Bodo people

The Bodos (pronounced BO-ros) are an ethnic and linguistic community, early settlers of Assam in the North-East of India. According to the 1991 census, there were 1.2 million Bodos in Assam which makes for 5.3% of the total population in the state. [HUNDRED-SECOND REPORT ON THE SIXTH SCHEDULE TO THE CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2003 [http://rajyasabha.nic.in/book2/reports/home_aff/102ndreport.htm] ] Bodos belong to a larger group of ethnicity called the Bodo-Kachari. The Bodos are recognized as a plains tribe in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Udalguri and Kokrajhar town are considered the nerve center of the Bodos.

The Bodo-Kachari

"See main article: Bodo-Kachari"

The Bodos represents one of the largest of the 18 ethnic sub-groups within the Bodo-Kacharis group, first classified in the 19th century. [Endle 1911] Bodos have settled in most areas of North-East India, and parts of Nepal. Among the 18 groups mentioned by Endle, the Mech in Western Assam, the Bodo in central Assam, the Dimasa and Hojai to the north of Cachar Hills, and the Sonowal and Thengal in the eastern part of the Brahmaputra river are closely related. The others have been either Hinduized (e.g. Koch, Sarania), or have developed separate identities (e.g. Garo).

The Bodo people

The Bodos represents one of the largest ethnic and linguistic groups of the Brahmaputra valley. Typical Bodo last names (surname) are Bargayary, Basumatary, Bodosa, Boro, Brahma, Bwiswmuthiary, Dwimary, Goyary, Ishlary, Ishwary, Khaklary, Mushahary, Narzary,Narzihary,Narzinary, Owary, Sargwary, Sibigry and Wary. The 1971 census report indicated Bodos being the 8th largest scheduled-tribe (ST) group in India. Close to 1 million people speak Bodo language.

The Bodo language is derived from Tibeto-Burmese family of languages. Although, Roman script and Assamese script were used in the past. Recently, Bodos adopted the Devanagari script. According to some scholars, the Bodo language had a script of its own called Deodhai.Fact|date=February 2007

Very early on, Bodos may have introduced rice cultivation, tea plantation, pig and poultry farming, and silkworm rearing in the North East India. The traditional favourite drink of the Bodos is "Zu Mai" ("Zu":wine, "Mai":rice). Rice is a staple of the Bodos and is often accompanied by a non vegetarian dish such as fish or pork. Traditionally Bodos are non-vegetarians.

Weaving is another integral part of Bodo culture. Many families rear their own silkworms, the cocoons of which are then spun into silk. Bodo girls learn to weave from a young age, and no Bodo courtyard is complete without a loom. Most women weave their own "Dokhnas" (the traditional dress of the Bodo women) and shawls. The Bodos are also expert craftsmen in bamboo products.

Religion

In the past, Bodos worshipped their forefathers. In recent years, Bodos practice Bathouism, HinduismFact|date=September 2008.

Bathouism is a form worshipping forefathers called Obonglaoree. The "siju" plant (belonging to the Euphorbia genus), is taken as the symbol of Bathou and worshiped.

In the Bodo Language "Ba" means "five" and "thou" means "deep". Five is a significant number in the Bathou religion.

A clean surface near home or courtyard could be an ideal for worship. Usually, one pair of Betelnut called 'goi' and betel leaf called 'pathwi' could be used as offering. On some occasion, worship offering could include rice, milk, and sugar. For the Kherai Puja, the most important festival of the Bodos, the altar is placed in the rice field. Other important festivals of the Bodos include "Garja", "Hapsa Hatarnai", "Awnkham Gwrlwi Janai", "Bwisagu" and "Domashi".

Despite the advance of Hinduism amongst the Bodos, mainstream Indian practices such as caste and dowry are not practiced by the majority of Bodo Hindus who follow a set of rules called Brahma Dharma.

The Bodos now

The Bodos struggled for self-determination in late 80's under the leadership of Upendra Nath Brahma, who is now regarded as the father of the Bodos (Bodo-Fa). After a protracted struggle to save tribal belts and block, Bodo culture, language and identity, the Bodos have been granted the Bodoland Territorial Council, an autonomous administrative body that will have within its jurisdiction the present district of Kokrajhar and adjoining areas. The movement for autonomy was headed by the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and an armed militant group called Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), formed recently, to accept the bodo accord, during the time of Hiteswar Saikia, the then chief minister of Assam. The BSF, Boro Security Force, an underground organisation of the bodos, now known as NDFB, National Democratic Front of bodoland, is still involved in insurgency. Following the establishment of the BTC, the BLT have come overground.

In 2006 Assam Assembly elections, the former Bodo Liberation Tigers(BLT) members under Hagrama Mohilary formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and came to power in Dispur. Educational and job opportunity remain biggest problem for Bodos.

Clashes with Bangla(a language of West Bengal in India)-speaking Muslims

Bodos have a long history of clashes with non-Bodo people leaving in Bodo-majority districts. Bodos have targeted Biharis, Marwaris and Bengalis particularity in the past. In October 2008 Clashes occurred in 2 Assam districts which broke out between Bodo tribals and Bengali-speaking Muslims, 47 dead, hundreds flee [ [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/clashes-in-2-assam-districts-30-dead-hundreds-flee/369665/] ] , Assam government spokesman and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said,"The violence in the three districts of Darrang, Udalguri and Baksa was not due to clashes between the tribal Bodos and immigrant Muslims, but a planned ethnic cleansing by the NDFB to drive out all non-Bodos from the area," [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Bodo_rebels_involved_in_ethnic_cleansing_Assam_govt/articleshow/3564818.cms] ] . Assuring Bengali-speaking and peace loving people of Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the affected were genuine Indian citizens and his government would ensure that their rights were protected. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/One_month_ration_assured_for_Assam_riot_victims/articleshow/3575034.cms>

ee also

*Assam
*Bodoland
*Bodo Sahitya Sabha
*Bodo language
*Bodo culture

Notes

References

* Endle, Sidney (1911) "The Kachari", London
* Pulloppillil, Thomas and Aluckal, Jacob (1997) "The Bodos: Children of the Bhullumbutter",
* Mushahary, Moniram (1981) "Bodo-English Dictionary",

External links

* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/One_month_ration_assured_for_Assam_riot_victims/articleshow/3575034.cms]
* [http://www.bodoland.org/index.htm Bodoland.org]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ndfb2001/index.html National Democratic Front of Boroland]
* [http://www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/assessment.asp?groupId=75016 Assessment for Bodos in India]