Analytical Study of Deori Ethnic Identity Living in Assam

Abstract

Like every tribe living in the north-east of India, the Deori community too has its own cultural identity. Deori culture has contributed immensely in giving a diverse and perennial look to the larger Assamese culture. The Deoris, who mainly live in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, belong to the Assamese-Burmese branch of the Tibeto-Burmese region of the Sino-Tibetan language-family in anthropological considerations and in linguistic terms. Not all Deori people use Deori because of the geographical location of the Deori people living in different parts of Assam and are influenced by different language speakers. There are four faids of the Deori tribe. These are: 1) Dibangia Faid 2) Tendapania Faid 3) Bargaya Faid and 4) Patargaya Faid. Out of these four faids, only among the Dibangiya Fayeds is the present Deori language. The people of these Dibangiya Faids are living in the districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Jorhat, Tinsukia, etc. in Assam. In formal activities, these people speak Assamese language. In the past, the language was prevalent among all the elders of the Deoris, though the Bargiya and It is not known when the people of Tengapaniya Faid abandoned their language and adopted Assamese as their mother tongue. It is possible that due to contact with the Assamese language, it can be thought that these Faizs stopped speaking their language. Our research article attempts to discuss the Deori tribal history of Assam in a holistic manner. Key word - Deori Caste Introduction, Deori Caste History, Deori Caste, Culture