Early History of the Bodos: A Root explanation for Bodo Struggle for Ethnic Identity Formation
डः फनिद्र' कलिता
Assistant Professor, Dept. of politics , Chhaygaon College, Chhaygaon, Assam
Abstract
Being a neighborhood of the North-East India, Assam is that the homeland of various races with their composite culture and distinct identity. The Bodos are the most important and dominant plain tribe of Assam. they're also the important roots of this Assamese culture. They belong to theI ndo-Mongoloid stock and their population being concentrated totally on the North bank of the Brahmaputra with a number of them are staying on the south bank also . Few of them are staying in Burma, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sikkim and Bhutan. Linguistically, their origin is derived from the Assam Burmese branch of Tibeto Burman sub-family. Regarding the migration of the Bodos into India, there's no authentic source of history as because they need been inhabiting within the North-Eastern region of this country since time out of mind . Apart from that, the roles played by different tribal political and non-political organizations had constructed the Bodo ethnic assertion and awakened them in socio-cultural and political fields. These are remarkable inspirational ways which made them aware to regain their lost position within the post-colonial period for his or her distinct identity formation. Key words: Bodos, Bodo struggle, Ethnicity, Identity formation, Plain tribes.
Introduction: The North-East India is that the homeland of various races with their composite culture and distinct identity. All the main races of India viz., Austric, Dravidian, Mongolian and Aryan had lived during this North-East India particularly in Assam with their own culture and heritages (Chaklader, 2004:p.26). they're divided into two categories viz., tribal and non-tribal ethnic groups. The tribals have drawn more attention of the researchers thanks to their acute problems of deprivation within the fields of education, society, culture, economic and polity. Because, most of the tribal groups of Yellow race in Assam couldn't reap of the fruits of enjoy British administration. As a result, the growing educated middle class among those tribal communities took up the problems of deprivation and felt the necessity of organising their communities to deal with an equivalent . Among those tribal communities in Assam such as the Bodos, the Kacharis, the Karbis, the Mishing, the Deuris, the Tiwas, the Rabhas were prominent with their various organizations e.g., All Bodo Chatra Sanmillan (1918), Kachari Sanmillan (1912), Boro Maha Sanmillan (1924) then on (Phukon, 2014: p.91).With these organisations the tribal groups tried to articulate the ethnic consciousness andEarly History of the Bodos: A Root explanation for Bodo Struggle for Ethnic Identity Formation Phanindra Kalita.
mobilize their respective communities. Therefore, after independence the Constitution of India made some special provisions to the tribes for redressing their grievances and categorized them into two groups viz., scheduled tribes (Hills) and Scheduled tribes (Plains)(Sen, 2009). Before that, the term “Plain Tribal” was employed by the colonial rulers for the primary time within the contemporary political and administrative discourse from 1930‟s (Pathak, 2010). This generic term was wont to denote a various set of individuals defined in semi-geographical and semi-sociological terms. Through this word they meant the Valley tribes just like the Bodo Kacharis, Mikirs or Karbis, Miris or Mishings, Lalungs or Tiwas and Rabhas together(Pathak, 2010). The term has been continuously employed by the tribal leaders themselves which is a sign of the appropriation of this terminology. afterward the tribal leaders used the privilege of the term to unite different communities of the plains of Assam into one platform for his or her political interest. Even the tribal communities also tried to locate themselves by using the term “Plain Tribal” within the socio-political circumstances of the colonial society (Pathak, 2010). Among those plain tribes of Assam, the Bodos are the most important and dominant one.
The Bodos /Who are they?-
The Bodos are the most important group amongst the plain tribals of Assam in India, their population being concentrated totally on the north bank of the Brahmaputra , with some of them staying on the South bank also (Bed, 2006:145).The term "Bodo" springs from a Tibetian word i.e., "Bod" which is meant to mean a homeland and Kachari springs from “Kachar” means area near the river (Brahma, 2007). The word “Bodo” first employed by famous linguistic B.H.Hodgson as an ethnological term to refer the Meches, the Bodo speaking people of Darjeeling district in 1846 while writing about them. Since then the word “Bodo” has been used as a generic term to denote the various branches of the Bodo language group (Brahma, 2007). However during this context G.A.Grierson said, “The generic name “bodo” was first applied by Hodgson to the present group of languages. the precise sound is batter represented by spelling it Bada or Boro. Bodo or Bara is that the name by which the Mech or Mes and therefore the Kacharis call themselves” (Grierson, 1967:1).
Regarding this terminology the leaders of the Bodo movement in 1980‟s distinguished the term “Boro” from the term “Bodo”. consistent with them the term “Boro” purely indicates their linguistic affiliation or Boro speaking people while the term “Bodo” refers to all or any Kacharis and Bodo ethnic groups of individuals (Chaklader, 2004).
