Urgent Demand: Bru Identity in Tripura Clarification Sought from CM Saha Over Festival Remarks

The political landscape in Tripura has seen a significant ripple of controversy following recent remarks made by Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha. The Bru People Organisation (BPO) has officially stepped forward, submitting a firm memorandum to the Chief Minister requesting an immediate corrigendum to a statement he made during the 33rd State Level Hojagiri Festival on October 8, 2025, in Bogapha, South Tripura.

The BPO’s move highlights a deep-seated historical and emotional concern within the community, focusing specifically on the integrity of the Bru Identity in Tripura—a matter of immense pride and heritage for the Riang people.

The key aspects of the BPO’s grievance are outlined below:

1. CM’s Remarks and Misunderstanding: During his address as Chief Guest, the Chief Minister made a statement that referred to the Reang (Bru) community as having originated from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. More distressingly, the statement implied they are “second settlers” in the state of Tripura.
2. Emotional Distress and Social Circulation: While the BPO acknowledges there was likely no deliberate intent to misrepresent the community’s history, the rapid and widespread circulation of these remarks across social and digital media platforms has caused considerable emotional distress, concern, and a pervasive misunderstanding among the Bru community members. The mischaracterisation of their ancestral lineage has wounded sentiments deeply.
3. Seeking Official Correction: The memorandum, signed by BPO President S. K. Msha and Information Secretary Simson Reang, serves as an earnest appeal for the Chief Minister to issue an official clarification or corrigendum. This action, they believe, is crucial for healing the perceived affront and reaffirming social harmony across the state.

Historical Foundations of the Bru Identity in Tripura

To counter the recent statements and firmly establish their historical claim, the Bru People Organisation has meticulously leveraged authentic historical documents and narratives, asserting their rightful place as original inhabitants and loyal citizens of the ancient kingdom. The foundation of the Bru Identity in Tripura is cemented in centuries of documented history.

The BPO’s historical arguments include:

1. The Authority of the Rajmala: The organisation points directly to the Rajmala, the official and authentic historical chronicle of Tripura’s Kings. The Rajmala explicitly records the Bru (Riang) people not as outsiders or second settlers, but as loyal citizens and valiant warriors who served the ancient Tripura Kingdom with honour and distinction.
2. Military Valor and Loyalty: A specific and compelling historical example is cited from the reign of Maharaja Dhanya Manikya (1490–1515 A.D.). During this era, two legendary Bru generals, Raikchak and Raiksom, heroically led forces in defense of the kingdom against significant invasions launched by Husain Shah of Bengal. Their bravery resulted in a decisive victory and the capture of a powerful cannon, which was later installed at Kaman Chowmuhani, Agartala, standing to this day as a profound symbol of Bru heroism and their intrinsic connection to the kingdom’s sovereignty. This act alone decisively counters any notion of a second-settler status, confirming an aboriginal Bru Identity in Tripura.
3. Ancient Participation and Cultural Intertwining: The BPO further emphasized the community’s deep-rooted existence in Tripura, claiming participation in historical events as far back as the Mahabharata war during the reign of King Trilochan, which is dated to roughly 3000 years before Christ. This highlights an intertwined cultural heritage that makes the Bru people inseparable from the region’s history, culture, and social fabric. Their claim is that they are, unequivocally, the “aboriginal sons of Tripura’s soil.”

Implications and The Path to Social Harmony

The BPO’s request is more than a demand for a retraction; it is a plea for the affirmation of identity and the restoration of dignity following a public statement that inadvertently challenged the very core of what it means to belong to the state. The matter of Bru Identity in Tripura has become a sensitive flashpoint, necessitating swift and thoughtful government action.