CHAPTER:j HISTORY OF BARAK VALLEY

CHAPTER:j HISTORY OF BARAK VALLEY

HISTORY OF BARAK VALLEY Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of South Assam, constitute the plains of Barak Valley with an area 7000 sq. km. with a population = 30 lakh. Hailakandi is situated in the middle of Barak valley and was a part of Cachar district for a long time. Prior to its emergence as district it was one of the oldest sub-division of the state which was constituted as civil district on 1 ' June' 1869. Till 30^*^ September' 1989 it was a civil subdivision of erst while Cachar district and on 1^* October' 1989 it emerged as civil district with the same territorial jurisdiction of the earlier Sub-division vide Government of Assam's Notification No. AAA. 98/89/Pt/1. dated 29-09-89. karimganj was the part of Srihatta district upto 1947. During partition of India, Karimganj was included in Cachar district of Assam and the rest of the Srihatta was included into East Pakistan now Bangladesh. In 1984 Karimganj was declared as civil district. From geographical angle, undivided Cachar, Srihatta & Dharmanagar and Kailaswar of Tripura form the part Barak Valley. In 1878, British Govt, has transferred Cachar and Srihatta district from Bangha to Assam and the plains of these two districts were called Surma Valley. After independence, Silchar, Hailakandi, Karimganj and Haflong (North Cachar Hills) these four subdivisions formed the Cachar District. In 1953, Haflong was excluded from Cachar district and included into Mikir (Karbi Anglong) hills. At that time, plain parts of the Surma Valley which were in India, were known as Cachar district. The cultural background of the plains people of Barak Valley more or less is similar and is related to the neighbouring areas of Bangladesh. According to the 1961 census total population of Cachar district was 13,78,476. Total population inhabited in the town area were 96813. Total rs were 12,81,663 and total scheduled caste community were 1,92,805. Total population of the garden community were 50,000. Total population inhabited in forest areas were 22,500. According to the 1971 census 80% people were Bengali in Cachar district (Present Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi district). During this time, out of total population of 17,43,400 of Cachar about 14

13,32,200 were Bengali, 68,400 Manipuri (Meitei), 33,000 (Bishnupriya), 6,800 Assemejje, 9,200 Kachari, and 1,93,200 were Hindi speaking people. During this period, some people have been living on the Hilly and tilla's areas, probably they are from Austic - Mongoloid groups and later on number of people came from near by hill areas and other states to settle in Barak Valley. The Assamese people came from Brahmaputra Valley, especially for jobs and employment. A section who were from Brahmaputra Valley of Koch family were cafled Dehan and permanently settled in Barak Valley. Some people of Brahmaputra valley migrated during the time of Mayamariya war (C.1820) are the Assamese population in Cachar. In C.I820, the capital of Herambadesha has been transferred from Mybong to Khashpur during the reign of Maharaja Laxmichandra Narayan and Maharaja Harish Chandra Narayan for administration purpose,they settled in plain areas of Barak Valley. Maharaj Govinda Chandra Narayan the last king of Herambha Desh was assassinatd in 1830 and British annexed Cachar in 1832 A.D. In 1837, British ruler G.G. Burns, wrote that plains of Cachar (Cachar & Hailakandi) had 50,000 people and majority of them were Bengali (Hindu & Muslim) and less number of Kachari - Dimacha., Kuki and were also settled people of the region from the beginning. In 1818, Brahmadesh (Myanmar) invaded Manipur and a numbers of Manipuri people entered Tripura, Cachar & Srihatta. After the treaty of Yandabu which concluded Anglo-Burmese war majority of them went back to Manipur but many of them permanently settled in Barak valley. F-rom Mizo hills & hills some & Kuki people have also entered to the plain areas of Cachar district. British Government gave them settlement in border areas of the district. In 1851, census on population of plain Cachar areas revealed 85,522 people, out of which 60,281 Bengali, 10,723 Manipuri, 276 Assamese (Probably Dehan & Koch); 62 European, 6,320 (Kuki); 5645 and 2215 were Dimasa. In 1855 sudden change in population of plain areas of Cachar district took place because of the Tea garden community,which was brought by Britishers from U.P., Bihar, Orissa and Andra Pradesh. 15

In 2001, census on population of Barak Valley - the district Cachar contains 14, 42,141, Karimganj -10, 091, 97, and Hailakandi- 5, 42, 978. In the present study almost all the tribes (except ) were found to have migrated to present Cachar district for jhum cultivation or because of the inter- tribal conflicts. At present in Cachar district a number of tribes like, Kuki,, Mizo,,, Vaiphei, etc. are the settled population of the district. (Table : 5-6.) 16

