Koch-Rajbongshi

March 13, 2025

Leaders of the Koch-Rajbongshi Sanmilita Joutha Mancha recently submitted a 15-point memorandum to BJP Assam president Dilip Saikia, highlighting their long-pending demands for recognition and welfare.
Origin & Identity: An ancient tribe from the Koch Kingdom, also known as Rajbanshi/Rajvanshi, meaning “royal community.”
Geographical Presence: Found in Lower Nepal, Northern Bengal, North Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Bhutan—historically part of the Kamata Kingdom.
Caste Classification: Classified as OBC in Assam, SC in Bengal, and ST in Meghalaya.
Language: Rajbongshi/Rajbanshi language is spoken by 1 crore people (2001 Census) and has a complete grammar.
Religion: Predominantly Hindu, with some followers of Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism.
Livelihood: Mainly agriculture and farming, with a strong connection to nature and animist