The Marma Tribe

For centuries, Bangladesh has been the dwelling place of different ethnic groups. The ethnic groups of Bangladesh and their colorful lifestyles have significantly enriched the entire culture of Bangladesh. Their historical background, economic activities, social structure, religious beliefs and festivals make them distinctive. The beauty of the hilly zones as well as the plain areas has been enhanced by the colorful culture and traditional practices of different ethnic groups.

The Marma is one of the famous ethnic groups in Bangladesh. They live in the three hill districts of Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari. Some of them, however, live in the coastal area of cox’s bazar and patuakhali. At present the total number of Marmas in Bangladesh is about 350,000 and constituted the second largest tribe in the country. They are divided into several clans. Each clan is named after the place from where it migrated.

The word Marma comes from the Burmese word Myanma, which means Burmese nationals and is pronounced as Marma by the people of the Chittagong hill tracts. The ancestors of the Marma people used to live in the Pegu city of Burma long before it was invaded in 1599 by Mahappinnagi, the commander of the Army of the king of Arakan. The people of Pegu were living in southern and central China as early as 2200 BC.

Marma belongs to the Mongoloid race. They are relatively short and have prominent cheekbones. They have yellow complexion, black hairs, small eyes, and snub noses. The language of Marma tribe is an Arakanese which is written in Burmese characters. It belongs to the Burma-Arakan group within the broad classifications of Tibet-Burma languages. In recent times, Marmas in urban areas and nearby settlements speak the corrupt local language of Chittagong.

The main profession of the Marmas is Agriculture and jhum cultivation. They also supplement their food requirement by gathering tree leaves, roots, and tubers from hill forests. Recently they become involved in trade and commerce, operate small retail stores, etc. Rice and boiled vegetables are major food items of the Marma people. Nappi a paste of dried fish is a favourite. They enjoy rice bear and smoke indigenous cigars. Marma men drink wine and play card games in leisure time.

Marma men and women typically wear sarong and blouse, but usually they do not wear shoes. Marmas make their own dresses using traditional weaving technology, although many now purchase common Bengali dresses from the market. The houses of Marma people are made of bamboo, wild grass and straw. These are built on elevated bamboo or wooden platforms. Every room of the house is a bedroom cum store. The space under the platform is used for various purposes such as keeping livestock, storing fuel wood etc. Some houses are made of mud without platform.

Marma community is predominantly led nuclear family. The husband is the head of the household, but the wife also has a significant role in the family. Their property inheritance, in general, follows the old Burmese line of inheritance. Both sons and daughters inherit parental properties follows the ratio of 2:1. The most favorite child gets the ownership of the house and has to take care of the parents.

Marriage is a very important part of the social life of Marmas. Cross cousin marriages and monogamy are predominant features of this society. Child marriage is practically forbidden. Pre-marriage love is common. Both men and women have equal rights to divorce, although the final settlement is to be made in the court of village leaders.

Marmas are Buddhists in faith. They believe that their birth, death and all activities in life take place under the influence of a supernatural power, which they try to satisfy through their rites and rituals. Animism is also in practice among them. They perform all the important Buddhist religious festivals and also various rituals and worships to satisfy different gods. Dreams have a very strong influence in decision making in their everyday life.

They follow the traditional political, administrative system in their community where village level, mouza level and the circle level is headed by a karbari, a headman and the circle chief or Raja accordingly.