Proposal for Constitutional Recognition to Kamtapuri/ Rajbanshi Language and its Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India

Introduction

1.         Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi is an old language and is spoken by a large ethnic group of people residing from time immemorial in a vast region of eastern/ northeastern part of India. Their demographic location is contiguously spread over entire North Bengal, Lower & major portion of Assam, north-eastern districts of Bihar and neighbouring countries viz. northern part of Bangladesh and north-eastern districts of Nepal.

Although their mother tongue meets all the criteria for official recognition as a language, government patronage and official recognition are essential for its existence and further development. With a view to save this language from getting extinct, immediate steps should be taken by our Govt. and, this language should be given constitutional recognition and be included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.

           

2.      The reasoning and justification for grant of constitutional recognition to Kamtapuri language which is also known as Rajbanshi language have been described in succeeding paragraphs.

                       

Kamatapuri Language and its Other Appellations/Names

3.         Over the ages, this language evolved through vast areas in the eastern/north-eastern part of the country and came to be known as different names such as:

a) North Bengal (West Bengal) : Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi, Poliya.

b) Bihar(Purnia, Kishanganj, Katihar dist) : Rajbanshi

c) Assam : Koch-Rajbongshi, Goalparia

d) Meghalaya : Koch-Rajbongshi

e) Bangladesh  : Rajbanshi / Rangpuri

f) Nepal(Morang, Jhapa, Sunsari Dist) : Rajbanshi, Tajpuria/Tajpuri  

4.         For the reason being that large populations speaking this language are spread over different States and Countries, this language is known in different names. However, the language is same and spoken from ancient period. Popular names of the language are Kamtpuri and Rajbanshi. As Rajbanshi is the name of the major caste Hindu community speaking the language and, as such, their mother tongue got the appellation as Rajbanshi. Whereas, Kamtapuri represents speaking language of the land of aboriginal communities consisting all segments of the aboriginal communities of the entire region. These communities who are the sons of the soil speaking the age-old language are Rajbanshi, Koch-Rajbongshi, Khen, Yugi, Kayastha, Mali, Kurisajjan, Brahmin, Jalua, Muslim, Tribal etc. Therefore, from both demographic and contiguous geographical location's point of view, the name of the language as Kamtapuri appears to be more appropriate.

Evolution of Kamatapuri/Rajbanshi language

5.         The origin of this language dates back to ancient period. The people whose mother tongue is Kamtapuri relate to ancient ‘Pragjyotishpur’ and ‘Kamrup-Kamata’ kingdoms of eastern/northeastern India. Trace of this language is clearly visible in old scriptures and writings such as ‘Charya Padas or Caryagiti’ verses which were believed to have been written and sang by Buddhist monks between eighth and twelve century.  

As evidenced from the writing from Govt. of India publication ‘Some Positions on A Literary History of India’ written by Sujit Mukherjee of Central Institute of Indian Languages - ‘The pada form as seen in the Caryagiti verses probably got projected to the rest of India through Sanskrit work, the Gita-Govinda of Jayadeva.’

 Around that period, while traces of contemporary languages such as Oriya and Bengali were not found and another language Assamese was yet to originate, Kamata or Kamrupi language was in vogue and was famous as Lingua-Franca. This language was used by the rulers for their royal correspondences. A stanza from Charya Pada which fully resembles Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi is reproduced below:

‘Talat mor ghar nahi padabeshi -  I

Hadit Bhat nahi niti abeshi – II

Beng sangsar badhil jaya – I

Duhil dudh ki bente Somay – II’

Kamtapuri has the most similarity with the ‘Charya Pada’, which is believed to have written much before the development of Assamese, Bengali and Nepali languages. Whatever may be name of the language, being the mother tongue of over a crore of people residing from time immemorial in the country and neighbouring countries should find a place in the list of those languages recognized by the Constitutions of respective countries. India, our beloved country should take the foremost step in this direction.

Another trace of the language can be found in a song of Gonnath which is an example of Nath Sahitya (literature) of Yugi community written during 11^th and 12^th century in Kamtapuri. The same is produced below:

            ‘Thube --- Thube---

            Thube nana thube saje

            Kana kari Jhumur baje.

            Bajuk jhumur bajuk tal

            Eai girita dekhir bhal…’

This language was the official language of Kamata-Koch Empire which reigned from sixteenth century till beginning of last century. However, due to lack of patronage from the British rulers of Bengal province, this language languished literally, while English, Bengali and Assamese flourished.

