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Undid revision 948595647 by Chaipau (talk) Dimasa are just small section of Kachari. Large section of Boros migrated from Cachar to Plain.
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== Folk tradition and mythology ==
== Folk tradition and mythology ==
The history of the Boro people can be explained from folk traditions. According to Padma Bhushan winner Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, mythologically, Boros are "the offspring of son of the Vishnu and Mother-Earth" who were termed "Kiratas" during the Epic period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iitg.ac.in/rcilts/bodo.html|title=RCILTS, Phase-II|last=|first=|date=|website=iitg.ac.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430200542/http://www.iitg.ac.in/rcilts/bodo.html|archive-date=30 April 2019|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> Boros called themselves ''Barafisa'', which means ''Children of the Bara.''<ref>{{Harvcol|Soppitt|1885|p=12}}</ref> ''Basumatary'', the largest sub-tribe of Boro means ''Sons of the Soil.''<ref>{{harvcol|Sen|1999|p=44}}</ref> A section of Boros called themselves ''Ramsa'', which means ''Children of Ram''.<ref>{{Harvcol|Dodiya|2001|p=139}}</ref> Kacharis from [[Darrang district|Darrang]] called themselves ''Bhim-ni-Fsa'', which means children of [[Bhima]], the mythological character from the epic [[Mahabharata]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Endle|1911|p=7,126}}</ref>
The history of the Boro people can be explained from folk traditions. According to Padma Bhushan winner Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, mythologically, Boros are "the offspring of son of the Vishnu and Mother-Earth" who were termed "Kiratas" during the Epic period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iitg.ac.in/rcilts/bodo.html|title=RCILTS, Phase-II|last=|first=|date=|website=iitg.ac.in|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430200542/http://www.iitg.ac.in/rcilts/bodo.html|archive-date=30 April 2019|access-date=30 April 2019}}</ref> Boros called themselves ''Barafisa'', which means ''Children of the Bara.''<ref>{{Harvcol|Soppitt|1885|p=12}}</ref> ''Basumatary'', the largest sub-tribe of Boro means ''Sons of the Soil.''<ref>{{harvcol|Sen|1999|p=44}}</ref> A section of Boros called themselves ''Ramsa'', which means ''Children of Ram''.<ref>{{Harvcol|Dodiya|2001|p=139}}</ref>


== History==
== History==

Revision as of 02:31, 2 April 2020

Boro
Boro, Kachari
Boro Kherai Dance
Total population
c. 1.35 million[1]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Boro language, Assamese language
Religion
Bathouism • Hinduism • Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Kachari people
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The Boro (बर'; also Bodo[5]; both pronounced [boːɽoː]) is the largest ethnolinguistic group in the Assam state of India. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari family of ethnolinguistic groups and are spread across northeastern India. They are politically active and concentrated mainly in the Bodoland autonomous region of Assam, though Boros inhabit all other districts of Assam.[6]

Boros speak Boro language, a Tibeto-Burman language recognized as one of twenty-two scheduled languages in the Indian Constitution.[7] and over two-third of the people are bilingual, speaking Assamese as second language.[8] The Bodo-Kachari, to which the Boro people belong, are thought to have entered Assam sometime after Austroasiatic language speakers from Southeast Asia had settled the regions.[9] The Bodo-Kachari were also some of the first people to rear silkworms and produce silk material and were considered to be advanced in rice cultivation in Assam during this time period.[10][11]

The Boro people are recognized as a plains tribe in the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Boro people are concentrated within the following districts of Assam: Udalguri, Chirang, Baksa, Bajali, Sonitpur, Goalpara, Gohpur, Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Kamrup, Barpeta, Nagaon, Tezpur, Lakhimpur and Kokrajhar.

Etymology of Boro

The Boro were known as Kacharis and Mech to strangers, but identified themselves as Boro. Thus Boro became the proper designation for these people.[12][13] Dalton observes that Boro means "great people" based on the Boro saying, "Boro hari, geder hari", meaning Boro people, great people. In the Kokborok language, Borok means man ('K' being a suffix for every noun), so logically Boro would mean man even in the Boro language.[14] Brahma opines that Boro might have originated from the Tibetan word Hbrog or Hbrogok, meaning Man. Generally, the word Boro means a man, in the wider sense Boro means a human being (but not specific to a female member of the family) in the languages used by Bodo-Kachari peoples.[15]

Language

Main article: Bodo language

The Boro language is a member of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It belongs to the Boro-Garo group of the Assam-Burmese branch of the Sino-Tibetan family.

