Himanta Biswa Sarma / Why did the ‘Chutia Community’ Assam CM Himanta’s tweet create a ruckus?

Himanta Biswa Sarma: A recent 'X' post by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has created a stir on social media. In this post, he announced reservation in higher education to the Chutia community of Assam. However, many people were surprised about the name of this community and commented a lot on the tweet. Actually, the word 'Chutia' is taken in derogatory sense in English and Hindi, but in Assam it is the name of an ancient and glorious tribal tribe. Knowing the history of this community, you will also salute its prosperity and contribution.

What was CM Sarma's tweet?

Chief Minister Sarma wrote on his social media handle, "The aspirations of the Chutia community were ignored for decades, but now they are getting their rights." He informed that the government has taken many steps for this community, including the installation of the statue of Veerangana Sati Sadhani, financial assistance of Rs 77 crore, establishment of a state university, and now reservation in higher education. Under this decision:

18 seats in state universities,

9 seats in polytechnic institutes,

and 32 seats in engineering colleges have been reserved for students of the Chutia community.

Chutia Community: A Historical Introduction

The term 'Chutia' might confuse some people, but it is an ancient and important tribe of Assam. The community resides mainly in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts of Upper Assam. Historically, the Chutia community established the Chutia Kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley from the 12th to the 16th century. This kingdom was known for its rich culture, advanced agricultural techniques and social contributions.

After the Ahom Empire subjugated this kingdom in 1523-24, there was large-scale displacement of the Chutia community. Despite this, the community spread across Upper and Central Assam and maintained its cultural identity. This community is believed to belong to the Sino-Tibetan family of Mongolia, and these people migrated from Southern China (present-day Tibet and Sichuan) to Assam.

Name and Origin of Chutia Community

According to the 'Assamese Chronicle', the Chutia community is named after the 'Chutia Emperor' Assambhina who lived on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in the seventh century. This community ruled the areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh from 1187 to 1673. Historian R M Nath in his book Background of Assamese Culture claims that the word 'Chutia' originated from 'Chute', which means mountain peak in the local language. In ancient times, this community lived in the mountains, and later settled in the plains.

The people of the Chutia community earlier spoke Tibeto-Burman language, but over time they adopted Hinduism and Assamese language. Their folk songs claim that they are descendants of Bhumikka and Subahu. This community worships various incarnations of Goddess Kali and has a large number of followers of Hinduism.

Cultural heritage of the Chutia community

The cultural and historical heritage of the Chutia community holds an important place in the history of Assam. Their folklore, traditions and social contributions are still alive today. This community made significant contributions to agriculture, art and governance. Trade and cultural exchange in the Brahmaputra Valley were promoted during the Chutia kingdom.

Even today, the Chutia community is struggling to maintain its identity and pride. Recent steps taken by the government, such as reservation and economic assistance, are important towards bringing this community into the mainstream and fulfilling their aspirations.