Cachari tribe iron axes are, among all implements the tribe uses, that implement which does reflect the ingenuity of the community and the long roots that it bears with the forest-based life. The Cacharis-the indigenous tribal group found mainly in India: the state of Assam and parts of Northeast India-have been a collectorism of functional tools suitable for agricultural, domestic, and defense use for centuries.This axe has a long straight, cylindrical wooden handle, the upper part of which is widened for a firmer grip and a proper hold of the blade. The iron blade is almost rectangular in shape, having a sharp, straight cutting edge, and ideal for chopping the woods, clearing the forest, and other household work. The blade is inserted into the wooden handle so simply that it becomes strong and durable.
Such axes get used mostly by the Cachari in everyday life-such as agricultural works and shelter construction. But these tools are also at times used in rituals and ceremonies. Everything involved with creating the iron blade and selecting the right hardwood for the handle shows the traditional knowledge the tribe possesses on metallurgy and craftsmanship.These axes, even today, symbolize the self-sufficiency, heritage of a people, and a lifestyle of resourcefulness and harmony with the environment in which they live.