Reang
Reang, also known as Bru, is one of the Tripuri clan of the Northeast Indian state. The Reangs can be found all over the Tripura state in India. However, they may also be found in Assam and Mizoram. Their language is similar to Kokborok and the language itself is the branch of Tibeto Burman, locally known as 'Kaubru'. They are known as "Riang" in the Indian Constitution. The Reang, on the other hand, identify as "Reang" rather than "Riang," and are often referred to as Bru. In the North East of India, the Brus call themselves as the Reangs, a semi-nomadic people who farm hillsides by the jhum or shifting method. This forces them to relocate after a few years.
Ethnically, the Bru are divided into three major clans: Meska and Molsoi and Uchoi/Ushoy. The Bru Community is made up of 14 clans or panjis: Molsoi, Tuimui, Msha, Taumayakcho, Apeto, Wairem, Meska, Raikchak, Chorkhi, Chongpreng, Nouhkham, Yakstam, Jolai and waring.
According to Part XVII of the Constitution Order, 1950, the Riang tribe is a sub-tribe of the Kuki tribe and one of Mizoram's Scheduled Tribes. The Kukis and Mizos are members of the Kuki-Chin Linguistic Group, while the Brus belong to the Austroasiatic/ Mon–Khmer Linguistic Group. As a result, the Tripura Bru/Reang are designated as a distinct tribe under Section 16 of Part XV - Tripura of the Constitution Order 1950.
In 2018, following the Union Home Ministry's decision to give voting rights to around 30,000 people who had fled from Mizoram to Tripura in 1997 in the wake of inter-community violence, The Election Commission asked the State of Mizoram to revise its rolls for the 2018 polls and include the members of the internally-displaced community. As many as 32,876 people of the Bru tribe were set to be repatriated to Mizoram after a tripartite agreement was signed between the Centre, Tripura and Mizoram government. On 16 January 2020, a quadripartite agreement was signed among the Centre, state governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru representatives to facilitate permanent settlement of Bru IDPs from Mizoram in Tripura, benefitting around 34,000 IDPs.
The history of Bru (Reang)
The Bru are the second most populous tribe in Tripura after Tripuri people. According to the legend, a Tripuri prince who was once exiled by the King made his way, along with his followers, to the Mayani Thalang area of Lushai hills and founded a state over there. He proclaimed himself King and his descendants too ruled over the break-away state for generations. As it sometimes happens, there came a time when there was no heir to succeed to the throne, leading to anarchy in the kingdom. At around the same time, bitter feud and internal vendetta saw four chiefs of the following sub tribes Twikluha, Yongsika, Paisika, Tuibruha leave their hearth and home along with their entourages to migrate back to the state of Tripura. It was a long and arduous journey, fraught with danger and the travellers had to make more than a couple of attempts before they successfully made their way up the Dombur hill.At the time, Mahendra Manikya ruled the kingdom of Tripura. The chiefs made many attempts to reach the King to request asylum. They approached ministers, bureaucrats, and courtiers for help in arranging a meeting with the King but with no success. By this time, they had exhausted their supplies and were rather anxious to catch the attention of the King. Finally in desperation, they breached the dam on the Gumti river where worshippers had gathered for prayers. This was a serious crime and all of them were immediately apprehended and brought before the king. The crime was a serious one and merited capital punishment. But before the King could pass his judgement, the chiefs managed to send word to the Queen Gunoboti. They begged her for help and she persuaded the King to forgive them. The chiefs swore fealty to the Queen and to the throne of Tripura and settled down in the Kingdom. Popular legend has it that the Queen even offered the chiefs breast milk, to symbolise their new parent-child relationship, in a large brass pan which was given to the chiefs along with other valuable things, carefully preserved by Reangs to date.
Historical population figures
In 1971 the Reang were the second largest of the scheduled tribes in Tripura. There were 64,722 people accounted for in the Reang tribe in Tripura that year. In 1961 the Reang had numbered 56,597 and in 1951 they had numbered 8,471. According to the 2001 census, there were 165,103 Reang in Tripura and 1,88,220 in 2011. In Mizoram the population of Bru is unknown but as per the research topic Insurgency in Mizoram: A study of its Origin, Growth and Dimensions in the year 1997 around 41000 Reang/Bru were forced to flee Mizoram but as of 2008 as per ‘Baptist Today’ there are 58269 populations of Bru in 80 villages of Mizoram. This population consists of 11350 families of Bru.Occupation, culture and custom
The Reangs are primarily an agrarian tribe. In the past, they mostly practised the Huk or Jhum cultivation like most other Tripuri tribes. However today, most of them have adopted modern agricultural practices. Many occupy high posts in the bureaucracy and a few have even started their own businesses.Marriage system
The Reang are an endogamous tribal community. However, there was no strong objection of marrying someone outside of the community. Today inter-tribe marriages and inter-caste weddings have taken place among the Bru/Reang Tribal community. The marriage system is similar to other Tripuri tribes of Tripura. There is no dowry system, but the bridegroom has to spend a period of two years in the father-in-law's house for before marriage is performed. The Tripuris' and the Riangs' systems of marriage are fairly comparable. The Riangs typically marry in one of two ways. They are.Moiseng: This is a bride price-based marriage system.