While prose style of writing was not developed in the entire eastern part of the country, there was an evidence of Kamtapuri prose style of writing during the golden period of Kamata-Koch king Maharaja Nara Narayan. In the year 1555 AD, the Maharaja wrote a letter to then Ahom king Chukampha in the following lines in Kamatapuri script:

“Swasti sakal digddantikar Talas phalanxsamiran Prachalita him karpur haritrasaka Kailash Kalapan durath - Lekhong karjancha. Etha amar kusal. Tomar kusal nirantare banchakari. Akhan tomar amar santosh sampadak patrapatri gatayat haile ubhayanukul pritir beej ankurit haite rahe…”      

           

            The above letter is considered the first available prose style of witting in Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language which preceded prose writing in Bengali or Assamese. This letter was also the living evidence of its being a full-fledged language and not a mere dialect of Bengali or Assamese. Thus, position of this language in the arena of Indian languages is very old and rich in appellations of contemporary Indo-Aryan or Indo-Barman/Tibetan languages.

To substantiate the factual position, we reproduce the excerpts from a self-research oriented painstakingly written book – ‘Koch Rajbanshi Kamtapuri – The Truth Unveiled’  written by self, published in 2007 by M/s Vicky Publishers , Guwahati 2007, Page No.195 –

“Dr. Ajay Chakraborty in his book, “Litterateur in Kamata Koch Behar Rajdarbar” wrote, ‘ As regards, the language of the literatures, written in Kamata Koch Behar Rajdarbar, especially from the 14^th to 16^th century, were written in Kamrupi dialect. At that time, the Bengali language and the Assamese languages had not taken definite shape. These two languages have taken definite shape from 18^th century”. By saying so, Dr. Ajay Chakraborty has indicated that both the modern Bengali and Assamese languages took shape out of Kamata language. In this regard, Dr. T.C. Rastogi was more blunt in saying the truth in Maulana Azad Academy Journal, Lucknow (May 1-31, 1993) – “the writings of the so called Paschim Bangla Bhasa (Bengali) or Asamiya Bhasa (Assamese) should be regarded as the writings of the Kamata language (Rajbanshi-Kamata) in as much as it not dead but still living language of the Kamata region. The Kamata language is not Rajbanshi dialect of a caste or tribe. It is language of the people, for the region described above. The Kamata language should not be regarded as a mere dialect of Bengali or Assamese language. It is language in which the first vernacular writings of the region were attempted and may be called the root of the present Bengali and Assamese languages."

In view of what is stated above, it is evident that Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language is a full-fledged language which has evolved through ages. The facts have been elaborately brought out by number of Rajbanshi-Kamatapuri authors; especially to quote one is Shri Dharma Narayan Barma in his magnum opus “Kamatapuri Bhasha Prasanga’. 

More recently, Mr. Mathew Toulmin, an Australian research scholar has taken years to visit villages and areas where this language is spoken and published his research papers named ‘Language History of Kamta and Cooch Behar Region’ Pacific Linguistics, Research School of Pacific and Asia Studies, the Australian National University, Australia,  2009.

Also, presently, number of research scholars and academicians in India and neighbouring countries are engaged in finding out the rich linguistic background of Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language. A State Government sponsored ‘Rajbanshi Bhasha Academy’ has been recently established at Cooch Behar in West Bengal for development of this language.     

By judging the rich historical background, considering its pristine glory and being the mother tongue of over a crore of people, Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language deserves higher official position in our nation.

Demographic Position of Kamatapuri Speaking People

6.         Since, the communities speaking the language are spread over different States of our nation as well as neighbouring countries; it is difficult to calculate the actual population as Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi language is not yet recognised officially. Also, after the independence of India, community wise population was not shown in the census reports.

A serious variance was evolved due to non-recognition of their mother tongue. As such, their mother tongue was shown as Bengali. This is evident from report of ‘Census of India, 1951, Village-wise Mother-Tongue Data for Certain Selected  Border Thanas of Midnapur, Malda, West Dinajpur & Darjeeling Districts, West Bengal’. To substantiate this fact, it is pertinent to mention here that in the aforesaid report, for exclusively Rajbanshi dominated villages in Kharibari, Phansidewa Thana areas of Siliguri sub-division in Darjeeling district, mother tongue of Rajbanshis was recorded as Bengali by the census workers and not by actual mother tongue. This was probably done as Kamatapuri/Rajbanshi language is not officially recognized. Such a huge population spread over large contiguously located geographical area having a history of their own and an age-old language cannot simply be called a dialect of Bengali, Assamese or Nepali.

