The Chutiyas of Assam is a branch of the great Bodo group of the Indo-Mongoldoid family who speak the Tibeto-Burma language section.11 It seems that tibese Tibeto-Burma speaking people lived on the banks of the Yang-Tse¬Kiang and the Howang-Ho River. They came down to the Valley of Brahmaputra and made their way into Assam. They extended their settlement throughout the Brahmaputra valley and the adjacent hills on either sides of the mighty river. One of the important groups of these people was the Bodo group which included the Koches, the Kocharis, the Lalung, the Dimasa, the Garo, the
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Rabha, the Tiwa, the Morans and the Chutiyas. These Bodo groups were the important Indo-Mongoloid people in eastern India and they were spread over the entire Brahmaputra valley and established the main bases of the present day population of this valley. However separation took place among these great Bodo Origin base on their Geographical isolation, Social disunity and political rivalry. They were divided into several groups and changed their
identity Under such waves of separation, the Chutiya also emanated as a separate clan and they established a kingdom in upper most part of Assam.
It was the British who first introduced the extensive Anthropological study in India. The studies, infact from the basis of present races in the subject. The studies should be considered vary authentic because for the British demography study was very important from the point of view of empire Building. Therefore to study the origin of the Chutiyas we first prefer the reference of British scholars. We mentioned here some important reference of British scholars.
John M'cosh mentioned in his Topography of Assam/ that Chutiyas is a hill Tribe like Rabha, Laung and Mikir.13
t Camel E.T. Delton has mentioned in his 'Descriptive Ethonology of Bengal' that "the tribes called Bihiya are the same family, and as a tribe of Lalungs in upper Assam claim to be of Chutiya descent, it is not unlikely that all the Lalungs are Chutiyas.14 Colonel Hannay said that "If the dialect spoken by Decries be truly the language of Chutiya, it proves the linguistic affinities of the tribe to be with Garo and Bodo".15 Willan Hunter observed that "Chutiya; said to be a branch of the Shan tribe, who having overthrown the native dynasty of Assam, were themselves in turn conquered by the Ahoms".16 In Imperial Gazetteer of India mention have been made that the Chutiyas as a tribe of Bodo origin. 17
2881 it was mentioned that the language spoken by the Deori-Chutiyas has a strong affinity with Kachari, and the Chutiyas may, therefore, be regarded as branch of the Bodo race" 19 According to this census report there have 59163 thousand Chutiyas people in Assam. 2''
In the census report of 1891 the Chutiyas were also listed as forest and hill Tribes.
During the post independence period, the District Gazatteers which are published by the Government of Assam, they have also mentioned the Chutiyas like the Koch and Ahoms are one of the race caste {Plain Tribes) of Assam. Their physical appearance suggests a Mongolian origin, their language, which is still preserved amongst the Deories or priestly clan that belongs to the Bodo family and it seems likely that they are a section of Great Bodo race which includes the Caro, the Kachari and the Tippera. 22
Sidney Endle who studied undertaken research works on the Kacharis had also mentioned that "a branch of the widespread Kachari race, known as Chutiyas, undoubtedly held away in eastern Assam for a lengthened period. The Capital quarters of their the Chutiyas) was at or near the modern Sadiya. 43 He also mentioned that the Morans and the Chutiyas in upper Assam, whose language, not although extinct as yet, though apparently dying out rapidly, would seem to prove them to be closely akin to the Kachari (Bodo) race, z4
Rabhas, Kacharies, Chutiyas, Mikirs and Laungs.... Many of the inhabitants of Lakhirnpur still call themselves Chutiyas;. 25
The Assamese Chronicle writer Podrneswar Nowbaisa Phukan state that Chutiya and Kochari are the same clan and Chutiyas were called Chutia-Kochari at first. 26
