To,
The Indian Statutory Commission
Known as the Simon Commission
We, the undersigned on behalf of the Bodo Community of the district
of Goalpara of Assam beg to submit the following memorandum. Some of the
important points are touching the enquiry with a special reference to the
district of Goalpara and the Bodo Community of the said district.
1. That the Bodo Community forms a considerable portion of the
population of the district of Goalpara and its numbers about 1 lakh 50 thousand.
In the whole province of Assam its numbers are almost eight lakhs. A large
numbers of Bodos live in the district of Jalpaiguri and Cochbihar in the
province of Bengal. Out of one lakh and fifty thousand, some thousands have
been treated as Hindus which is the cause of decrease in number of the Bodo population
of the district of Goalpara. The Bodos have a distinct civilization of
their own. There should be a separate category as ‘the Bodos’ in the
census report. The history shows very clearly the part of this community has
been playing in the history of Assam during the time of the great Epic, the
Mahabharata. Many kings who rule over Assam belonged to this race. Bhismak
raja, Bali raja, Ban raja and Viswa Singha all belonged to this race they were.
2. The people of this race are born warriors and even now many people have names
in the military under the British Government. The original proprietor of the Bijini
Estate and Cochbihar Estate were people of this race. But in the course of time,
they styled themselves Hindus, there Estate still exist but are totally
ignored. We belong backwards, failed together the opinion of our community
before. So we could not submit the memorandum in time and we hope that you will
be pleased to accept it and to consider it favorably for decisions as regards
Indian constitution, will make a distinctly new stage in our political life.
3. Electorate: In our opinion, there should not be mixed electorate. Each
section of the people should have the liberty of sending in their representatives
in the local councils. The peculiar position in which we are placed offers as
practically no change of sending our representatives in which, though there is
a large numbers of voters in our community. Out of the total population of the
whole district of Goalpara which numbers about six lakhs eighty five thousand
eight hundred and eighty two. Three lakhs sixty-nine thousand three hundred
ninety seven full under the head of non Mohammadians. Non- Mohammadians
mean Hindus, Christian, Jains, Sikhs, and the like. A liberal view
of the thing shows that we cannot enjoy the advantages of their form as the
other community does. In spite of our being in such a large number all
advantages of the reform are being enjoyed either by the Brahmins or by the Khatriyas
or by the Sudras. So in order to safeguard the interest of our
community we should have a separate representative in the council.
4. In our opinion, there should not be second chamber in the local council.
5. At present there are certain restrictions which debar many to exercise
their right of franchise this should be removed and more liberty be given for
the purpose. There should be four seats in the central legislature. One for Mohammadians
and three for non-Mohammadians; and one of the three non-Mohammadians seats should be reserved for Bodos of Assam.
6. Territorial Pre-distribution – Some interested person of our district
are agitating for the transfer of the district of Goalpara over to Bengal. So
far as we are concerned, we opposed to it. Goalpara is a part and parcel of
Assam and history will prove what part she has been playing since the time
immemorial. The habits and customs of the people of this district are more akin
to Assamese than to Bengalees. We the Bodos can by no means call
ourselves other than Assamese. The transfer of this district to Bengal will be
prejudicial to the interest not only of this community but all the other
community and this transfer will but seriously hamper our progress in all
directions.
7. We also desire to put it before you that there be a sub-division either
at Kokrajhar or at Hultugaon within the sub-division of Dhubri, this community
should be benefited as “Listed community and more opening of employment avowers
be given.
8. Education and appointment- We the undersigned beg to lay before you that
this community should receive special treatment at the hands of Government in
matters of education and appointment. Our community is most backward in point
of education. Such being the case, our people are always misled. They cannot
save themselves from the hands of foreign money lenders. To move this drawback there
should be compulsory pre-primary education and special scholarship for going
facility for higher education to Bodo -Student be provided for. As
stated before, a large number of our people are serving the military and
thereby rendering loyal service to the British Government. We claim certain
provincial and executive posts for some of our people who are getting higher
education.
9. A large number of Bodo sepoys are included in the Gurkha-regiment
and are generally known as Bodo. To our opinion, there should be a
separate regiment as the ‘Bodo Regiment’ for the Bodo - people of
Assam.
