Non-Dimasas in Dima Hasao Facing "Identity Crisis", Says Indigenous People’s Forum

Haflong, February 10, 2020:

The Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF), a non-Dimasa community from Dima Hasao district of Assam, has announced an indefinite bandh in demand of separate Autonomous district with separate Autonomous Councils for the non-Dimasas in the district.

L Keivom, the Secretary of the organization told Inside Northeast that they will only call off the bandh if they are assured of a meeting with the Assam administration. "We had a letter from Deputy Commissioner, who says he had a discussion with Principal Secretary to the CM. We have been assured a meeting with Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma within 10 days. The bandh will not be called off until and unless we receive a written invitation from the Government...", Keivom said.

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The Indigenous People's Forum leader further informed us that the non-Dimasas are facing an "identity crisis" in the district after the re-naming of the district to Dima Hasao. "In the 1980's, no communal tension was there. But, later, the Dimasa Students' Union demanded . In 2001, the NC Hills Autinomous Council tried to change the name to Dima Halali (golden land of the dimasas). However, the change of name was overturned. Then, communal clashes ensued between the Dimasas and the other communities...such as Dimasas and Karbis, so on and so forth. In 2010, the name was changed.

Keivom points to the fact that the Government of Assam constituted a Task Force under the Chairmanship of Shri P.P. Varma, which had given recommendations for creation of a separate Autonomous District for the non Dimasas and setting up of two separate, independent Autonomous District Councils for both the Dimasa and the non Dimasas groups of people of the district.

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In a recent press release, the organization claims, "Dimasas, with an attempt to dislodge the non-Dimasa populace from the District, waged ethnic clashes against them thrice in span of a decade – against the Hmars in 2003, against the Karbis in 2005, and against the Zeme Nagas in 2009. After forcible renaming of the N.C.Hills District as Dima Hasao in 2010, the non-Dimasa people are facing identity crisis."

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