Bru Tribe in India

 Reang (Bru) are one of the 21 Schedule tribe of the India, mostly living in Tripura, Mizoram and Assam.

Brus are the 2nd largest ethnic group in Mizoram.

They are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect 

In Tripura, Brus are recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).

In Mizoram, Brus have been targeted by groups that do not consider them indigenous to the state.

Language, Culture and religion of BRU

Bru speak the Reang dialect of Kokborok language which is of Tibeto-Burmese origin and is locally referred to as Kau Bru. 

The majority of the Reang belong to the Vaishnav school of Hinduism and claim Kshatriya status.

They are polytheists and believe in multiple Gods and Goddesses.

The marriage system is similar to other Tripuri tribes of Tripura.

Dance is an integral part of Reang life.

The Hojagiri folk dance of Riang sub tribe is rather well known all over the world.

‘Buisu’, not ‘bihu’ is the most popular festival of reang tribes.

 

Conflict in Mizoram

In 1995, Mizos, the majority tribe of the state of Mizoram, demanded that Brus be left out of the state’s electoral rolls as they contended that they are not indigenous to Mizoram.

 In 1997, ethnic violence forced roughly half the Bru population to flee the state in large numbers to neighbouring Tripura. 

Their exodus in 1997 was spurred by violent clashes in Mamith subdivision, a Reang-dominated area, when they demanded creation of an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram that was vehemently opposed by Mizo groups.

Currently, around 35,000 (more than 5,000 families) Bru refugees living in Tripura camps.

 

Proposed New Agreement

According to the 2018 agreement, the Bru tribals would have settled in Mizoram, but according to the new agreement, they will now settle in Tripura.

The stakeholders in the issue expect a package of Rs 600 crore from the Centre which includes:

Plots of 2,500 sq ft for each Bru family in addition to agricultural land.

A stipend of Rs 5,000 per month and free ration for each family for the next two years.

Bru tribals would be included in Tripura’s voter list.

 

Progress over past two decades

The Centre and the two State governments involved made nine attempts to resettle the Brus in Mizoram. The first was in November 2010 when 1,622 Bru families with 8,573 members went back. Protests by Mizos stalled the process in subsequent years.

In June 2018, Bru leaders (Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum- MBDPF) signed an agreement in Delhi with the Centre and the two state governments, providing for repatriation to Mizoram (deadline to move back to Mizoram was set as Sep  2020) along with rehabilitation package (free ration, housing assistance, education)

However, the camp residents said the package did not guarantee their safety in Mizoram, and were not happy with the deadline (to repatriate to Mizoram) provided by the government. Thus fear of repeat of the violence lead to the failure of agreement.

 

How is this agreement different from the earlier initiatives taken for the Bru?

Allows Bru refugees to permanently settle in Tripura if they want to stay on. They will be provided voting rights in Tripura. The Bru who returned to Mizoram in the eight phases of repatriation since 2009, cannot, however, come back to Tripura.

Fresh Survey: To ascertain the number of those settled in relief camps 

Special developmental package in addition to the Rs 600 crore fund announced for the process, including benefits for the migrants.

Rehabilitation Package: Each family will get 0.03 acre (1.5 ganda) of land for building a home, Rs 1.5 lakh as housing assistance, and Rs 4 lakh as a one-time cash benefit for sustenance

They will also receive a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000,(through Aadhar enabled Direct Benefit Transfer)  and free rations for two years from the date of resettlement.

Timeline provided: All Bru refugees will be moved to resettlement locations in four clusters, paving the way for the closure of the temporary camps within 180 days of the signing of the agreement and housing & payments completed with 270 days.

Role of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family

Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, scion of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, claimes that the Bru were originally from Tripura, and had migrated to Mizoram after their homes were flooded due to the commissioning of the Dumboor hydroelectric power project in South Tripura in 1976

This effort by a socially respected person led to easy acceptance of Brus by Mizoram political system.

Pradyot Deb Barman, who is also one of the signatories, committed to donate 35 acres of land for the purpos, thus easing the pressure on government in their search for land.

 

Concerns

It could set a bad precedent and “legitimise” the ejection of minority communities by ethnocentric states.

The displaced Brus who returned to Mizoram have already begun demanding a package equivalent to the one those who stayed behind in the Tripura relief camps 

It could fuel conflict with the locals of Tripura.

Nearly 162 acres will be needed for the process and since Tripura is a small state, the government would look to diversion of forest land for human settlement purpose. Forests would be razed down so as to provide the land needed for settling Brus.