JHUMOIR DANCE: A TRADITIONAL FOLK DANCE OF ASSAM

• Jhumur Dance is a traditional folk dance of Assam’s Adivasi tea tribes.
• Originated from Jharkhand’s Chotanagpur region, brought by the tea garden community.
• Performed by the Sadan ethnolinguistic group, it is an integral part of harvest festivals, weddings, and community gatherings.
• Performance and Style:
  • Circular Formation: Performed by both men and women.
  • Rhythmic Footwork: Energetic steps synchronized with lively music.
  • Instruments: Accompanied by Madal, Dhol, Taal, and Flute.
• Cultural Significance:
  • Reflects the unity, pride, and struggles of Assam’s tea garden communities.
  • Songs narrate stories of migration, exploitation, and social struggles, highlighting the resilience of the tea tribes.

Assam’s Tea Tribe

• Also known as the Tea Garden Communities, comprising workers and their descendants.
• Originated from Central India (Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal) during the 19th century.
• Many were forcibly brought under exploitative conditions by the British to work in tea plantations.
• Demographics:
  • Constitutes 17% of Assam’s population.
  • Influences around 40 out of 126 Assembly seats, playing a crucial role in Assam’s political landscape.
• Cultural Importance: A vital part of Assam’s tea production and cultural heritage.

Key Facts About Tea

• Origin of Tea in India:
  • Early 19th century: Discovered by the British through the Singpo tribals of Assam.
  • Commercialized tea cultivation under British rule.
• Tea Plant Characteristics:
  • Family:
  • Species:
    • Camellia sinensis (China variety).
    • Camellia assamica (Assam variety).
  • Growth: Evergreen shrub, can grow up to 30 feet if unpruned.
  • Climate: Thrives in 16-32°C, 150 cm rainfall, and 80% humidity.
  • Soil Requirements: Slightly acidic, well-drained, porous subsoil for water percolation.
  • Caffeine Content: Fresh leaves contain ~4% caffeine.
• Tea Varieties with GI Tags:
  • Darjeeling Tea (India’s first GI-tagged product).
  • Assam Orthodox Tea, Nilgiri Orthodox Tea, Kangra Tea.
• India’s Tea Industry:
  • Tea Estates: 39,700 across India.
  • Employment: Over 1 million workers.
  • Global Position:
    • 2nd largest tea producer globally after China.
    • 4th largest exporter of tea, with a 2023-24 export value of USD 781.79 million.
    • Top Export Markets: Iraq, UAE, Russia, US, UK, Germany.
  • Domestic Consumption: India consumes 80% of its tea production.
  • Small Tea Growers (STGs): Contribute 52% of total production, with 3 lakh growers.
• Regional Production Trends:
  • North India (83% of production): Assam (Assam Valley, Cachar), West Bengal (Dooars, Terai, Darjeeling).
  • South India (17% of production): Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka.
• Tea Board of India (TBI):
  • Established in 1954 under the Tea Act, 1953.
  • Functions under the Ministry of Commerce.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata (with overseas offices in London, Dubai, Moscow).
  • Structure: 31 members, including the Chairman, reconstituted every three years.