~ Dr. Vanlallien Pulamte
It is not certain as to when Hmars started to settle in Undivided Cachar, Assam. What certain is that Hmars were living in Undivided Cachar before the British annexation of the territory in 1832. The British called Hmars ‘Old Kuki’. In the pre-British period, the Hmars had their own Panchayat and this was allowed to be continued by the British as a policy of non-interference with the culture and tradition of the hill people in the North East.
The date and data of the settlement of Hmars in Undivided Cachar, there are diverse opinions and records. However, prior to the creation of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council in 1952 the Hmars settled in Cachar, Assam and N.C.Hills. The veteran leader Mr.Chawnhau Khawthlang was the first Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Autonomous District Council. During the partition of the country between India and Pakistan in 1947 and the Hmars under the banner of the then ‘Hill Panchayat’ played the most remarkable role in retaining the soil and the people of Cachar in the Indian Union. When the British colonial rule was extended in Cachar on 14th August. 1832, the Hmars already settled in the area and the British government called them ‘Old-Kuki’. The Hill Panchayat was also a special treatment granted to the Hmars by the British government for their protection and administration of their Local self-government according to their culture, tradition and taboo.
Alexander Mackenzie wrote in his book ‘The North East Frontier of India’ that “The Kookies are all immigrants from the south, and formerly inhabited the hills south of Cachar, from which they were driven by the advance northward of a powerful people from the unexplored country between British territory and Burma. They are hardworking, self-reliant race, and the only hill men in this quarter who can hold their own (by themselves) against the Angamis. The ‘Old Kookies’ came from the north according to their own account about 85 years ago. They were made use of by Rajah Govind Chandra of Cachar in his feud with Tularam Senaputty (1828-29).”
W.W. Hunter also states that “The term ‘Old Kuki’ is applied to a tribe living on the farther side of the Barak River in the North Cachar, who appear to have nothing in common with the Kukis proper or Lushais. Their system of village government is democratic and in contrast with that of all other tribes to which the name of Kuki is applied, the ‘Old Kuki’ speak a language a kin to that of the Tipperahs (present Tripura) whom also they resemble in physical appearances. The names of their principal clans or sub-tribes are the Renkhols (Hrangkhols), Khelma (Sakechep) and Banglong”.
The second and the third wave of immigration took place in between 1846-47 and 1851-52 respectively. The Anthropologists called the Hmars as ‘Kukis’ accordingly after the Britishers. Lt.Col. Shakespear, in his book ‘The Lushai-Kuki clans’, called the Hmars as ‘Old Kukis’. After the entry of the Hmars in the North Cachar Hills, some other tribes like Thado, Haokip etc, also entered the North Cachar Hills, having their distinct dialect, culture and customs and called themselves ‘Kukis’. It was since then the Hmars who penetrated the land much earlier were called ‘Old Kukis’ by Shakespeare, and the new comers as ‘New Kukis’.
Alexander Mackenzie wrote that the tribe of ‘Old- Kuki’ entered into the Cachar in around 1743. He also wrote in his book that the Old-Kuki entered the valley of Langting in 1748 A.D. In 1859 about 600 Kookies had accepted free settlement and in 1860 the colony contained 1,356 inhabitants in seven villages. The old Kookies were reported in 1853 to be in four clans….In 1856-57 lands were assigned rent-free for 10 years and afterwards for 25 years to any Kookies who would settle to the east of North Cachar beyond the Langting River. Fire-arms and ammunition were given to them by the Government. In 1859 about 600 Kookies had accepted free settlement on these terms; and in 1860 the colony contained 1,356 inhabitants in seven villages.”
