Tripura

Tripura is a small state in northeastern India. It is the third-smallest state in the country and has a population of about 3.67 million people. Tripura is surrounded by Assam, Mizoram, and Bangladesh. The capital city is Agartala, which is also the largest city in the state.

For many years, Tripura was ruled by the Manikya Dynasty and was part of the Tripuri Kingdom. It became a princely state during the time of British rule and joined India in 1947. It officially became a full state of India in 1972.

The state has many forests, with lots of bamboo and cane growing there. Tripura is home to many different kinds of primates, more than any other state in India. Even though it is far from other parts of India, with only one major highway connecting it, the people of Tripura have a rich culture. They enjoy traditional dances, music, and celebrate with special clothes and ceremonies. Places like Unakoti, Pilak, and Devtamura show beautiful old sculptures that tell stories of the past.

Etymology

The name Tripura comes from the Hindu goddess Tripura Sundari, who is linked to a temple in Udaipur. It is also tied to an old king named Tripur, who ruled in this area long ago.

There are other ideas about where the name Tripura came from. Some think it might be linked to the local language of the people there, meaning “near the water,” because the land was close to the Bay of Bengal in the past.

History

Main article: History of Tripura

See also: Twipra Kingdom, Tripura (princely state), Kings of Tripura, and Insurgency in Tripura

Old tools made from wood have been found in Tripura, showing that people lived there a very long time ago. Ancient stories and old writings mention Tripura, calling it "Kirat Desh," which may have been a name for the land of a group of people called the Kirata. For many years, Tripura was ruled by a kingdom known as Twipra, but we do not know exactly when it began. A book called the Rajmala, written much later, lists many kings, but it is not always accurate.

The borders of this kingdom changed over time, reaching as far south as the Sundarbans on the Bay of Bengal, east to Burma, and north to Assam. In the 1700s, Mughal rulers influenced the area but did not control the hills.

Later, Tripura became a small state under British rule. The kings moved their capital several times, finally choosing Agartala. After India gained independence in 1947, Tripura became part of India. Many people from what is now Bangladesh moved to Tripura, changing its population. There were some conflicts between different groups of people, but things have become calmer in recent years.

Geography

Tripura is a landlocked state in North East India, one of the Seven Sister States. It is the third-smallest state in India, covering an area of 10,491 km². Tripura is bordered by Bangladesh to the west, north, and south, and by the Indian states of Assam to the northeast and Mizoram to the east.

The state's landscape includes hill ranges, valleys, and plains. It has five hill ranges running north to south, with Betling Shib in the Jampui Hills being the highest point at 939 m. Tripura's rivers flow into Bangladesh, and the state has a tropical savanna climate with distinct seasons, including a rainy monsoon season. The state is home to diverse forests and wildlife, including several species of mammals and birds, with protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

Administrative divisions

See also: List of districts of Tripura

In January 2012, Tripura made big changes to how it is divided into smaller parts. Before this, there were four districts: Dhalai, North Tripura, South Tripura, and West Tripura. In 2012, four new districts were created from these: Khowai, Unakoti, Sipahijala, and Gomati. These changes added six new smaller areas and five new groups.

After 2012, Tripura had eight districts, 23 smaller areas, and 58 development groups. Each district is led by a special leader called a district collector or district magistrate. These leaders are usually chosen from a group called the Indian Administrative Service. Smaller areas within each district have their own leaders too, and these areas are split into groups that include village councils and town governments. The biggest city in Tripura is Agartala, the capital. Other important towns include Sabroom, Dharmanagar, Jogendranagar, Kailashahar, Pratapgarh, Udaipur, Amarpur, Belonia, Gandhigram, Kumarghat, Khowai, Ranirbazar, Sonamura, Bishalgarh, Teliamura, Mohanpur, Melaghar, Ambassa, Kamalpur, Bishramganj, Kathaliya, Santirbazar, and Baxanagar.

Government and politics

See also: Political parties in Tripura

Tripura is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy, like other Indian states. Residents have the right to vote. The Tripura government has three branches: executive, legislature, and judiciary. The Tripura Legislative Assembly has 60 elected members who serve for five years. The judiciary includes the Tripura High Court and lower courts. Executive power is held by the Council of Ministers led by the Chief Minister. The Governor, who is the head of state, is appointed by the President of India. The leader of the majority party or coalition in the Legislative Assembly becomes the Chief Minister.

