Evolution of Rajbanshi Society: A Historical Assessment

Rajbanshis, an indigenous community of northern portion West Bengal, in the past they were the majority people of North Bengal, particularly in the districts of Jjalpaiguri, Rangpur, Dinajpur and the plain areas of Darjeeling district and the Cooch Behar state. Other than North Bengal, Rajbanshis had been living in the other parts of Bengal and Assam.There are many debates on the origin and ethnic identity of the Rajbanshis, in spite of that it is agreed by most of the scholars and historians that the Rajbanshis originated from Koch, a tribal community belonged to IndoMongoloid race. Since the colonial period huge number of people of different castes, classes and religions immigrated in this region, particularly in the post colonial period more uncountable people migrated from East Bengal, as a result they became minority in North Bengal and became helpless losing their lands and property. Now-a-days they have faced different types of crises and problems.