Rabha Dormitory: Naksa-Nagou

[Full title: Communities with Deka-chang (e): Rabha Dormitory: Naksa-Nagou]

Presently, the institution of youth dormitory or Deka-chang is no longer prevalent among the Rabhas of Assam. However, Rabhas are also scattered in West Bengal and Bangladesh, where they are a major tribal community. And among the Rabhas of West Bengal, there is the reference of the existence of Deka-chang.

Thus, Manadev Roy mentioned:

The Rabhas have a long-established “Naksa-Nagou” that is youth dormitory. From ten (10) to marriageable age (18 to 25), the boys have to live in the dormitory where ladies are not allowed to enter. This house is also a training centre for the Rabha boys before getting married. The leader of the house is called “Taraonaksa” and he is selected or elected by the villagers of the Rabha society. The members of the house also participate or co-operate in social programmes. Even this house is used as guest house and also as a court of justice. Still it is prevailing in the Rabha society of Northern Bengal” (Roy:2016:652).

However, B. Roychudhury’s remark is slightly different in this regard. He said:

Bachelor’s dormitory is said to be the training centre in many of the tribal societies. Among the Rabhas it is hardly traceable at present except in some forest villages like Poro Basti of Rajabhatkhowa area. Even in those settlements the institution of dormitory is in a very disorganized form and can hardly be labelled as a training centre for the youth so that they can inculcate traditional cultural traits. In other areas of West Bengal such institution is at present not traceable. (Raychaudhuri:2007:4)