In Rhythm with Nature: A Glimpse into the Karbi Way of Life

The Karbi people of suburban Assam lead a lifestyle that blends modern urban influences with tribal rooted traditions.

In the suburban area of Gog Gaon, Assam, a handful of people belonging to the Karbi tribe reside in tiny, bamboo huts, waking up as early as 4 a.m to provide for their families.

The Karbi people here have a hard working lifestyle to feed their families. However, they do not follow the extremes and exact traditions the ones on the pure hills follow.

“Ami eman beleg niyom namanu karon ami ekebare paharot nathaku je,” (We don’t follow the exact traditional practices because we don’t live exactly in the hill stations) says Monita, a maid. Each day begins with them putting on the clothes they had left out to dry the day before, followed by tending to the pigs, cows, and goats they domesticate. Some work as

‘tom-tom’(e-rickshaw) drivers, while others work as maids or manservants, helping in household chores or at schools nearby, working until 8 p.m. However, finally at 9 p.m they take the queue for a good night’s rest. They curl their toes and rest their eyes; the tribe finally finds rest in their humble huts.

A hint of light and dew in the surrounding hills marks the start.

“We wake up even before we see the sun. We have to get to work.”

“Working is almost a necessity now. Even the elderly find a way or two to work and provide for the family.”

Hearts of the community — One well, numerous individuals. The root that sustains the tribe. “When there is low rainfall, we all thrive for water. However that rarely happens. The well is gifted and provides enough for all our household chores and for drinking.”

“The kids play around 5 p.m and fill the raasta (road) with chaos and laughter.”

During the evening, the small allies of the Gog Gaon are filled with laughter of kids frolicking and the hustling and bustling of bargainers shrieking for vegetables at lower prices. During this time, some locals also like to gamble and gather around to chit-chat with

one another. At 8:30 p.m the noise of chaos and joy ends, when the sellers decide to pack up, the bargainers stop approaching, the gamblers fill their pockets with money and the kids return home.

In search no more — he has found them, and can finally rest once he leashes them.

Written by Adrika Changmai

Adrika wrote this article as a participant of the Media-Makers Fellowship's May'25 cohort.