SOCIAL, POLITICAL ISSUES AND ASPIRATIONS OF RAJBANSHI SOCIETY IN NORTH BENGAL

Introduction

In an epochal sense, Rajbanshis played a big role in Indian society during mythological period for which testimonies galore in Indian old scriptures; ancient history which was glorious having no doubt about it; medieval period that made entire northeastern oriental states were made to unify with mainland India by ancestors of Koch Rajbanshis; and then, significant contributions by number of oriental/ princely states and fiefdoms the known modern history. Then, of course, their downfall started towards the end of the reign of Koch kings at Cooch Behar which culminated with the merger of the princely state with the dominion of free India in 1949 and downfall has been continuing even today.

History of a large Indian human stream, the Rajbanshi group of communities is hardly taught in schools, colleges – why that’s the million-dollar question in Indian polity today. However, as I perceive, while Indian democracy is maturing today in India and political gimmicks are at their peak, these group of Indian people are awakening and wish no more to remain a camouflaged vote bank in the country, especially in Assam and North Bengal. As it is well said that history repeats itself, these people are going to play a vital role to bring about an epochal change in North Bengal in near future; I have no doubt about it.

 

Historical Background of Rajbanshis

(For the benefit of the readers who missed my earlier write ups on the subject, briefly I would like to narrate certain historical aspects in this paragraph)

Rajbanshis of North Bengal today inherit their origin in ancient kingdoms of Pragjyotishpur-Kamrup, mediaeval kingdoms of Kamtapur and modern Koch Bihar (Cooch Behar) kingdoms of Eastern/Northeastern India. By physiognomy, they belong to mixed breed of three human streams – Mongoloid, Dravidian and Aryan where Mongoloid features are more prominent. The British Administrators during their colonial rule in India, and some historians have opined on this aspect differently, but it should have no controversy that Rajbanshis have mixed blood but most of them have genetic connections prominently with the mongoloid stock. It would not be out of context from the point of the scholars and researchers on history that North Bengal was the confluence of acculturation of all three human streams from time immemorial.

In great epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata, Vedas, Puranas and ancient literature, ancestors of Rajbanshis were mentioned. Lord of Krishna, the supreme Godly power of the Hindu Sanatana Dharma was believed to have descended in the kingdom of Narakasur (Asur was the fashionable appellation name adopted by powerful kings of Pragjyotishpur) to kill him for his misdeeds and torture to womenfolk. After killing him, his son Bhagdatta who sided with Duryodhana during great war of Mahabharata. Ghatotkoch, the son of Hidimba, the princess of a ‘Danaba’ king in the riverine and jungle kingdom in this part of the country, whom the physically most powerful Pandava ‘Bhim’ married during their fourteen years concealed sojourn. Ghatotkoch, with his huge physically built warrior and mystical supernatural power created havoc in the war zone of Kurukshetra and about to annihilate the entire Kaurava army. He had to be killed by no other than the most envious and powerful warrior king Karna by using the best weapon that he especially kept reserved to kill his rival Arjuna. The supreme sacrifice made by Ghatotkoch made the epochal change in the war and ended ultimately in favour of the Pandava. Koch people or its ancient nomenclature ‘Kuvach’ meaning speaking slang language, were the main ancestors of todays’ Rajbanshi people. Even today, a sizable number of Koches who are also known as Cooch, a recognized Tribal people are residing in Garo Hills and Goalpara district of Assam. Those who had come into contact with the Koch and Kamta kings and seen the light of civilization, did happily embraced Hinduism and took the appellations of Rajbanshi identity.  

These people had a distinct geographical identity, culture, language and an empire. It was a big and powerful empire that unified the whole of North East with India. It would be pertinent to mention here that during the great decade long military campaign in sixteenth century (1562 to 1571 AD), great Koch king Nar Narayan aided by his valiant younger brother, Dewan and the Chief Military Commander Shukladhwaja (famed as Chilarai)  with their mighty army comprising unified entire oriental kingdoms i.e. Ahom kingdom, Manipur, Tripura and Jaintia with Bharatvarsha (mainland India). The kingdom never came under complete subjugation of any foreign power including mighty Mughals and the British.  Such an empire with glorious past culminated into a small kingdom named Cooch Behar and finally made to merge as a mere district with West Bengal on 01 January, 1950.

