Koch-Rajbongshi Community

 

Koch Rajbongshi Largest Ethnic Group Of South Asia

The Assam Cabinet recently decided to drop cases against the Koch-Rajbongshi community in various Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs), which is a significant development for this community.

About the Koch-Rajbongshi Community

1. Historical Background:
   1. The Koch-Rajbongshi people trace their roots to the Kamata Kingdom, which was ruled by the Koch Dynasty.
   2. The Kamata Kingdom was located in parts of what is now Assam, West Bengal, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
   3. The kingdom emerged in the 13th century, following the fall of the Pala Dynasty in the older Kamarupa kingdom, which was located in the same region.
2. Language:
   1. The community primarily speaks Rajbongshi or Rajbanshi, also known as Kamtapuri.
   2. According to the 2001 Census, there are approximately 1 crore speakers of this language.
3. Cultural Practices:
   1. The Koch-Rajbongshi community initially practiced animism.

Over time, they largely adopted Hinduism, although a minority of the community members have embraced Christianity