The Hmars, particularly in Cachar and North Cachar Hills, (undivided Cachar 1854-1951) had already settled before the Kachari king Tamradhaja fled to Cachar from Maibong due to the invasion of the most powerful Ahom king Rudra Singha in December 1706. In December, 1706, the Kachari King Tamradhaja, whose capital was at Maibong on the bank of the Mahur River, was invaded by the most powerful Ahom king Rudra Singha. Being defeated by the Ahom King, Tamradhaja fled southwards to Khaspur. From this time onwards the Kachari princes seemed to have settled in the plains of Cachar, their court being located at Khaspur. The Kachari King Suradarpa Narayan set himself to recognize the people and improve the capital Brick built palaces and temples were constructed in different parts of Khaspur. It is said that the demoness Hirimba, whom the second Pandava Bhima married, resided in this place. Hence the kingdom was named Hirimba kingdom in memory of the demoness. There is evidence that the Hmars had already settled in undivided Cachar by the time the Dimasas were driven out from Dimapur. The Hmars were made use of by Rajah Govind Chandra of Cachar in his feud with Tularam Senaputty (1828-29). For instance, the Leiri one of the leading Hmar clans, made their settlement at the Leiri village in North Cachar Hills and erected a monument on which they inscribed that they established the village in A.D.1470.
Mills’ report of 1854 and Allen’s report of 1859 recorded only six tribes in the Undivided Cachar. The population of these tribes as recorded in these reports were:
Mills (1854) | Allens (1859)
1. Hill Cacharis 3940 | 6735
2. Hojai Cacharis 1170 | 3260
3. Mikirs 1820 | 5076
4. Old Kukis (Hmar) 3335 | 3709
5. New Kukis 7575 | 4763
6.Aroong Nagas 3505 | 5885
From Mills’ and Alen’s report, it is clear that the Hmars were already settled in Undivided Cachar and their population was 3335 in 1854. The Hmars are inhabiting on the Borial ranges contiguous to Harinagar and Lakhipur in the district of Cachar.
(L) V.L Muonga Pudaite of Hmarkhawlien, Cachar, Assam, an elderly Hmar stated that the Hmars settled down in the Cachar plains, the North East India General (NEIG Mission) started operating their ministry (church administration) in the Cachar plain. In 1856 this NEIG Mission opened a school in Silchar which was upgraded to high school in 1863. But the school was closed down in 1872 because the Hmar Hill people slowly and steadily deserted the area in search of thick forest for shifting jhum cultivation.
In Cachar, majority of Hmars are living in the Lakhipur constituency, Joypur block Harinagar contiguous to Jinam valley N.C. Hills and some of them are living in Udharbond constituency. Hmarkhawlien village is the biggest Hmar village in Cachar and Muoltluong Diphuchera is the second biggest. The Hmars are single largest tribes within the jurisdiction of Barak Valley Hill Tribes Development Council. There are 99 Hmar villages, 5216 houses and 36,684 populations as per the census recorded by the Barak Valley Hill Tribes Development Council in 2007. In Hmarkhawlien village, there are more than 1000 houses. Growing pineapple and jhumming cultivation is the main occupation of the Hmars in Cachar.
Many poor Hmar tribal in the plain district of Cachar are being exploited. They have lost their paddy fields to the rich people and practically many are in bondage because their valuable lands are in the grips of the rich. In the hilly areas the Hmar practise jhum cultivation with Government permission. They are quite helpless because they cannot afford for the expensive litigation. Once their lands are encroached by the plains people or refugees they become helpless and very much distressed because they can hardly expect to drive out the encroachers through litigation.
The Hmars live in a contiguous region of North Cachar Hills and Cachar. However, being scattered into two districts of Cachar and N.C.Hills of Assam, they are minority in both the districts and this made their position weak and always outnumbered by the neighbouring tribes and are reduced to a small minority. This great injustice was done during the demarcation of Cachar and N.C.Hills district of Assam. The ignorant and simple Hmar tribal were helpless and had to suffer silently, the painful separation from one another. The Hmars are now living on the border areas of the two districts.
Dividing and disuniting one community which inhabit a compact area into administrative units caused a great injustice done to the poor tribal who have been disintegrated, demoralized and reduced to such a desperate condition that it has become extremely difficult for them to maintain their identity and to claim their constitutional rights and privileges.
The Hmars inhabit the north eastern part of Cachar district. But due to demarcation of district boundaries the Hmars of this area have been mixed with the highly cultured and most advanced plains people. With the creation of the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills district in 1951 the Hmars in Cachar were left to their miserable fate and become a negligible minority in the midst of the advance community.
