Major Tribes and Distribution in Assam
Assam is one of the most socially diverse states in India. Along with the Assamese, Bengali and other communities, the state is home to a large number of indigenous tribal communities, each with its own language, dress, dance, religion and festival. According to the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribes (ST) of Assam number about 38.84 lakh, which is roughly 12.45 per cent of the state's population. What makes this topic important for exams is that the tribes fall into two broad geographical groups - the plains tribes of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys and the hill tribes of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao - and every group is linked to a particular district, festival, dance and autonomous council. Once these associations are learnt, most questions on the topic become easy.
Plains tribes and hill tribes
The tribes of Assam are usually divided into two groups. The plains tribes live in the Brahmaputra valley and the Barak valley and include the Bodo, Mishing, Rabha, Deori, Sonowal Kachari, Tiwa (Lalung), Kachari, Muttock (Matak), Moran and Chutia, among others. The hill tribes live mainly in the two hill districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao and include the Karbi, Dimasa, Hmar, Kuki and others. Some communities, such as the Garo and the Hajong, are found in the western districts, while the Bodo are also spread across several districts of the north bank of the Brahmaputra. This two-fold division is the first thing an examiner expects you to know.
The Bodo: the largest tribe
The Bodo, also written Boro, are the largest tribe of Assam and the largest plains tribe. They are the dominant community of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), which covers the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, and they are also found in Nagaon, Sonitpur, Darrang and other districts. The Bodo speak the Bodo language, which is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and their traditional faith is the Bathou religion, in which Bathoubwrai is worshipped. Their greatest festival is Bwisagu, celebrated in April and similar in spirit to Bihu, and their most famous dance is Bagurumba, often called the butterfly dance.
The Mishing: the second largest tribe
The Mishing, earlier called Miri, are the second largest tribe of Assam and the second largest plains tribe. They are a riverine people, living along the Brahmaputra in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Sonitpur and Majuli. Their main festival is Ali-Ai-Ligang, celebrated in February before the sowing season, and their traditional community institutions and the Mising Autonomous Council give them a strong identity. The Mishing are known for their stilt houses, their fine weaving and their lively Gumrag dance, and they also celebrate Porag and Dobur.
The Karbi: the largest hill tribe
The Karbi, earlier called Mikir, are the largest hill tribe of Assam. They live mainly in the Karbi Anglong district, which is administered by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council under the Sixth Schedule, and are also found in Dima Hasao and in parts of Nagaon and Kamrup. The Karbi celebrate the Rongker festival in spring for the well-being of the village, and their Chomangkan is a long ceremonial rite performed in honour of the dead. The Karbi language and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council are central to their identity, and their traditional villages are governed by a village headman and a council of elders.
The Dimasa
The Dimasa, also called Dimasa Kachari, are the main tribe of the Dima Hasao district and one of the important tribes of the Barak valley and the adjoining hills. They are the descendants of the old Kachari kingdom, and their district is governed by the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. Their chief festival is Bisu, a harvest festival similar to Bihu, and they are known for their colourful dances, their traditional village organisation and their distinct Dimasa language.
The Rabha
The Rabha are one of the large plains tribes of lower Assam, found mainly in Goalpara, Kamrup, Dhubri and the adjoining areas. Their traditional festival is Baikho, a spring festival celebrated with music, dance and community feasts, and the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council looks after the development of their areas. The Rabha have their own language and a rich oral tradition of folk songs and tales.
The Deori
The Deori, also spelt Deuri, are an ancient tribe of upper Assam, found in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Jorhat. Historically they served as the priestly class of the Chutia kingdom, and their Deori language is one of the most distinct tribal languages of the state. The Deori Autonomous Council works for their welfare, and they celebrate Bihu and their own traditional rituals with great enthusiasm.
The Sonowal Kachari
The Sonowal Kachari are a plains tribe of eastern Assam, concentrated in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Dhemaji. They are one of the Kachari groups, and the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council serves their areas. They are closely associated with Bihu, and their contribution to Assamese folk culture, including the Husori, is well known.
The Tiwa (Lalung)
The Tiwa, earlier called Lalung, are a major tribe of central Assam, living in Nagaon, Morigaon and Kamrup. Their important festival is the Sagra Misawa, a harvest festival, and the Tiwa Autonomous Council protects their culture and development. The Tiwa are also known for their bamboo and cane crafts and their folk dances.
The Muttock (Matak) and the Moran
The Muttock, commonly known as Matak, and the Moran are two plains communities of upper Assam, mainly in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. Both arose in the Ahom period: the Matak were followers of the Mayamara Vaishnava sect, while the Moran were an older indigenous group of the region. The Matak Autonomous Council and the Moran Autonomous Council look after their interests, and both communities are counted among the Scheduled Tribes of the state.
