The 16th of May 2022, the Kamrup Metro witnessed a historic moment for the entire ‘Deshi’ community, a day with the hope that this date will be remembered forever and that a new journey will begin with the formation of all the newly selected members of the *Deshi Janagosthiya Yuba Chatra Mancha [DJYCM] Kamrup Metro Dist Committee* honoured with various designations and responsibilities.
It was commemorated with President Shahidul Amin and General Secretary Aziz Zwaddar for their successful journey, which was formed by the house presided over by advisor Shri Islamul Haque Mondal in the presence of Sahidul Islam, Saiful Islam, and other guests and dignitaries, and observed by Muzahidul Islam and Amzad Ali from the central body.
History of ‘Deshi’ Community
Although the word ‘Deshi’ is not commonly heard, and many of us are unaware of its existence, this community is one of the erstwhile communities whose identity was partially lost in the mob of the majority. King Bakhtiyar Khilji was guided by Mech king Ali Mech during his march to Tibet through Assam in 1205 AD. Ali Mech converted to Islam along the journey, along with thousands of others who are thought to be the forefathers of the Deshi community. Eventually, throughout the medieval period, a bigger group of individuals converted from Koch Rajbangsi, Nath, Jogi, Kalita, Rabha, Boro, Namasudra, Garo, Bodo, and Napit indigenous populations.
However, anthropologists claim that the vast majority of today’s Deshis are descendants of the converted Koch-Rajbongsihs of Kamrup-Kamata. Since then, these people have lived in undivided Goalpara, which is now a part of Boko (Kamrup rural), Goalpara, South Salmara-Mankachar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Chirang, and a small piece of Barpeta with a small population as well as in the plaint belt of Meghalaya state and its and others part.
W.W. Hunter, noting the ethnic, linguistic, and cultural similarities between Deshi Muslims and Koches, referred to the ‘Deshis’ as ‘Musalman Koch’ in the first census report of British India, performed in 1872. However, the Deshis’ ethnic identification has waned through time, and religious identity has become the main determining factor. The Deshis speak a language known as ‘Deshi Bhasha.’
The ‘Deshi Janagosthiya Mancha’ And The ‘Deshi Janagosthiya Yuba Chatra Mancha’
The ‘Deshi Janagosthiya Mancha’, Assam, was founded on April 24, 2016 as an initiative to unify all intellectual and accomplished people of Deshi under one banner. It is playing an important role in community awareness and upbringing. The government of Assam has taken a commendable step in forming seven subgroups to work on various issues such as education, culture and tradition, health, skill development, women empowerment, population stabilization, and so on, in order to develop Assam’s indigenous Muslim communities, the Deshi, Syed, Goriya, Moria, and Jolha.
The primary motive of these Deshi community in forming ‘Deshi Janagosthiya Yuba Chatra Mancha’ with the majority of these community’s youths to come forward and work with a defined vision and mission with a realistic and measurable action plan to improve and stabilize education, health, and finance. Education, health, infrastructure, skill development, anti-corruption, and creating a good and start-up atmosphere are the major sectors on which everyone should concentrate.
These communities’ youth are their future, and they may once again rise above the millions to build their own identity and a community that every person should be aware of. These young people have the potential to empower themselves as well as the entire ‘Deshi’ community.
