Rabha people

Rabha
Total population
	c. 357,000 (2011)
Regions with significant populations
	India
Assam	296,189
Meghalaya	32,662
West Bengal	27,820
Languages
	Assamese, Rabha, Bengali
Religion
	Majority; Hinduism (94.36%); Minority; Christianity (5.17%)

The Rabha people are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group who live mostly in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, with a lesser population in the adjacent state of West Bengal.^[4] They primarily inhabit the plains of Lower Assam and the Dooars, while some are found in the Garo Hills. Most of the Rabhas of Dooars refer to themselves as Rabha, but some of them often declare themselves as Kocha.^[5]

The Rabha community have a rich, multi-faceted and distinct culture of their own. The Rabha society is matrilineal . The village economy is based on agriculture and both men and women work in the fields. The women wear colorful clothes that they weave themselves and wear a lot of beads and silver ornaments. The Rabhas are non-vegetarians and rice is their staple food.

The traditional economy of the Rabhas in general, is based on agriculture, forest based activities and weaving. In the past, the Rabhas used to practice shifting cultivation. They continued to cultivate the land with Gogo or bill-hook. Later they took up the job of settled cultivation and started cultivation with plough. Besides cultivation, hunting was also an old practice of Rabha people. Weaving was a traditional occupation of the Rabha women.

The Rabhas are mostly found in Lower Assam on the left bank of the Brahmaputra, in the districts of Goalpara and Kamrup. Some are found in the right bank districts of Baksa, Udalguri and Kokrajhar. In Meghalaya, the Rabhas mainly live in West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, and Ribhoi districts. In West Bengal, the Rabha mainly inhabit the districts of Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Uttar Dinajpur.

Rabha inhabited areas of Assam

The Rabha belongs to the South Assam is a branch of Tibeto Burman linguistic family and they inhabit mostly in the plain districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Udalguri, Chirang, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Tinsukia, Dhemaji. However, the majority of the Rabha live in southern part of Goalpara and Kamrup district bordering of Meghalaya. The Rabha inhabited areas are Udalguri, Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, have already been included into the newly created BTR or BTAD under the Sixth Schedule. Therefore, creation of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council now remains confined to the two South Bank of Goalpara and Kamrup District.

In the Kamrup and Goalpara district, the Rabhas, along with some Garo and Boro people predominantly inhabit in a contiguous tract extending East-West wise from Rani to Joyramkuchi and South-North wise from the foothills of Meghalaya up to the National Highway-37 and crossing the NH-37 upto certain places.

There are Five Tribal Belts/Blocks in the South Kamrup Goalpara districts are namely-

South Kamrup (Chhaygaon) Tribal Belt (No.RD.78/46/161 dt.22.8.49)
South Kamrup (Gauhati) Tribal Belt (No. RD. 74/46/172 dt. 27.2.50)
Bardamal Tribal Block in Goalpara district (No.RSD. 14/81/12 dt.9.8.1982)
Hatigaon Tribal Block in Goalpara district (No.RSD. 14/81/13 dt. 9.8.1982)
Khardang Tribal Block in Goalpara district.

Besides the Tribal Belts & Blocks in Goalpara and Kamrup district, there are also some TSP areas and three Assembly Constituency reserves for ST (P) namely Dudhnoi, Goalpara West and Boko-Chhaygaon Constituency of Goalpara & South Kamrup district.

Sub-tribes and clans

There are different opinions about Rabhas In the Vedic era, the Rabhas formed sub-tribes or groups (khels) just as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras were formed according to their karma. Initially, the Rabhas were non-partisan. These groups(khels) originated from the worship of their supreme deity, Khoksi or Baikho.It is a collective Puja. First they established a Khoksi(khoktsi) Puja at place called 'Athyabari'.The memory still stands today.Some people divided their work to manage this collective worship and since then,these groups(khels) have been named according to various functions .

(1) Rongdani-In Khoksi Puja, many flat stones are needed to erect altars of the Gods and the people to sit on. 'Rong' means stone and 'Dan' means to carry. A group of men were tasked with collecting these stones from the nearby mountains. And hence, eventually got the name 'Rongdan< Rongdani<Rongdaniya,' and became a sub-tribe of Rabha.

(2) Maitori-The people who were given the responsibility of the communal meal kitchens eventually got the name 'Maitori' were 'Mai' means rice, 'tori' means to share or distribute and to give.

(3)Dahori-Khoksi was worshipped in the deserted forests and mountains some distance from the village. There was a communal meal. There was a lot of smell in the place, like flying crows, chickens, etc. And so the birds are naturally attracted to it. These birds were very troublesome. And therefore a group of men were hired to pursue them. Each member of this group of people carried a 'Dahori' (long tube bamboo stick) to chase birds. This 'Dahori' word eventually became a sub- tribe and got a name 'Dahori'.

(4)Sunga-Wine and water required to do Puja so, therefore a group of men were hired to cut the bamboo poles from the mountains.And eventually got the name sunga and became a sub-tribe of Rabha.

