Political autonomy for the plain tribes in Assam: An analysis
Author(s): Dadul Dewri
Abstract: The North-East India is living home to many tribal groups. The question of tribal ethnic identity is a very complex issue which leads to the emergence of many tribal movements in the region. After the independence of India, the nation-building process took place amidst large ethno-cultural and religious diversities. Our nationalist leaders embarked on a balancing mission by designing a federal state apparatus to reflect the diversities of the nation. At the same time our national leaders have decided to keep the large variety of ethnic groups of North Eastern region in to one federal unit the state of Assam. However, the central government created a local autonomous administration for some of the tribal communities i.e. Hill Tribes under the Six Schedule of the Constitution to preserve protect their identity, culture and development. The other tribal groups living in the plains of Assam were left outside the ambit of constitutional protection. They have assimilated with the mainstream Assamese nationalism. Subsequently these plain tribes of Assam also mobilized their ethnic identity to get a share in the political process of Assam. In response to their various demands these tribal groups are allowed to enjoy some political privileges by way of constituting tribe specific Autonomous Councils’ in Assam. In this paper an attempt will be made to make an analysis of the articulation of the demand for political autonomy based on their ethnic identity by the plain tribes of Assam and the working of the autonomous councils constituted for their autonomy.
Dadul Dewri. Political autonomy for the plain tribes in Assam: An analysis. Int J Political Sci Governance 2025;7(4):45-49. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i4a.483
