The Dimasa Kachari- Identity

Dimasa Kacharies

Today, the  Dimasas   largely inhabit  in Dima Hasao District (erstwhile North Cachar Hills / NC hills)  and there are considerable population of the Dimasas in the districts of Karbi Anglong, Hojai, Nagaon, Cachar in Assam; and in Dimapur region of Nagaland.

The term 'Dimasa' literally means ' descendant or son of the big river'(Dima-basa) in Graodima ( Dimasa language). Dimasas are of Tibeto Burman race of Indo Mongoloid stock and linguistically belong to Tibeto Burman.

They are scion of  'Kachari group'. 'Kachari' is a generic term  which includes Boro Kachari, Dimasa Kachari , Sonowal Kachari, Mech, Hajongs, Tiwa(Lalung),  Rabha, Thengal, Sarania, Dhimals(in Nepal) and its allied ethnic groups like Garo, Koch, Tiprasa(Tripuri tribes- Debbarma,Reangs, Jamatia etc)  . The tongues which these group speak are akin to each other, which Brian Hodgson, an ethnologist, has classified as 'BODO' ( not to be confused with Boro/Bodo community who themselves form under this category).The Kacharies are the earliest inhabitants of Brahmaputra valley prior to advent of Ahoms in this region[1].

The identity of Dimasas, is not of recent one but known since medieval times. They were known to Ahoms 'Timisa', a misspelling of Dimasa, in their chronicle Buranjee.  What makes them distinct ethnic group amongst Kacharies is that the structure of society, practices and belief are grounded in system of clans i.e both male clans(Sengphong) and female clans(Jadi/Jilik).

The Dimasa society is a Patriarchal one where head of family is the man of the house. However because of 'Clan System' , the Dimasa women enjoy high status like her male counterpart. Dimasas have 40 male clans(Sengphongs) and 42 female clans( Jadi/Jilik) and they are clan exogamous. Dimasas are deeply rooted in Clan system hence B.N. Bordoloi quotes in his book 'The Dimasa Kacharies of Assam' , "Dimasas clan tie is so deep rooted that offence done to a clan member by a man outside the clan is considered to be offence against the member of the entire clan without considering whether the clan member is guilty or not. Retaliation takes immediately" [2].

The faith of Dimasas today is amalgamation of  Hindu beliefs and local indigenous belief or animism. They worship their irrespective clan deities by reciting prayers, sacrifices of animals or fowls and by offering rice liquor 'Jzu'. The worshipping of Hindu God and Goddess runs parallel to this animistic faith. Although in recent years a few handful of Dimasas have converted into Christian faith, the role clan still persists amongst them too.

================================

End Notes:

______________

[1] Sir  Edward Gait, 'A History of Assam', 2011(sixth reprint), p-299

[2]B.N. Bordoloi , 'The Dimasa Kacharis of Assam',1984,P-44