Jhum Cultivation In Tripura And Assam: An Ethnographical Study On The Cultural Identity And Environmental Sustainability Among The Indigenous Tribes

Abstract

Jhum cultivation, or slash-and-burn, remains one of the most significant yet contested agrarian systems in Northeast India, particularly in Tripura and Assam. Frequently portrayed as “wasteful” or “backward,” Jhum is, in fact, a sophisticated adaptive practice deeply interwoven with indigenous knowledge, ecological rhythms, and cultural traditions. This study employs the theoretical lenses of cultural ecology, political ecology, and subaltern studies to explore the multifaceted nature of Jhum. From a cultural ecological perspective, Jhum emerges as a land-use strategy tailored to mountainous terrain, seasonal rainfall, and diverse flora, structured through cycles of clearing, burning, cultivation, and fallowing that maintain ecological balance. Political ecology critiques the negative portrayals of Jhum, revealing how development policies, forest laws, and conservation measures often serve to marginalise tribal voices while privileging state interests. Through subaltern frameworks, particularly Ranajit Guha’s concept of “everyday resistance” and James Scott’s insights on peasant agency, Jhum is interpreted as a symbolic and practical assertion of tribal identity and autonomy in the face of modernity and political control. Ethnographic perspectives further show how Jhum sustains cultural identity among communities such as the Reang, Chakma, Karbi, and Mizo, expressed in rituals, festivals, and oral traditions. By bridging historical insights with present ecological challenges, this research argues that Jhum should be recognised not as an obsolete practice but as a dynamic system that can inspire inclusive and sustainable alternatives. Integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches, through innovations such as agroforestry, improved fallows, and organic methods, can strengthen both cultural heritage and ecological resilience in the Northeast.