Religion

Main article: Bathouism
Religion among Bodos[16]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 89.49%
Christianity
 
 10.05%
Others
 
 0.46%

Boros were polytheist. They worshiped dozens of Hindu deities like Siva, Durga, Kali, Ram and Krishna along with tribal deities like Bathou or Shijou, Mainao, Mairong and Agrang.[17] In 1971, about 95% of Boros were Hindus and 5% were Christians.[18]

Traditionally, Boros practiced Bathouism, which is the worshiping of forefathers, known as Obonglaoree. The shijou tree (in the genus Euphorbia) is taken as the symbol of Bathou and worshiped. It is also claimed as the supreme god. In the Boro language, Ba means five and thou means deep. Since Boros believe in the five mighty elements of God – land, water, air, fire, and ether – the number five has become significant in the Bathou religion.

The Shijou tree is encircled by eighteen pairs of ornamental bamboo sticks and five pairs of rings of bamboo. In front of Shijou, within the bamboo ring, there is a "dove heart".[clarification needed][19]

According to Bathouism, before the creation of the universe there was simply a great void, in which the supreme being 'Aham Guru', Anan Binan Gosai or Obonglaoree existed formlessly. Aham Guru became tired of living a formless existence and desired to live in flesh and blood. He descended on this great void with all human characteristics and created the universe.[20]

In addition to Bathouism, Boro people also follow Hinduism, especially Hoom Jaygya. For this worship through fire ceremony, a clean surface near a home or courtyard is prepared. Usually, worship offerings include a betel nut called a 'goi' and a betel leaf called a 'pathwi' or 'bathwi' and rice, milk, and sugar. Another important Hindu festival, the Kherai Puja, where an altar is placed in a rice field, is the most important festival of the Boros. However, caste and dowry practices are not practiced by the majority of Boro Hindus, who follow a set of rules called Brahma Dharma.[19]

Some Boro people practice Christianity, predominantly Baptism. The major associations are the Boro Baptist Convention and Boro Baptist Church Association. Other denominations include the Church of North India, Lutheranism, the Believers' Church, Roman Catholicism, and Pentecostalism. Most Boro Christians' practices are a mixture of tribal and Christian traditions.[citation needed]

Occupation

Boros are mostly settled farmers.[21]

Folk tradition and mythology

The history of the Boro people can be explained from folk traditions. According to Padma Bhushan winner Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, mythologically, Boros are "the offspring of son of the Vishnu and Mother-Earth" who were termed "Kiratas" during the Epic period.[22] Boros called themselves Barafisa, which means Children of the Bara.[23] Basumatary, the largest sub-tribe of Boro means Sons of the Soil.[24] A section of Boros called themselves Ramsa, which means Children of Ram.[25]

History

According to Hodgson, since the people who were known as Kacharis and Mech to others called themselves Boro, and also the Kachari chief deities, Siju, Mairong, and Agrang, are also Mech deities, the term Boro is the proper designation for the tribes.[26] The exonym Mech originated from the Sanskrit word Mleccha.[27][28][29][30] Boros were repeatedly called as Mleccha or Mech. According to Alamgirnamah, Cooch Behar was inhabited by Koch and Mech.[31] According to Endle, Kacharis who called themselves as Bada or Bara were the dominant race of Assam in early days.[32] In ancient Sanskrit literatures, Boros were called as Kiratas and Mlecchas.[33] The Kacharis of Brahmaputra Valley identified themselves as Boro or Borofisa or Borosa.[34] Section of Boros were known as Rangtsa or Ramsa.[35][36] According to tradition the Kacharis had their domain in Kamarupa and they belonged to a lineage called Ha-tsung-tsa or Ha-cheng-sa or Hachengsa and Kacharis called themselves Rangtsa or Ramsa.[37] According to the epic Ramayana, Pragjyotishpura city was built on Varāha mountain. K. L. Barua opines that Boro was Sanskritized into Varāha[38]. Copperplate land grant inscription related to Ramca and Mahalia Kacharis were found[39]

Important clans

The important clans of Boros are:[40] Aroi or Ari or Ary is suffix used for clan.

