tripura tribe is comparatively moving faster on the path of modern development as compared to other tribal groups.