The present paper is a brief ethnographic report on the Hajong tribe of Assam. They are a least studied small endogamous Bodo-Kachari tribe having a trans-border international presence i.e. in NE India and in Bangladesh. A huge number of them migrated to India from their homeland in erstwhile East-Pakistan. The paper is based on the data collected through standard anthropological methods from two remote Hajong villages viz. Kuhiarbari and Kotha Adarsha, located along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Margherita Sub-division, Tinsukia district, upper Assam. The Hajongs are patrilineal, patriarchal and patrilocal; and in marital alliances the rules of tribal endogamy and clan exogamy are followed. They have the traditional custom of paying bride price - Khalti. The people by and large live in nuclear families. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Hajongs. They follow Hinduism; Bastu puja and Bash puja are important religious ceremonies of the people performed by the Deoshi (traditional village priest).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 A Brief History of the Hajongs
3.2 The Micro-field and Demographic Composition
3.3 Village Organization
3.4 Language
3.5 Education
3.6 Family
3.7 Inheritance and Descent
3.8 Clan
3.9 Marriage
3.10 Birth and Death
3.11 Economic Pursuits
3.12 Material Culture
3.12.1 House type
3.12.2 Traditional foods
3.12.3 Dress and ornaments
3.12.4 Musical instruments
3.13 Religion
3.14 Festivals
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive ethnographic profile of the Hajong tribe in Assam, a community that has historically been understudied. The research explores the socio-cultural, economic, and religious dimensions of the Hajong people, focusing on their origins, migration history, social structure, and daily life to better understand their current living conditions and cultural practices in the Margherita Sub-division.
- Historical origins and migration patterns of the Hajong tribe.
- Socio-political structure and village administration.
- Economic life, including traditional agricultural practices and livelihoods.
- Cultural identity, encompassing material culture, religion, and festivals.
- Educational and infrastructural challenges in remote tribal villages.
Excerpt from the Book
A Brief History of the Hajongs
There is a lack of consensus regarding the origin of the term ‘Hajong’. It is opined that the term is derived from the Kachari word Hajo, which literally means ‘the people who live in high hills’. Also, in the dialect of the Rabha tribe, another Bodo-Kachari tribe of Assam, Hachu + ong means ‘people living in high hill’. According to Hajong (2009), the term may perhaps originate from ‘Hojai Kachari’. Whereas, it is also presumed that the term has originated from the Garo word Ha-Jong, Ha: land and Jong: insect, meaning like an insect of earth (Hajong, 2000). The Hajongs upon their settlement in the plain areas at the foot of Garo Hills used the plough to cultivate the land. For the Garos, who practised jhum cultivation, this new method was something like digging of the soil by an insect, and hence, named the people as Ha-Jong. Dalton (1872) considered the Hajongs to be a branch of the Kachari race, identical to the Hojai Kacharis of North Cachar, and the early settlers of Assam.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of ethnography and the tribal landscape of Northeast India, specifically introducing the Hajong people as an Indo-Mongoloid group with a distinct socio-cultural heritage.
Methodology: Details the ethnographic field methods, including household surveys, observation, and interviews conducted in the two selected remote villages during 2013-2014.
Results and Discussion: Analyzes the multifaceted aspects of Hajong life, ranging from historical origins and migration history to social organization, economic pursuits, and religious ceremonies.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings and emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure, better road access, and enhanced educational and healthcare facilities to support the development of the Hajong community.
Keywords
Ethnography, Hajong, Bodo-Kachari, Assam, Margherita, Culture, Tribal, Migration, Social Structure, Hinduism, Agriculture, Traditional Customs, Literacy, Demography, Socio-economic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper provides an ethnographic account of the Hajong tribe in Assam, focusing on their socio-cultural traits, history, and current socio-economic challenges within the Margherita Sub-division.
Which specific tribe is being investigated?
The study investigates the Hajong tribe, which is identified as a small, endogamous Bodo-Kachari group with a trans-border presence in India and Bangladesh.
What is the central research question?
The research aims to document the society and culture of the Hajong tribe to enrich the existing knowledge bank of anthropological research in Northeast India.
Which methods were employed for data collection?
The authors utilized standard anthropological methods, including household surveys, direct observation, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with key informants and villagers.
What are the major thematic areas covered in the main body?
The main body covers a wide range of topics including historical origins, village organization, family structure, inheritance, marriage customs, economic pursuits, material culture, and religious practices.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Ethnography, Hajong, Bodo-Kachari, Assam, Margherita, Culture, and Tribal, which reflect the academic scope of the study.
What is the significance of the "micro-field" mentioned in the study?
The micro-field refers to the two specific remote villages, Kuhiarbari and Kotha Adarsha, which serve as the primary focus of the intensive fieldwork for the ethnographic profile.
How does the study characterize the religious practices of the Hajong?
The Hajongs are described as polytheistic, following Hinduism and Vaishnavism, while simultaneously practicing traditional community-level worship, such as the Bastu puja, performed by a traditional priest known as a Deoshi.
What is the specific cultural role of the "Khalti" custom?
Khalti is the traditional custom of paying a bride price, which is a nominal amount of money given along with betel nut and leaf when fixing a marriage.
What is the author's primary recommendation in the conclusion?
The authors recommend prioritizing improvements in transportation, communication, education, and healthcare infrastructure to address the developmental needs of the studied villages.
- Quote paper
- Boby Dutta (Author), Ripunjoy Sonowal (Author), 2015, The Hajong of Assam. An Ethnographic Profile of a Least Studied Bodo-Kachari Tribe, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/299813