(5)Pati-In a Puja, banana leaves are used in worship, distribution of offerings, for cooking and communal meals.And hence, a group of men were charged with collecting these leaves, and eventually got a name 'pati'.

(6) Bitolia-There were some people who entertained the people by saying jokes or 'bitolas' at religion occasions, festivals, social weeding and meetings etc. And hence the word 'Bitola' means a humorist in a respectful way, as these groups are master of jokes and entertainment they got the name Bitolia a sub tribe of Rabhas.

(7)Kocha-The word kocha is the traditional name of Rabhas , but today they known as a sub-tribe of Rabhas named as Kocha Rabha . They belong to the same matrilineal culture as Rabha too. In their culture it seems that they don't worship 'Khoksi' because of some social or geographical reasons.

According to their mythology, the first man was Kocha and the chief of Kocha nation(hasong) was the God Rishi or Shiva .He brought them from the Rangkrang (heaven) to the earth.

According to Dr. Greeson, the Kocha are divided into six groups , namely: Hargiya,Satpuria, Das Gaya,Chapra, Obanang and Tintekia.

During the Ahom dynasty, 352 koch Rabhas settled at Mahang near the border of the Naga hills.The Ahom kings employed them to make salt from the Luniya stream . They were named 'Mahang' koch because they lived in 'mahang'.

In 1872, 2,416 Kochs in Goalpara district were known as 'Garmy Kochs' and were registered separately. In the end, they identified themselves as the Kumars, the Komars and the Dulias.

There are some sub-groups that have emerged in contrast to religious and social norms, such as the 'Madahi Koch' The word 'Madahi' is the first stage of conversion of the Koch caste and elevation to the title of Rajbanshi. It is possible that they could not abandon the customs of their ancestors such as eating wine, pigs and chickens, so the Mahajans demoted them from the level of 'Saru Koch' or 'Heremia' to 'Madahi Koch' In the end, they did not return to their former nation and had to live under the name of 'Madahi' The name 'Madahi' is not found in the ancient Koch or Rava groups. The name 'alcoholic' is only a level of conversion. They are now known as the 'Rava Jati' and are involved in Rabha social organizations.

The Barai or Hásuk (which means clans):

The Rabhas had clan since ancient times.These clans are matrilineal.The clan is determined by the mother,both the boy and girl bear the clan of their Mother. The following 'Barai' or the clans are:

(1)Hato/Halo/Hakasanang/Hadung:These clans are related to 'Ha' which means Land.

(2)Rongkho/Rungdung/Rongduk:These clans are associated with 'Rong' which means Stones.

(3)Songdam/Songtuk/Songduk:These clans are related to the 'Song' which means Village.

(4)Nasan/Nabra/Nalong/Nadabang:These clans are associated with 'Na' which means Fish.

(5) Rungdung/Rungduk/Maita/Mata:These clans are associated with 'Mai' which means Rice .

Language

The Rabha language is closely related to neighbouring Boro and Garo, as well as many other Sino-Tibetan languages of Assam. The language was formerly spoken by all 11 Rabha Tribes: Maithori, Rongdani, Pati, Dahori, Dotla, Halua, Betolia, Hanna, Sunga, Modahi, Kocha Rabhas. Only the Rongdani, Maithori and Kocha clans still speak Rabha, although its usage is declining among them as well.^[6] The Rabha language is only spoken by a minority of the Rabhas, most of whom speak Assamese in Assam and Meghalaya and Bengali in West Bengal.

Autonomy Demand of the Rabhas

The six decades of India’s independence and governance under Assam Govt. could not protect the Rabhas from exploitation, deprivation from basic human Rights and bring about faster development. Their Rights over their land and forest was snatched away. Large scale land alienation started uprooting the Rabhas along with other tribes form their own homeland.

This led the Rabhas to seek protection under the Indian Constitution and started to demand more Autonomy. The original Autonomy demands of the Rabhas were as follows:

1. Creation of an Autonomous State covering Joyramkuchi G.P in Goalpara District to Rani G.P in Kamrup District.
2. Creation of an Autonomous District Council in Darrang District.
3. Creation of an Autonomous Regional Council within the district of Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Nalbari and Sonitpur.
4. Creation of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Village Councils in the District of Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Dhemaji, Nowgaon, Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh.

A popular Mass Movement was launched focusing on these demands by ARSU-RHDC. In the wake of this Mass Movement, the then Chief Minister of Assam Late Hiteswar Saikia announced on the floor of the Assam Assembly on 16th March,1993 to grant Autonomy to the Rabhas. He reiterated the announcement again on 11 May, 1993 at the open Session of the 8th General Conference of All Rabha Sahitya Sabha (Bebak Rabha Krourang Runchum) held at Dudhnoi of Goalpara District.