  1. Swarg-Aroi; In Sanskrit, Swarga means heaven. The clan is heaven folk. The clan never worked as cultivators. They were also known as Deoris and Ojhas.
  2. Basumati-Aroi; In Sanskrit, Basumati means earth. The clan is earth folk. The clan had certain privileges over land not possessed by others. Basumatary, the largest sub-tribe of Boro also mean Sons of the Soil.[41]
  3. Ramsa-Aroi; The clan is Ramsa folk. Ramsa is a village in Betna Mouza, Undivided Kamrup. Ramsa is a hill in Kharguli, Kamrup. Ram-sa (Ram's people) is the name by which Kacharis living in the plains were known to their brethren in the hills.
  4. Mahalia-Aroi; Mahalia Kacharis came to known as Mahilari.
  5. Hajo-Aroi; Many Boros worshiped Raja Hajo. Hajoari related to Hajo. Hajo means Hill.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "Census report 2001" (PDF). Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. ^ "639 Identifier Documentation: aho – ISO 639-3". SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics). SIL International. Retrieved 29 June 2019. Ahom [aho]
  3. ^ "Population by Religious Communities". Census India – 2001. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved 1 July 2019. Census Data Finder/C Series/Population by Religious Communities
  4. ^ "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. 2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01 MDDS.XLS
  5. ^ (Bhatt 2005:20)
  6. ^ (Dikshit 2013:376)
  7. ^ "List of languages in the Eighth Schedule" (PDF).
  8. ^ (Dikshit 2013:375)
  9. ^ (Taher 2001:12)The first group of migrants to settle in this part of the country is perhaps the Austro-Asiatic language speaking people who came here from South-East Asia a few millennia before the Common Era. The second group of migrants came to Assam from the north, north-east, and east. They are mostly the Tibeto-Burman language speaking people. From about the fifth century before Christ, there started a trickle of migration of the people speaking Indo-Aryan language from the Gangetic plain.
  10. ^ "Handloom and Textile of Bodos" (PDF). G Brahma PHD Thesis: 139.
  11. ^ (Chattarji 1951:95-96)
  12. ^ (Hodgson 1847:105,142) Strangers call them Mech but they call themselves as Bodo, which is of course proper designation. Kacharis call themselves as Bodo, so do the Mech & Kacharis Chief deities like Siju , Mairong , Agrang likewise Mech deities.
  13. ^ (Endle 1911:xv) In Assam proper Hindus call them Kacharis, In Bengal they are known as Meches. Their own name for the race is Boro or Bodo.
  14. ^ (Bhatt 2005:20)
  15. ^ (Brahma 2008:1)
  16. ^ "ST-14 Scheduled Tribe Population By Religious Community - Assam". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  17. ^ (Endle 1911:34-37)
  18. ^ (Dixit 2013:375)
  19. ^ a b "HOME". udalguri.gov.in. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  20. ^ Basumatary, Dhuparam. Boro Kachari Sonskritir Kinchit Abhas. pp. 2–3.
  21. ^ (Hodgson 1847:155)
  22. ^ "RCILTS, Phase-II". iitg.ac.in. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  23. ^ (Soppitt 1885:12)
  24. ^ (Sen 1999:44)
  25. ^ (Dodiya 2001:139)
  26. ^ (Jacquesson 2008:21)
  27. ^ (Endle 1911:xv) According to J.D. Anderson, Mech is short cut of Mlecch, barbarian, one who is ignorant of civilized speech.
  28. ^ (Endle 1911:81,82) According to Endle, Mech is almost certainly corruption of Sanskrit word Mleccha.
  29. ^ (Chattarji 1951:97) Sanskritized version of Mech is Mleccha.
  30. ^ (Nath 1989:7) K.L. Barua opines that Mleccha might be a Sanskritized form of the term Mech. This view is also supported by Ed. Gait and S.K. Chatterji.
  31. ^ (Ghulam 1902:11) Cooch Behar was inhabited by Mech & Koch. Raja belong to first tribe.
  32. ^ (Deka 2009:30)
  33. ^ (Chattarji 1951:97-98)
  34. ^ (Bordoloi 1984:6-10)
  35. ^ (Soppitt 1885:80–81)
  36. ^ (Damant 1879:12)
  37. ^ (Kakoty 1981:40)
  38. ^ (Sen 1984:103)
  39. ^ (Thakuria 2015:96)The charter records a grant of 186 purās of land, made to five persons, viz. Kacharimahalia Badnagaria, Ramca and Bajhparhania and Chutiya, who offered service to the families of medhis, bhakatas and the brahmanas of the Darrangirājya. The charter was issued by king Pramatta Singha in śaka 1667.
  40. ^ "The Bodos" (PDF). Culture and Society.
  41. ^ (Sen 1999:44)
  42. ^ "Actress to screen conflict tale in rural BTAD". 31 May 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  43. ^ ,"The Assam Tribune Online". www.assamtribune.com. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  44. ^ "Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma's death anniversary observed by hundreds of people in Kokrajhar". The Sentinel. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  45. ^ "BSF gets first Bodo DG". The Hindu. 11 January 2005. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  46. ^ "NEFU Player Holicharan Narzary Ties Knot With Geetanjali Deori". The Sentinel. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  47. ^ (N.N Acharya:1.0-1.3)

Bibliography

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