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Abstract
Assam is the most populous state amongst all the North-eastern states of India. Over a long period of time many tribal and non-tribal population have been living in Assam. The genesis of ethnic conflicts in the state lies in its colonial past and the British policy of ‘divide and rule’. Inspite of divided many times on the basis of ethnic identity the demands such as constitutional safeguard, creation of separate statehood etc are still continued among many plain and hill tribes. Koch Rajbanshi is an ethnic community and earliest inhabitant of Assam having the Mongoloid feature pre-dominant. Assertion of identity and aspiration of the Koch Rajbanshis, in revolt against their perceived socio-economic and politico-cultural deprivation, had begun during the post independence period, particularly in the 1980s. Now in both the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam, the Koch Rajbanshis are fighting for a greater separate Kamatapur state. They also have a demand to include their language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India along with ST status for those living in Assam and socio-economic development of this community. The aim of the present study is to understand the identity assertion and the socio-political movement led by the Koch Rajbanshsis for the creation of a separate Kamatapur state in Assam.