‘There’s A Lot Of Good Things To Learn From BJP’, ‘CPI(M) Is Root Cause Of Tribal Backwardness’: Tripura Royal Pradyot Debbarma

The BJP and the Tipra Motha, a party formed by Tripura’s titular king ‘Maharaja’ Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma to protect the interests of the state’s indigenous tribals, were arch rivals till just a month ago.

But the signing of a tripartite agreement between the Motha and the Union and state governments in early March paved the way for the Motha to align with the BJP. 

The two parties are now fighting the CPI(M)-Congress combine jointly, and Pradyot’s sister Kriti Singh Debbarma has been fielded by the BJP as its candidate for the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat. 

The 45-year ‘Maharaja’ now has his hands full: he has to ensure that his sister wins by a record margin, the alliance with the BJP works smoothly in the ground and the commitments made in the tripartite agreement towards protecting the political, cultural, land and customary rights of the tribals are fulfilled. 

The articulate and charismatic ‘Maharaja’ grew up in Shillong where his family owns a huge property — the Tripura Castle — set amidst lush pine forests. 

Pradyot followed in his parents’ footsteps and joined the Congress soon after he returned to Tripura after his education in Shillong. 

His father, ‘Maharaja’ Kirit Bikram Kishore Debbarma was a three-time Congress MP and his mother, ‘Maharani’ Bibhu Devi was a Congress MP as well as an MLA and a minister in the then Congress government in the state. 

Popularly called ‘Bubagra’ (‘king’ in the Kokborok language of Tripuris), Pradyot was made the president of the Congress in Tripura. But he soon fell out with the party's 'high command’ over the NRC issue. While he was in favour of the NRC, the Congress took a strident stand against it. Also, many central Congress leaders wanted to impose controls on him, thus angering him. 

After he left the Congress in 2019, he took a short break from politics. Two years later, in 2021, he formed the Tipra Motha to protect the political, cultural and land rights of the indigenous tribals of the state. 

The Motha performed very well in the elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in April 2021, winning 16 of the 28 seats. 

In the 2023 Assembly elections, Tipra Motha emerged as the single largest opposition party by winning 13 seats. 

A student of history, Pradyot is acutely aware of the need to secure his place in it. 

And the best way to do so, he feels, is to ensure the identity and rights of his people — the indigenous Tiprasas who number about 5.8 lakh and constitute about 17 per cent of the Bengali-majority state’s population — are safeguarded.

Amidst the hectic campaigning for his sister, Pradyot Debbarma took time out to speak to Swarajya at his sprawling Ujjayanta Palace on his alliance with the BJP and what he wants for his people. 

Swarajya: Having been born into a Congress family and even been the state president of the party, how comfortable are you now as an ally of the BJP?

Pradyot: I have always been on good terms with top BJP leaders. I have excellent ties with (Home Minister) Amit Shah and have known (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwatji for a long time. I have a close association with many BJP and RSS leaders.

There are a lot of good things to learn from the BJP and I believe in taking the best from every party, including the Congress whose top leadership is, however, largely absent now. 

In a democracy, one has to have friends across the political spectrum. One should always have an open mind and there is no point being judgemental. 

What impact will your alliance with the BJP have on Tipra Motha’s agenda?

Pradyot: I’m absolutely clear in my mind about my agenda. I want to help my indigenous tribal people. I want the political, social, cultural and land rights of the tribals to be completely secure. 

That is why I entered political life. I have nothing to gain from any post or office. I only want to bring about far-reaching changes. 

You blame the CPI(M) for the backwardness of Tripura’s tribals. But the Congress had also been in power in Tripura. So why is the CPI(M) solely to blame?

Pradyot: The CPI(M) deliberately kept us (tribals) poor for so many decades. But the more dangerous thing they did was that they destroyed our social fabric. They denigrated and marginalised our traditional institutions and crushed our traditional social structures. 

The CPI(M) instilled a useless mindset of continuous agitation on our people and turned them into unproductive rebels. That led many of our youth astray. 

The CPI(M) kept us cut-off from the rest of the country and that led to our alienation from the Indian mainstream. 

What was very dangerous was that the CPI(M) tried to create a divide between the Manikya dynasty (the royals) and the rest of the tribal community. 

The Congress is guilty by association (with the CPI-M). It (the Congress) sacrificed its interests in Tripura and helped the CPI(M) remain in power in order to retain power in other parts of the country with the CPI(M)’s backing.

Tripura was, before the emergence of the CPI(M), a very progressive state. But the CPI(M) turned it into the most backward state of the country. 

You said the CPI(M) destroyed the social fabric of tribal society. Please elaborate on it. 

Pradyot: We had our traditional chiefs like the Chowdhurys, Dalims etc and well-structured village councils that were democratic in their functioning. The CPI(M), in order to gain control over tribal society, marginalised these structures and institutions and replaced it with the abhorrent ‘club culture.’

‘Clubs’ controlled by the CPI(M) sprang up in every locality in the urban and semi-urban areas, and in every village in the state. These ‘clubs’ became the dens of anti-social and criminal elements who became more powerful than heads of traditional institutions. The clubs replaced the village councils.  

Tribals, thus, lost their identity and sense of history. 

Can the damage be undone?

Pradyot: Yes, I am hoping for and working towards that. Our tie-up with the BJP is driven by that purpose as well. 

I am really worried about our next generation. They should be made aware and proud of our culture, traditions and institutions. 

We have been assured of laws to protect our lands, culture and traditions. I am looking forward to the implementation of these assurances. Only that will undo the damage done to us by the CPI(M). 

What about your demand for a separate ‘Tipraland’ state?

Pradyot: If a better solution can be found, I will be all for it. Greater and meaningful autonomy for the tribals, including the creation of an ‘autonomous state’ under Article 244A of the Constitution or the tribal areas being declared a Union Territory administered directly by the Union Government can be acceptable solutions. 

We want to be directly under the aegis of the Union Government. We don’t want to be under the state government.

There is a strategic angle to this as well. We are located next to Bangladesh which faces an uncertain future. After Sheikh Hasina, what will happen in Bangladesh? There are strong chances of Islamist radicals gaining control of the country.

Remember, it took the Taliban just 21 days to overrun Afghanistan in 2021. If Islamists come to power in Bangladesh, it will trigger a huge influx from Bangladesh into Tripura. The state government will not be able to handle that. 

But if the tribal areas of Tripura that border Bangladesh are brought under the direct rule of the Union Government, things can be managed very effectively. 

I’m willing to offer the Government of India all help to implement a Chandigarh (Union Territory) type model for the tribal areas of Tripura. 

We are Indians first and we have to do whatever is in the best interests of the country. A federally-administered territory comprising the tribal areas of Tripura is in the best interests of the country. 

What role do you see for yourself in future?

Pradyot: After I have achieved what I want to for my people, I will give all this (the palace and all the trappings of royalty), convert this into a museum and settle down in a small bungalow. I don’t have any need for power and wealth. Tyag (renunciation) is what I will aim for.