SOCIAL ISSUES & SC/ST STATUS OF RAJBANSHI/ KOCH-RAJBANSHI GROUP OF PEOPLE

I. Geographical and Demographic Positions of Rajbanshi Group of People

The ethnically one, Rajbanshi group, one of the most tolerant indigenous people of strategically located areas in whole of North Bengal(barring its hilly terrains); in a sizable portion of Assam; western part of Meghalaya; Purnia, Kishanganj districts and eastern part of Katihar district of Bihar; Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts of Nepal; Rangpur, East Dinajpur districts and some parts of north west Mymensingh, northern Rajshahi and Bogra districts of Bangladesh and lower parts of Bhutan where these indigenous people ordinarily reside from time immemorial.

They are known as Koch-Rajbongshi in Assam, Rajbanshi Kshatriya, Palia, Surjapuria in North Bengal and Bihar; Rajbanshi/Koch Rajbanshi/Tajpuria in Nepal and Koch-Rajbongshi in Meghalaya and their adjoining areas. Rajbanshi Muslims are integral part of these communities because of the one language and one culture.

They are victims of identity crisis, domination by mainstream people and division of their homelands. Today they form majority population in rural areas as they have been displaced from urban areas. Since their mother tongue is officially not recognized, on record they have been identified by the mainstream language of the state. Their population can be estimated as under:

Country	State	District	Population
India	Assam	Kamrup	198766
		Barpeta	691357
		Dhubri	729109
		Darrang	450321
		Cachhar	40000
		Nalbari	253152
		Bangaigaon	483883
		Kokrajhar	398440
		Goalpara	330900
		Other Districts	500000 (Approx.)
		Total	4075928
	Bihar	Purnia	654625
		Kishanganj	338189
		Katihar	306814
		Total	1299628
	North Bengal	Maldah	797769
		Dakshin Dinajpur	838138
		Uttar Dinajpur	1653923
		Darjeeling	738729
		Jalpaiguri/Alipurduar	2193864
		Cooch Behar	1691451
		Total	7913874
	Meghalaya	Garo Hills districts	306344
Bangladesh		Rangpur/Rajshahi Divisions	1685000
Bhutan			8840
Nepal		Morang	192941
		Jhapa	162530
		Sunsari	152699
		Total	508170
		Grand Total	15797784

II. Scheduled Caste (SC) status in West Bengal:

In North Bengal, majority of Rajbanshi people like to remain as Kshatriya and they have a great respect to the great social reformer Roy Saheb Thakur Panchanan Barma. Since, these people were majority in population i.e. almost 70% to 80% prior to gaining Independence in 1947 and still in majority in rural North Bengal, they should be given a share in state governance. Acute poverty and lack of education are the drawbacks to these hapless people.

In West Bengal, Rajbanshi community has been placed in the list of scheduled caste (SC). In rural South Bengal, they fall under Kayastha Varna. In North Bengal, these people are better known as Rajbanshi Kshatriya. Keeping in view of their backwardness, some scholars are advocating Dalit status for them based on the principles propounded by late Shri Kanshi Ram and Ms. Mayawati of ‘Bahujan Samaj Party’. There is no similarity between Rajbanshis of South Bengal and North Bengal both socially and culturally. For this reason, Dalit status may suit Rajbanshis in South Bengal districts but it does not attract Rajbanshis of North Bengal. Educated and well to do Rajbanshis of North Bengal feel ashamed to call them as SC. They take pride in calling themselves as Kshatriya. Even, most of them do not advocate for grant tribal status (ST) as most of their counterparts (Koch-Rajbanshi people) in Assam demand for such status. In Purnia and Kishanganj districts of Bihar, Rajbanshis have been placed in the list of OBC. In Bangladesh and Nepal, such caste wise distinction does not exist among Rajbanshi people.

SC status given to Rajbanshis in West Bengal has helped only a meagre percentage of Rajbanshis in North Bengal, say about not more than 7.5%, whereas, they are still in majority in rural areas. As SC, 15% job reservation for them get divided among more educated and advanced mainstream Bengalis.  In urban areas, they sold off their lands long back and have since been almost displaced. In turn, mainstream Bengali people who mostly hailed from erstwhile East Pakistan and outsiders have purchased urban lands from poor Rajbanshi people and today, they have taken the centre stage in urban areas. Main reason as to why SC status failed is that Rajbanshi people are poor and cannot compete with more knowledgeable and well-groomed SCs belonging mainstream Bengali people. Thus, in reality, SC status is helping everybody but the Rajbanshis in North Bengal. This paradoxical situation is not understood by many of them and those who understand, are shying away from identifying themselves as Rajbanshi.