The Chutia and other tribes
The Chutia are an old tribe of upper Assam, linked to the ancient Sadiya kingdom, and are found in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur. Other tribal communities include the Hmar, the Kuki and the Garo in the hill and western areas, the Hajong and the Khasi in the border districts, and the Thengal Kachari and the Barman. Each of them has its own language, festival and traditional customs, and together they make Assam a living museum of tribal cultures.
Autonomous councils and the Sixth Schedule
Assam has a unique system of autonomous councils for its tribal areas. Three areas - Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and the Bodoland Territorial Region - come under the Sixth Schedule, while other communities have councils such as the Rabha Hasong, Mising, Deori, Tiwa, Sonowal Kachari, Thengal Kachari, Moran and Matak Autonomous Councils. These councils are important because questions often ask which tribe is linked with which council, and they show how the Constitution protects the culture and land of the tribal communities of the state.
Distribution and concentration
The tribal population is not evenly distributed. The two hill districts, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, are predominantly tribal, while the Bodo areas of the Bodoland Territorial Region have a very high tribal concentration. In the plains, the Mishing dominate the riverine districts of Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, and the Rabha are concentrated in the west. Districts such as Nagaon, Sonitpur, Sivasagar and Kokrajhar also have large tribal populations. Remembering this map of distribution helps in both objective questions and map-based questions, and it is worth revising more than once.
How to prepare this topic
- Fix the three big tribes first: Bodo the largest and largest plains tribe, Mishing the second largest, and Karbi the largest hill tribe.
- Link each tribe to its festival: Bwisagu (Bodo), Ali-Ai-Ligang (Mishing), Rongker and Chomangkan (Karbi), Bisu (Dimasa) and Baikho (Rabha).
- Link each tribe to its area: Bodo to the BTR, Karbi to Karbi Anglong, Dimasa to Dima Hasao, Mishing to Dhemaji and Lakhimpur, and Rabha to Goalpara and Kamrup.
- Remember the autonomous councils, especially the Sixth Schedule areas of Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Bodoland.
- Keep the census figure in mind: the Scheduled Tribe population of Assam is about 12.45 per cent of the state total.
Common exam traps
- Bodo is the largest tribe overall, but Karbi is the largest hill tribe; the two records belong to different groups.
- Mishing is the second largest tribe, not the Karbi.
- Bwisagu belongs to the Bodo and Bisu to the Dimasa; both are harvest festivals and are easy to confuse.
- Ali-Ai-Ligang is the Mishing festival and Rongker is the Karbi festival; do not interchange them.
- Not every tribal community has a Sixth Schedule area; only Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Bodoland do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the largest tribe of Assam and which is the largest hill tribe?
The Bodo, also written Boro, are the largest tribe of Assam and the largest plains tribe, and they dominate the Bodoland Territorial Region covering Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri. The Karbi, earlier called Mikir, are the largest hill tribe of the state and live mainly in Karbi Anglong, which is a Sixth Schedule area. The Mishing, earlier called Miri, are the second largest tribe overall.
Which festivals are associated with the Bodo, Mishing, Karbi and Dimasa tribes?
The Bodo celebrate Bwisagu in April, similar in spirit to Bihu, and their most famous dance is Bagurumba. The Mishing celebrate Ali-Ai-Ligang in February before the sowing season. The Karbi celebrate Rongker in spring for the well-being of the village and perform Chomangkan in honour of the dead. The Dimasa celebrate Bisu, a harvest festival similar to Bihu, and the Rabha celebrate Baikho.
Which autonomous councils are linked with the tribes of Assam?
Three tribal areas of Assam - Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and the Bodoland Territorial Region - come under the Sixth Schedule. Other communities have their own councils, including the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council, the Mising Autonomous Council, the Deori Autonomous Council, the Tiwa Autonomous Council, the Sonowal Kachari Autonomous Council, the Thengal Kachari Autonomous Council, the Moran Autonomous Council and the Matak Autonomous Council.
In which districts are the major tribes of Assam concentrated?
The Bodo dominate the Bodoland Territorial Region, that is Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri, and are also found in Nagaon, Sonitpur and Darrang. The Karbi are concentrated in Karbi Anglong and the Dimasa in Dima Hasao. The Mishing live along the Brahmaputra in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar and Majuli, while the Rabha are concentrated in Goalpara, Kamrup and Dhubri. The two hill districts are predominantly tribal.
What is the share of the Scheduled Tribe population in Assam?
According to the 2011 Census, the Scheduled Tribe population of Assam is about 38.84 lakh, which is roughly 12.45 per cent of the state's total population. The Bodo form the largest share among the Scheduled Tribes, followed by the Mishing, the Karbi and the Rabha. The tribal population is concentrated in Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and the Bodoland Territorial Region.