Demographical Position

Rajbanshis are aborigines (sons of soil) and have been historically majority population of a vast region in eastern/northeastern part of India i.e. North Bengal; Purnia, Kishanganj districts of Bihar; Lower Assam districts; parts of Garo Hills of Meghalaya, and neighbouring countries of Nepal (Morang, Jhapa and Sunsari districts), northern Bangladesh and some parts of Bhutan. Actual population of Rajbanshis residing in North Bengal is estimated to be 70,00,000 (Seventy Lakh). Total Rajbanshi population together with neighbouring countries is estimated to be 2,00,00,000 (Two Crore).

 

Why are they losing grounds after gaining Independence from the British Raj

 

Since the days of partition in 1947, there have been influx of refugees from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and a huge population from across the borders have settled in North Bengal during past seven decades. Illegal intrusion into this region from across the border is still on. Rajbanshis are well known for their hospitality and open-mindedness as they always welcomed the Bengali refugees migrating from erstwhile East Pakistan (East Bengal) that later gained independence from Pakistan to become Bangladesh in 1971, and other people from different Indian States viz. Rajasthani business class, Nepalese, Punjabis, Biharis and other Indian citizens. Lands were acquired by them at low cost for their settlements. So called Rajbanshi landlords, most of whom were actually farmers having landholdings in the villages suffered most by losing their fertile lands due to strict implementation of land reform rules in West Bengal. Today, many well-to-do Rajbanshis who gave lands to outsiders have become landless and became laborers going to other States such as Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala for work.

As such, majority tag on Rajbanshis is diminishing day by day. Still, these people are the majority in rural population in North Bengal. For all these years, Rajbanshi people, true to their simple, friendly nature, welcomed all the refugees coming from across the border as well as settlers from other States.

Reasons for the downfall are quite a few some of major ones are as follows:

Poverty and Illiteracy have been the two major factors that made poor Rajbanshis to sell their lands to immigrant people, getting economically poor and losing political rights and inviting social degradation.

Lack of Education: Due to social degradation and economic deprivation, most of well-to-do or the educated Rajbanshi people shy away from disclosing their Rajbanshi identity. Dropouts from schools due to poverty are at the peak among rural Rajbanshis. There is hardly any businessman or an industrialist among them. One can easily find a less educated Rajbanshi left their homeland and working elsewhere in India as labourers, especially in distant states of Punjab, Delhi, UP and Haryana.

Under Development:  No doubt, development is taking place in all areas where ethnic groups of Rajbanshi people are ordinarily residing from time immemorial including fast developing North Bengal; and, there is no denying on it but it is lopsided. Lots of construction works are taking place and urban areas are growing in leaps and bounds. Airports, roads, schools, colleges, universities and various governmental as well as nongovernmental institutions are being established in these areas. But all these developments are taking place at enormous cost to these hapless and poor people. All the development works are beneficial to the mainstream people of the state and certainly not for the Rajbanshi people who form the majority in rural North Bengal.

Condemnable, Brutal and Heinous Criminal Acts against Rajbanshi People of recent Past:

1.    On 14^th May, 2018 while on Panchayat election (repoll) duty at Sonapur Basic School under Itahar Block near Raiganj, Rajkumar Roy, S/o – Sh. Priyapada Roy & Smt. Annada Roy (resident of village Kantibhita, Phansidewa Block), Sudarshanpur, Near Sarada Shishutirtha, PO- Sudarshanpur, PS-Raiganj, Dt. U. Dinajpur got missing in the evening. His mutilated dead body was found next day evening near railway tracks. His family members suspected that he was kidnapped and killed by some goons.

2.    On 7^th September, 2019, Ms Jaba Roy, D/o – Sh. Balaram Roy, Vill:Singferika, No.1 Sukdebpur GP, Gangarampur Block, D/Dinajpur was raped and murdered allegedly by a suspected Muslim married man.

3.    0n 5^th January, 2020, A minor girl Pramila Barman, 17 years, of Class Xth standard, a Rajbanshi Hindu from Kumarganj, Gangarampur, D/Dinajpur, was gangraped, culprits slit her throat and nerves and then burnt her body with petrol. Her charred body was found in an open field under a culvert near a place between Safanagar and Ashokegram under Kumargram P.S. in Dakshin Dinajpur. Allegedly her boyfriend Mahabur Rahaman and his friends Pankaj and Gautam kidnapped her, raped, killed and burnt her dead body.

