Author:

Sunita Mahato

Former Student
Department of History
University of North Bengal
Sivmandir,Darjeeing,West Bengal
Email: sunitamahato795@gmail.com

Abstract:In West Bengal, Jalpaiguri district is a district with rectangle shape, an abundance of natural beauty, mainly tea plantations and deep forest teeming with wildlife on the west bank of the Tista river, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra river. It is the district which is treasures some of the natural forest in the region. In this article we discuss about the relationship between the tribes and forest along with few forest village in Jalpaiguri district. Jalpaiguri district is the largest district of North Bengal. According to census 1961, the district contains the largest Scheduled Tribes population of all the district of West Bengal. Basically, the tribes who are known as forest dwellers or deligent. They are the original human settlers of forest. The tribal often called of the forest as they lived in the forest. There are altogether more than 20 scheduled tribes in this district, some major types such as Oraon, Santals, Munda, Kheria and so on. The relationship between the tribes and forest in Jalpaiguri district has their own tradition, cultural heritage and folklore. Hence, there life and economy intimately connected with forest. Forest are an integral part of their social life and their entire existence evolves around the forest. They live at forest with harmony without destroying and harming the forest.

Key Words:Aboriginal, Forest, Jalpaiguri, Harmony,Munda, Tista, Tribes