RAJBANSHI PRIDE

                Where do Rajbanshi People stand today socially? The Rajbanshis are in a great dilemma over their socio-political stand. During pre-independence days, they chose to fight for freedom regardless of their political affiliation. Indian National Congress party was the major party most of them chose to join. Bengali freedom fighters inspired them the most. Feeling of alienation was absent among these people like any other people of north east. Aim was very clear and it was attaining freedom. Rajbanshis felt like the one of any other Bengali. The educated lot had already identified them as mainstream Bengali. But they were destined to remain a separate community soon after the nation’s attaining freedom. Still, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy endeavoured to make the Rajbanshis a part of mainstream Bengali. Due to his efforts, they sided with Dr. Roy and became a part of Bengal. Might be that there was no other choice also. Slowly but surely...

CELEBRATE 503 RD VISHWAVEER CHILARAI DIVAS 0N 25th FEBRUARY 2013(13 FALGUN 1419) It is ironic that Chilaray, the great military commander who’s military strategy and tactics made it possible to unite whole of northeast with mainland India during the famous ten year Cooch Bihar king’s unification campaign between 1562 and 1572 A.D. is being forgotten and erased from the pages of history. Reasons for ignoring the great historical figure is obvious - political reasons and downplaying the once glorious Rajbanshi history. One of the greatest military commanders in the annals of history who was compared with Napoleon Bonaparte for his heroics, is not being given his due position in India. This is really sad part of today's politics. He was Rajbanshi no doubt but his contribution was no less than any other Indian leaders in the history. He deserves highly respectful place in history books of not only in West Bengal and Assam but in the history books of neighbouring States -...

KNOW ABOUT RAJBANSHI KSHATRIYAS IN EASTERN/NORTH-EASTERN INDIA Hindu Rajbanshi community is the only ‘Kshatriya Varna’ people in West Bengal, Assam and in the entire Northeast India. These Rajbanshi speaking people numbering more than two crore, ordinarily reside in strategically located areas of whole of North Bengal (barring its hilly terrains), lower Assam, western part of Meghalaya, Purnia and Kishanganj districts of eastern Bihar, two districts of eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh and their adjoining regions from the earliest times of India’s existence. They have a glorious history (latest being the Koch Empire that flourished during sixteenth century and ruled Cooch Behar till 1949) but for socio-economic, linguistic and political reasons they are now on the brink of losing their identity, losing their homeland and leading a life of neglect.      Due to political dominance of the culturally rich mainstream Bengalis of West Bengal and Assamese in Assam, Gor...

                      COOCH BEHAR ISSUES – THE UNFINISHED AGENDA Demand for separate statehood for Greater Cooch Behar or Kamatapur for Rajbanshi speaking people is an old issue. During pre-independence days, furor was created in Bengal's literary circle when eminent Rajbanshi Kshatriya leader Thakur Panchanan Burma talked in favour of Rajbanshi or Kamtapuri language in third general meeting of 'Uttar Banga Sahitya Parishad' held at Rangpur (now Bangladesh), which was the beginning of a feeling like a nationalism for the Rajbanshis but it was not the separate statehood. However, the issue was raised during pre-independence days. During pre-independence days 'Hita Sadhini Sabha', an organisation that included local Muslim leaders also fought against separate state for the erstwhile Cooch Behar kingdom. According to Sujata D. Hazarika (‘Unrest and Displacement: Rajbanshis in North Bengal’-South Asia Forum for Human Rights) - Joge...