International Journal of History

This paper explores the history of marginality in India, challenging the popular belief that marginality is solely a product of British colonial policies. It argues that marginality existed in India long before the British arrived, with a particular focus on the Bodo community of Assam in northeast India. The distinct cultural practices of the Bodos, such as Bathouism, worship of the Shijou tree, unique costumes like Dokhna and Ganda, and their dietary habits, further marginalized them within the state. In the 20th century, the Bodos faced a range of issues, including illegal immigration, land encroachment, and threats to their language and culture. These challenges culminated in a movement for a separate homeland, which began as a self-protection effort but was increasingly viewed as ethnocentric, particularly from the 1980s onward.

The paper raises critical questions about the origins, aims, and effects of the Bodoland movement, government responses, and the role of women in the struggle. The research is based on a historical and qualitative methodology, drawing on primary and secondary sources such as memorandums, newspaper reports, archival materials, unstructured interviews, books, and scholarly articles. Key literature includes Udayan Mishra’s work on identity movements in northeast India, Phanindra Kumar’s exploration of Bodo history, Topu Choudhury’s analysis of the Bodoland movement, and Nani Gopal Mahanta’s discussion of violence and state failure in Bodoland. The paper also highlights Suchetra Sen’s unique focus on women’s participation in the movement, which is often overlooked in the broader literature.

By examining the Bodo community's struggle for identity and autonomy, this paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of what it means to be a marginalized community in India and the specific challenges such communities face daily.