Uchai

Uchai

Uchai or Uchoi is a tribe primarily found residing in the Gomati disrict, Bilonia and Amarpur sub-divisions of the South Tripura district, and Dharmanagar sub-division of North Tripura in the Indian state of Tripura. They speak the language Kokborok which belong to the Tibeto-Burmese branch and their dialect is similar with those of the Reang tribe. Language and culture of the Uchois have affinities with other Kokborok speaking tribes and they are the least in number among the Tripuri tribes with only 6000 or more population. According to the 2011 census, their population was 2447. They are also found in Lawngtlai, Lunglei and Mamit district of Mizoram and Bandarban and Rangamati of Bangladesh.

They are known to have twelve clans (panji) and follow a patriarchal lineage. The Uchois practice monogamy and forbid marrying relatives.