Tabfe - 5 : POPULATION OF SCHEDULED TRIBES IN BARAK VALLEY Name of s No. of s No. of Houses Population H'MAR 123 6,336 44,353 HRANGKHOL ( sub tribe) 39 1,482 10,375 CHIRU ( sub tribe) 04 320 2,244 CHAWRAI ( sub tribe) 22 769 5,887 KHASIA 146 4,342 30,389 NAGA 41 2,075 14,547 RIANG 65 2,157 15,102 KUKI 26 1,082 7,576 MIZO 24 801 5,601 CHAKMA 15 385 2,693 VAIPHEI 20 735 5,139 KARBI 08 414 2,941 PAITE 09 405 2,411 SIMTE 07 54 378 GANGTE 06 53 375 Grand Total 555 21,410 1,50,011

Table - 6 : Tribal s of ( Hill & Plain ) Cachar District. Hmarkhawlien Jabia & Lothazawi Sonabari Jurkhal Uppr Thenzo Jorkha Chekarcham & Tuitha Saron Ningpu TIangmawi Hebron Arda Khawthlir Chikhur Bombaithol Muoldam Huonveng Uttar Lalpani thol Thingkap Kuokluong Pana Punji Tuikuol Saihmar Inbuon Lailonhaora Khazawl Hmartlangmawi Cha-ndikhal Diglang Digger Dolakhal Compound Kamrangphailien Kapakhal Mentathol Hmarkhawmawi Mirpur Faihriem Punji Jiriphai Bagkhal Bagbahar, Pt-I Bijungsuo Chikhur Borosalganga New Tuoipui Saisel Bombaizo Hrang khal Longkawa Lalpani Haokip Chaltathol Joypur Muolkawi Biete Aibung Diphuchera Lalpani Haokip Hmarrammawi Kumba Digli Harinagar Lower Thenzo Diglangmukh Kumacherra dun Ramthalai Ataicherra Contd.

Boroidisa Vapuol Vawmkhuoituk Muolhawizawl Khuongsai Khawhmunlien Tupidhor Khanthuom Sunacherra Wahata Lokhicharra Larang Monkhal Hatikhal Mashkhal, Pt.-I khal Bongkokhal Jabia Madhura Kochukh Metnathol Judhoram Thanzampunji Muoldam Dulukram Bandorkhal Neithang Punji Tuisiet Oldtuolpui Ngente Muoltluong Bubon Rawpuizal Harinagar Lowr-jiri Kayng Borodamciierra Robipur Manbahadur Burakhal Kalakhal Nunacherra Bandarkhal Santokuna Bubanhiil Bubankhal Jatingha Chukha Mathurpur (Rijap) Bibha Lakhicherra Budon Chiru Chiru Baigazin Baigazin Chhotokhmpi Atukhal Dolukram Chhtoamcherra Subongcherra Panighat Jogia Ukhopinji Kumbhigram Jirimukh Hatmapara Timba Daecherra Burbul Mathurampur Mankhal, Pt.-ll K. Bethel Bhubanpahar Babulkhal Adhurampinji Mogu (Daktorvadung) Krishnapur Lailongsorra Hebron Karbi s Contd.

Arnpunji Krishnapur pur Robipinji Ranjendrapinji Tanmaipinji Binakhandi-I Khaiengzam Mainathoal North Hnachangzawl Dolsora Luipui Borai Hillghat Subong Dibong Damcherra Kumacherra Tuisen Madhura Balukhal Ramgaizang Ranigaidinliu Lakhipurnaga Tarapur Binnakandi, Pt.-ll Alipur Aiengphai New Joar Lalzar dum Dolakhal Mashkhail, Pt.-ll Cachar Phaipui Pulai basti Udharbond Dwarban Telpara Kaguilong Napguanglong Masimpur Atkorkhal Gamaitilla Indgiranagar Guwabari Bora Joar New Bakbahar Chielei Luipi Alabari Longkhor, Pt.-ll Ramchandi Atira Thangkem Tungbung Borakhal Luongpi Sonai Pengphai Mog Hmunte Airam Kuki s Contd.

Nunkhal Santamoni Ashiram Ramsorai Rajendra Robipunji Atukhal, Bakbahar-ll Uspento Pt.-ll Old Bakbahar Reserved Punji Namdailong Lalpani Khuonglai Bagbahar Haloung dum Namdailong Saihapui Fulertal New Nahathol Kalabil Bakbahar-ll PLAIN TRIBES villaqe villaqe villaqe Kukicherra Joynagar Karkot Bhaicherra Amaranagar Raja Bazar Pisakhal Salganga Khaspur