Tripura, a culturally diverse state in Northeast India, is home to numerous indigenous communities, including the Tripuri, Reang, Jamatia, Chakma, and others, who make up nearly 30% of its population. These groups have preserved distinct languages, rituals, governance, and ecological knowledge closely tied to their natural environment. However, post-independence demographic changes—especially the influx of Bengali refugees—and modernization have disrupted their traditional ways of life.
This paper explores cultural resilience among Tripura’s indigenous peoples, focusing on how they navigate pressures from assimilation, urbanization, and economic change to sustain their identities. It examines challenges such as land alienation, language decline, and weakening customary institutions, while highlighting community-led responses like language revival, digital activism, ritual renewal, and youth engagement.
The study also considers the vital roles of women and youth in balancing tradition and modernity, and evaluates the effectiveness of institutions like the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in supporting indigenous autonomy. Cultural resilience is framed as an active process of adaptation, negotiation, and identity assertion. By centering indigenous agency, this research offers insights into the ongoing struggle to preserve indigenous identity amid rapid social transformation.