Mythologies of the Assamese Tribes

The Assamese tribes are a socio-ethnic linguistic identity that has been described at various times as nationalistic or micro-nationalistic. This group is often associated with the Assamese language, the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, and Assamese people mostly live in the Brahmaputra Valley region of Assam, where they are native and constitute around 56% of the Valley's population. The use of the term precedes the name of the language or the people. It has also been used retrospectively to the people of Assam before the term "Assamese" came into use. They are an ethnically diverse group formed after centuries of assimilation of Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman, Indo-Aryan and Tai populations, and constitute a tribal-caste continuu—though not all Assamese people are Hindus and ethnic Assamese Muslims numbering around 42 lakh (4,200,000) constitute a significant part of this identity. The total population of Assamese speakers in Assam is nearly 15.09 million which makes up 48.38% of the population of state according to the Language census of 2011. The name "Assamese" is of British colonial coinage of the 19th and 20th century. Assamese is an English word meaning "of Assam—though most Assamese people live in Assam, not all the people of Assam today are Assamese people. The Government of Assam faced difficulties in defining Assamese people for Assam Accord due to a linguistically and culturally heterogeneous population. Though there is a political dispute over the definition of Assamese people, in general; the people belonging to the state of Assam are referred sometimes as Assamese people or more appropriately as People of Assam. The lack of a definition has put stumbling blocks in implementing clause 6 of the Assam Accord, an agreement signed by the activists of the Assam Movement and the Government of India in 1985. Since a legal definition is important to provide "constitutional, legislative and cultural" safeguards to the Assamese people, the Government of Assam had formed a ministerial committee to finalise the definition in March 2007. To address the clause 6 issue, AASU had announced a definition on 10 April 2000 which was based on residency with a temporal limit: All those whose names appeared in the 1951 National Register of Citizens and their progenies should be considered as Assamese. Despite the lack of a legal definition, social scientists consider the Assamese identity to constitute a tribal-caste continuum that has been the result of a historical process.

The People of Assam inhabit a multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious society. They speak languages that belong to four main language groups: Tibeto-Burman, Indo-Aryan, Tai-Kadai, and Austroasiatic. The large number of ethnic and linguistic groups, the population composition, and the peopling process in the state has led to it being called an "India in miniature". The peopling of Assam was understood in terms of racial types based on physical features, types that were drawn by colonial administrator Risley. These classifications are now considered to have little validity, and they yield inconsistent results; the current understanding is based on ethnolinguistic groups and in consonance with genetic studies. Geographically Assam, in the middle of Northeast India, contains fertile river valleys surrounded and interspersed by mountains and hills. It is accessible from Tibet in the north (via Bum La, Se La, Tunga), across the Patkai in the Southeast (via Diphu, Kumjawng, Hpungan, Chaukam, Pangsau, More-Tamu) and from Burma across the Arakan Yoma (via An, Taungup). These passes have been gateways for migration routes from Tibet, Southeastern China and Myanmar. In the west both the Brahmaputra valley and the Barak valley open widely to the Gangetic plains. Assam has been populated via all these accessible points in the past. It has been estimated that there were eleven major waves and streams of ethnolinguistic migrations across these points over time. In recent years, a multidisciplinary approach using archaeological, historical linguistic and genetic data has been used to reconstruct population history. There is no evidence in Assam and Northeast India of early hominid dispersal. The presence of a Paleolithic culture is contested. An early report of the presence of Dravidian is also not supported. The earliest culture in Assam is Neolithic; there is no evidence of Chalcolithic culture either in the Brahmaputra valley or in the surrounding hills; and state formation began only from middle of 1st millennium CE.