     

III. Struggle for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Assam:

In Assam, the situation is desperate. In the fear of losing identity and lands to outsiders, student organisations and some intellectuals in Assam are demanding grant of scheduled tribe(ST) status to Koch-Rajbanshis. It happened earlier also; in 1996, ST status was granted to Koch-Rajbongshis through promulgation of ordinances four times in Assam which was in vogue for only a decade. Ever since, refugees from Bangladesh started pouring in, they have been grabbing lands from poor ethnic Koch-Rajbanshi people. Slowly, Bangladeshi refugees are becoming more powerful in Assam politiclly. Autonomous region of Boroland has added more difficulties to ethnic Koch-Rajbanshis of Assam. In Kokrajhar district, Rajbanshi people were the domineering people till Boroland was created. In their own land, Rajbanshis are becoming aliens. There is need to check the influx of Bangladeshi refugees and at the same time, Boroland type arrangements should be made to save the Rajbanshi people from getting extinct in Assam.

Article 342 of the Constitution of India notifies Scheduled Tribes as having five major characteristics - primitive traits, geographical isolation, distinct culture, shyness of contact with community at large and economic backwardness. Question arises whether these characteristics still exist in Koch-Rajbanshis of Assam, whether they deserve ST status or not. The issue needs political debate. However, going by the ground realities, main objective for demanding ST status is to stop foreigners (Bangladeshis) to grab lands in Assam.

However, it is certain that grant of status of ST with only 7% to 10% reservation in job will not stop them from getting extinct from their motherland unless these ethnic people and majority in population, they need to have a say in their governance. They must be given civil and political rights as enshrined in Part-X, “The Scheduled and Tribal Areas”, Article 244 in the Constitution of India. They must administer their own areas as per wide ranging powers given in the Sixth Schedule. Simply, ST Status is not enough. Off late, student organisations in Assam are demanding separate ‘Kamotapur’ state. Option for a separate State or Autonomous body for them should be the most viable proposition to adopt.

IV. Social Status in Nepal, Bangladesh and other Areas:

In Meghalaya, this group of people prefer to be called ‘Koch’ and maintain their traditional way of life. Apart from them, Koch-Rajbongshis of Meghalaya support demand of ST status like their counterparts in Assam.     

In Nepal, they are mostly known as Rajbanshi, Koch and Tajpuria. They are mostly called ad Kshatriya and placed in higher social class. However, poverty and lack of education downgraded their social status below mainstream Nepalis. Outsiders settled in Nepal i.e. Madhesis who, politically, are counting their shots more than Rajbanshis.  Off late, Rajbanshi organisations are demanding separate indentify from Nepalese and a separate state named ‘Kochila’ within the federal structure of Nepal.

In Bangladesh, Rajbanshi people belong to Kshatriya Varna and feel proud to be so. Renowned Rajbanshi social and political leader Roy Saheb Thakur Panchanan Barma had begun ‘Kshatriya Movement’ from the soil of Bangladesh (the undivided Bengal) in the first half of the last century. Bangladeshi Rajbanshis have no political issue but, they do feel suffocated within their political set-up as their freedom of speech has been curbed.

In Bhutan, small numbers of Rajbanshis have no issues of worth mentioning but support the causes of Cooch Behar imbroglio.

V. Suggested Solutions:

            Grant of SC, ST or other backward caste (OBC) is not enough for Rajbanshi group of people as their glorious history does not advocate lower social status in the society.  As explained in above mentioned chapters such status is damaging for a people who are majority in a geographically contiguous huge region in Indian peninsula. 

            To safeguard both their lands and pride, constitutional safeguards should be ensured, otherwise, the existence of this group of people will fall under grave risk soon. Due to political reasons, mainstream people of Bengals, Assam, and Nepal do not support justified causes of Rajbanshis. Thus, downfall of these great, docile and patriot people has become certain which need to be checked if we wish to save them from getting extinct. Even, if the demand for a separate state for these ethnic Rajbanshi people of both North Bengal or grant of autonomous region or union territory status should be considered on merit by both the State Governments and Central Government as promised during the merger in 1949, Rajbanshi dominated Cooch Behar kingdom was categorized as Class ‘C’ state.

            Rajbanshi group of people gave their full support to freedom struggle. When freedom came to India, people of not only erstwhile Cooch Behar Empire regardless of their caste and creed were jubilant as they saw a ray of hope in making their homeland into a full-fledged state of Indian Republic. Then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Home Minister Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel assured the people of the state that their political and socio-economic aspirations would be fulfilled after joining the union. Unfortunately, the pride of Rajbanshis, erstwhile Cooch Behar got merged with West Bengal by a political game plan orchestrated by then Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

So, celebration on freedom was lost, pride of Rajbanshis came under severe stress. Now, to regain their lost pride and lands, these unfortunate people should be granted democratic rights of true sense. People of these people residing all over the world are looking at India for viable solution to their long pending issues as this is largest democracy in the world where justice can be made available to the deprived people. Assurances given by then Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and then Home Minister Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel should be respected.
Jai Hind !