Karbis

The Karbis, historically known as the Mikir, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group indigenous to Northeast India, concentrated primarily in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong in Assam. They rank among the oldest known communities of the Brahmaputra valley, with folklore and archaeology pointing to a long presence in the region before successive waves of displacement pushed them into the hills. The community refers to itself as Arleng, meaning "man" or "people" in the Karbi language, and the name Karbi, given by outsiders, has since been formally adopted. The designation Mikir, applied during British colonial administration and retained in the Constitution Order of the Government of India, is today considered derogatory within the community. The two Karbi-majority districts are governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution through the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, which grants them self-governing powers over land, forests, culture, and local administration.