RISE OF THE KOCH RAJBONGSHI LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP OF SOUTH ASIA |

BISHUWA Festival Guwahati 2017

Koch Rajbongshi Boy & Girls

Dr. Promanada Rajbongshi.
Secretary, AXOM SAHITYA SABHA

Mr. Krishna Mahan Adhikary , Ex. Working President of Koch-Rajbongshi Sahitya Sobha. Date -05-01-2013

Participated in ABU International Dance festival, 2016, New Delhi on 5th September, 2016 and accordingly the Recording of Kushan Nritya,Goalini Nritya and Hudum Nritya Broadcasted on 6th December, 2016 & 2nd January, 2017 at 09:00PM by DD BHARTI & on 8th December, 2016 & 4th January, 2017 at 06:30PM by DD National(DD1)

Voice of a Veteran Koch-Rajbongshi leader,Tukeswar Barman.

The Rajbonshis alis Koch Rajbongshis are spread over throughout the world In one of my book “Koches Around the World’’ I have dealt there elaborately that the Koch people are there in Grece they are in European, Placed in Kaspian, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikimm and undivided India Barma as well it is fact the history will prove because the Koch Rajbongshi People of the present day Assam is the ancient most ethnic group of Indo-Mongoliod people They are the ancient most ethnic group of Indo-Mongoliod people they have grown very close relation with the Kocharian with the Rabhas with the Garose with the Lalungs with Chutiyas and all belong to the same ethnic group of which Koch Rajbongshis is the ancient most history will prove like that. And you will be knowing fully if you read this book one “Koch-Rajbongshi Jatir Itihas aru Sanskriti” The letter written by Maharaja (king) Narayana in the year 1555 in the year 1555 a letter was written by Maharaje King Narayana to Ahom King Chukampha This letter is being now demanded claimed by Bengoli scholars that this is the ancient most folk literature of Bengoli literature on the other hand the assmese scholars also demand that this letter is the ancient most of assamese language So how you tell me it is most embarrassing Assamese as wel Bengoli both the language are demanding that it’s their own ancient most language So it proves that Rajbongshi language is the most it is older than Bengoli , older than Assamse from which Bengoli language as well as Assamese language come up so Let the historians grammarians and the Scholars decide and also decide this problem once for all, because these people are the ancient most their language also ancient most and Grierson the great scholar, linguist had already declared it That the language of this region was named as the Rajbongshi language Grierson was linguist and he had already declared it that the language of this region was named as Rajbongshi language. So Assamese and Bengali both have come up from the Rajbongshi language. The scholars will in future while they conduct their research they will find it out. Noted historian Late Ambika Charon Chaudhury Speaks in the International Seminar Chandrapara Assam, India on 24th Sep 2011