10. Local Boards – The chairman of the Board during the term of their
office- Big land holder should not be allowed to stand for election from
general constituency. There is no objection if they are given special seats in
the Boards.
11. In matters of Board election under the Dhubri local Board, our
community should have separate electorate just like the Mohammnadians –
under the Thanas of Bilasipara, Kokrajhar, Bijni and Dhubri. The Bodo
-people who are in the majority in those areas should have separate seats
at the Dhubri local- Board. As stated before, our people are illiterate and
ignorant. So they are easily misled by other at the time of elections and
consequently, the people of other communities are elected. In view of the
illiteracy, ignorance and influence of other communities we earnestly pray so
that we get separate seats in Dhubri Local-Board. So is also the condition of
Goalpara Local-Board. There too we want separate seats.
12. In conclusion, we beg to lay before you that, if required, any one of
us is willing to appear before you and to and give evidence.
This memorandum was read out before the commission while the commission sat
at shillong on Friday, 4th, January of 1929 at 2:30 PM (Sarma :
1983:43-46)
सिम,
भारतारि आयेनारि आयोग
साइमन आयोग मुङै मिथि जानाय
जों, सागान होगिरिफोरा, आसामनि
गवालपारा जिलानि बर’ माहारिनि जानानै गाहायनि गोसोखां बिलाइखौ गथाइनो थाखाय आरज
खालामो। माखासे गोनां आयदाफोरा गुबैयै गवालपारा जिलानि आरो बे जिलानि बर’फोरनि सोमोन्दै नायबिजिरनो
गोनां।
1. गवालपारा जिलानि सुबुं अनजिमा महरै बर’ माहारिआ मख’जाथाव बाहागो आरो बेनि
अनजिमाया 1 लाक 50 रोजा फ्राम। गासै आसामनि खुंथायारि हालामाव बेनि अनजिमाया दाइन लाकफ्राम।
गोबां अनजिमानि बर’फोरा बेंगल खुंथायारि हालामनि जलफायगुरु आरो कजबिहार
जिलायाव थायो। से लाक बाजि रोजानि अनगायै माखासे रोजा रोजा फोरखौ हिन्दु महरै
दिन्थिनाय (लानाय) जायनाखि गवालपारा जिलानि बर’फोरनि अनजिमाखौ इसेल’ जानायनि जाहोन। बर’फोरहा गावसोरनि आलादा
सोदोमस्रि दं। सुबुं सान्खो लिरबिदांआव बर’फोरनि थाखाय बर’ हिसाबै आलादा बाहागो थानांगौ। जारिमिनआ जोबोर
रोखायै फोरमायदों- बि फोलेरनि माखासेआ स’लन्थाइमा महाभारतनि समनिफ्राइनो आसामनि
जारिमिनआव बाहागो लाबोदों। आसामखौ समलाइबोनाय गोबां राजाफोरानो बेफोलेरनि। भिष्क
राजा, बालि राजा आरो विषश्व संह गासैबो बेफोलेरनिमोन।
2. बे फोलेरनि सुबुंफोरा दावहारु महरै जोनोम
मोन्दों आरो दाबो गोबां सुबुंफोरा ब्रिटिश सरकारनि सान्थ्रि हान्जायाव मुं दं।
