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‘SLICE OF TRIBE’ A look at the Nomadic Rabo Tribe of Ladakh -Abhijit Kumar Arora
Tribes have historically and invariably always led a life in isolation. Isolation of tribes is understood in terms of separated mode of survival in distant frontiers of geographical areas, far from modern interventions. The 21 st century world, unlike primitive tribes has embarked upon technological sophistication and digital advancement. It won’t be incorrect to state that a world once considered unfathomed, is now much more known, accessible and integrated as a ‘global village’. However, not all integrate with or acquaint themselves to this ‘global village’ due to social and geographic alienation. The Rabo tribe of Ladakh tells one such story of isolation. The tribe is essentially of Buddhist lineage and descent. Here is a nomadic tribe that rears Pashmina goats and yaks for sustenance. These nomads live in the Nyoma block of Leh District, prominent in areas around Kharnak Zara, Samad Rukhten, Kurzok and Chagga on the Leh-Manali road, which are tentdwelling clusters and settlements, being in transition and mobility every 3-4 months.
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Their isolation is reflected in their architecture. As these are transitional units, permanency is elusive to them. A square form of pit, 6-7 feet deep, is dug on the ground. Yaks and goats stay in the open stone enclosure. A tent of conical or square form is erected over and above this pit. Interior walls of the pit are lined with stones erected for support. A narrow pit at the periphery protects the tent dwellers from cold and predators like leopards during the night. Earlier tents used to be made of priced and top-quality Pashmina wool that kept it warm. However, in recent years, tents of cheaper yak wool and even of thick cotton cloth have come as an alternative.
“The Rabo tribal life is now in a flux and undergoing a period of change by migrating to the city of Leh as meagre ‘wage-wanders’– in search of wage-labour work at construction sites or roads”
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1/ DECEMBER 2019
