Agartala, 19th August 2026 : Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has urged the people and the government of Tripura to move beyond ceremonial tributes to Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur and take concrete steps to protect the land and constitutional rights of the state’s indigenous communities.
Speaking on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Bir Bikram, Pradyot said people across Tripura were paying floral tributes to the former monarch by garlanding his statues and offering flowers at his portraits. While welcoming the gestures, he questioned whether the ideals and vision of the Maharaja were being translated into action.
Pradyot recalled that Maharaja Bir Bikram had introduced measures in 1940 aimed at safeguarding indigenous land in tribal areas by restricting its transfer to outsiders. He said the issue of land protection remained central to the political and economic security of Tripura’s indigenous population.
Referring to the subsequent evolution of land laws after Independence and the creation of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Schedule, Pradyot argued that stronger safeguards were still needed to ensure that indigenous families do not lose their land and livelihood.
“Today, we remember Maharaja Bir Bikram, garland his statues and invoke his name, but the real question is whether we are fulfilling the vision he left behind,” Pradyot said.
He stressed that land is not merely a property issue but a foundation of economic security, identity and dignity for indigenous communities. He also referred to stronger land protections available in several other northeastern regions and expressed concern over what he described as continuing difficulties faced by indigenous people in Tripura, including issues relating to land rights and pattas in areas under the Sixth Schedule.
Pradyot said genuine respect for Maharaja Bir Bikram would require ensuring that economically vulnerable indigenous families are not rendered landless.He called for a broader discussion on land and constitutional safeguards and urged people to work collectively towards strengthening the rights of indigenous communities.
According to Pradyot, fulfilling Bir Bikram’s vision would help create a Tripura where indigenous people can live with greater security, dignity and economic stability, while ensuring that their rights and heritage are protected for future generations.