The British administrators identified the Rajbanshis as Bengali as Rajbanshi inhabited areas fell within Bengal Province. This aberration showing Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi as dialect of Bengali needs to be corrected by recognizing their mother as Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi.

Population of Rajbanshi People as per Census of India, 1931 & Census of India, 1951

7.      Erstwhile Bengal Province

a)  Available document mentioning Rajbanshi people can be found in the reports of Census of India, 1931 and Census of India, 1951 in which Caste, Tribe and Race were taken into account. As per Census of India, 1931 Volume V, Part I, Report by A,E.Porter, M.A.,(OXON) of the Indian Civil Service, Superintendent of Census Operations, Bengal, population of Rajbanshi community only was 1,806,390.

Relevant portion of page No.454 of the aforesaid Census report is appended below:

“.....Of the total Hindu population more than half in Rangpur., and almost half in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Dinajpur are Rajbangshis, but with the exception of the State of Cooch Behar where more than four-fifths of the Hindu population are of this caste...”

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                STATEMENT No. XII-11.

Rajbangshi 

1881 : Not on record

1891 : 942,230

1901 : 1,898,241* 

1911 : 1,808,790

1921 : 1,727,111 

1931 : 1,806,390

  

*The figures include Koch Rajbangahi.

  

b)    As per the Chapter No.553 in ‘Details of Hindu Castes of above mentioned Census of India, 1931, Report Page 475, it was reported that “The Rajbangshis are amongst the castes illustrated in diagrams Nos.XII-8 and XII-9. Taking the figures as they stand the numbers are 1,806,390, and they are the 3^rd largest caste in Bengal.”

c)    As per Statement No.XII-10, page 453 of above mentioned Census of India, 1931 report, Rajbangshis are majority amongst Hindu population in Rajshahi Division comprising of districts – Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Rangpur, Bogra, Pabna and Malda. Cooch Behar State, Rajbangshis are overwhelmingly in majority.

8.    Assam

 As the mother tongue of Rajbanshis/Koch-Rajbangshis was named as Bengali by the British Indian Government, in Assam, their actual population got intermixed with actual Bengali people residing in Assam.

Rajbanshis were shown as Bengali speaking people as per Census of India, 1951, Volume XII, Assam, Manipur and Tripura. In its Part I-A, Table A, page-413, during 1931 Bengali speaking population was 1,699,456 and Assamese speaking population was 1,993,106 i.e. almost 40:60 in ratio. During 1951, Bengali speaking population was 1,447,075 and Assamese speaking population was 4,972,493 i.e. more than 1/3^rd was Bengali speaking people residing in Assam.  Therefore, actual population of Rajbanshis in Assam was unclear. It is pertinent here to mention that in Assam, population of Rajbanshis/Koch-Rajbongshis is comparatively much more than Bengali. Showing them as Bengali is an aberration that needs to be corrected.

However, going by the reality that Rajbanshis were in majority in undivided Goalpara district in Assam and almost equal with Assamese and other castes/tribes in Darrang and Kamrup districts, their population can be derived from the figures Census of India, 1951, Volume XII, Assam, Manipur and Tripura, Part-I-B, Report, page 160, Subsidiary Table 8.9 (copy enclosed). Accordingly, Rajbanshi/Koch-Rajbanshi population during 1931 was as follows:

a) Undivided Goalpara district – 441644 (out of total population of 883288),

b) Undivided Darrang district – 292408 (out of total population of 584817),

c) Undivided Kamrup district – 488373 (out of total population of 976746).

Besides the above, Rajbanshis/Koch-Rajbongshis have been residing in large scale in other districts of undivided Assam.

 Bihar

9.    As per Census of India, 1951, Volume V, Bihar, Part I- Report, Chapter I, page 30, total population of Kishanganj sub-division (which is located along North Bengal) was 560508. Since, half of the population of the sub-division consist of Rajbanshis, their population was about 280254. 

Present Day Estimated Population of the Ethnic Rajbanshi People Speaking the Kamatapuri/Rajbanshi Language

10.       Although, accurate data has not been made available in the census reports of post-independence era, based on SC/ST status and poverty level of these people and based on an internal survey, demographic spread and population of the speaking this language is as under:

a) Assam :              4075928

b) West  Bengal :   7913874

c) Bihar :                1299628

d) Meghalaya :       306344 (Including Koch/Koch-Rajbongshis)

e) Bangladesh :     1685000

f) Bhutan :             8840

g) Nepal :              508170

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Grand Total :     1,57,97,784.