DY365 ADDA at Baldiabathan,Kokrajhar

An Extraordinary Interview of Dr Dipak Kumar Roy on Koch Rajbongshi Folk Culture

Koch Rajbongshi people have some historicall, geographical and sociological perspective. It is very important to investigate them. The Koch Rajbongshi’s of Rangpur have a different socio- cultural association. To know the original identities of Koch Rajbongshi people of Rangpur, one has to enquiry about the Kshatriyon revolt of Panchanan Barma. Likewise there is a region called Tarai in our Darjeeling district of West Bengal. The people residing here have some sections and they have different languages for communication. In this region, three sections can be identified such as Koch, Mech and Tharo. The Tharo people still resides in the Tharobhita region of Hatikisha. On the other hand, the Dhimal’s live at Dhimal Basthi of Hatikisha. The Koch Rajbongshi people residing in that region have a different art and culture. Out of different cultures, ‘Pala Gaan’ is worth mentioning. There is another important song called ‘Panchali’. This ‘Panchali’ song is found to flourish in Nepal also. Again, ‘Notuwa’ is another type of song. This song have two ‘Palas’. One is ‘Virodh Pala’ and the other is ‘Kunjo Pala’. ‘Rajdhari’ is another type of song. This song depicts the story of ‘Lanka Kando’. In Tarai region, ‘Lahangkari’ is one of the famous type of songs. These are actually the songs of sadness and pain. If we move farther from Tarai, we can see variations in this song at Dineshpu and it is called ‘Bandhuwala Gaan’. This song is famous at Sonapur, Islampur, north region of Raiganj. We can find similarity among the ‘Bandhuwala Gaan’, ‘Lahangkari Gaan’, ‘Bhawaiya Gaan’ and songs of Goalpara’s Pratima Pandey Baruah. Meanwhile, we can see that the culture of Koch Rajbongshi people residing at Duwars region which is in the north of Jalpaiguri district. In this region, people sacrifice pigs in their marriage ceremony till today. Infact, they worship ‘Dangdhora Shiva Devta’. ‘Duwars’ region being close to Bhutan, a ‘Dobhashiya’ community is found there among the Koch Rajbongshi people. People belonging to this community worship to ‘Bhoot Thakur’. Some important songs of Duwars are ‘Chorchunni’, ‘Palatia’, ‘Dham gaan’, ‘Keutiya Ravan Gaan’, ‘Kushan gaan’, ‘Ravan Gaan’, ‘Tukkha Gaan’, ‘Tista Buri Mecheni Khela Gaan’ ( This song is popular in Assam also specially at the parts of Nalbari, Tamulpur and Serfanguri. But it is mostly popular at the Tista Paar of Jalpaiguri district.) The culture of Koch Bihar is something different from the rests because of the reign of Kings at that very place. One can see the culture of Arya has intermixed with the original Kich Rajbongshi culture. Specially at Dinhata and Tufanganj , Bengali culture has merged with the Koch Rajbongshi culture. The only place where we can’t see the influence of Bengali culture in our culture is at Mathabhanga, Maithliganj Subdivision. In this place, popularity of ‘Biswahari Gaan’, ‘Tukkha Gaan’, ‘Manshikkha Gaan’, ‘Khepa Gaan’, the performing of various ‘Nadi Pujas’ prove that the Folk culture of Koch Rajbongshi people are still intact in this region. However, we can observe an intermix of culture of Koch Rajbongshi, Bodo and Rabha at Alipurduar district. In the culture of Koch Rajbongshi, having rice on bamboo poles in Bishuwa is common. This rice is known as ‘Shima Bhaat’ at Kokrajhar district of Assam. This ritual is done by the people of Kumargram Duwar of Bengal. One can find many Bhutia Chang at Kumargram Duwar. Almost 50 ‘Mahish Bathans’ are found there. So, the ‘Maishali’ culture is seen among the people of that certain region. This culture is also seen among the people of Duwars and Tista paar. A river called ‘Tussha’ flows by the Kumargram Duwar. Depending on this river, evolution of various cultures are found. Tussha peer is the deity of this Tussha river. This Tussha peer married the daughter of Khaosang Mech of Mechpara of Jalpaiguri district. Irrespective of religion, everyone worships Tussha Peer. The Koch Rajbongshi Kings also established Darbar of Tussha Peer nearby the Rajbari and therefore the influence of Muslim religion can also be seen among the Koch Rajbongshi people. Infact, some Koch Rajbongshi people adopted Muslim religion. Nassho Sheikh people of West Bengal are the examples.

