Vol 2 No 1, 2026 Research Article
Assistant Professor, Dept. of History, Nabagram Amar Chand Kundu College, Murshidabad, W.B.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21659/iw/v2n1/v2n116
[Article History: Received: 17 June 2026. Accepted: 18 October 2026. Published: 20 October 2026]
Abstract
Preferring to call themselves Mutanchi Rongkup, meaning “beloved children of mother nature,” Lepchas are considered an autochthonous tribe of Mayel Lyang, which, according to their legends, comprises Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the two hill districts of West Bengal and Sikkim in North East India. They accept nature as sacred in the context of their beliefs and culture and worship it with great reverence. Their sacred connection with nature can be found and observed in their traditional customs and belief system. To them, natural elements like Mount Kanchanjunga, Teesta-Rangit Rivers and forests are divine, and they worship them in community. As per the ancient tradition, Lepchas have their own simple religion called Boongthigism and Munism, which is on the verge of becoming obscure at present due to the inroads of Buddhism and Christianity into their culture. The present work is an attempt to explore and explain the ecological knowledge support among the Lepcha tribe and their endeavour to preserve it as a sense of responsibility. The paper also sheds light on the transmission of ecological knowledge among them from down the generation. Finally, it looks at and analyses the challenges faced in modern times to sustain their indigenous knowledge system to ensure long-term harmony between humans and nature.
Keywords: Lepcha, Indigenous Knowledge, Nature, Sacredness
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