Chakma - An Unfortunate Tribe

By SUPAM B. CHAKMA
21 September 2013 :

I belong to the Chakma community, which is one of the most unfortunate communities ever to exist in this world. Although many individuals are being established themselves to their economic position to fulfil their life’s' needs and necessities, on the other sides there are infinite numbers of Chakma population who are struggling to survive and feed even one single meal. They are fighting to earn a little piece of edible item to fulfill the need of their stomachs.

In India, the Chakma community is considered as a Scheduled Tribe (ST), enacted by the Constitution of India. They live mainly in the three Northeast Indian states, which are – Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura, and they follow Buddhism as their religion. Among these three states the social and economic situation of the Chakma people is worst in Arunachal Pradesh affected by the local political and communal groups of that state. Meanwhile, in the remaining two states Mizoram and Tripura, the Chakmas are living much peacefully and well established than those living in Arunachal Pradesh.

But again, the majority population of the Chakmas are settled in the neighbouring South Asian country Bangladesh with an approximate population between 374,000 – 404,000. In fact, nonetheless they are living in hellish situation due to several political and social pressures from the local people.

Challenges for the Chakmas

Let me discuss in simple words the problems faced by the Chakmas in their respective locations.

Arunachal Pradesh: Most unfortunate of all the Chakmas are those who have been forced to migrate from other locations to Arunachal Pradesh. It has a deep historical background which takes it back to the year 1964. In this year, during the construction of the Kaptai hydroelectric dam project on the river Karnaphuli, a serious communal riot broke between the local Muslim inhabitants and the Chakmas. Then the Chakmas were bound to migrate and move to neighbouring places, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh. During that time Arunachal Pradesh was considered as the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). On one side, fortunately the Government of India helped them to take an immediate necessary shelter on humanitarian grounds. Under NEFA the main locations where the Chakmas spread were Changlang, Lohit and Subansiri (presently Papum Pare). On the unfortunate side, the local indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh started to protest over the legal citizenship of the Chakmas which till now has not been resolved yet. It has become a particular human rights issue in terms of citizenship. Even by today, the Chakmas in this state are struggling to get their rights to be considered as Indians either by documents or by social acceptances.

Mizoram: This state is majorly owned by the Mizos or locally known as Lushai tribe and they comprise the largest tribe in population. Under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India, Chakma Autonomous District Council was formed on 29th April 1972. The Chakmas have the power to run the district autonomously and select their political representatives on their own terms. Economically the Chakmas have established themselves except in some few backward regions such as Borapansury, Devasora, Lokhisury etc. Sorrowfully, even there are some Chakma population in Sajek area which is located near the Mizoram border with Tripura and Bangladesh, where they are living the worst part of a life. These people are illiterate and don’t get the opportunity to join school for education. In fact, they have to walk 10-15 kilometres distance to bring the home cooking items such as salt, mustard oil, vegetables, matchbox, kerosene oil etc., which are required regularly for preparing food to live. Can you imagine yourself to live such a tragic life?

Tripura: Tripura is the third state where the Chakmas have legally owned their lands. In terms of majority, Debbarma are the largest tribal group in Tripura. But it is politically being dominated by Bengalis. Economically and socially the Chakmas are well established. But it does not mean there are no or less numbers of poor people in this state. There are several backward places in Tripura where the Chakmas are living in the same condition as in Sajek area of Mizoram. One important fact, the Chakmas have to compromise themselves between the local Bengalis and Tripuris (Kokborok language speaking people such as Debbarma, Jamatia, Noatia, Rupini, Uchoi, Reang and many more) in order to survive in the region. They cannot interfere and show partiality to any of these two separate groups. And this is a challenge for the Chakmas.

Lastly, in Bangladesh those Chakmas who have remained unmoved despite the communal riot took place in 1964, they are settled in the region known as Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). They are the majority in numbers among all the other tribes in this particular region. Bangladesh is originally an Islamic religious country where there are also a few groups of Bengalis, and Barua caste. The major challenge being faced by the Chakmas in Bangladesh is over the ownership of the CHT region where many other outsider Bengalis started to migrate recently. They have become the hurdle for the survival of the Chakmas, and frequently communal violence and attacks take place between them. This has become an international human rights issue but sadly so far no any support or sympathy has been provided by any human rights body.

The most horrific circumstances happen when the Chakmas are considered as refugees by others. This creates a sense of low self-feeling within oneself and causes embarrassment in several occasions in front of the public.

At this moment, we, the Chakmas can only HOPE for a better future and a better land to live in the coming days.