Bridging the gap through Social Media: Koch-Rajbanshis of South-East Asia

Posted on July 28, 2015, by News Desk Anuj Choudhury: Today news and information is no more restricted to radios and TV channels. Social media has brought a new wave of revolution in our traditional society. The mainstream media, mainly occupied by the ruling class, no more play the determining role. It is the social media which has become the handy media for the middle-class today especially among the youth generation. Digital tools like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and YouTube are defining social movements by giving rise to a new generation of activism today. This we have already witnessed in successful movements across the globe from Occupy Wall Street to the Arab Spring which took off due to social media mobilizations. Similarly, the movement of the indigenous Koch-Rajbanshis in India and Nepal can be seen entering a new phase of digital mobilization. The first social media mobilization of Koch-Rajbanshis was seen in Orkut page named ‘Koch-Rajbongshi Community’ which was created on 16^th September 2006. Koch-Rajbanshis of Assam, Meghalaya, and Nepal were part of this community page. Through this community page, the first-ever get-together cum meeting was held in VIP Colony in Bongaigaon district of Assam on 9^th November 2009. Koch-Rajbanshi youths from Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Barpeta districts of Assam attended the gathering. After Orkut, Facebook took the lead and today we see a number of pages and groups related to the Koch-Rajbanshis and digital mobilization of the community continues through these pages. In fact, there are Koch-Rajbanshi organizations like the Koch-Rajbanshi Students Forum, etc which first mobilized students through the internet before officially forming in the ground. Mobilization through social media has been so influential among the community that the Kamatapur Movement in West Bengal- Assam, India and Kochila Movement in Nepal, both demanding greater autonomy for the Koch-Rajbanshis are taking inspiration from each other’s movement. Thus, the political border has become blurred for the community staying across the boarder. All credits to the social media! At the same time has been a high level of cultural exchange among the Koch Rajbonghsis of both courtiers which are actually contributing in the Indo-Nepal relationship. There, are also online news websites like kamatapur.com and publication of newspapers like Kamatapur Bulletin by Kamatapur Association which keep the public updated with recent newsfeeds. Also, there are several blogs relating to the community like Rajbanshipride.blogspot.com,mahabirchilarai.com,kochrajbongshi.weebly.com, voiceofrajbanshi.blogspot.in, etc. Organizations like Centre for Koch-Rajbanshi Studies and Development (CKRSD) and Koch-Rajbongshi Cultural Society (KRCS) have also come up with their own websites- kochrajbanshicentre.org and kochrajbongshiculturalsociety.com respectively. All these attract thousands of viewers every day. (The writer is Associate Editor at Kamatapur.com)

“Shibendra Narayan Koch” pride of Koch Rajbongshis. he was a historian, an Author, as well as a researchers person. He wrote the book “Koch Jatir Atit Sandhanat Ati Khoj” which is a researcher book, by this book Koch Rajbongshis got new ways and a new path. this great man took birth in the year of 1937, 21 may, in undivided district of Goalpara, village Godhuli bari. He passed matriculation in 1955 from Dhubri govt. high school, and passed I.A. from Goalpara collage in 1958 and in the year of 1964 he passed B.A. from the same college. and U.D.A. in S.E.B.A. and passed L.L.B. FROM 1957 TO 1958 he joined as secretary to all Assam Rajbongshi Satra Sanmilani, later he joined many organization to uplift society. he also became M.L.A. Meghalaya Koch Association gave him the Hounour and title of “KOCH RATNA”. This great man diet on 11 July 2015.

Felicitation to Newly appointed Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Mr. Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, IAS, Retd., Ex-Chief Secretary, Assam.

Guwahati, 28th May 2015. The Koch-Rajbongshi Cultural society (KRCS), on behalf of Koch Rajbongshis of Assam, West Bengal, Meghalaya even Bangladesh and Nepal feel extremely proud to have the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, IAS (Retd.) on his appointment to the Excellency,Governor of Arunachal Pradesh for being one of the luckiest and competent personality among the crores of Koch Rajbanshis living in India and abroad. Mr.Rajkhowa is the genius among the Koch Rajbanshis who has been for the first time elevated to the Excellency as Governor of India. The felicitation ceremony held in the residence of Mr. Rajkhowa at Narikol Basti, Guwahati on 28th May 2015 at 10:30 AM. The designated persons of KRCS of Assam and West Bengal Felicitated with MANPATRA, Traditional GAMSA and a packet of Valuable History Books. All together gave the heartiest congratulation and warm wishes to Mr. Rajkhowa the follower of Generalissimo Chilarai. Hope Mr. Rajkhowa will once again prove himself as the ”Hero” through his honest and sincere work culture re-establishing the glory of Koch Rajbongshi community in Modern India.

Our heartfelt condolence to untimely demise of Jaganath Roy & Prayers for his departed soul rest in peace in heaven and may God provide strength to all the family members. Jaganath Roy was a fabulous Dotora Badok & Folk Singer of Koch Rajbongshi Community. we lost a true folk artist ...

Our heartfelt Condolence to the untimely demise of Jaganath Roy & Prayers for his departed soul rest in peace in heaven and may God provide strength to all the family members. Jaganath Roy was a fabulous Dotora Badok & Folk Singer of Koch Rajbongshi Community. we lost a true folk artist.

