Karbi Bachelor Dormitory: Terang / Jirkedam

[Full title: Communities with Deka-chang (d): Karbi Bachelor Dormitory: Terang / Jirkedam]

The Karbi community too have the institution of youth or bachelor dormitory that performs similar objectives. The institution of youth dormitory is known as the Jirkedam while the stilt architecture is known as Terang. On the other hand, the members of the dormitory are known as “Jirchhong’ where the “Jir’ denotes friend and “achhong’ means likeminded group. The word thus refers to the group of all the likeminded boys and girls where the boys are known as “Jirpo’ while the female members are known as “Jiropi’ or “Marpi’ while the minor members are known as “Ajar Achho’. According to folkloric sources, the tradition of the Jirchhong was instituted among the Karbis by forefather Harbaman under the instruction of Rukachhen (Das B.:2010). Similarly, the folksongs mention the beginning, growth, and development of the intuition as well as the architecture to conduct the workshop. A village possesses only one Jirkedam and the village headman (Sarthe) acquires the permission to establish it from the King Ronghang Lindok. This bachelor dormitory is prevalent in the hills areas of the Karbi Anglong district, while it is not prevalent in the plains. In the plains areas of the Karbi Anglong district, the youth club known as the “Risomar’, with different functionaries, serves more or less the same purpose.

The Karbi youth dormitory is centrally located in the village. It is constructed with traditional building materials. After attainment of a certain age, all the unmarried members of a village become the member of the Jirkedam. However, the members can be divided as officials, associate officials, and general members. There remain maximum 26 officials in the institution who need to be in the age group of 12 to 18 years. The institution runs under the leadership of Klen- serpo, who is selected from the members belongs from a poor family or a son of a widow.

The ten principal office bearers of the institution are:

1. Kleng-sepro (King),
2. Klengdun (Chief Minister),
3. Suderkethe (Commander),
4. Sudersu (Prince designate),
5. Barlanpo (Surveyor),
6. Motan Are & Mortan Arbe (Guides),
7. Chengbruk Are & Chengbruk Arbe (Small drum beaters),
8. Than Are & Than Arbe (Convenors),
9. Me Apai (Fire keeper),
10. Lang Apai (Water keeper) (Bordoloi, Thakur, & Saikia:1987:71).

The architecture of Karbi Terang is constructed one year after constitution of the institution of Jirkedam. It is constructed in a convenient and proper place, after taking formal permission from Sarthe. Till the construction of the Terang, the boys reside in the house of Sarthe. The boys, with the help of the villagers collect the materials for the construction of Terang. Before the construction of the Terang, a high bamboo bench called Hangthor is constructed.

The construction starts with the planting of middle post of the middle row known as Kleng-sepro post. Then plants the front post of middle row known as Klengdun post while the rear post of the row is known as Suderkethe post. In the pit of the posts, dedicated to different officials, three cowry shells (kadi) are offered in the name of the respective official. The structure possesses altogether 19 posts, three posts in the three inner rows while five posts each in the lateral two rows.

After planting of the posts, five purlins are attached above the posts. Then, above purlin, three beams are attached and lace them firmly. After this, the construction of the platform starts. The platform is constructed over 60 posts, planted in five rows. Above these posts, lengthwise bamboos are attached. Then a successive layer of breadth-wise bamboo is placed over the previous. This follows another layer of lengthwise bamboo above which bamboo planks are laid to construct the platform of the Terang. Then two ladders are attached to the platform and subsequently start the construction of the roof. The roof frame is prepared on ground with bamboo rafter and attach over the purlins. After securing the roof frame, the roof is covered with thatch. Then the structure is enclosed, except the front side, with bamboo split woven walls. Earlier, the Terang used to have three doors each in front and rear side. Then the subsidiary elements such as hearth (me-hip), urinal (fiengkar), a granary to store rice grain, loft to store Jambili athon, musical instrument and other items are added. After the completion of the construction, the Terang is ceremonially inaugurated for which three gourd-full of rice beer (horlang), three white chickens, one pig and three plantain leaves are required.