'Boroni Monthri' Rupnath Brahma

Marking the 119th birth anniversary of Rupnath Brahma on 15th June 2021

Dr Nandini Moral Sarma

(The writer is Associate Professor and Head of History Department, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati. She can be reached at nandini@pragjyotishcollege.ac.in)

Rupnath Brahma was born on 15th June 1902 in a Bodo family at Owabari near Kokrajhar. He was a multifaceted personality as he was not only meticulous in Academics (passed with a scholarship from Kokrajhar Upper Primary School) but had also left his mark in the field of literature and social activities right from his Cotton College days. Just like his contemporaries such as Ambikagiri Rai Choudhury and Banikanta Kakati who were working towards the development of Assamese literature, he along with one Modaram Brahma had tried to do the same by compiling Bodo (poems and songs) in their work "Khantai-Methai". Rupnath was an active worker of the 'Bodo Chatra Sanmilan' which was established by Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma in 1919.

He was serious about his education and therefore refused to join the Quit India Movement of 1921 during his college days, for he realized at a very young age that he had to siphon the knowledge acquired, to help his brother Bodos to emancipate. Although he was born in a privileged Timber Merchant's family and was an Advocate (first law graduate from Bodo society) by profession, he quit practising as he did not enjoy the ways and mores of the profession and could not taste success like some of his contemporaries in the then Dhubri Court, who took full advantage of lack of education and simplicity of the poor Bodo people.

He decided to follow the path of Kalicharan Brahma of working towards the development of Bodos and the other Tribal groups as well. Therefore, he came into close contact with him and jointly took up several social welfare activities for the Bodos and other backward communities. He had also set his foot in politics for the first time by contesting for Dhubri Local Board which ultimately opened avenues for a political career. Unfortunately due to the sudden demise of his father, he could not attend the Historic Raha Convention of the Plain Tribal League in 1933. However, he had sent a message advising the convention to adopt the name 'Assam Backward Tribal League' which the convention endorsed.

The Government of India Act 1935 sowed the seeds of Political aspirations among Bodos and other backward Tribals in Assam as it provided for the reservation of six seats in the Provincial Assembly for the Plains Tribes. Rupnath was not only qualified but he wanted to work towards the uplift of the depressed classes. Hence, he was elected as one of the representatives, in the 1937 General Election. Later he won from the Sidli Constituency on the ticket of The Tribal League. This election was a historic moment for the Tribal League because as many as five representatives from the Tribal League had been elected to the Provincial Legislature and they could float their concerns and put up the demands of the Tribal people on the floor of the Assembly.

Rupnath Brahma in his speech in the Assam Legislative Assembly Proceedings (ALAP) of 5th August 1937 had raised the issue of preserving the 'Line System'' and he cited the example of erstwhile Goalpara "Many Tribal people in Goalpara have been compelled to leave their homes and settle elsewhere". Therefore, he and his colleagues from The Tribal League could gauge the treacherous intention of the Muslim League related to the 'Line System'. Hence the Tribal League backed the Indian National Congress (INC) and played a pertinent role by coming down heavily on the Muslim League and subsequently the government fell on 13th September 1938, which in turn played a decisive factor in the win of INC led by Gopinath Bardoloi on 19th September 1938. Subsequently, Rupnath was rewarded for his effort and was given the portfolio of the Minister of Forest and Registration as a nominee of the Tribal League. When Rupnath Brahma was the president of All Assam Plains Tribal League he had sent a memorandum to His Excellency the Viceroy stating that the proposed grouping of Assam with Bengal has naturally created a sense of great disapproval and resentment and that the Tribal people of Assam are unanimously against the inclusion of Assam with Bengal.

Rupnath also lamented; that authorities had sidelined the issue of education of Backward Tribal people of the region. In his Assam Legislative Assembly Proceedings (ALAP) speech on 18th February 1938; he said that he was disappointed with the fact that the government had not earmarked provision for the Plain Tribal people in that year's Budget even though Tribals were the most Backward in the region. He further said; "If there is no definite move from the government for the education of these people, then I think all nation-building projects will be left far behind in Assam". Rupnath (who had studied in a Bengali medium school) had realized that as a result of the Treaty of Yandaboo; till 1872 Bengali was the medium of instruction and although; Assamese was reintroduced but in many schools of lower Assam Bengali was still the medium of instruction; therefore Rupnath along with Kalicharan Brahma and Sarat Goswami made relentless efforts to introduce Assamese as a medium of instruction in erstwhile Goalpara instead of the prevailing Bengali medium at that time.

Rupnath had the opportunity to serve the backward and downtrodden tribals when he became a member of the Advisory Committee of the Minority Sub-Committee or Bardoloi sub-committee formed on 27th February 1947. As a member of these committees, he obtained some facilities from the Central Government that would serve the interest of the Tribals. As a member of the Assam Tribal and Excluded Areas Sub-Committee, he rendered yeoman's service to the Sub-Committee. The present Sixth Schedule was added to the Constitution of India on the recommendation of this Sub-Committee.

In the last two years before independence feuds broke out among the members of the Tribal League over the issue of participation in the nationwide provincial election declared by the Government of India in 1945. Against the opinion of the League, a few tribal leaders joined the Congress and got elected on the Congress ticket. Despite being a Tribal League candidate Brahma joined the Congress along with Bhimbar Deori in 1946. They both later issued long explanations showing causes leading to their joining the Congress. Like education, political positions were more immediate empowerment. It is not for selfish interests but in the wider perspective of the welfare of the community that Brahma and others had chosen the party and won with a Congress ticket.

Another criticism faced by Rupnath was that during the creation of United Mikir Hills and NC Hills District inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Assam Bishnu Ram Medhi on 23rd June 1952, the District Council was predominantly occupied by Bodo and Tiwas and other people apart from Karbi people. But, when the general election for the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies were held they (Bodo people) realized that their name was not included in the Scheduled Tribes (Hills) list for which they could not be represented in the State Legislative Assembly or the Parliament. Lalung (Tiwa) people who have been living in the hills of Amri Block of Karbi Anglong with distinct culture and tradition were deprived of their rights. Therefore, the Bodo and Tiwas felt betrayed and felt that their brothers' Rupnath and his colleagues such as Samson Enti, Khorsing Terang had betrayed them.

Rupnath continued with his career despite the ups and downs, and even during the Chinese invasion during 1962 (Indo-Sino war) Rupnath had personally gone to places such as Tezpur, Gohpur to hold meetings and boost the morale of the public. Brahma had an impeccable stint as a minister for three decades.

The Bodo people used to fondly call him 'Boroni Monthri'(Minister of the Bodos). He was an eloquent speaker and the masses loved his speech and called him 'Real Bagmibar' as he was no less considered than Nilmoni Phukan. He was regarded as a symbol of communal peace and harmony. He understood the fact that culture is the first requirement for affinity among the people and hence preservation of culture should be the main goal for maintenance of unity among all.