Publications in Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi Language

11.   There are number of publications relating to rich cultural heritage and historical background of Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi language written by various authors in Bengali, Assamese, English and in this Kamatapuri language as well. Apart from old written works such as Charya Pada and letter of Kamata-Koch king Nara Narayan to Ahom king in the year 1555 AD, which prove that this was the vernacular in ancient and medieval eastern/north-eastern India, out of many written well known writers, a list of only 100 names of modern publications in this language and Koch-Kamata script are mentioned at the end of this writing.

 

Awards and Recognition conferred for Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi Language

12.       Recognition and literary awards are many given to various authors on Kamtapuri language at local levels. At official level, recent award was given to Dr. Girija Shankar Ray for his literary works on Rajbanshi (Kamatapuri) language by the prestigious Sahitya Academy. Late Ambika Charan Choudhury, a great author and well known figure among the Rajbanshi communities has been conferred the title of ‘Kamata Ratna’ by many cultural and literary organisations. He was also a recipient of ‘Bir Chilarai’ award, instituted by the Govt. of Assam. Besides official recognition given to these two prominent authors for their contribution to this language, there are numerous writers in Kamatapuri/Rajbanshi language who have been conferred awards at local level by various social organisations.           

Latest Developments

13.    Mr. SS Ahluwalia, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency and Chairman, Committee on Privileges of Indian Parliament, who has vast knowledge on historical, socio-economic, cultural and political background of Rajbanshis and their age-old language, has been kind enough to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha during zero hour on the 12^th August 2014 for constitutional recognition of Kamtapuri language and its inclusion in 8^th Schedule of the Constitution of India. The Bill for constitutional recognition of Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language is likely to be tabled and get passed in the Parliament under able leadership of the Hon’ble MP in near future.

14.    A high level committee formed by the Govt. of India on ascertaining eligibility of constitutional recognition of 38 Indian regional languages is underway. Keeping in view it being an old language spoken by over a crore of people residing in a contiguously located areas in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan; having numerous written works/publications in this language and awards won by number of authors, undoubtedly, Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language deserves top most slot among all aspiring regional languages in India for official recognition.    

Conclusion:

15.       In view of the reasons described above in details which are fully justifiable, it will be appropriate for the august house of the Indian Parliament to render all possible support for development of Kamtapuri/Rajbanshi language and grant constitutional recognition to this language by inclusion in the eighth schedule of the Constitution of India.