Assamese Chronicle writer Moniarm Dewan in his book Turonji Bibekratnal that Borahi, Kochari and the Chutiyas was the first habitant people of Assam. He classified all the inhabitants cast and tribes of Assam according to their social status. Where the hindu Chutiyas social rank is in 17 No's., Chang Borahi (a sub clan of Chutiya) in 20 Nos., Chutia into 22 Nos., Buruk Chutia into 24 Nos., Mati Borahi (Chutia) into 25 Nos., Barahi into 29 Nos., and Chutia Miri into 36 Nos., 27
According to Konaklal Baruah `Chutia are the tribes of great Bodo origin. 28 Archeologist Raj Mohan Nath also argument same with K.L. Baruah. 29 Dr. Surya Kumar Bhuyan edited the Kachori Burnaji where he mentioned that Chutiyas and Kacharies have the similarities in their religious faith. Both these two clan worship the mother Goddess of Kechuikhati and the God of wealth Kuber. The Kacharis worship the God Kuber as Kubar bri (Male) and Kuber brui (female). A similar legend of "Golden cat" is also prevalent among these both tribes. 3°
The famous linguist & Litterature Kaliram Medhi mentioned in his book "Asomiya Blynkaran Aru Bhosatatro" that during the time of starting the systematic history in Assam the entire land was dominated by the Chutiyas in
east and Kocharies in western part. Both these two tribes descended from Tibentan Origin of great Bodo race. The tribes Garu, Rabha, Lalung, Hazong, Hujai and Dimasa are the other branches of Bodo Origin. 31
The famous literature and linguist Dr. Banikanata Kakoti briefly describes the worship ritualism of 1Kachoikhatai' or `Tetrneswari Mai' in his book The Mother Goddess Kamakhya'. According to this description "the people who brought this Goddess to awful prominence were the Chutiyas, a Mongolian tribe who were reigning at Sadiya at the beginning of the thirteenth century. The temple officers were all Chutiyas and the priests called themselves Deories, a title they must have inherited from former ministrants." 32
Dr, Birinci Kumar Baruah mentioned in his book 'A Cultural history of Assam' that the Chutiyas are one of the sub-groups of great Bodo origin like the conch, Kosari, Lalung, Dimasa, Garu, Rabha, Tipura and Moran. 33
According to Dr. fvloheswar Neog, "The Chutiyas are Bodo Origin. He state that from ancient time the Brahmaputra Valley and its surrounding hills area were inhabited by the Tibeto Burman origin Chutiya, Moran, Lalung, Hujai, Dimasa, Kachari, Mech, Rabha, Tipra, Garu and Hazong.34
Dr. Podmeswar Gogoi mentioned in his book The Toi and the Tai Kingdom' that during the time of advent of Sukafa, the entire eastern Assam was under the tribes of great Bodo Mongoloid. A powerful clan of among this Bodo origin was Chutiaya. They ruled over in the eastern part of Subansiri and Disang river and their capital was at Sadiya. 35
Sorbananclaa Rajkurnar in his book 71-ihose Suwara Sokhcta gosor/ mentions that Chutiyas were descended from mongoloid origin There priestly class Deori language is Bodo origin. 36
According to Dr, Sistridhar Duna, Chutiyas are the Bodo origin and their language is similar with Kachari. 37
According to a famous Anthropologist Dr, Bhuban Mohan Das 'Chutiyas are the ancient Mongoloid people and they rule over in upper Assam for a long
a
in the Hen9kukha and the Chandrokanta Abhitthan, the two prominent Assamese dictionary give the term 'Chutiya' as an aboriginal tribe of Assam who came from the hills and now settled in the plains.
The rhutiyu latir Buranje edited by Dr. Swarnalate Baruah and Dr. Danibarudhar Nath (2005) is an authentic source for study the history and culture of the Chutiyas. This book gives thorough and minute study of the origin at Chutiyas and finally it proves that Chutiyas are one of the ancient inhabitants of Assam and they belong to the great Indo-Mongoloid Bodo origin.°
These are the brief Historical and Anthropological data for study the origin of the Chutiyas, There are many other Historical and Anthropological sources available to study the origin of Chutiyas. From the above discussion it is clear that the Chutiyas belong to Indy-Mongoloid origin of great Bodo race. Because their physical features, racial, origin, language, Customs and Culture are similar with present existing plain and hill tribes Assam. The Bodo, Sonowal, Tiwa, Deori, (Conch, Rabha, Mech, Hazong, Hujai, Thengal, Dirnasa, Garu, Moran and Chutiya are the homogenous groups of Mongoloid origin.