Adivasi students demand certificates based on specific castes for Assam tea workers
2
3
4
5
6
Dibrugarh: Hundreds of members of the All Adivasi Students' Association of Assam (Aasaa) protested on NH-37 at Makum in Tinsukia district on Tuesday, seeking the issuance of caste certificates based on specific Adivasi identities rather than the current broad categorisation.
The protesters argued that the existing system overlooks the diverse cultural and historical identities of the 108 castes and sub-castes within Assam's tea community.
Currently, Assam govt issues other backward classes (OBC) caste certificates to the tea community under four categories — tea garden labourers, tea garden tribes, ex-tea garden labourers, and ex-tea garden tribes. The Aasaa claimed this classification erases the distinct identities of communities such as Santhal, Oraon, Munda, Kharia, Bhumij, Teli, Tanti, Kurmi, Karmakar, Mahato, Nagbansi, Kanika, and Rajgarh, among others.
"Our identity is being diluted. We are not just 'tea tribes' or 'tea labourers'. We belong to specific castes with rich histories and cultures. The govt must recognise us as Santhals, Oraons, Mundas, and so on, not just as a homogenous group tied to the tea industry. We demand the caste certificates be issued as per our caste or sub-caste," said Albert Oreya, president of Aassa's Tinsukia district unit, leading the protest.
The Adivasi tea workers trace their roots back to the early 19th century, when the British brought them from the Chotanagpur plateau to work in Assam's tea estates. Despite their long-standing presence in the state, the community feels their distinct identities remain unrecognised. "Our ancestors were brought to Assam by the British to work in tea estates. We are the indigenous people of Assam. In other states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, they are given caste certificates based on their specific caste.
We want this in Assam as well," Oreya added.
The protesters warned of political consequences if their demands are not met. "We demand that the BJP govt resolves this issue before the upcoming Assam assembly elections, otherwise our whole community will boycott the party," the Aasaa leader said.
The demonstration concluded with the submission of a memorandum to the local circle officer, urging the govt to amend the current caste certificate policy. Aasaa has vowed to intensify their agitation if their demands are not addressed promptly. The issue has gained traction ahead of the state elections, with the Adivasi community asserting their right to distinct recognition beyond their association with the tea industry.
Stay updated with the latest local news from your
city
on
Times of India
(TOI). Check upcoming
bank holidays
,
public holidays
, and current
gold rates
and
silver prices
in your area.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
23 minutes ago
- NDTV
Chauri Chaura Incident Of 1922: When Freedom Protest Turned Violent
Four years after the end of the First World War, wherein Indian soldiers fought alongside the British, the struggle for the country's freedom was well underway. The political class, led by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and umpteen others from the Indian National Congress, knew one thing: the people of India deserved complete freedom from the Raj. While many remember the heroic marches and peaceful protests, some events revealed the raw anger and frustration of a people oppressed for decades. Among them was the Chauri Chaura incident, when a non-violent protest turned violent. In 1922, in a market town in the United Provinces - now Uttar Pradesh - an angry mob set a police station on fire. Though school history textbooks dedicated barely a paragraph to Chauri Chaura, the name has stayed with generations. The Chauri Chaura Incident 1922 On 4 February 1922, in Chauri Chaura, Gorakhpur district, police opened fire on a large group of protesters participating in the non-cooperation movement. In retaliation, the demonstrators attacked and set fire to the police station, killing all its occupants. The violence killed three civilians and 22 policemen. Nineteen demonstrators were sentenced to death, while 14 were handed down life imprisonment by the British colonial authorities. The Background From 1920 onwards, Indians, under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership, were engaged in a nationwide non-cooperation movement. Using Satyagraha, a philosophy of non-violent civil disobedience, the Indian National Congress organised protests to challenge oppressive colonial laws, such as the Rowlatt Act, with the ultimate goal of attaining Swaraj (home rule). The Incident Two days before the incident, on 2 February 1922, volunteers led by retired British Indian Army soldier Bhagwan Ahir protested against high food prices and liquor sales at Gauri Bazaar. Local police, led by Daroga Gupteshwar Singh, beat back the demonstrators, and several leaders were arrested and locked up in the Chauri Chaura police station. On 4 February, some 2,000-2,500 protesters assembled and marched toward the market lane to picket the liquor shop. Armed police were dispatched to control the situation, while protesters shouted anti-British slogans. Attempting to disperse the crowd, Gupteshwar Singh ordered his 15 officers to fire warning shots into the air, but this only enraged the protesters, who began throwing stones. As the situation spiralled, sub-inspector Prithvi Pal ordered the police to fire directly at the advancing crowd, killing three civilians and wounding several others. Overwhelmed and heavily outnumbered, the police retreated to the station. In rage, the protesters set the chowki ablaze, killing all officers, including Gupteshwar Singh, trapped inside. Most victims were burned alive, while some were killed at the entrance and thrown into the fire. Reports vary, but 22 or 23 policemen were reported dead. Aftermath In response, the British declared martial law, conducted raids, and arrested. Shocked by the violence, Mahatma Gandhi went on a five-day fast to atone, realising he had rushed the protest without stressing non-violence. He felt the people were not ready for independence and needed more preparation. Mahatma Gandhi was later arrested and sentenced to six years in prison, but he was released in February 1924 because of ill health.