4.    On 5^th May, 2020 Ms Dipali Kumari Singh, Age -15 years, D/o Mrs Renuka Debi (M-7634057274) & Late Nagendra Singh, Vill: Makhanpokhar, Mirzapur GP, PS: Pothia, Dt: Kishanganj, Bihar (Near Karandighi of Uttar Dinajpur) at about 3:00 p.m. went to look for her mother Mrs Renuka Debi who went for daily wage work. Suspects were two boys who were seen fleeting from the agricultural field where dead body of Dipali was traced - Azad, 19 years, S/o Mukhtar; and One son (name not known) aged approx. 20 years of Md Abdulla of same Makhanpokhar village. Pothia PS registered the case (Case No.86/20 dated 06/05/2020 u/s 302/376 DA/34 I.P.C. and 4/6 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012).

5.    On Midnight 12-13^th Debendra Nath Roy 64 years, MLA, Hemtabad, U/Dinajpur was called by someone from his home at Balia Village, Bindol. Next morning, his dead body was found hanging in front of Shop about a kilometre away. Certain facts such as his one hand being tied by rope while he was hung, his feet were clean while went walking a kilometre on a muddy village path and his shoes left behind near his house, absence of body reactions if he had hung himself etc. made his family members to believe that it was not a suicide but murder; and they demanded a CBI probe.

6.    On 13^th July, 2020, house of Ms Swapna Barman of Kaliaganj village Belakoba was raided by the Range Officer Shri Sanjay Dutta along with his deputy Ms Pancholi Roy and team of armed Forest Guards for allegedly buying and keeping wooden logs of some forest which came floating in the nearby swollen Teesta river during rainy season and collected by some villagers. Swapna Barman is the Gold medal winner in the event of Heptathlon in Asian Games, 2017. She was awarded Arjuna Award in 2018. She is known as not only the pride of India but an asset of Asian sports lovers. As the incident stirred the hornets’ nest in the Rajbanshi society, the Hon’ble Chief Minister had to intervene to console Swapna who felt humiliated and take action against the officer concerned by transferring him elsewhere.

7.    On intervening night of 18-19 July, 2020 Ms Mampi Singha, aged 16 years, who had cleared Madhyamik examination this year, resident of village Chaturagachh, PS-Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur, was kidnapped from her home by some miscreants, gang raped, killed and thrown under a banian tree. Subsequently, next day morning, dead body of one of the suspects Firoz Ali of same village was found floating in a village pond. On complaint lodged by deceased Firoz’s family, Asnath Singha, father of the deceased girl along with brothers Madhu Singha and Krishna Singha were arrested.

Above mentioned criminal acts against Rajbanshi people of North Bengal and its close proximity in Bihar have disturbed their mindset. They feel humiliated, neglected and demand stern action against the culprits.

 

Major Demands of Kamatapuri-Rajbanshi People

Recognition of Kamata-Rajbanshi Language: In 2017, the Government of West Bengal had decided, in principle, to recognize Kamtapuri(Rajbanshi) as a State Official Language of West Bengal vide their Notification No.170-Home(Cons)/CE/N/R1M-20/2017 dated Howrah, the 6^th March, 2017 and constituted an expert 7-Member Committee to examine all aspects relating to it under the chairmanship of Mr. Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri constituted by the State Govt. to study the issue. The Committee submitted its report to the State Govt.on 31^st Dec. 2017. The West Bengal Assembly passed the West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 on 28^th February, 2018 recognising the three languages - Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi and Kurmali which have now joined Bengali, Nepali, Urdu, Hindi, Santhali, Oriya and Punjabi (Gurmukhi) as official languages of the State. The passing of the Bill in the State Assembly, was undoubtedly a landmark decision to recognise the mother tongue of Rajbanshi group of people which is spoken by about two crore people spread over West Bengal, Assam, Northern Bihar, Western Meghalaya in India; and, neighbouring countries of Bangladesh (Northern Region), Nepal (Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari districts) and parts of Bhutan. For long years, there has been a movement for recognition of Kamtapuri language. Kamtapuri, is one of the 38 regional languages under consideration by a high-level committee appointed by the Central Government. Earlier, the demand was raised in the Parliament by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament of Darjeeling, Sardar Surinder Singh Ahluwalia in August 2014. In 2018, the Hon’ble MP of Cooch Behar Shri Partha Pratim Roy raised the proposal of recognizing Rajbanshi language and include in the 8^th Schedule of the Constitution of India. It is noteworthy that both Kamtapuri and Rajbanshi are the one and same language of one ethnic group of people. Why same language has been recognized in two different names by the West Bengal Government is seen as a blunder that has divided the Rajbanshi society in two groups. Rajbanshi language is also known as Deshi, Goalparia, Paliya, Surjapuri, Rangpuri at different places and states. Whatever be the name, the language is an old language, having most similarity with the earliest tenth century evidential prove 'Charya Pada' and sixteenth written letter of Koch king Naranarayan to Ahom king Chukampha. Now, the language is spoken by two crore people across Indian states and neoghbouring countires.  Thus, the language should be given constitutional recognition and include in the 8^th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Raising of Narayani Regiment in Indian Army as per Merger Agreement with Erstwhile Cooch Behar State: As per the policy of Dominion of India on accession of princely states, the Instrument of Accession and the Standstill Agreement prepared on the behest of V.P. Menon, then Secretary to the Government of India were dispatched from the States Department, New Delhi vide their letter dated 1^st August, 1947 to Cooch Behar by Registered Post on 5^th August, 1947 to then Maharaja of Cooch Behar State Lt.Col. H.H. Maharaja Sir Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, K.C.I.E.   The Instrument of Accession was signed by the Maharaja on 9^th August, 1947, duly accepted and signed by then Governor General of India, Mountbatten of Burma on 16^th August, 1947. The Standstill Agreement between the State of Cooch Behar and the Dominion of India was signed by Himmat Singh K. Maheshwari, then Chief Minister of Cooch Behar State on 14^th August, 1947 and V.P. Menon. These living documents exhibit the urgency and eagerness for accession on the part of both the States Department of the Dominion of India and the Cooch Behar State

