Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, known for his controversy-free image, has landed in an unexpected political storm after a remark that appeared to stir unease over the migration of Reangs, or in broader sense Brus, in the state.
As he addressed the 33rd state level Hojagiri festival of the Reang community which falls on full moon after Durga Puja, the Chief Minister said, “Reangs are the second largest indigenous community of the state. After Tripuris, they are the biggest community population wise. It is learnt that they had arrived here in Tripura from Chittagong Hill Tracts which falls under the present day Bangladesh.”
This portion of Dr Saha’s speech drew severe criticism with many Bru organisations seeking rectification in his speech. Tipra Motha Party MDC Bhaba Ranjan Reang, who was present at the same function countered the Chief Minister almost immediately and alleged that the speech of the Chief Minister was factually incorrect.
Sources said, BJP MLA Pramod Reang interfered and didn’t let the Tipra Motha leader continue his speech. Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman was quick to respond on the issue. Taking to social media, he hailed Bhaba Ranjan Reang for speaking his neck out without any fear.
Debbarman’s party leader had been seen holding protest marches in Reang dominated hamlets across the state. The controversy not only brought the strains between BJP and Tipra Motha Party to spotlight but also offered Tipra Motha an opportunity to mount pressure on the government.
Despite being in alliance with the BJP, Tipra Motha had been literally playing the role of an opposition party in the state, many political observers believe.
In the meantime, Amra Bangali, a small Bengali based political outfit, known for its parochial stance, defended Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha’s stand and extended his full support to the contents of the CM’s speech. Even as Amra Bangali’s move to support the Chief Minister’s statement didn’t carry much significance, it escalated the controversy.
Later, several Bru organisations held press conferences and demanded that the Chief Minister must issue a corrigendum over his speech.
A press statement issued by BPO (Bru People Organisation) said, “During the said address, a remark was made referring to the Reang (Bru) community as originating from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and as second settlers in Tripura. While the BPO firmly believes that the statement was made without any deliberate intent to misrepresent, it has, nevertheless, caused deep emotional concern and misunderstanding among members of the Bru (Riang) community following its widespread circulation on social and digital media.
The Bru People Organisation, in its representation, submitted that such a statement, though perhaps made inadvertently, may unintentionally cast doubt on the age-old identity, loyalty, and belongingness of the Bru (Riang) people, who are in truth the aboriginal sons of the soil of Tripura.”
Referring to Rajamala, the chronicles of Tripura kings which is also cited as one of the authentic historical sources for the state, the Bru body said, “Rajmala the only authentic and sacred chronicle of Tripura’s history clearly records the Bru (Riang) people as loyal citizens and valiant warriors of the ancient Tripura Kingdom. During the reign of Maharaja Dhanya Manikya (1490-1515 A.D.), two distinguished generals from the Bru (Riang) community, Raikchak and Raiksom, heroically protected the Kingdom of Tripura against the invasions of Husain Shah of Bengal. Their bravery and patriotism were immortalised in history when they captured a Cannon from the enemy, which was later installed at Kaman Chowmuhani, Agartala, as a symbol of their unwavering loyalty and courage.”
The statement of the BPO undersigned by leader SK Msha also claimed that the Rajmala recounts that the Bru (Riang) people participated in the great Mahabharata war during the reign of King Trilochan, a devout follower of Lord Shiva, around 3000 years before the birth of Christ, affirming that their roots are deeply embedded in the sacred soil of Bharat and intricately intertwined with Tripura’s ancient cultural heritage.
Seeking a corrigendum from the Chief Minister, BPO said: “Before the partition of India, the ancient Kingdom of Tripura extended into regions now within Bangladesh, Mizoram, Assam, and Manipur. Hence, while some Tiprasa people may today reside beyond India’s borders, the Bru (Riang) community has always remained firmly rooted within Indian soil, sharing in the same heritage, culture, and bloodline that define the great Kingdom of Tripura.
The Bru People Organisation earnestly appealed to the Chief Minister to issue a corrigendum clarifying the ancestral and historical identity of the Bru (Riang) community. Such a gesture, would heal the wounded sentiments of the community, uphold historical truth, reinforce social harmony and unity, and stand as a shining example of the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s statesmanship, compassion, and commitment to the inclusive spirit of Tripura.”
Another Bru socio-cultural organisation called BSM (Bru Songrongma Motoh) also expressed their concerns over the CM’s statement and said, “The Chief Minister’s statement sends some misgivings about the Reang community living in Tripura. He mentioned the word Bangladesh which came into existence as a country in 1971. The migration that occurred before that couldn’t be called migration from Bangladesh,” a leader of BSM told reporters.
Almost 10 days after the controversy erupted, the Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday broke its silence on the matter. BJP leaders like General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, Vice President Bimal Chakma and MDC Sanjib Reang condemned the alliance partner Tipra Motha for using Dr Saha’s statement as a tool to polarise people.
Bipin Debbarma said, “We have seen some people have hurled unparliamentary abuses on our respected Chief Minister. He is a Chief Minister for each and every citizen of the state. He was trying to elaborate on the history of the Reang community and a portion of his speech is being played again and again. This is unacceptable.”
BJP MDC Sanjib Reang said, “The Tribal Research and Culture Institute of Tripura has clear studies on it. If someone wishes to read, they can go there and check. Apart from that, Rajmala is also consistent with the Chief Minister.”
BJP Vice President Bimal Chakma recounted the bloodletting past of Tripura. “We didn’t forget the massacre of 1980. We shouldn’t step in any trap that could lead to communal flare up in this peaceful state,” added Chakma.
Meanwhile, the TRCI website says: Reang are the second largest tribal community of Tripura. They are recognized as one of the 75 primitive tribes in India. Numerically as per 2011 Census there are 1,88,220 persons in this State. Reangs are said to have come first from Shan State of upper Burma (now Myanmar) in different waves to the Chittagong Hill Tracts and then to the Southern part of Tripura. Similarly another group entered Tripura via Assam and Mizoram during the 18th Century.
Reangs belong to the Indo-Mongoloid racial stock. Their languages have an affinity of Austro-Asiatic groups under the Tibeto-Burman family. Ethnically, Reangs are divided into two major clans (i) Meska and (ii) Molsoi. Their language is known as “Kaubru” which has a tonal effect of Kuki language though broadly it is Kok-Borok dialect.
According to historical accounts, the first wave of Reangs entered Tripura in the 17th century when Gobinda Manikya was ruling Tripura.
It should be also noted here that the Government of Tripura as per the 2020 quadripartite agreement resettled around 40,000 internally displaced Bru (Reang) migrants in different locations of Tripura. Since 1997, they had been staying in relief camps in North Tripura district’s Kanchanpur subdivision. This move has been widely appreciated for resolving a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Apart from that, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha in his recent Delhi visit urged the centre to enroll Brus under the National Food Security Act. Apart from that, the Government of India has also identified Reangs as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
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