Baas puja is celebrated basically in Assam and North Bengal by the Koch-Rajbongshi people in the month of Baishag(April-May) and Aghon(Nov-Dec) intending good health, fortune and welfare of the villagers. Baas puja, songs, and dances are performed in a slightly different manner in a different region. The different perspectives of Baas puja are Madankam and Kamdeva, Chatali etc. Actually, these are the same performances of a different mode. In a Baas puja basically, Madankam (Lord Siva) is worshipped. To perform the puja, bamboos of different length (8 to 10 feet) are collected and a “Choar” is tied to the top of each bamboo. The puja conducted by Deuri. In Chatali Baas, a troupe of young men moves door to door and collects alms presenting songs and dances. On the other hand, the troupes are compulsory to attend in the “Thalabari” where the songs of are more often erotic in theme. In some places, Baas Puja is also celebrated in the form of Shakti Puja or Kali Puja.”

Koch-Rajbongshi Traditional Costume: “Patani”/ “Phota” is the traditional dress of a Koch-Rajbongshi woman. It is produced in handloom at home in different colors. According to Dr. Dipak Kumar Roy there are fifteen types of patani and they are Saishyaphuli, Ghuni, Dhala, Dhalakala, Bulukdhala, Maldoi, Toroiphuli, Chikonpair, Doraduri, Saada, Ghugupari, Chotapari, Suryapuri, Chotari, and Guthaotha. This form of dress is antique and it is claimed that the reference of Patani is also available in the ancient book “Manashakabya” by Mankar in the anecdote of Behula and Lakshindar. According to Dr. C.C. Sanyal-“A Rajbansi woman is happy with Phota(Patani). This is a colored cloth of Five cubits long and 2.5 cubits wide. This she ties just above the breast and it hangs down up to the knees. The two ends of the Phota are not sewn together. It is an open cloth. Within the last 10 years, Phota is going out of the market.” Angcha is the traditional dress of Koch-Rajbongshi gentleman. It is produced in handloom at home in different colors with 6 feet of length and 3 feet wide. Gamcha is a rectangular piece of cotton cloth produced in handloom especially yellow in color. It has a great significance among the Koch-Rajbongshis which is traditionally regarded as a matter of practice and dignity and used as a towel. Pachara is a type of shawl used by both man and woman folk of Koch-Rajbongshis preparing it in handloom especially with cotton or Eri silk yarn. Besides these, some other traditional attires of Koch-Rajbongshis are- Dagla, Parna, Khetar-parna, Kheta, Kabwos-Kapur, Andee-pachara Urna, Jol-gamcha etc.Ornaments of Koch-Rajbongshi women:The Koch-Rajbongshi women of Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Nepal and Meghalaya do wear some extraordinary ornaments of different designs in different parts of the body such as-ear, nose, neck, wrist, waist, arm, ankle, finger,toe etc. along with their traditional attires in order to get better the personality and attractiveness. These ornaments are basically made of gold, silver, copper, Brass, shell etc. These are as follows.

Ornaments of wrists & arms (Bracelet): Bala, Kharu, Bauti,Kangkon,Gajora, Sompanji, Baju, Baas Patari etc.Ornaments of neck (Necklace) : Suryahar, Siklihar, Chandrahar, Machihar, Kathimalahar, Sikahar,Takachara,Madhumala,Kuchiyamarhar, Hashuli, Kathikalamala,powalmala,gotmala,Monihar,Chick,Gajmatihar, Kawasmala,Dulalimala, eshahar etc.Ornaments of nose:Phul, Nelok, Notho, Solia Notho, Bali, Phurkuri, Nataya, Naakdhosa etc. Ornaments of ears: Onti, Makri, Machipat, Guji, Chaki, Kaanbali,Shatkori, Faasti,Khirol,Paasha, Chokia etc.Ornaments of waist: Got, bat etc. Ornaments of ankles(Anklet): Theng kharu, Baagh kharu, Paar kharu, Char kharu, Mol, Powpata. Ornaments of fingers & toes: Aangti, Paiso, Pajor, Panja etc.