Tripura sends two representatives to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament, and one representative to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house. In the 2024 general election, both seats in the lower house were won by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Local self-governance operates through panchayats, elected by villagers. Tripura also has a special council for tribal areas, which helps with local governance in many villages.

The main political parties include the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Left Front, the All India Trinamool Congress, and the Indian National Congress, along with regional parties. The Bharatiya Janata Party has been in power recently, winning elections in 2018 and 2023. The state has a history of different parties governing over the years.

Economy

Tripura's economy grew by 10.38% in 2022–23, reaching ₹640 billion (US$6.8 billion). Most people in Tripura work in farming, but only 27% of the land can be used for crops because of the hilly terrain and forests. Rice is the main crop, grown on 91% of the farmed land. Other important crops include potato, sugarcane, and pulses.

Besides farming, many people work in services like retail trade, manufacturing, public administration, and education. The state also has natural resources such as natural gas and forests with valuable timber. Fish farming and producing handicrafts like woven fabrics and bamboo products are also important. Tourism is growing, but the economy still faces challenges like poverty and limited infrastructure.

Transport

Air

Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport is located near the city of Agartala and is an important airport in northeast India. You can fly directly from here to cities like Kolkata, Imphal, Delhi, and Shillong. Airlines such as flybig, Air India, Akasa Air, Spicejet, and IndiGo operate these flights. There are also helicopter services to smaller towns and remote areas.

Railway

Tripura did not have railway service until 2008–09 when a line was finally built to Agartala, the capital. Today, trains travel from Agartala to Kolkata and Delhi. A new railway line is being built to connect Agartala with Bangladesh, which will make travel much easier.

Road

The main road connecting Tripura to the rest of India is National Highway 8 (NH-8). It starts at Sabroom and goes north to Agartala before heading into Assam. This road is very important but can be difficult to travel on because of bad weather. Another highway, NH 108, links Tripura with Aizawl in Mizoram. There are also bus services between Agartala and Dhaka in Bangladesh.

Media and communication

Doordarshan (DD) has a television station in Agartala. In 2014, 56 daily and weekly newspapers were published in Tripura. Most of these newspapers are in Bengali, but there is one Kokborok daily called Hachukni Kok, one Manipuri weekly called Marup, two English dailies, and three bilingual weeklies. Well-known newspapers include Ajkal Tripura, Daily Desher Katha, Dainik Sambad, and Syandan Patrika. In a 2009 study, 93% of people in Tripura said television was very helpful for learning and information. Many major Indian phone companies operate in Tripura, such as Airtel, Vi, Jio, and BSNL. More people use mobile phones than landlines.

Electricity

Until 2014, Tripura did not have enough electricity. But in late 2014, the state started making more electricity using its newly found natural gas and new power plants. Tripura has several power stations run by the Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL), natural gas-powered thermal power stations at Rokhia and Baramura, and the ONGC Tripura Power Company in Palatana. The ONGC plant can make 726.6 MW of power. The state also has a hydro power station on the Gumti River. With these new power plants, Tripura now has enough electricity to share with other nearby states and countries like Bangladesh.

Irrigation and fertilizers

In 2011, about 255,241 hectares of land in Tripura could grow crops, but only 74,796 hectares had water for irrigation. Tripura depends on rivers like Gumti, Khowai, and Manu for water, along with small projects using tube wells and water pumps. ONGC and Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals are building a big fertilizer plant using Tripura’s natural gas. It is expected to start working by 2017 and will help farms in the northeast.

Drinking water

The Public Works Department takes care of the drinking water in Tripura. They work to improve water supply at schools and special care centers. Some areas have too much iron in their water, so special plants are needed to clean it. Tripura won an award for providing good drinking water, especially in hilly areas. Even so, some water is not clean. People in Tripura can buy bottled water from brands like "Tribeni" and "Eco Freshh." Filters are also sold to help clean water at home.

Education

Main article: Education in Tripura

See also: List of institutions of higher education in Tripura

In Tripura, many children go to school. According to a count from 2011, about 88 out of every 100 people could read and write, which was one of the best rates in all of India. Schools in Tripura are managed by the government, local groups, or private organizations, including some religious groups. Children learn mainly in Bengali or English, but they can also study in Kokborok and other local languages. Some special schools include Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, along with schools run by groups that help tribal communities.

After finishing secondary school, students usually spend two more years in a junior college or higher secondary school. They can choose to study liberal arts, commerce, or science. After this, they can go on to study for a bachelor's degree or choose professional fields like engineering, law, or medicine. Tripura has many colleges and universities, including Tripura University, M. B. B. University, and several engineering, medical, and other specialized colleges.

