The Trajectory of Ethnic Mobilisation among the Morans in Assam: Politics of Reclassification and Demand for Scheduled Tribe Status

This article investigates the politics of ethnic resurgence among the Moran community in the post-colonial Assam. The research traces the reasons of ethnic bifurcation of the Morans from the Matak community and the Moran’s demand for the Scheduled Tribe Status. The article contends that though for a long period (1939-1965), both the Moran and the Matak communities were represented by the All Assam Matak Sanmilan, the growing ethnic resurgence among the Morans led to the birth of the Asom Moran Sabha in 1965, and the All Moran Students’ Union in 1968, which became exclusive ethnic forums of the Moran people. The article highlights that the lack of political representation of the Morans in the legislative assembly, socio-economic backwardness of the community, aspiration for the Scheduled Tribe status and other material benefits resulted in the bifurcation of the Morans from the Matak community. Framing the Moran’s case within the broader politics of reclassification in Assam, the article explores the relation between the Moran’s claims of indigeneity and the community’s demand for the Scheduled Tribe status.