Jamatia
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The Jamatia's are one of the Tripuri clans of Tripura and the only such clan with its own Customary Law in Practice. They mainly dwell in the Gomati and the South Tripura districts. They speak Tripuri language Kokborok. There were 74,949 Jamatia people as of the 2001 Census.
| Jamatia | |
|---|---|
| Profile | |
| Country | India |
| Region | Tripura |
| Ethnicity | Tripuri |
| Chief | |
| Apha Sibrai (Triluchan) | |
Origin of the clanEdit
The Jamatia clan is the third largest sub-clan of the Tripuri community, after the Deshiya Tripuri (Debbarma) and the Reang sub-clan in Tripura. The origin of the word Jamatia, in one opinion, had derived from the word jamat, which means 'collection' or 'union of peoples'. This later on became Jamatia. The people of this clan live in unity and concentrated in any particular place even today.
According to other opinion, Jamatia is a conjugation of two Kokborok words: jama means 'tax' and twiya means 'no need to pay'. The men of this clan engaged in the Tripura royal force as soldiers for the kings of Tripura during the Manikya dynasty. So the peoples of Jamatia clan were exempted of paying tax, by the king, for their loyalty, service and sacrifice for the regime. Later on, the people of this clan became known as Jamatia.
Alternatively, the word 'Jamatia' is derived from 'Jam' which mean 'god of death.' Jamatia are mainly known for their bravery, courage in war and loyalty.
Economy and livelihoodEdit
The economic condition and financial condition of the Jamatia clan is same as rest of the indigenous Tripuris. Nowadays many youths are getting educations and being employed in state and central government offices.
Jamatia HodaEdit
The Jamatia are followers of the traditional Tripuri religion like the rest of the clans of Tripura. They worship Goria mwtai the most, which is worshipped by all other clans. Besides this, they worship the Mwtai Kotor, twima, and 14 other gods. The Jamatias were agitated after the armed rebellion under the leadership of Porikshit Jamatia was brutally crushed.
The Jamatias left the state en masse and migrated to neighbouring state. They were motivated to convert to Vaishnavism; since then, they have had feelings of superiority and did not allow other clans to enter to their kitchen.
Social structure of the "Hoda"Edit
The Jamatia clan had three-tier social structures for smooth interaction and social order:
- Hoda
- Moyal
- Luku
HodaEdit
Hoda means the apex body of the Jamatia society. It is headed by the Okra who is the supreme of the clan.
The head of the hoda, which is the hoda okra, is selected unanimously by the village chokdiris and moyal panchais at the annual conference for five years. There are two hoda okras at the apex body at present.
The supreme authority to govern the society is vested collectively with the two hoda okras. They are assisted by a four-member Advisory Board, possessing sound knowledge and experience of traditional religion, cultural affairs, administrative rule, and Jamatia customary law.
There are 10 priests appointed by hoda okras and accountable to okras. There is a Hoda Working Committee consisting of 33 members which function under the direct supervision of hoda okras. One third of the board members have to be women. Hoda have an audit board with five members, who are selected by the hoda members for three years. All the income and expenditure are audited by this board once in every year, to maintain the financial regularity of the hoda. The hoda has 321 villages that are governed by the above social system.
The hoda is very strong and influential among the Jamatia clan, and that is why the traditional social life and the customary laws are still strictly practiced by the Jomatia clan of indigenous Tripuri.
Duties of hoda okrasEdit
- The twin Hoda Okras shall not do or follow opposite or contradictory policy.
- They should ensure that the Hoda rules and regulations are adhered in performing social occasions and worshiping different gods.
- The first and the foremost duty of the Okras is to implement the resolutions and decisions of the Hoda.
- The hoda Okras should protect any person who is assaulted while protecting the society's rules and regulation.
- Whenever there are disputes or conflicts among the members of the clan the Okras shall do the conciliation independently and impartially.
- The okras should hold the responsibility for five years. But if they indulge in any unfair and corrupt practice, they may be removed before the expiry of the terms. Such expulsion from the post can be done only by 2/3 majority of the advisory board and 2/3 majority of the Hoda working committee. There should be a majority support for the removal by the moyal panchais also.
- The Okras can resign from the post by giving appropriate reasons. They should do so jointly as they were elected.
- If any okra dies or any of their wives dies the two okras shall resign from the post and the emergency meeting of the Hoda shall be convened and new Okras selected unanimously.
MoyalEdit
The moyal consists of five to thirty-two villages, where two panchais are selected in each moyal by the region's Chokdiri and prominent persons of the village for five years.
The whole of the Jamatia population is divided into 16 regions called 'moyals. The head of the moyal is known as panchai.
Duties and powers of the panchaiEdit
- The prime and primary function of the panchais is to peace and discipline of the moyal.
- They shall solve all the disputes among the members by the help of working committee.
- They should implement the programs of the Okras.
- They shall keep contact with the Okras to maintain peace and tranquility at the region.
- They should tale any such step to maintain the harmony and discipline of the society with the approval of Okras.
- They should collect he subscription for the welfare of the society.
- They should preside over any working committee of the moyal.
- They can arbitrate in any problems related to women, theft, dacoity, burglary etc. and punish the accused accordingly.
LukuEdit
The luku is a group of people in a village whose chief is called chokdiri.
The chokdiri is selected unanimously by the head of each family of the village every five years.