Who Are the Dimasa?
The Dimasa are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group of Assam in northeast India, numbering approximately 130,000-150,000. They speak Dimasa, a language of the Bodo-Garo branch of Sino-Tibetan. The Dimasa primarily inhabit the Dima Hasao district (formerly North Cachar Hills) and adjacent areas. They are the descendants of the Kachari kingdom, which ruled much of the Brahmaputra Valley before Ahom expansion. The name "Dimasa" means "sons of the big river" (di = water, ma = big, sa = sons). The Dimasa maintain distinct cultural traditions including their own religion centered on Madai worship, though Hinduism has influenced practices significantly.
The Kachari Kingdom
The Dimasa descend from the rulers of the Kachari kingdom, one of northeast India's significant pre-colonial states. The kingdom once controlled much of the Brahmaputra Valley before Ahom expansion pushed the Kachari southward. The Dimasa Kachari established capitals at various sites, with Dimapur and Maibang being significant centers. Stone ruins at Dimapur testify to past architectural achievements. The kingdom adopted Hindu elements while retaining tribal characteristics. British colonialism ended Kachari sovereignty; the last king abdicated in 1830. This royal heritage distinguishes the Dimasa among tribal groups and shapes identity claims to territorial autonomy.
Religion and Ritual
Traditional Dimasa religion centers on the worship of Madai, territorial deities associated with specific places. Each clan has its own Madai shrine where annual rituals propitiate spirits for prosperity and protection. The Jonthai (priest) conducts rituals using prescribed offerings. Ancestor veneration and belief in supernatural forces pervade daily life. Busu Dima, the new year festival in January, celebrates rice harvesting with community feasts and dances. While Hinduization has influenced many Dimasa—particularly those in plains areas—traditional practices persist in hill communities. This religious distinctiveness, between full Hinduization and tribal tradition, characterizes contemporary Dimasa identity.
Contemporary Dimasa
Modern Dimasa have experienced the challenges of insurgency and ethnic conflict. Armed groups demanding separate Dimaraji (homeland) have operated since the 1990s, leading to violence and displacement. The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council provides limited self-governance but has not satisfied autonomy demands. Inter-ethnic tensions with the Karbi and other groups have complicated politics. Economic development lags in the hill district. Education has expanded, producing professionals who maintain cultural ties. Efforts to document and revive the Dimasa language proceed. How the Dimasa achieve peace, pursue development, and preserve their distinct heritage as heirs of the Kachari kingdom shapes this community's contested future.
References
- Gait, E. A. (1906). A History of Assam
- Jacobs, J. et al. (1990). The Nagas: Hill Peoples of Northeast India
- Longchar, W. (2017). The Tribal Religious Traditions in Northeast India