Chil is a traditional Rabha Tribe bow. This tribe is indigenous to forest-centric areas in Assam and northern West Bengal. It speaks volumes about the Rabhas' understanding of natural materials and their capability of making effective tools for survival with the resources around them.The Chil is built using a bamboo stave, chosen for its flexibility and tensile strength. Because it is naturally abundant, lightweight, and resilient, bamboo has enjoyed a great deal of appreciation among the Rabha handiwork. The string of this bow is also made from finely split bamboo twisted into a strong cord that can be used innumerable times.
Each end of the stave has a notch carved into it, allowing the string to be securely fastened. The design is very simple and very much efficient in squeezing out enough tension into the bow against which an arrow might propel so that it becomes a weapon for hunting small games in the thickly wooded area where the Rabhas inhabit and dwell.Besides being a practical object, the Chil is a cultural and symbolic object as they connotation of self-reliance, the link of humans with nature and the recognition of traditional knowledge are inherent within the Chil. In earlier days, among the Rabha people, archery was considered an essential skill for survival and was taught to youth. The Chil thus found a prominent place in ritual performances and events of the community.Truly, many traditional implements have been replaced with modern tools, but the Chil is still a cultural emblem of Rabha tribal heritage and craftsmanship.