Diphu April 9: A Karbi Anglong based organization called the ‘Dimasa Regional Council Demand Committee,’ (DRCRC), under the leadership of ex. Militant leader Pranab Nunisa, sent a memorandum to the Governor of Assam last Tuesday. The memorandum demands the creation of a regional council in the Dimasa-dominated regions of Karbi Anglong.
Nunisa told the media that both socially and economically, their people have remained backward even today. What they need is to develop a separate administrative organization within the rule of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
Nunisa said Dimasa localities settled in the border areas flanked by Assam and Nagaland if brought within the proposed administrative system of ‘Dimasa Regional Council’ border of both states, will be more secure. He mentioned that the Government of Assam has already announced the creation of such councils for various scheduled tribes in Assam except the Dimasa community. Most of their people live in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, which used to be called the North Cachar Hills.
The Nunisa militant faction of Dima Halam Daogah signed a Memorandum of Settlement with Assam’s government in mid-2012.
Dimasa History
The Dimasas are one of the oldest groups of inhabitants in North Eastern India. They are declared sixth scheduled hill tribes of the state. Sparsely populated people of this community are settled all over the state and need socioeconomic development under government patronage, the DRCRC says..
The Dimasa people are also known as Dima-basa or Dimasa-Kachari. According to their mythology, they are the children of Bangla Raja, the Earthquake God and the great divine bird Arikhidima.
More than 98% are now Hindu, believing the rebirth of soul after death. Even so, they still believe in their ancestral gods and goddesses, and also in evil spirits.
Baroduwar Dimasa Kachari Palace
Kachari Palace Photo: Ujjayan – CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21376308