Assam is the meeting ground of diverse cultures. The people of the enchanting state of Assam are an intermixture of various racial stocks such as Mongoloid, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Iranian and Aryan. The Assamese culture is a rich and exotic tapestry of all these races evolved through a long assimilative process. The natives of the state of Assam are known as "Asomiya" (Assamese), which is also the state language of Assam. The state has a large number of tribes, each unique in its tradition, culture, dress and exotic way of life. Diverse tribes like Bodo, Kachari, Karbi, Miri, Mishimi, Rabha, etc co-exist in Assam; most tribes have their own languages though Assamese is the principal language of the state. A majority of the Assamese are Vaishnavas (a sect of Hinduism). The Vaishnavas do not believe in idol worshiping and perform "Naamkirtana", where the glory of Lord Vishnu is recited. The two important cultural and religious institutions that influence the cultural fabric of Assam: the "Satras", the site of religious and cultural practice which have been in existence for over 400 years and the "Naamghar", the house of prayers. Villagers generally associate on the basis of membership of a local Centre of devotional worship called "Naamghar". Villages are usually made up of families from a number of distinct castes In Assam, the caste system, although it exists, is not as prominent as in other parts of India. Other religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam etc. are also practiced in Assam. The state festival of Assam is the Bihu which is celebrated in three parts during a year with great pomp and grandeur by all Assamese, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. There are various elements which are being used to represent beliefs, feelings, pride, identity, etc and are considered as important symbolic elements in Assamese culture. The quintessential symbols are the Asomiya"Gamucha", "Jaapi", "TamulPaan" and "Xorai". Traditional attire worn by women called the "Mekhela Chador" and Assamese jewellery also form an integral part of the Assamese culture.

Top 10 Tribes of Assam

Bodo

Karbi
Dimasa
Mishing

Rabha

Tiwa

Kachari

Deori

Garo

Hajong

The Assamese people are a socio-ethnic linguistic identity that has been described at various times as nationalistic or micro-nationalistic. This group is often associated with the Assamese language, the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, and most Assamese people live in the Indian state of Assam, especially in the Brahmaputra valley. The use of the term precedes the name of the language or the people. It has also been used retrospectively to the people of Assam before the term “Assamese” came into use. They are an ethnically diverse group formed after centuries of assimilation of Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman, Indo-Aryan and Tai populations, and constitute a tribal-caste continuum—though not all Assamese people are Hindus and ethnic Assamese Muslims numbering around 42 lakh constitute a significant part of this identity. The total population of Assamese speakers in Assam is nearly 15.09 million which makes up 48.38% of the population of state according to the Language census of 2011.

TRIBES OF ASSAM

Ever since the very beginning of the history, the tribals have always been an integral and important part of Assam. With its magnificient and varied traditions and customs, it has been successfully revealing the very essence and synthesis of Assam and the people of Assam. There can be no doubt, without the wide contributions of the tribals; Assam would not have been so richer in its cultural life as well as in the socio-economic set-up. Assam has a much higher proportion of tribal population (12.40%) than that of the country as a whole (8.20%) in 2001. The tribal population of Assam can be widely divided into the Hill Tribes and the Plain Tribes. Dima Hasao (North Cachar Hills) District has the highest proportion (68.28%) of tribal population, followed by Karbi Anglong (55.69%), Dhemaji (47.29%), Kokrajhar (33.67%), Lakhimpur (23.49%), Nalbari (17.63%), Goalpara (16.63%), Darrang (16.61%), Marigaon (15.55%), Bongaigaon (12.23%) and Golaghat (9.93%). The remaining districts haVe proportions of tribal population less than the national norm. According to the list of scheduled tribes in the Indian constitution [order, 1950(a)], there are 23 tribes (14 Hills and 9 Plains) in Assam. The 14 Hills tribes are Chakma, Dimasa,

