Karbis are one of the major ethnic communities in the North East region. They mostly inhabit Karbi Anglong district in Assam. Due to absence of any written document, their folktales are the only source through which we can have an idea about their early history.
Karbi folktales, as those of other ethnic groups, are an invaluable ingredient of folklore. The Karbi life is intimately connected with variegated nature and land and their tales reflect them well. Their tales also reflect people's simplicity, beliefs, feelings and emotions.
Joykanta Sarma has worked with Dainik Asom and The Economic Times. He is also author of over 20 books published in English and Asamiya.
Karbis, mentioned as the Mikirs in the constitution order of the Government of India, and till 1976 in the Assam government documents, are one of the major ethnic communities in the North-East region and an important group in the hill areas of Assam. They never call themselves Mikir, but as Karbi and sometimes Arleng which means man. Even in their folklores and folktales there is no mention of Mikir anywhere. They mostly inhabit the present Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Moreover, in Assam itself, there are Karbi-inhabited pockets in the North Cachar Hills, Kamrup Metro, Nowgong, Morigaon and Sonitpur districts. Besides, a few Karbi persons still live in Arunachal Pradesh, Bangladesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. According to the 2011 census, out of the total population of 9,65,280 in the Karbi Anglong district, Karbis were 4,21,156. In that census, Arunachal Pradesh's Karbi population was 1053; Nagaland's 210 and Mizoram's 74. It is, however, difficult to trace the early history of the Karbis owing to lack of any written document. Old Assamese 'Buranji's only referred to them occasionally from which one cannot arrive at any decision.
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