The Rabha people are a Tibeto-Burmeseethnic 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 has 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.
In general, the traditional economy of the Rabhas 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 Rabha belong to the South Assam in a branch of the Tibeto Burman linguistic family. They inhabit mostly in the plain districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Udalguri, Chirang, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Tinsukia, and 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, 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.
Etymology
There are various opinions as to the origin of the name Rabha. Dhananjay Rabha is of the opinion that the Rabha got their name from the word Marabwhich means "man" in the kocha Rabha dialect. This is derived from the words "Ma" from "mra" (meaning "man"), "rab" (meaning "uneven" or "rough"), and "ha" (meaning "land" or "earth"). Thus, Marab is a condensed form of "man of uneven place." He is further of the opinions that a group of people called Kocha migrated and first took refuge in a place called "Rab-ha" in Tibet, and then entered into Assam and further to Garo hills. There is still a place in Tibet called Raba in the Mongo Valley.
In the census report of 1881, F.J. Friend Pereira states, "when Husheng was the chief of the powerful Atong clan, he brought the Rabha into Someswari valley to till the land, because at that time the Garo being nomads, were not acquainted with more settled methods of husbandry." The Rabhas who were earlier known as "Koch" or "Kocha" were driven out of Garo Hills but were later called back by the Garo King Husheng in order to teach the Garos the art of cultivation. The Garos mainly lived on hunting and did not cultivate crops. The Rabha people then taught the Garos how to till the soil. Since then the Garos called them Raba which means "recalled or called back" in Garo language, and from then, the name Raba were known as Rabha which we know today.
There is another legend which says that the creator of the universe, Rishi-Bai (Shiva), created three brothers called Bingga, Ringga, and Raba. They were brought down to Básámáta (Earth), along with their families. The third brother, called Rabawas, extended to the whole group. In Rabha language, "Raba" means "to bring".Thus, this group of people came to be known as Raba. Although the tribe name is Rabha, the native articulation in earlier times was Raba.
Sub-tribes and clans
As like the origin of Rabhas there are also different based folk etymology, as there is a story that 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 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 .
In Rabha there are 11 sub-tribes or groups and various clans, these groups and clans were matriarchal in ancient times but in present society they follow both matriarchal and patriarchal society in which women inherits the clan and man inherits the groups.The groups are:
(1)Rongdani Rabhas-There is also a story where Khoksi Puja was going on and many flat stones are needed to erect altars of the Gods and the people to sit on. 'Rong' which means stone and 'dan' which 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 Rabhas-The Maitori group migrated from place to place and finally founded a fertile land produced paddy on a large scale. 'Mai' which means paddy and 'tori' means land or place in Rabha language. Thus,these groupcame to be known as Maitori. And there is also a story where the people who were given the responsibility of the communal meals eventually got the name 'Maitori' were 'Mai' means rice, 'tori' means to share or distribute and to give.
(3)Dahori Rabhas-A legend says that a group of Rabha tribes worshipped a serpent to whom a man had to be sacrificed every year. Then the two brothers namely Randan and Chandan killed the serpent and saved the life of these groups forever and after the death of two brothers. The two brothers were honoured every year by the tribe. On the occasion of the two brother's death anniversary. These groups of Rabha tribe erects two bamboo-poles bearing colours of serpents. These group is named after the bamboo poles known as Dahori.
An another story says that when Khoksi Puja 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 Rabhas-There is a story where in a puja Wine and water required to do.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 Rabhas-A large group Rabha tribe, according to some native authors attempted to reform their traditional socio-religious practices under the influence of Hinduism.In the process, they separated themselves from the their traditional society and were designated as Pati Rabha.
An another story says that 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)Bitoliya Rabhas-There is a story,where some people who entertained the people by saying jokes or 'bitoliyas' at religion occasions, festivals, social weeding and meetings etc. And hence the word 'Bitoliya' which means a humorist in a respectful way,and as these groups are master of jokes and entertainment they got the name Bitoliya.
Whereas there is also a story which says that a group of Rabha who were skilled in the occupation of areca-nut plantation, eventually got the name Betoliya.
(7)Kocha Rabhas-The word kocha is the traditional name of Rabhas , but today they are known as a sub-tribe of Rabhas named as Kocha Rabha . In their culture it seems that they don't worship 'Khoksi' because of some social or geographical reasons.
(8)Totla Rabhas-A group of Rabha while worshipping deity offered the entrials of birds or animals,this group came to be known as Totla Rabha.Where'Totla' refers to entrails in Rabha language.
(9)Hana Rabhas-A group of Rabha tribe during their offerings to the deities instead of cutting the neck of the birds and animals they pierced the animals.Therefore,they came to be known as Hana.
(10)Modahi Rabhas-The word 'Modahi' refers alcohol who were involved in Rabha social organisation.
The clan is determined by the mother,both the boy and girl bear the clan of their Mother. The following 'Barai/hwsuk(hãsuk) or 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.
Their are also many clans like: Chanduk,Chira,Pam,Bantho,Baksok,Churchung,One,Fenang,Tara,Sunduk,Chrenggi,Khanda, Mejenga,Kantrang,Doinang,Mata,Lokbok, Chongthap,Barchung,Chãmpai(chwmpai), Rangsa,lem,Juro,Moja,Nabaji,Kara,Kama, Torang,Rongkathop,Dulung,Owanang,Charu, Ronggodek,Dorne,Haipang,Cherena,Mwji(máji),Bandha,Nakra,Pánchibok,etc.
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: Maitori, Rongdani, Pati, Dahori, Totla, Halua, Betoliya, Hana, Sunga, Modahi, Kocha Rabhas. Only the Rongdani, Maitori and Kocha tribes 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.
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.
↑ "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, Rongdani and Koch or Kocha are the major sub-divisions of the Rabhas. They have been maintaining language and culture."(Basumatārī 2010:8)
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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.
Further reading
Saha, Rebatimohon (1987) "Jalpaiguri Jelar Koch-Rabha Samaj" (in Bengali) published in Ananda Gopal Ghosh edited Madhuparni, Special issue on Jalpaiguri District.
Raha, M.K. (1974) "The Rabhas of Western Duars: Structural Analysis of a Changing Matrilineal Society", Bulletin of the Cultural Research Institute, Vol. 10 (1 & 2).
Ghosh, Saumitra (1990) "Vanbasi Rabhara" (in Bengali) Desh, Vol 57 (12), January 20.
Roy Choudhury, B. (1970) "Social Mobility Movement among the Rabhas of North Bengal", Man in India, Vol 50 (1).
Gupta, Pabitra Kumar (1977) "Uttarbanger Rahba Samaj O Dharmasanskar Aandolon", (in Bengali) in Madhuparni: Special North Bengal Issue, 1977.
Sarma, Dr. Nabin Ch (2006) "Oral Songs of Tribal Communities of Assam" a project of Assam Sahitya Sabha, Assam Institute of Research for Tribals and Scheduled Castes
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