Dimasa

The Dimasa (known as Kachari in history) are one of the oldest living tribes of Northeast India with a kingdom and its rich history of 800 years (11th to 19th century). The word Dimasa means "son of the great river" where di means "water", ma means "big" and sa means "son". Presently, with a population of approximately 1.5-2 lakhs in northeast India, they are found in the four regions, namely, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi in Barak valley (Hawar), Dima Hasao (Hasao), Hojai and Lanka (Demra), East Karbi Anglong in Assam and Dimapur in Nagaland (Dijuwa). There are several dialects of the language, such as Hasao, Hawar, Dembra, and Dijuwa, of which Hasao is adopted as standard dialect since 2004 by Dimasa Sahitya Sabha. Dimasa is a Bodo-Garo language from the Tibeto-Burman language family and is a vulnerably endangered language because of limited use except for in the home and intra social gathering. The archive thus documents folk genres, livelihood, and culture and traditions of the Dimasa and the language to protect and preserve the living practices of the people as well as the language for future generations.

Dimasa (jarmin ha Kachari thihi mithijaoyaba) sainklip sainja Bahrat ha maithaijang raja-jai maithaisagangha (Raja-jiseniprang Rajaji-sugukhara maithai) dongjen-phaiyaba jadituni bisingha jadisi: Dimapurniphrang Maibang, Khaspurniphrang Harithikar Rajathanisosi dongjenyarao. Dimasa nigrao jakha, Dima ni basa; eraha di nigrao jaka di, ma nigrao jakha guwar, sa nigrao jakha basa. Duha sainklip sainja Bharat ha kribjang, lakh sigejerniphrang lakh gni lei jonkhrojadu. Assam ni Kolongma haphai-Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakhandi (Hawar); Dima Hasao (Hasao); Hojai ode Lanka (Demra), Karbi Anglong ode Nagaland ni Dimapur (Dijuwa) ha dongyarao jadu. Ebo haphai Hawar, Hasao, Demra, Dijuwabutuha Dima graojoba sainlaibaha grao-birili kaisa gibin gibin jadu; tikabo Dimasa Sahitya Sabha (Dimasa Lairidim Mel) lailangyaba rijingni maithaibriniprang Dima Hasao ha sailai-songyaba Dima graokhening khatiktik jadaotihi ajaopabulaidu. Dima graola Bodo jang Garo jadinigrao bosongse; Tibeto-Burman ma-graose ode gibin gibin hathaniha isi sainlaiyayaba, nohkor, somaj-haprai, melsaha kaisa hafaibutuhasining sainlai songyaba magraose. Odebani elei kaisa haphaiha sining sainlaiyaba Dima graokhe, jadinigainsari-pinsari, jharmin-kharmin, baithai-luthai, dongthai-jithai-solithai edebasi yaowaisonghi solilaiba jagabdaorihima thangpinma odejang phaiginyaba kharani basainha boyaowaiba thangdaohi jagabdaorine jadini magrao, gainsari-pinsari, jharmin-kharmin, edebasi ragao ragao haprangmairipumane document laijab rebkhuhi danghi gejebkhu thatimane habasongpalangdu.

Photography by: Dipankar Mech

Makeup: Nihar Ranjan Goswami

Costume Designer: Debina Bathari/Ponjit Sorongphang

Models: Barbie, Paishringdi Niha, Liana, Dhoniraj, Sarporaj, Sonob

Photography project under the guidance of Zed Nunisa

If you have questions about anything related to the Dimasa materials on this archive, or how you could join the Dimasa archive team, please send an email to archivedimasa@gmail.com.

Recent DH Items
Community
बर' Bodo, Dimasa
Category
Scholarly Works
Summary
Report by Christina Wasson's Summer 2020 Class
Community
Dimasa
Category
History, Oral Traditions
Summary
Hawarma is famous for its oral history of the royal tanks from the reigns of Raja Tamradhvaj Hasnu and Raja Krishna Chandra Hasnu in the 17th and 18th centuries. Presently, these tanks like Baro Hal and Padda Dighir Par have been converted to fisheries.
Community
Dimasa
Category
History, Traditional Practices, Oral Traditions
Summary
The Durga temple was built during the reign of the Dimasa King Tamradhvaj, and it is about 600 years old, accord. to the community members of the Hawarma village.It is presently under the care of the Bengali priest in Thakurbari area near Hawarma village.
Community
Dimasa
Category
People, History, Oral Traditions
Summary
The Gor Ail hillock is a historical significance to the Dimasa Kachari history, as it bears its name, Gor Ail (in Sylheti Bengali ‘Came home’), after the retreat of Dimasa soldiers in the hillock after a battle with Burmese soldiers in the 18th century.
Community
Dimasa
Category
People, History, Traditional Practices
Summary
The image shows the Shibarai Madaikho (Shiv temple) of Sheorarthal village in Cachar district, Assam.