The Bodos were earlier referred to as Kachari, and one among the earliest settlers of plains Assam (Chaudhuri, 2004:16). The historian H. K. Barpujari says, “The Kacharis who belong to the good Bodo race were perhaps one among the earliest aboriginal tribes of the Brahmaputra valley” (Bhuyan, 2007). consistent with Rev. S. Endle the Boro Kachari race is that the original inhabitants of Assam. there's in fact no historical evidence of its early immigration and settlements (Chaklader, 2004). History says, the Bodos are the aboriginals of Assam. They once ruled Assam till around 1854 A.D. (Brahma, [et al.], 2001).
They belong to the Indo-Mongoloid stock and their language springs from the Assam Burmese branch of Tibeto Burman sub-family. the opposite neighboring communities who belong to an equivalent linguistic family are Dimasha Kachari, Rabha, Tiwa, Tipera, Sonowal Kachari, Mishing etc. (Chaudhuri, 2004:16). Most of those tribes are included under this bigger group of Boro. consistent with some historians the Bodos are known under different name in several places and ages throughout the North-Eastern region of the Indian sub-continent. In Goalpara and North-Bengal they're called Mech, in North-Cacher Hills Dimasa, a corruption of Dima fisa or “sons of the good river” (Chaklader, 2004). during this context Sir Edward Gait says, “In Brahmaputra valley the Kacharis call themselves Bodo or Bodo fisa (sons of the Bodo)” (Bhuyan, 2007).
Regarding the migration of the Bodos into India there are diverse opinions among the scholars. because the Bodos are inhabiting within the North-Eastern region of this country since time out of mind and somewhere stated that their history is about 5000 years old, specially onwards eastern bank of the good river Ganges (Bhuyan, 1989:106). Traditional stories prevalent among certain Boro tribes like Garo and Rabha suggest that their ancestral home was Tibet or eastern sub-Himalayan region from where they migrated to North-East India and were distributed in several parts (Sengupta, 2008: p-6). Some scholars agreed that as they racially belonged to the Mongoloid, they surely and positively migrated from the Central Asia, the mainland of the Mongoloid people.
The Bodos itself has some internal divisions into variety of clans. consistent with Padmashri Mohini Brahma number of clans is eighteen which aren't endogamous. They are Basumatari, Brahmari, Doimari, Gaya, Sibigiri, Musahori, Narjari etc. (Chaklader, 2004). These clan names are used often as surnames. This group of plains tribal of Assam belongs to different religions, some are Hindus, some Christians and a few are professing tribal religions (Bhuyan, 1989:55). But originally the Bodos are the worshippers of Shiva means Mahadeva. It also means Bathan, their traditional religion. Though, in course of your time they adopted Hinduism and in fact a number of them professed Christianism but still there's no conflict between Shivaism and Hinduism. Because Shiva was given a crucial position among the Gods and Goddesses of the Hindus that's why that they had no difficulty in adopting Hinduism (Chaklader, 2004).Regarding Christianism they were influenced by the Christian Missionaries who played a crucial role for socio-religious reforms in their society during colonial period.
Early History of the Bodos: Regarding the migration of the Bodos into India there are diverse opinions among the students . Rather there's no authentic source of history regarding the migration of the Bodos into India. because the Bodos are inhabiting within the North-Eastern region of this country since time out of mind and somewhere stated that their history is about 5000 years old, specially onwards eastern bank of the good river Ganges (Bhuyan, 1989:106). Traditional stories prevalent among certain Boro tribes like Garo and Rabha suggest that their ancestral home was Tibet or eastern sub-Himalayan region from where they migrated to North-East India and were distributed in several parts (Sengupta, 2008: p-6). Some scholars agreed that as they racially belonged to the Mongoloid, they surely and positively migrated from the Central Asia, the mainland of the Mongoloid people (Sonowal, 2013). Again, another group of eminent scholars stated that the Bodo-Kachris within the past , were living in Mongolia and Siberiya and that they migrated from there towards the Northeastern part of India and settled on the north bank of the mighty river Brahmaputra afterward (Basumatary, 2012). S.K.Chatterjee during this regard stated that the first home of the Mongoloid people were the places within the North of China in between the head-water of the Huang-Ho and therefore the Yang-tzse Kiyang rivers from where they moved and scattered in several places (Chatterjee, 1974:36) . Later on, some people of this Mongoloid community came to Tibet where they settled down. Rev.S.Endle also during this context opines that the 2 Trans-Himalayan countries viz., Tibet and China were the first home of this race of Tibeto-Burman (Sonowal, 2013). during this regard though Sanyal (1973) wasn't very clear about the migration of the Bodos from where they came from but provided some information. during this context, he stated,
“Such was the history of a Tibeto-Burmese speaking Indo-Mongoloid tribe, the Bodos, who migrated into India through Patkoi Hills between India and Burma and gradually spread themselves into the entire of recent Assam, North-Bengal and parts of East-Bengal. They ruled over these tracts of land for several years. It is probable that they marched towards three directions. One part went south up to Kachar and were called Kacharis. The second part went by the river Brahmaputra and established themselves within the whole of recent Assam up to Goalpara and parts of Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar under the name of Bodo and Bara.”( Ray,Tamang,et.al 2013 p.4)