बिजिनि हालाम आरो कसबिहार हालामनि गुबै बिगोमाया बे फोलेरनि सुबुंमोन। नाथाइ समनि
बोहैनायाव, बिसोर गावखौनो हिन्दुनि महर होदों। बिसोरनि हालामा (हाफोरा) दाबो दं
नाथाइ गाज्रियै नासय जानाय। जों गोदोसोनाय, जों सिगांआव खौसेयै माहारिनि बाथ्राखौ
फोरमायनो हायाखै। बेनिखायनो जों गोसोखां बिलाइखौ थि समाव गथाइनो हायाखै आरो जों
मिजिंथियो नोंथाङा बेखौ आजावगोन आरो भारतारि संबिजिरनि हिसाबै सावराइनो आखायाव
लागो, जाय रोखायै जोंनि राजखान्थिआरि जिउआव गोदान बुब्लि लाबोगोन।
3. बिसाइखथि बियाब- जोंनि बिबुंथि बादिब्ला, जथाइ
बिसाइखथि बियाब थानो नाङा। गासैबो थाखोनि सुबुंफोरा हालामनि आफादफोराव गावसोरनि
बिजाथि दैथाइ हरनायनि मोन्थाइ थानो नांगौ। मोनसे जुनिया बिथाथि, जेराव जोंनो होनाय
जायो जेराव जोंहा गुबैयै बिजाथि दैथाय हरनो हानायनि जेबो राहा गैया, जुदिउ जोंनि
माहारिनि गेजेराव गोबां अनजिमानि भत होगिरि दंब्लाबो जाय गवालपारा जिलानि गासै
सुबुं अनजिमानि द’ लाक दाइजिबा रोजा दाइजौ दाइजिनै। थाम लाक दजिगु रोजा थामजौ
गुजिस्निआ मुसलमान नङैफोरनि आखायाव। मुसलमान नङैनि ओंथिआ जाबाय हिन्दु,
क्रिष्तियान, जैन, सिक आरो बे रोखोम। उदारै नोजोर होयोब्ला नुयोदि- गुबुन
माहारिफोरा जेरै लादों बे बायदि जों गुस्लाइनायनि (reform) खाबुखौ लाना रंजानो हाया। बेनि सोलायै गोबां
अनजिमा थानानैबो गासै गुस्लाइनायनि (reform) खाबुफोरखौ ब्राम्णफोर एबा कथ्रिअ एबा सुद्रफोरासो
रंजागासिनो। बेनिखायनो जोंनि माहारिनि थामोन्थाखौ रैखाथि होनो थाखाय जोंहा काउनसिल
आव आलादा बिजाथि थानो नांगौ।
4. जोंनि बिबुंथि बादिब्ला जायगानि आफाद (local council) आव जेबो नैथि खलब थानो नाङा।
5. दायो माखासे हेंथाफोर दं जायनि जाहोनाव
गोबांखौनो गाव गावनि मोन्थाइखौ मोनफुंनायनिफ्राइ गोजानाव दोनो, जायफोरखौ बोस्रांनो
नांगौ आरो बेनि थाखायनो बांसिनै उदांस्रि होनो नांगौ। मिरुनि आयेनारि आफाद/संसद (central legislature) आव मोनब्रै सिट थानो नांगौ। मोनसेआ मुसलमानफोरनि थाखाय आरो गुबुन मोनथामआ
मुसलमान नङैफोरनि थाखाय आरो बे मोनथाम मुसलमान नङैफोरनि मोनसेआ आसामनि बर’फोरनि थाखाय थि (reserved) जानोनांगौ।
6. हायुंआरि रानसारथि- जोंनि जिलानि माखासे गोसो
गुदुं सुबुंफोरा गवलपारा जिलाखौ बेंगलजों दाजाबनायनो थाखाय खुद्रिदों। बबेखानि जों
बेखौ हेंथा होयो। गवालपाराया आसामनि आंगो आरो बाहागो आरो बेयो गोलाव समनिफेरायनो
माबादि बाहागो लाबोदों बेखौ जारिमिनआनो फोरमान होगोन। बे जिलानि सुबुंफोरनि हुदा
आरो आसारखान्थिफोरा बेंगलिफोरनिख्रुइ असमियाफोरजों गोरोबसिनो। जों बर’फोरा जिखेजाया जाहोनावनो
गावसोरखौ असमियानि अनगा गुबुन होननानै लाया। बे जिलाखौ बेंगलजों बुजाबनाया बे
माहारिनि थामोनथानिल अन्याय नङा नाथाइ गासै माहारिनिनो आरो बे बुजाबनाया जोंनि
गायै बिथिंआवनो जौगानायाव गाज्रियै हेंथा होगोन।
