Ethnic Diversity
ETHNIC DIVERSITY (Socio-cultural and ethnic diversity)
Anthopologically, there are two major human racial elements, namely, the Indo-Aryans represented by the Bengalees and the Indo-Mongoloids represented by tribes. The Bengalis comprises Scheduled Castes (SC), Other Backward Castes (OBC) and General Castes. There are 37 SC and 19 tribal communities in the State. The major tribes are tripura or tripuri or Tippeara, Reang, Jamatia, Chakma, Halam, Noatia, Mog, Kuki, Garo, Munda, Lushai, Orang, Santhal, Uchai, Khasia, Bhil, Cheimal, Bhutia, and Lepcha. The tripura tribe is largest in numbers and is also dominant. All the nineteen tribes are classified as ‘Scheduled tribes (ST)’. Their cultural lifestyles as provided by Guha Thakurta (1986) is presented below.
The Hinduism is deeply ingrained in their religious belief. In spite of their confessed profession of the above three religions, the Race-God, tribe-God and then the Family-God require in turn there oblation. Besides these there are the spirits of rivers and forests, and a mighty host of unseen beings, who he must keep in good humour.