Again, S.K. Chaterjee stated that the Bodo group of individuals had migrated into Assam since 1000 B.C. (Chatterjee,1974:36, Sonowal,2013:3), where B. Narzari believes that they began to migrate into Assam since 2000 B.C.(Narzi,1962:54). However it becomes clear that this group of individuals is one among the first inhabitants during this a part of North-East India. When the Bodos began to Migrate to India because they were in migratory habits, followed the routes of North-Eastern India passes across many mountains and rivers of the Himalayan region. it's the overall agreement among the historians and therefore the anthropologists that the flow of the Mongolian people to the North-Eastern a part of India was endless process which started long before especially from the pre-historic period. another smaller groups of the Mongoloid people that migrated into Assam after passing across the varied points of mountains along the Indo-Bhutan borders and most of them came through upper Burma considered as Tibeto-Burman in origin as was identified as by the Anthropologists(Sonowal,2013).when coming into state, the Bodos were found migrating from one place to another and took an extended time to be settled for good during a specific place. Therefore, they unfold everywhere state as mentioned higher than. Consequently, in course of your time these scattered individuals got their variation in their language, culture and customs in numerous circumstances and places and even the isolation of their original relative. except for that, another tribes with totally different names were created out of the parent cluster thanks to the shut relationship or inter wedding with alternative native communities that brought the variation on their physical look to some extent. Therefore, Lalungs, Rabhas, Koches and Sonowals ar found within the Brahmaputra River vale, the Dimasas within the Cachar Hills, the Tripuris and their allied tribes in Tripura, Garos and Hajongs in Garo Hills of Meghalaya, lower state and Bangladesh and Meches in lower state, North Bengal and a few components of Kingdom of Nepal and then on (Sonowal,2013:4). that's why of these teams belong to the total of Bodo language speaking individuals.
As mentioned higher than, the Bodos ar the initial settlers of the Brahmaputra River vale and they dominated the North-eastern a part of Bharat with their powerful kingdoms since time immemorial. there's little question that they are doing have a wonderful past with the kingdoms over Brahmaputra River vale, right down to North Bengal, Cachar Hills, Syllet and Tripura (Prakash, 2008:262). thanks to their settlement in numerous places, their totally different kingdoms were known with totally different names. for instance, Kachari Kingdom, Koch Kingdom, Dimasa Kingdom, Chutiya Kingdom, Moran Kingdom, Borahi Kingdom and then on was a number of distinguished Kingdoms of the Bodos (Sonowal, 2013:8). however the Bodos lacked cohesion among themselves thence that they had not one unified kingdom below the Bodos. As per the works epic sacred text, Ramayana, Puranas et al. have conjointly referred that state was a land of Mlechchas (uncivilized people) like Kiratas, Asuras (inhuman beings), Danavas (giants) and Rakshashas (demons). The ethnographic studies have conjointly proved that state was a land of non-Arya individuals or mongoloid individuals (Mosahari, 2011). Most of the students are in agreement upon that the Mongoloids once much occupied the total of the north-eastern region as was mentioned because the Kiratas in ancient literature. the first rulers from the amount of fifth to middle eleventh century were from Indo-Mongoloids of varied dynasties within the plains of state (Basumatary, 2012). This land of state was known as Pragjyotispura (it was known as in the age of sacred text, latter thereon was referred to as Kamrupa as mentioned in „Puranas‟ i.g., „Kalika Purana‟ and „Vishnu Purana‟) and also the Kingdom of Pragjyotisha was mentioned within the epics sacred text and also the Ramayana and that is mostly accepted by the students with the read that the Western state in conjunction with some portion of North Bengal were the core components of this Kingdom (Choudhury, 2007). Grierson during this regard mentioned that the Mech individuals dominated Pragjyotishpura for over 4000 years (Prakash, 2008:262). As mentioned within the nice ancient works, the legendary kings like Mahiranga, Narakasura, Bhagadutta, Banasura, Bhaskar bartender etc. ar delineated to own been the Bodos (Mosahari, 2011). Among those, Narakasura was the primary king of the traditional Brahmaputra River vale within the real sense tho' some historians believe Mahiranga Danava as the primary king of Pragjyotishpura however he wasn't a king in real sense (Sonowal, 2013:9). It was Narakasura, UN agency 1st established a kingdom in real sense when Mahiranga folk. This folk was forwarded by his son Bhagadatta UN agency was conjointly referred to as the chief of Kiratas or Mlechas and registered his name within the ancient epics of Bhagabata Purana, Bishnu Purana, Kalika Purana, the sacred text and then on (Sonowal, 2013:9). These texts have mentioned that these legendary kings ar Kiratas and also the Kiratas ar the main element of the population of Pragjyotispura. The sacred text in its Sabhaparvan, the Kiratas ar delineated as terribly wealthy in provision gold, silver and gems that they obtained from the mountains and
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