People

It can safely be assumed that the population of Majuli almost entirely constitute of immigrants from the nearby areas on either side of Brahmaputra. The fertile and easy availability of the essential inputs of life attracted peasants from mainland Majuli, while a larger number of neo-Vaishnavite went there to remain closer to what they perceived as the abodes of God –the Sattras. The island is inhabited by various kind of people belonging to different castes and communities. Amongst them, the Konch, the Kachari and the Ahom belonging to the Burmese branch of Mongoloid origin; the Kaivatra, the Matak, the Nath, the Keot, etc. to the Dravidian origin whereas the Kalita and the Brahmins are the descendents of the Alpinian origin.

The Mishings: The Misihing community is the most important community of Majuli. They comprise of about 47% of the population of Majuli. The term Mishing is made up of two words- 'mi' means people and 'yassing' means fine, and that's why they call themselves fine people. They worship' Aane Danchi' and' Abu Palao', i.e., the moon as their father and the sun as their mother respectively in rituals. 

The Chutia: The Chutias are an integral part of the inhabitants of Majuli. Anthropologically, they are Tibetan-Burmese branch of the Mongoloids. After their crushing defeat at the hands of Ahom King 'Suhungmuhung', they adopted several new faiths giving up their own language and culture and thereby accepted new names with new identity such as the Hindu Chutia, Barahi Chutia, Ahom Chutia, Deari Chutia etc. 

The Deoris: Under the Tibetan-Burmese branch af the Mongoloids, the Deoris are regarded as the priestly class of the Chutias. They call themselves 'jimchaya'. During the reign of the Chutias they used to perform the duties of the priest and since then they have come to be known as Deori, 'Deo'+'Grihik' = Deogrihi which means the frequenter of the duties of Deva. There are four groups of Deoris- the 'Dibangia', the 'Tangaponia', the 'Borgoyan' and the 'Patar Goyan'. 

The Sonowal Kacharies: Even before the advent of the British in Assam, the Sonowal Kacharies had been living at Haldibari of upper Majuli. They are known to be the Tibetan-Burmese branch of the Mongoloids of the Bodo origin. When the Ahom invaded Assam, the Kacharies put up a brave fight against them unitedly. Due to continues battles, some of them were force to leave their original place living and settled in a scattered way here and there. Thus the Bodo, the Mess, the Hajong, the Rabha, the Dimasha, the Lulong, the Thalang and Sonowal etd. Came into existence of the Kacharies. 

The Koch: The ‘Koch’ community is one of the most important ingredients in the remarkable population formation of Majuli. Explaining the meaning of a couplet of the second part of the Bhagwat Puran, Srimanta Sankardev had mentioned the name of many tribes of Assam replacing the name of some already mentioned tribes like the Hunes, the Andhra, the Pulind, the Pukkas etc. The very word ‘Kuwach’ in the couplet refer to the ‘Koch’. In the “Yogini Tantra” too, the word ‘Koch’ is Sanskritized at Kuwacha. The mention of this word in Tantra Puran and others prove the facts that the Koch is one of the ancient communities of Assam. 

The Nath: The Naths are also known as Yoigis. They are also called as Katani on the basis of their skilled knowledge in cutting yarn especially of pat silk and muga silk. It is said that the Ahoms offered a bed made of muga silk to the Koch General Chilarai and it is ample proof of presence of the Nath Community in Assam during the Ahom region. Anthropologically, they bear the features of the Dravidians, as it is believed by scholars. At present they reside at Sonariati, Phuloni, Rangachahi, Boruabari and Puranibari area in Majuii, educationclly very advanced. 

The Kaivartta: In Sanskrit, the word 'kaivartta' means one who depends on water, in other words, the community that earns its livelihood from related occupation. Anthropologically, they belong to the Dravidian origin. According to historical documents, the Kaivarttas were living in Kamrup even before the 9th-10th century AD. They came to Mjauli in mid 17th century tempted by the conditions conductive to their fish earning occupation. The Kaivarttas of Majuli have extended valuable contribution to its political, social, economic and cultural life.

The Mattaks: The people under the Mayamoria community are called the Mattaks. The term Mattak means 'Mat'+ 'Ek' i.e. unanimous decision. During the Ahom rule unanimity in decision show by the Mayamaria rebels made them to be known as the Mattak. They are regarded as the people corresponding to the (Kala Sanghati). Their spiritual leader Aniruddhadeva who escaped from the prison during the Ahom rule by creating a charmed snake and thereby, he got the name Mayamara. Some families of the Mayamaria community live at Dekashenchowa and Burhashenchowa in Majuli.

The Ahoms: The written accounts of the history of Majuli are available since the days of Ahom King Suhungmuhung, i.e., 1497 AD. The historically famous landmarks such as the Rawana Pukhuri (a very large pond at the village Rawana) and Dhowachalagar (highway dyke) ete. are testimony of the arrival of the Royal employees of Ahoms with various capacities. The reference to Lachit Borphukan’s sending an inhabitant to Koupotiya village of Majuli as his messenger to the camp of Ramsingha is also found in the pages of history. Ahom king Jayadhwaja Singh founded the famous Auniati Sattra in 1653 AD. There are many examples that show that one or two families of the Royal employees who came to Majuli at different times, settled permanently in Majuli. Ahoms are of Mongoloid origin. They live at Lahon and Saurukia village of Majuli, 90% of them are educated. 

The Kalita: The Kalitas belong to the Alpine origin. A few or them belong to the Dravidians also. The Kalitas of Majuli are divided into many subcastes, e.g. the Borkalita, the Sorukalita, the Kumarkalita, the Naut Kalita and the Suri kalita etc. The Kalitas settled down at Salmora and Dakhinpat are the Kumar Kalitas. They are expert potters and their potteries made of clay have kept alive the traditional industries of Assam. 

The Brahmins: The Brahmins belong to the Alpine origin. It is stated in the Kalika Purana that Naraha brought Dwija (Brahmins) from the west and let them settle in his kingdom and thus enhanced the glory of Kamakhya. Moreover, some Brahmins of the priestly class came to Majuli as pilgrims from the west. It is Niladhwaja, the founder of the Scn Dynasty of Kamatapur, who brought the Brahmins from Mithila. It is also stated that the 'Bashishtha Gotriya Brahmins' came to Kamrup to practice tantrism in ancient times. The Koch and the Ahom Kings, too, brought Brahmins from Kannauj, Kashi and Mithila ete. to their own kingdoms and gave them both honour and prestige. 

Others: Besides all these communities stated above, there are Nepalis, Bengalis, Gowalas and Muslims who have also made Majuli their permanent home but they are new settlers living here since a few decades only. Thus, the various castes and communities of this river island present a rare example of assimilation of multiple cultures with a capacity to keep Assamese folk culture and Sattriya tradition intact despite the odds posed by the River Brahmaputra in the form of incessant floods ever year.