District Scheduled Castes (SC) Scheduled Tribes (ST) population of Assam

Baksa 73,083 3,31,007,

Barpeta 95,320 27,344,

Bongaigaon 82,784 18,835,

Cachar 2,64,897 17,569,

Chirang 35,135 1,78,688,

Darrang 40,260 8,419,

Dhemaji 44,225 3,25,560,

Dima Hasao 4,337 1,51,843,

Dhubri 70,395 6,332,

Dibrugarh 58,876 1,02,871,

Goalpara 45,094 2,31,570

Golaghat 62,298 1,11,765

Hailakandi 70,659 691

Jorhat 88,665 1,39,971

Kamrup 1,07,827 1,82,038

Kamrup M 1,01,789 75,121,

Karbi Anglong 44,961 5,38,738

Karimganj 1,57,890 1,940

Kokrajhar 29,570 , 2,78,665

Lakhimpur 81,840 2,49,426

Morigaon 1,17,841 1,36,777

Nagaon 2,66,350 1,15,153

Nalbari 60,216 23,364

Sivasagar 42,347, 49,039,

Sonitpur 1,09,130 2,32,207

Tinsukia 37,688 82,066

Udalguri 37,844 2,67,372

ASSAM 22,31,321 38,84,371

In Assam, the caste system, although it exists, is not as prominent as in other parts of India. Other religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam etc. are also practiced in Assam. The state festival of Assam is the Bihu which is celebrated in three parts during a year with great pomp and grandeur by all Assamese, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. There are various elements which are being used to represent beliefs, feelings, pride, identity, etc and are considered as important symbolic elements in Assamese culture. The quintessential symbols are the Asomiya”Gamucha”, “Jaapi”, “TamulPaan” and “Xorai”. Traditional attire worn by women called the “Mekhela Chador” and Assamese jewellery also form an integral part of the Assamese culture. Assam is the meeting ground of diverse cultures. The people of the enchanting state of Assam are an intermixture of various racial stocks such as Mongoloid, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Iranian and Aryan. The Assamese culture is a rich and exotic tapestry of all these races evolved through a long assimilative process. The natives of the state of Assam are known as “Asomiya” (Assamese), which is also the state language of Assam. The state has a large number of tribes, each unique in its tradition, culture, dress and exotic way of life.

Assam is a beautiful place which happens to be one of the Seven Sisters in the North East. Assam is not just a budding state, but also a place with deep cultural roots and the people here take pride in the refinement of their cultural roots. This state portrays its beauty not only in its serenity and lush green forests but also in the way the people dress traditionally. Tradition is the caravan of the heritage passed on to us by our forefathers, and these people here have very elegantly managed to carry forward the flame that was passed to them rightly. Here, let’s have a look at the beautiful and exquisite pieces of clothing that one can find only in Assam. The Dhoti and Gamosa are said to be the native dress of the men of Assam. The Dhoti is used to cover the lower half of the body and is a well-known piece of clothing in other Indian traditions too. Wearing a Dhoti properly is not so easy and carrying it is also one tricky job. The Gamosa is a rectangular piece of cloth that is an important and significant part of the Assam culture. Gamosa means ‘A cloth to wipe one’s body’ and is a white cloth with a beautiful red border on three sides and woven motifs on the remaining one. It is a piece of clothing that has some great significance in this state hence it is also used to felicitate and honour people who achieve some great feat. The Gamosa can be used as a cloth to wipe or can be transformed into a waistcoat which is commonly known as the Tongali. It can also be used as a Loincloth by a Bihu dancer.

Assam is a place full of colors. There are a variety of cultures that you can witness in Assam. Every tribe has its own values and attributes. Also, they get to wear different kinds of attire as per their culture. The primary traditional dress of Assam for women is the Mekhela chador, which is mostly made from silk or Muga, for men, it is the gamosa and dhoti. The Mekhela Chador comes in vibrant colors and can be customized too. The Miri tribe are the second largest group of tribes in Assam. The traditional dress for the missing/miri- for women it is rihbi, gaseng, and seleng gasor which is wrapped around the lower part of the body, there is another piece in it named asgero which is used to wrap the waist part or around the chest part too. Riya is also used to wrap around the chest part of the body. There are also some other parts in their dresses and they are segrek worn by married women and also a pohtub and an nkisek to carry a baby with.

The Boro is the largest ethnolinguistic group in the Assam state of India. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India. They are concentrated mainly in the Bodoland autonomous region of Assam, though Boros inhabit all other districts of Assam. Boros speak Boro language, a Boro-Garo language of the Tibeto-Burman family, which is recognized as one of twenty-two scheduled languages in the Indian Constitution. and over two-third of the people are bilingual, speaking Assamese as a second language. The Boro along with other cognate groups of Bodo-Kachari peoples are prehistoric settlers who are believed to have migrated at least 3000 years ago.

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