 LIST OF 100 BOOKS ON KAMTAPURI / RAJBANSHI LANGUAGE

Ser. No.	Name of Book	Name of Author	Remarks
1	Dhukhiyar Kuthi	Dr. Amiya Bhushan Mazumdar
2	Nilua Deoar Talat	Amulya Debnath
3	Amar Kalika	Amarendra Nath Barman
4	Abo	Md. Afsar Ali
5	Nidhua Pathar	Kachhema Khatun
6	Mor Desh Mor Premer Swadesh	Kumar Souvik
7	Hatia Mor Bandhu Hatia Mor Soug	Kshirod Chandra Das
8	Nokholiar Banshi	Gokul Kr Ray
9	Mayna Matir Gaan	Dr. Girija Shankar Ray
10	Kather Dotora Kare Rao	Gouri Mohan Ray
11	Tor Peeriti	-do-
12	Maynar Chokhur Jal	Guneshwar Adhikari
13	Ekena Manshi Chay	Jatin Barma
14	Bhokosh	Biren Ray
15	Maishal Bandhu	Brajendra Lal Ray
16	Koch Biharer Loukik Shabda Kosh	Fulmati Barman
17	Ashol Ghata	Bachha Mohan Ray
18	Ayong Fuler Madhu	Biren Ray
19	Kuraler Chot	Biren ray
20	Teesta Parer Moishal	Biren Ray
21	Juger Haoa Badli Geiche	Biren Ray
25	Din Jay Rati Jay	Binod Bihari Barman
26	Bura Burir Katha	Manmohan Ray
27	Janam Nim Phir Sakal To Hobe	Dr. Nikhilesh Ray
28	Chetona	Nirod Barman
29	Maner Agun	-do-
30	Smritir Jhankar	-do-
31	Sujan Bandhu	Kabi Ratna Shyama Pada Barman
32	Swarlipi Saha Bhaoiya	-do-
33	Sujan Sonar Ghat	-do-
34	Baurali	Sachindra Nath Barman
35	Sukh Chanday Sukher Habilash	Sujan Barman
36	Dukhini Kamata Ayi	Sushil Chandra Ray
37	Oki Garial Bhai	Sushil Kkrishna Das
38	Chhutu Golper Dali	Suhash Nath
39	Bunsirir Dak	-do-
40	Gharjeya	Haripada Ray
41	Jam Rajar Bipad (Drama)	Hari Mohan Barman
42	Chechay Selukas Ki Bichitra Ei Desh	-do-
43	Beranir Katha	-do-
44	Sati Sunity	Gokul Kumar Ray
45	Uttar Banga O Sanskritir Sandhane	Centre For Studies in Local Languages and Culture (Published by North Bengal University0
46	Praner Sur Bhaoiya	Khandakar Mohammad Ali Samrat
47	Fulmatir Shesh Akash	Sri Ramadhan Choudhury
48	Khuter Bilai (One Act Play0	Santosh Singha
49	Kalnattir Kabita	Dr. Nikhilesh Ray
50	Charya Pada	Dharma Narayan Barma
51	Ai Bhasha Kamatapuri Kamisan	-do-
52	Uttarbange Rajbanshi Samajer Debdebi O Puja Parbon	Dr. Girija Shankar Ray
53	Rajbanshi Abhidan	Kalindra Nath Barman
54	Koch Rajbanshi Bhashar Byakaran	Raghunath Choudhury
55	Yubaraj Shukladhwajor Sahitya Protibha	Ambika Charan Choudhury
56	Kamata Kabya	Ananta Ray & Nagen Ray
57	Jag Gaan	Sukh Bilash Barman
58	Chhapar Mela	Minati Adhikari
59	Saat Bhaiya (Collection of Rajbanshi Poems0	Dr. Girija Shakar Ray
60	Sabdarthor Moulik Bishleshan	Ambika Charan Choudhury
61	Lipisutra	Kamalesh Sarkar
62	Dukshe Din Jay	-do-
63	Re Bandhab	-do-
64	Ai Manab Jiban	-do-
65	Galfar Jhopa	Hari Pada Ray
66	Joy Baba Jolpesh	-do-
67	Kamatapur Katha	Gundhar Barman
68	Dhaola bagila	-do-
69	Notun Diganta(Composition on Stories, Poems, Songs and Articles)	Nalini Ranjan Ray
70	Tor Piriti	Kumar Souvik
71	Uttar Bangat Bhasha Samashya	Ranjana Ray
72	Buk Bhange Mor Nadir Dainya	Sujan Barman
73	Ukasher Ukkatha	Nikhilesh Ray
74	Asami (Novel)	Tara Mohan Adhikari
75	Uttar Banger Fullara Pohati	Biren Ray
76	Dukhati	Minati Adhikari
77	Rajbanshi Mahabharat	Dr. Dhijendra Nath Bhakat
78	Kabita Kungkurar Suta (Collection of Poems)	Santosh Sinha
79	Dotorar Dang	-do-
80	Nidhua Pathar	Karna Debnath
81	Chhara Chhobit A, Aa, Ka, Kha	Ashim Kumar Barma
82	Chhaoar Para	Abdul Aziz
83	Bhoral Barna Porichoy	Tara Mohan Adhikari
84	Hidder Katha	-do-
85	Bhasha Andoloner Garaj Kyane	-do-
86	Naire Maisher Gari	Jyotsna Barman
87	Raidak	Kshitindra Mohan Sarkar
88	Bagh Dhenuk (Monthly Journal0	Edited by Bharat Chandra Ray
89	Mansua (Monthly Journal)	Edited by Jagabandhu Barman
90	Karakshap	Kailash Chandra Barman
91	Kamata Darpan	Gouri Mohan Ray
92	Gurufela (Souvenir)	Edited by Dhanapati Ray
93	Smriti Grantha (Souvenir)	Edited by Gouri Mohan Ray
94	Gorashi Bahana	Manindra Adhikari
95	Anneshan	Dr. Prahlad Singh
96	Degor	Nikhilesh Ray
97	Shiltorsha (Journal)	Edited by Samar Ray
98	Thakur Panchanan Smarak	Kshitish Chandra Barman
99	Ratnopithot Abhimukhi	Ambika Charan Choudhury
100	Ti-Purani Katha	Kamalesh Sarkar