In response, the Rabha Organizations set down for serious talks with Assam Government and ultimately singed the MoS (Rabha Accord) with the Govt. of Assam on the 10th March,1995 accepting an Autonomous Council under the State Act. in the name of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council with some of salient point as

Villages having 50% or more population of the Rabha people would be included in to the respective councils without having any compact area and definite boundary.
The Autonomous Council area would be exempted from the purview of the Assam Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and Assam Municipality Act, 1994 as per sub-clause (A) of clause – 5 of the MoU.
The power and functions listed in the 11th schedule of the Constitution would be vested with these three Autonomous Councils.

In 1996, a new Govt. led by AGP came to power and the interim nominated bodies were reconstituted. The Assam Govt. appointed a ‘High Power Committee’ headed by Cabinet Minister Shri Thaneswar Boro suggested a suitable amendment into the Council Acts. As per report of the High Power Committee, the MAC Act, RHAC Act and TAC Act were amended providing for inclusion of Tribal Belts & blocks and TSP areas in to Councils in place of villages havening only 50% or more Mising/Rabha/Tiwa people. But no villages were notified as per these amendments.

The Assam Government showed interest neither to strengthen the council nor to hold the election of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to make it a democratic institution by implementing the Rabha Accord. The pathetic failure of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council compelled to the Rabha people to reject it and demand fresh Autonomy under Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution by All Rabha Students’ Union, All Rabha Women Council and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee and the people of RHAC area.

In 2001, another new Govt. came into power at Dispur, and in the wake of large scale of Mass Movement for inclusion of Mising, Rabha and Tiwa Autonomous Councils into the Sixth Schedule under Indian Constitution, the Govt. constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Dr. Bhumidhar Barman to examine the demand for Sixth Schedule of these Autonomous Councils. The Committee could not complete its study, and instead, submitted an interim report recommending certain amendment to these three Autonomous Council Acts to give more power to the Councils and to pave the way for holding democratic elections. On the basis of the Interim Report of the Ministerial Sub-Committee, the Council Acts were further amended in 2005, mainly to define the areas to be covered by Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and to make the protective and primitive measures of this council to be enjoyable equally by all Scheduled Tribes. The Amendment concretized the concept of core, satellite Area and other area by the following definitions-

Core Area shall consist of compact and contiguous areas predominately inhabited by Rabha people having 50% or more ST population as whole in the area and not in individual villages.
Satellite Area or Areas shall consist of non-contiguous cluster of villages predominately inhabited by Rabha people having 50% or more ST population as a whole in the cluster and not necessarily in individual villages.
In case of RHAC, cabinet Sub-committee recommends inclusion of Garo, Boro and Hajong villages in to the RHAC. The Garos and Hajongs were not enumerated as ST in Census 2001 as they have been enlisted as ST only in 2003. There population has been counted as per report of the Deputy Commissioner.
There is no necessity of creation of satellite areas as the RHAC will be remain confined to only southern parts of Goalpara and Kamrup district only.
In the mean time the Ministerial Sub-Committee headed by Dr. Bhumidhar Barman, Former Minister for Health and Family welfare and Higher Education, Assam has already agreed to recommend the proposal for inclusion of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council into the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution as also holding the election of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council within the year of 2005. Presently, as many as 779 Rev. Villages with a total population of Six (6) lakhs (approx) has been notified by the Hon’ble Governor of Assam as under the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC).
Also, in the year of 2010, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Assam recommend the Govt. of Assam to initiate necessary action to take up the matter with the Govt. of India to extend the provisions of 6th Scheduled to the RHAC on the line of the BTC.
Also, in 2019 the Cabinet of State Govt. of Assam announces in response of the Mass Movement and appeal of the people of Assam to give provision of Constitutional Status to the RHAC.
It is also mentionworthy that the Hon’ble Chairman of National Commission of Schedule Tribes, Govt. of India Mr. Nand Kumar Sai also suggested the State Govt. to take initiative for forward Recommendation for inclusion of RHAC into the Sixth Schedule of Indian Constitution on his visit of Assam and first visit to RHAC during 2018.

Notes

^ "Table ST-14 A: Scheduled tribe population by religious community". 2011 Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
^ "Table ST-14 A: Scheduled tribe population by religious community". 2011 Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
^ "Table ST-14 A: Scheduled tribe population by religious community". 2011 Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
^ "Rabha, Bodo and Garo, all of which belong to a close-knit group of Tibeto-Burman languages."(Joseph 2006:1)
^ "There stills exist another group of Rabhas called the Kocha or Koch"(Joseph 2006:2)
^ "There are eight sub-branches of the Rabhas. Among them Maitori, Rangdani and Koch or Kocha are the major sub-divisions of the Rabhas. They have been maintaining language and culture."(Basumatārī 2010:8)

References

Mitra, A. (1953), West Bengal: District Handbooks: Jalpaiguri, Govt. of West Bengal
Basumatārī, Phukana Candra (2010). The Rabha Tribe of North-East India, Bengal and Bangladesh. Mittal Publications.
Joseph, Umbavu (2006). Languages of the Greater Himalayan Region, Volume 1 Rabha. Brill.