From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, December 16: The World Bodo Historical Society (WBHS) on Wednesday rejected the All Assam Koch Students' Union (AAKSU) theory of Koch origin of Bodo Kacharis on the basis of statistical report.
In a press statement issued by the working president of the WBHS, Jaklal Basumatary said it was not the mere claim of World Bodo Historical Society but a historical fact that King Biswa Singha, rayan, Chilarai were not Koch but Mech. It is in historical records written in the books in the royal court during the lifetime of the kings. "Darangor Rajvangsawali written by Surjyakari Daibagya in Samudra rayan's court, Rajaupakhyan by Jaith Munchi in Raja Harendra rayan's court, Fatiha-E-Ibrihia by Sahabuddin Talish in Raja Pran rayan's court and Kochbihar rajyer rajbansawali by Bhagabati Charan Bandhyapodhya on the occasion of the royal corotion of Raja Nripendra rayan all have recoded that the Kochbihar royal dysty belonged to Mech tribe of Haoria Mech, (Sankritized Haria Mech)," he said adding that the Mech kings were termed as Koch after converting to Hinduism by their Brahmin priests during the Joginitantra era in 16th century. He said the Bodos were called Mech and Kacharis by the Hindus. Thus, the so-called Koch kings were none but Mech or Bodo or Kacharis. In fact, Biswa Singha and rrayan were related to Bodo religious rituals and belief, Basumatary said, adding that rrayan performed puja as per Kachari rites with Kachari soldiers before setting out for battle. He also said that rayan prohibited spread of Hindu religion in the northern side of Goshain Kamal royal road for protection of Bodo or Kachari religion, the Hindu practice was allowed only in southern side of the said road.
The statement said that "Ari" is a Bodo word which means clan according to profession or character or duty of the clan to the society. Koch is not profession or character or duty of the clan. Therefore Kachari is not Koch origin by suffixing Ari. Kachari is other me of Bodo or Mech race not clan, Basumatary said adding that Sir Edward Gait termed this particular Koch as Hinduized Bodo and therefore, AAKSU's claim that Bodos and Kacharis are of Koch origin was not correct. This particular Koch is imposed me of Mech by Hindu writers, he added.