    Finally, the formal merger of Cooch Behar with Independent India took place under an Agreement made between the Governor General of India and His Highness the Maharaja of Cooch Behar (Jagaddipendra Narayan) duly signed by the Maharaja and V. P. Menon then Advisor to the Govt. of India, Ministry of States on 28^th August, 1949. Accordingly, Cooch Behar State was ceded to the Dominion Government with effect from 12^th September, 1949.  Cooch Behar was placed in ‘C’ category of States in the Constitution of India.

    As per the Article VIII(1) of the Agreement – “The Government of India hereby guarantees either the continuance in service of the permanent members of the Public Services of Cooch Behar on conditions which will not be less advantageous than those on which they were serving before the date on which the administration of Cooch Behar is made to the Government of India or the payment of reasonable compensation.”  In connection with the certain points including status of the Armed Forces of Cooch Behar raised by the Maharaja relating to the just concluded Merger Agreement, having considered by the Govt. of India, V.P. Menon in his D.O. letter No.F.15(19)-P/49 dated the having considered by the Govt. of India, V.P. Menon in his D.O. letter No.F.15(19)-P/49 dated the 30^th August, 1949 to the Maharaja, clarified queries on 14 points. The 14^th point clarified as – (14) Government will endeavour to associate the name “Narayan” with the Cooch Behar State Forces even after their absorption in the Indian Army. 

    Historical background of Koch Army of Cooch Behar Empire comprising of mainly Koch-Rajbanshi people has been a glorious one. As per ‘Akbarnama’, during the reign of great Koch king Nara Narayan(1553-1587 A.D.) aided by his warrior brother and a great military commander, Chilarai, Koch army consisted of 4000 horses, 2,00,000 infantry soldiers, 700 elephants and 1000 war boats. As per Sir E.A. Gaits, the British administrator and a great historian, there were around 52,25,000 able Koch-Rajbanshi youth volunteers to serve the Koch army. Because of the heroic deeds of the soldiers under able command of Chilarai, the Koch kingdom could defeat all north-eastern oriental kingdoms and unified whole of the Northeast. Undoubtedly, credit of uniting North-eastern India must go to the Koch army, who were famously known as ‘Narayani Sena’.

    From the days of merger in 1949, the fate of 'Narayani Company' in the Rajshahi Regiment of Cooch Behar State remained in obscurity due to indifference on the part of the Government of India. The assurances given by the Government during merger are yet to be fulfilled and raising of a Rajbanshi Regiment is one of them. Today, although a young Rajbanshi is free to join any Regiment in Indian Army but it does not give him the honour of being a Rajbanshi of a marshal class. To honour the sacrifices made by the Koch-Rajbanshi people for centuries in fighting adversaries and uniting entire North-eastern India with mainland India during sixteenth century, raising such a Infantry Regiment named ‘Narayani Regiment’ in the Infantry Army is more apt. Raising such a regiment in Indian Army is not going to negate any national policy of India as Infantry Regiments of Indian Army such as Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, Jat Regiment, Mahar Regiment, Madras Regiment, Sikh Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry, Gorkha Regiments etc. of Indian Army are doing exceptionally well for ages.

