History

Section 1: Introduction

The Rajbanshi Community: A Diverse Ethnic Group with Historical Roots

The Rajbanshi, also known as Rajbongshi and Koch-Rajbongshi, constitute a significant ethnic group residing in various regions, including Lower Assam, North Bengal, eastern Bihar, the Terai region of eastern Nepal, Rangpur division of North Bangladesh, and Bhutan. With a rich history and cultural heritage, they have historical ties with the Koch dynasty, but they have distinct identities from the ethnic Koch community in Meghalaya and the Hindu caste known as Koch in Upper Assam. The term "Rajbanshi" is derived from their claimed association with the Koch dynasty's royal lineage.

Section 2: Evolution of Identity

2.1 From Kamarupa to Rajbanshi: Tracing Ancient Origins

During ancient times, the Rajbanshi people inhabited a region called Kamarupa, where they likely spoke Tibeto-Burman languages. However, historical records such as Persian records, Ahom Buranjis, and the 18th-century Darrang Raja Vamsavali (genealogical records of the Koch Bihar royal family) do not mention the term "Rajbanshi," although they do acknowledge the Koch as a distinct social group. As time progressed, the Koch society came under increasing influence from Brahminical traditions, and by the end of the 18th century, a significant part of the Koch community embraced these practices.

2.2 Bhanga Kshatriya Movement: A Quest for Social Status

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, certain Koch individuals residing in present-day North Bengal and Western Assam launched social movements to elevate their social status and distance themselves from their ethnic identity. To achieve this, they began identifying as "Rajbanshi" (of the royal lineage). This movement was a response to the ill-treatment and humiliation faced by the community from upper caste Hindus, who derogatorily referred to the Koch as "mleccha" or barbarians. However, their attempts to establish themselves as a provincial variety of the Kshatriya caste through various narratives and references from Hindu religious texts met limited success.

2.3 Rajbanshi Kshatriya: Gaining Recognition and Changing Traditions

In 1910, the Rajbanshi community, previously referred to as members of the same caste as the Koches, adopted a new identity as "Rajbanshi Kshatriya" under the leadership of Panchanan Barma. This time, their efforts were successful, and they were officially recognized as Kshatriyas after gaining approval from various Brahmin pandits in Mithila, Rangpur, Kamrup, and Koch Bihar. The district magistrate permitted them to use surnames like Roy, Ray, Barman, Sinha, Adhikary, etc., replacing their older traditional surnames such as Sarkar, Ghosh, Das, or Mandal. The Kshatriya status was also documented in the final report of the 1911 census.

Section 3: Cultural Transformation

3.1 Embracing Sanskritisation: A Shift towards Aryan Customs

As a part of their identity transformation, many Rajbanshi individuals underwent ritual baths in the Karatoya river and adopted practices of the twice-born (Dvija), such as wearing the sacred thread (Upanayana), adopting gotra names, and shortening the period of "asauch" from 30 days to 12. They also gave up practices that were forbidden in Hinduism, such as drinking liquor (Teetotalism) and rearing pigs. This emphasis on asserting Aryan origins and emulating customs and rituals of higher castes aimed to attain higher social status.

3.2 Census Identities: A Reflection of Changing Social Status

Between 1872 and 1911, the Rajbanshi people underwent three distinct social identities in the census: from Koch to Rajbanshi (1872), Rajbanshi to Bhanga Kshatriya (1891), and Bhanga Kshatriya to Rajbanshi Kshatriya (1911). These changing identities illustrate their efforts to establish a more respected and elevated social status within Hindu society.

3.3 Linguistic Evolution: From Tibeto-Burman to Indo-Aryan Languages

Over time, the Rajbanshi people predominantly adopted various Indo-Aryan languages as their primary means of communication. This shift from their possible Tibeto-Burman linguistic roots to Indo-Aryan languages was influenced by historical developments and cultural interactions.

Section 4: Present and Future

4.1 Koch-Rajbongshi Community Today: Distribution and Diversity

Today, the Koch-Rajbongshi community can be found throughout North Bengal, particularly in the Dooars, as well as parts of Lower Assam, northern Bangladesh (Rangpur Division), the Terai of eastern Nepal and Bihar, and Bhutan. However, some writers propose that the Rajbanshi people may comprise different ethnic groups that underwent Sankritisation, leading them to abandon their original Tibeto-Burman languages in favor of Indo-Aryan languages.

4.2 Ethnolinguistic Identity: Advocating for Recognition Beyond Caste

In the post-independence period, various Rajbanshi organizations emerged, advocating for the recognition of Rajbanshi identity as being ethnolinguistic rather than just a caste identity. The community's demand for distinct recognition beyond their Kshatriya status has been gaining momentum, seeking acknowledgment of their unique culture and heritage.

4.3 Linguistic Recognition: The Struggle for Distinctive Language Status

In Assam, the Rajbanshis were classified under a special category of Other Backward Classes (OBC) called MOBC. In North Bengal, awareness of their linguistic identity grew when the government decided to reorganize states based on linguistic basis in 1953. Many Rajbanshi organizations demanded the merger of Purnia division of Bihar and Goalpara district of Assam into West Bengal, as these regions were predominantly populated by Rajbanshi speakers. Throughout the 1960s, Rajbanshi activists continued to advocate for their language to be recognized as distinct from Bengali and to be preserved and promoted.