An Introduction to the Colonial Identity of the Greater MATAK Community of Assam: Religion, Community, Ethnicity and State (1760-1900)

The ‘Matak’ alias ‘Mayamara’ refers to a Sect or Community whose   religious way of life is based on the ideology of Aniruddhadeva, a Vaishnava saint of the early 17^th century Assam. It hardly denotes a specific Jati, Tribe or Race as mistakenly labeled by some of the British writers as well as by a section of Mataks themselves. There have been people from several tribes and casts within the Matak community of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, such as Moran, Ahom, Kachari, Chutia, Brahmin, Kayastha, Kalita and Kaivarta. During the prolonged Matak Rebellion against the Ahom State (1769-1805), and after that within the Matak State (1805-1842) itself several internal contradictions emerged among various groups within the Matak community taking the shape of sub-sectarian as well as political rivalry. The Mataks who are enlisted within the ‘More Other Backward Classes (MOBC) of Assam, now are demanding for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status from the Indian Government along with five other OBC/MOBC communities- Ahoms, Koch-Rajbangshis, Morans, Chutiyas and Adivasis (Tea tribes). The political demands of Mataks along with that of the other communities has recently become a crucial issue in the electoral politics of Assam. However, a little attempt has been made in this article to highlight various socio-economic determinants of Matak identity politics as well to assess the growth of modern political consciousness among the Matak community during early Colonial era.

Keywords:
MATAK, Assam, Community, Ethnicity,