In the State of West Bengal The Mech (Bodo) Community

Bodo Girls and Boy photo of West Bengal Picture Credit: https://www.facebook.com/BhagyadeepThakurFluteMusic

1. Anthropological Sources: Ethnically Mech (Bodo)

Ethnically Mech (Bodo) community is one of the most ancient tribes of Indo-Mongoloid group among Tibeto-Burman language speakers. According to historians, the ancient Mech people led a peripatetic nomadic life. These indigenous people are also popularly known as 'Bodos'. Their language which is known as the 'Bodo' language, was incorporated as one of the languages of 8th schedule of the Indian constitution in 2003.

The Mech community is an important part of the greater Bodo race. In due course of time, they retained the name of the particular portion of the country from which they migrated at a later date. There were the Koches who perhaps migrated from the Kuchan or Kucha area and the Meches who migrated from the Mech or Machi area. Thus according to Rajmohan Nath "Bodo group of people includes the Meches, the Kacharies, the Tripuries, the Koches, the Garos, the Rajbongshis, the Marans, the Mataks, the Barmans, the Deories, the Dimasas and the Lepchas."

(Kirata Jankrti: Dr. S.K. Chatterjee., History of Assam. Sir. E.A. Gait, Group of Languages B.H. Hodgson, Linguistic Survey of India - G.A. Grearson.)

2. Population:

The population are about 3 lakhs in the entire West Bengal. Amongst them, 1.83 lakhs resides in the Alipurduar district and the rest of them resides in the districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and scattered in other districts of W.B.

It is to say that up to the middle of the 17th Century the majority of the population of Tarai and Duars were the Meches. It is to say that from the River Sankos to River Mechi of the Nepal Borders, the entire area of the Tarai-Duars were under the control of the Maches. The first elected M.P. of the Jalpaiguri district Parliamentary constituency was Mr. Birendra Nath Katham, the man of Mech community people and the first M.L.A. of the Alipurduar ST. The constituency was also of Mech community Mr. Debendra Nath Brahma Mandal. The last survey of British govt. (by Mr. Sendeson) goes to in favour of the Meches and the Major portion of Agricultural land goes to the Meches. The survey report and the Khotians were recorded in the names of Mech-rioties. The names of villages, Tea gardens, Rivers, Forests are named by the Mech people. I like to mention that - Hantopara T.G. comes from Hanta Mech, Ramjora T.G. is named from Ram Phanin Mech, from Madarihat, Mandan Mech, Khairbani village, comes from Khwairwabari.

When the British govt. started the tea plantation in the Duars and Tarai area the so-called Mech, Rava, Garos did not agree to work as tea labour. So they were compelled to be maigrate from their own rioti Tarai and Duars. Now they become the most minority in their own homeland.

3. Places habited:

Kumangnam Block: Hemaguni, Boro Doldali, Chhoto Doldali, Monakata, Gajidbni, Ghoramara, Barobisha, Khoarndanga, Chandragaon, Telepara etc.

Alipurduar Block-1: Chilapata, Bere Salkumar, Chhoto Saikumar, Munshipara, Mechbil, Sidhabari ete. Alipurduar Block-11: Mahakalguri, Samuktola, Taleswarguri, Dhabkore, Loknath para, Boro-Chowkirbose, Simlabari, Dhaolajhora etc.

Kalchini Block: Satali Mandalpara, Purba Satali, Madhya Satali, Paschim Satali, Dakshin Satali, Satali Nakadala, Nimtipara, Jaigaon Mechia Basti, Uttar and Dakshin Mendabari etc.

Madanihat-Birpara Block: Chhekamani, Uttar Khoirbari, Sishubari, Bollalguri, Rangali Bajna, Mujnai, Bhagatpara etc.

Falakata Block: Norsingpur, Bhandari, Jogijhore, Bala Sundar, Abarupara, Ethelbari etc.

4. Livelihood cum Economic Activity The Mech community are mainly dependent on agriculture. Some of them are found in the service & business sector. Diary & cattle farming poultry piggery & Pisciculture are their other means of livelihood.

5. Rituals:

In the beginning, the religion of this community was animistic in nature. Bathou is the ancient religion of the Mech. Bathou has a dual connotation. 'Ba' means five i.e. the five nements of the religion of nature & 'thou' means profound principles. The elevers of Bathous religion consider defective elements Ailong (Earth), Agra ter), Khoila (Air), Sanja-Borli (Sun fire on light). Rajkhungri (sky) as red. Now a day the Meches are Howers of several religions - such as hou, Christianity. Brahma Dharma, Satsang etc.

Also read: UNDERSTANDING BATHOUISM: WHAT IS BATHOUISM?

6. Food Habit:

Maches are very fond of Rice, Rice bread, oma bidot (pork) Bwarma Bidot (Mutton), Daw-Bidot (chicken), various fishes (Naa) Sammu, Kangkhrai (Snail-craps), Endi Emphow (curry of coster worm) Maista Kharai (a kind of sour vegetable) etc. Petta, sitow, Maibra jaow (Rice beer) are very favourites of Maches

Words by Mahesh Chandra Narzinary

[This article was originally published on Gurudevni Bwswn: A mouthpiece published by Reception Committee on the occasion of 159th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma Celebrated at Bodoland University, Kokrajhar on 18th & 19th April,2018]