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Melania Trump puts Hunter Biden on $1 billion notice, till he retracts ‘false, defamatory' Epstein comments
US First Lady Melania Trump has threatened to sue former US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden if he doesn't retract his 'false, defamatory, and lewd' comments linking her to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Melania referred to statements made by Hunter Biden in an interview earlier this month with British journalist Andrew Callaghan. Biden, during the interview, alleged that Epstein introduced the first lady to US President Donald Trump. Melania Trump's lawyer Alejandro Brito wrote a letter to Hunter Biden wherein he said the statements made by Biden are false, defamatory and 'extremely salacious'. The lawyer wrote that Biden's remarks were widely circulated on social media and reported by media across the globe which has caused the first lady 'to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm.' NEW – Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract 'false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements' about Epstein and her, threatening legal action if Hunter does not comply. — (@disclosetv) August 13, 2025 Lawyers for the first lady have said that if Hunter Biden fails to retract his statements, she will seek $1 billion in damages. The notice letter has been sent to Biden and his lawyers which states that if there's a failure to comply, Melania Trump will pursue 'remedies available to her to recover the overwhelming financial and reputational harm that you have caused her to suffer'. Hunter Biden states that Jeffrey Epstein introduced Melania to Trump — a lie so egregious that Melania's lawyers just successfully secured a retraction from the Daily Beast for reporting such. Lawsuit time. — johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) August 5, 2025 Biden made the Epstein comments during the interview wherein he criticized 'elites' and lashed out at others in the Democratic Party as he claimed that the party undermined his father before he dropped out the presidential race in July last year. In one of the comments, Biden said 'Epstein introduced Melania to Trump. The connections are, like, so wide and deep.' Biden attributed his claims to author Michael Wolff, who was called a 'Third rate reporter' by President Trump in June. The US president has accused Wolff of making up stories in order to sell her books. The president and the first lady have maintained their stance that they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998, Associated Press reported.
NDTV
36 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Do or Die": Mahatma Gandhi's Call That Sparked India's Final Push For Freedom
When the British refused to grant India freedom despite the sacrifices the country made during World War II, Mahatma Gandhi's clarion call of "Do or Die" became the anthem of a nation ready to risk everything. It was a declaration that freedom was worth any price, even life itself. The Quit India Movement of 1942 was the fiercest campaign of civil disobedience against colonial rule. At the time, India had been under British colonial rule for nearly two centuries. Although the Indian National Congress had long been advocating for self-rule, hopes for a peaceful transfer of power were dashed repeatedly. World War II intensified the crisis. The British government dragged India into the war without consulting its leaders. As a part of the Allied Nations, India contributed over two and a half million soldiers who fought under British command against the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). The British promised independence only after the war's end. This vague assurance was unacceptable to Mahatma Gandhi and millions of Indians who had already waited too long. On August 8, 1942, at the All India Congress Committee session in Bombay, Mahatma Gandhi stood before a packed hall and delivered his speech. He declared that the time had come for the British to "Quit India." His exact words were: "We shall either free India or die in the attempt." "You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. The mantra is: 'Do or Die'," he said. The movement demanded every Indian participate in the struggle, prepared to face imprisonment, violence, and even death if necessary. Despite the non-violent principles of Satyagraha, the British authorities responded with harsh repression. The British arrested over 100,000 individuals, including key leaders. Mahatma Gandhi and most Congress leaders were detained. Across cities and villages, protests erupted, strikes crippled administration, and acts of sabotage challenged colonial control. Women, students, workers, peasants became torchbearers of this mass movement, defying curfews and risking their lives. The British government responded with massive force. Thousands were imprisoned without trial, and many were killed in police firing. Communication lines were cut, newspapers censored, and entire regions were placed under military control. Even from prison, Mahatma Gandhi continued to inspire and influence the movement through letters and messages to his followers. Although the Quit India Movement did not immediately end British rule, it weakened the British government's hold over India. The movement accelerated the march toward independence, which was finally achieved five years later, in 1947. India celebrates its 79th Independence Day this year.