Chamarui: This is a proba-tionary marriage system where the groom remains with the bride's family for a predetermined amount of time.
Marriages between close relatives are not frowned upon but are no longer as frequent. The majority of parents still wish to marry a member of their close family with their son or daughter. Marriage between children and the same father, however, has historically been viewed as improper. Cross-cousin marriage among the Reang is accidental. Child marriage is not allowed and widow remarriage is permitted. Recent widows are required to wait a whole year before wearing any ornaments and both widows, as well as widowers, are mandated twelve months of mourning during which they are forbidden from any form of entertainment. Remarriage is only allowed after a year of mourning. Bru society today is monogamous.
Marriage is arranged through the matchmaker Andra, who negotiates the bride price with the bride's parents. Marriage is settled to the satisfaction of both parties and performed by the Ochai. Marriage always takes place in the mid night. The marriage is celebrated simply but well in the Kausungmo, where pork, fowl, rice, rice beer are served. The marriage laws of the Reang are few but well defined. The marriage bond is very strong and men cannot divorce without the consent of their wives. If any Reang is accused of extramarital relationships and the accusations are proved true, a strict punishment and a heavy penalty is imposed on both parties.
Despite their patriachal origins, the Chamerui marriage system, which many of the Riangs have adopted, is essentially a kind of matriachal marriage. Divorce is very common, although the divorcee is free to get married again. After two divorces, a lady is never awarded a bride price in her third marriage. If a husband passes away, his widow is not permitted to wed again until her husband's bones have been properly disposed of. Additionally, a widower is prohibited from being married again before the ritualistic rite honoring his late wife is finished. Among the Reang community Monogamy has been considered as the best and only desirable form of Marriage.
Dress and ornaments
Like the other Tripuri, the traditional dress of the Reang is simple and plain.Men traditionally wear a hand woven loin cloth and a piece of cloth as a wrapper for the upper body. Along with this a piece of woven cloth is wrapped around the head by Kamsoi and is known as Kamsoi maitang. The women wear a long cloth called rnai, a wraparound; from the waist to down to the knees, a Risa covering the chest, and Rikatouh for covering the whole upper half of the body. The fabric is usually woven by the Reang women and very colourful. However modernisation has caught up with the Bru and most urban Reang no longer wear their traditional costumes.
The Reang women are very fond of personal adornment and, like other Tripuris, favour ornaments, flowers, and cosmetics. Silver ornaments, especially the necklace of silver coins, the Rangbauh have a pride of place and bestow high status. The other ornaments are Sanghai dunang, Nabak, Angkli, Taar, Tro, Chandraha, Beingi, etc.
Dance and music
Dance is an integral part of Reang life. The Hojagiri folk dance of Reang sub tribe is rather well known all over the world. 'Buisu', not 'bihu' is the most popular festival of reang tribes, naisingpara hojagiri group is the most popular groups all amongthem, late maniram reang is the founder of naisingpara hojagiri dance group.
hojagiri is more popular in tripura than other states. Hojagiri dance is one of Tripura's most famous dances. The dance is done at the HOJAGIRI Festivals, also known as Laxmi Puja, which take place on the full moon night after Durga Puja. Generally after the third day of Dashera. On this day, the Goddess Mailuma is revered and adored with great devotion. The dance is done by solely women, who form teams of four to six. The Riang clan of Tripuri people performs this dance with great skill. The male members sing the lyrics and play the Kham, Sumui. In addition, the women comprise the chorus team in the singing ensemble. The lyrics are basic, but the dance is unparalleled to the lyrics of Hojagiri dance. This dance requires substantial training and rehearsals. It's a sluggish hip and waist moving dance. The Hojagiri dance pattern takes around 30 minutes to complete. This dance demonstrates the entire Huk or Jhum growing process. To some extent, it resembles Hukni dance, although the pace and sequence are completely different. This dance is world-famous and has been included in several international folk culture programs.
Sh. Satya Ram Riang is a Tripuri hojagiri dancer. He had dedicated his life to the development of Hojagiri dance, and he had built a school where he taught young people how to perform one of the Riang tribe's most famed and famous dance. Sh. Riang was received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award by the Government of India for his tireless efforts to conserve and promote the Hojagiri dance in India and internationally.