    Under the safe hands of Koch-Rajbanshi soldiers of Cooch Behar Empire remained safe from foreign aggression for centuries. Even most powerful Mughal forces were forced to become ally with Cooch Behar kingdom. The British power acknowledged sovereignty of Cooch Behar as a princely State. It is the fit case to honour the Rajbanshis by raising ‘Narayani Regiment’ as assured by then 1^st Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India, Vallabhbhai Patel during merger of Cooch Behar State with India in 1949. Such an arrangement will certainly fulfill an important aspiration of the erstwhile subjects of Cooch Behar State as well as entire Rajbanshi community. Strategically, such a regiment in the Infantry of Indian Army will bolster the moral of Indian Armed Forces as the entire North Bengal falls in the area of so called ‘Chicken’s Neck’ which is narrow strip of average less than hundred kilometers of three different countries i.e. China in the North, Bangladesh in the south/east and Nepal in the west. Rajbanshis are the majority sentinels of this Chicken’s Neck and going to remain the same forever.  

Restoration of Presidentship / Management of Cooch Behar Religious Trust Board (Devuttor Trust) with the Cooch Behar Royal Family: It has become a contentious issue relating to appointment of President of the Cooch Behar Religious Trust (Debutter or DebottorTrust Board) and management of Temple properties of erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar.  As per Merger Agreement, arrangements of transfer of powers / terms and conditions of the agreement were further clarified by the Ministry of States, New Delhi letter dated 30^th August, 1949 sent by then Advisor to the Ministry of States, New Delhi Mr. Vapal Pangunni Menon, on behalf of Union Govt. and Lt. Col. his Highness Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, last King of Cooch Behar State. Central Government, VP Menon addressed to the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. Serial No.(8) of the said letter (Reference File D.O. No.F.15(19)-P/49 dated 30^th August, 1949 mentioned on management of temples and ‘Debuttor’ properties as under: “The management of the temples and Debutter properties in the State may be entrusted to a Trust which shall consist of Your Highness as President, 3 nominees of Your Highness and 2 nominees of Government. This Trust will be in charge of all temples in the State and will also administer the properties of the temples both inside and outside the State. In the event of the abolition of the zamindaris which are Debutter property Government will ensure that the Trust has adequate resources to fulfil its object.” The above clause implied that the Maharaja was undisputed President of the Cooch Behar Religious(Debuttor) Trust and in the event of abolition of zamindari, Central Government would make necessary arrangements and not the State Government of West Bengal.

    Presently, in absence of direct progeny of the king, the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar heads the Trust as President. The Trust has been taken over by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal.  If the sentiment of the people and customs of the Rajbanshis have been regarded, then the presidentship of the Trust Board should be restored to the someone eligible in the ex-royal house of the erstwhile Cooch Behar kingdom.

Demand of separate Statehood /Union Territory / Self Rule for Rajbanshi Group of People: This demand remains in the hearts of all erstwhile subjects of Cooch Behar State and the Rajbanshis in general. Some kind of ‘Self Rule’ arrangement is the need of the hour. Keeping in view of the present-day political scenario, certain political analysts are believed to be contemplating to such an idea to win over the hearts of the Rajbanshis.

Political Rights / Participation of Rajbanshis: Since, the Rajbanshis of North Bengal form the majority rural population and they are politically much aware now, most of the Kamtapuri / Rajbanshi organisations demand their representation in State Assembly so that they can raise their concerns and submit their demands in the appropriate forums democratically. Such a huge population who are majority in rural North Bengal should have a say in the governance in the State of West Bengal and Central Government of India. Central point of Democratic ideals ‘Power to the People’ and equal representation in the corridors of power should be respected.

Conclusion

    As I perceive, beginning from seventies, democratic struggles, protests, ‘dharna’s / rallies by numerous Rajbanshi / Kamtapuri organisations / political parties might not have given them their dues or met their demands but certainly made their majority populace awakened. More so, using these people as ‘Vote Bank’ by political parties has made them jittery today towards all stakeholders of their social and political fate. They do not want to be used as mere Vote Bank but a change, a change for better. If that change becomes a reality, then their future will be brightened, real development for them will take place and that going to a big win for Indian democracy and Indian nationalism as Rajbanshis are the nationalists in true sense.