Healthcare

Main article: Healthcare in Tripura

Tripura has a health care system that aims to help everyone, managed by the government. It includes local health centers, larger district hospitals, and specialty hospitals for more serious illnesses. The state also offers traditional medicine styles like Homeopathy and Ayurvedic care.

While many people in Tripura use government health services, some prefer private clinics because they feel the public ones are far away, have long wait times, or are not open when they need them. Overall, Tripura's health numbers—like birth rates and illness in babies—are better than the rest of India's. However, the state can face health problems like malaria, diarrhea, and other diseases, especially during certain times of the year.

Demographics

Tripura is one of the smaller states in India’s northeastern region. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of about 3.7 million people. This makes up a small part—just 0.3%—of India’s total population. The state has a higher number of females compared to males, with about 961 girls for every 1,000 boys. It is also quite crowded, with around 350 people living in each square kilometre. In 2011, Tripura had a literacy rate of 87.75%, which is higher than the national average.

Tripura is known for its rich mix of cultures and languages. Most people speak Bengali, but many also speak Tripuri and other local languages. The state is home to many different groups of people, including Bengalis and various tribal groups like the Tripuris, Reang, Jamatia, Chakma, and Halam. Each group has its own traditions and languages, making Tripura a diverse and interesting place to learn about.

The main languages spoken in Tripura are Bengali, Tripuri, and several others. Bengali is the most common language, but Tripuri is also very important for the local Tripuri people. Other languages spoken include Chakma, Mogh, Meitei, Halam, and Bishnupriya Manipuri.

Most people in Tripura follow Hinduism, which is practiced by about 83.4% of the population. Islam is the second most common religion, followed by a smaller number of Christians, Buddhists, and others.

Most of Tripura’s land is part of a special area called the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). This area covers about 68% of the state and is mostly home to tribal groups. The remaining part, called the General ward area, has more Bengalis.

During big changes in history, like when Bengal was divided in 1947 and during the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, many Bengali people came to Tripura as refugees. This changed the state’s population and culture forever.

Culture

See also: Culture of Tripura, Tripuri culture, and Bengali culture

Tripura has a rich and varied culture because of its many different groups of people. The main groups include Tripura, Debbarma, Jamatia, Reang, Noatia, and Murasing. There are also other groups such as Chakma, Halam, Garo, Kuki, Mizo, Uchoi, and Munda, who came to Tripura to work. Bengali people make up the largest group, and their culture has had a big influence. Many Bengali traditions, like music, literature, and food, are common, especially in cities.

Tripura is famous for its bamboo and cane crafts. People make furniture, utensils, fans, baskets, and decorations from bamboo and wood. Music and dance are very important. Local instruments include the sarinda, chongpreng, and sumui. Different communities have their own dances and songs for weddings and festivals. Some popular dances are goria dance, Jhum dance, lebang dance, and hojagiri dance.

Performing arts

Tripura has many traditional performances and arts. Some of these include:

• Mamita dance: A Tripuri dance done after harvesting crops.
• Goria dance: Performed during a special puja.
• Hojagiri dance: A dance done during festivals to honor the goddess Mailuma.
• Lebang dance: Another Tripuri dance.
• Mosak Sulmani dance: A Tripuri dance form.
• Jadu Kolija: A Tripuri folk song.
• Dangsa Mwsamung: A Tripuri stage play.

Other groups also have their own dances, like Sangrai dance and Owa dance of the Mog, and wangala dance of the Garo. Indian classical music and dance are also enjoyed. Sachin Dev Burman, from the royal family, was well-known for his work in Indian film music.

Local musical instruments include:

• sarinda: A string instrument.
• chongpreng: Another string instrument.
• sumui: A flute.

Sports

Football and cricket are very popular in Tripura. Every year, the capital city, Agartala, holds football competitions where local teams play against each other. The Tripura cricket team also takes part in the Ranji Trophy, a big cricket competition in India. Tripura regularly joins in the Indian National Games and the North Eastern Games too.

A famous tennis player named Somdev Devvarman, who won a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games, has family ties to Tripura. In 2016, Dipa Karmakar from Agartala made history as the first female gymnast from India to qualify for the Olympics. Other well-known gymnasts from Tripura include Mantu Debnath, Kalpana Debnath, and Bishweshwar Nandi.

People

Further information: Category:People from Tripura

Tripura is home to many different groups of people. These groups have their own traditions, languages, and cultures that make the state unique. The people of Tripura live together, sharing the beautiful land and its history.