Font size:
Print
Tea Tribes and Jhumur Dance of Assam
Context:
To commemorate 200 years of Assam’s tea industry, the largest-ever Jhumur (also spelt jhumoir or jhumair) dance performance was held in Guwahati in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and delegates from 60 countries. The Tea Tribes of Assam, who played a crucial role in the tea industry, showcased their cultural heritage through this traditional dance form.
Tea Tribes / Tea Garden Communities of Assam
- Origin: Descendants of laborers brought by the British in the 19th century to work in tea plantations.
- Migration: Workers were primarily from Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Forced Labor & Exploitation:
- Many were subjected to forced migration.
- Worked under poor wages, inhumane conditions, and restricted mobility.
- Geographical Distribution:
- Concentrated in Upper Assam districts – Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Sonitpur, and Sivasagar.
- Present in the Barak Valley – Cachar and Karimganj.
- Socio-Political Status:
- Classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC) in Assam.
- Demand Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, as sub-groups like Munda, Santhal, and Oraon hold ST status in their native states.
- Cultural Identity:
- Retained distinct festivals, music, and dance despite hardships.
- Major festivals include Tushu Puja and Karam Puja, celebrated with Jhumur dance.
Jhumur Dance – The Cultural Expression of Tea Tribes
- Origin & Evolution:
- A folk dance of the Sadan ethnolinguistic group.
- Originated in the Chotanagpur Plateau (Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, and Chhattisgarh).
- Brought to Assam during British rule and evolved with Assamese influences.
- Performance Style:
- Women are the primary dancers, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in synchronised formations.
- Men play traditional instruments such as madal, dhol, dhak (drums), cymbals, flutes, and shehnai.
- Attire & Aesthetics:
- Women: Wear red and white sarees.
- Men: Wear Kurta-Dhoti with Gamocha (traditional Assamese cloth).
- Themes of Jhumur Songs:
- Love & Nature: Celebrate seasonal changes, harvest, and romance.
- Struggles of Tea Workers: Reflect on migration, exploitation, and hardships.
- Festivals & Community Life: Promote unity, faith, and social cohesion.
- Cultural Significance:
- Acts as a cultural bridge, preserving traditions and identity.
- Symbolises resilience, history, and collective spirit of the tea garden communities.