7. जों आरोबाव नोंथांनि सिगांआव फोरमाइनो लुगैयोदि,
धुबुरि साब-डिभिजननि सिङाव कक्राझार नङाबा हलतुगावआव मोनसे साब-डिभिजन थानो
नांगौ। बे माहारिआ फारिथि माहारि हिसाबै
मुलाम्पा जानो नांगौ आरो थिसननायआव बांसिनै राहा होनो नांगौ।
8. सोलोंथाइ आरो थिसननाय- जों सागान होगिरिफोरा
नोंथांनि सिगांआव आरज खालामोदि बे माहारिआ सरकारनिफ्राय सोलोंथाइ आरो थिसननायाव
जुनिया बान्जायनाय मोननो नांगौ। जोंनि माहारिआ सोलोंथाइनि बिथिंआव जोबोर
गोग्लैसोनाय। बेनि जाहोनावनो जोंनि सुबुंफोरा जेब्लाबो आन्दाय होजायो। बिसोर
गुबुनारि रां दाहार होगिरिफोरनिफ्राइ गावसोरखौ रैखा खालामनो हाया। बे जेंनाखौ
सुस्रांनो थाखाय लाथारनो गोनां (compulsory) गिबि-गुदि सोलोंथाइ आरो गोजौ सोलोंथाइ लानाय बर’ फराइसाफोरनि थाखाय जुनिया
रांबान्था (Scholarship) थानो नांगौ। सिगांआव फोरमायनाय बादि गोबां अनजिमानि जोंनि
सुबुंफोरा रौनिया हान्जायाव हाबा मावदों आरो बेबादिनो ब्रितिस सरकारनि थाखाय
सोद्रोमै हाबा मावबोदों। जों माखासे हायुंआरि आरो मावफुं बिबान (post) खौबो जोंनि गोजौ सोलोंथाइ
लानाय सुबुंफोरनि थाखाय दाबि खालामनो।
9. गोबां अनजिमानि बर’ सान्थ्रिफोरा गुरखा
रेजिमेन्तआव सोसन जादों आरो बिसोरखौ गुबैयै बर’ होननानै मिथियो। जोंनि बिबुंथि बादिब्ला,
आसामनि बर’फोरनि थाखाय आलादा बर’ रेजिमेन्त मुङै मोनसे रेजिमेन्त थानांगौ।
10. ओनसोलारि बर्ड (Local Boards)- मावख’नि समाव बर्डनि मासिगिरि- गोबां हा थानायफोरखौ
सरासनस्रा समसतिनिफ्राय बिसाइखथिआव बाहागो लाहोनो नाङा। जुदि बिसोरनि थाखाय आलादा
मासि होयोब्ला जोंहा जेबो हेंथा गैया।
11. धुबुरि आनसोलारि बर्डनि बर्ड बिसाइखथिनि बेलायाव
जोंनि माहारिहा आलादा बिसाइखथि बियाब थानो नांगौ- बिलासिपारा, कक्राझार, बिजिनि
आरो धुबुरि तानानि सिंआव - जेरै मुसलमानफोरहा दं । बर’ सुबुंफोरा जायफोर जायगाफोराव बांसिन बैफोराव
धुबुरि ओनसोलारि बर्डनि थाखाय आलादा सिट थानो नांगौ। सिगांआव फोरमायनाय बादि जोंनि
सुबुंफोरा सोलोंथाइ गैयै आरो नासय जानाय। बेखायनो बिसोरो गुबुनफोरजों गोरलैयैनो
बिसाइय़थिनि समाव आन्दाय होजायो आरो जाउनाव गुबुन माहारिनि सुबुंफोरा साइख जायो।
सोलोंथाइ गैयै, नासयजानाय आरो गुबुन माहारिफोरनि गोहोमखौ नोजोर होननानै जों जोबोर
मिजिंजों आरज खालामो जाहाते जों धुबुरि ओनसोलारि बर्डनि थाखाय आलादा सिट मोनो। आरो
गवालपारा ओनसोलारि बर्डआवबो बे बादिनो। बेआवबो जोंनो आलादा सिट नांगौ।
12. जोबनायाव, जों नोंथांनि सिगांआव आरज खालामोदि,
जुदि गोनां जायोब्ला, जोंनि जायखिजाया सासेआ नोंथांनि सिगांआव नुजाथिनो गोसो जायो
आरो फोरमान होनो सानो।
(बे गोसोखां बिलाइखौ
1929 माइथायनि 4 जानुवारि खालार खालि बेलासि 2:30 रिंगायाव चिलंआव साइमन कमिसननि सिगांआव
फरायथिनानै होनाय जायो आरो गथाइनाय जायो।)
