At ancient Hidimba Kingdom Dimasa body demands assembly seat

GUWAHATI: A student group from Dimasa has demanded the Election Commission of India (ECI) to create a new assembly constituency, namely Khaspur (reserved for the Scheduled Tribe community), in the ancient Barak valley of Assam. It is the capital of Hidimba Kingdom.

Khaspur is located 25 km from Silchar city.
Demanding the creation of Khaspur Constituency comprising some tribal majority areas of the existing three assembly constituencies, the Cachar District Committee of All Dimasa Students Union (ADSU) submitted a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) through the Cachar District Commissioner in Silchar presented on July10.
In the 16th century, a divine Hindu kingdom was established by the laws of the Kachari Kingdom and was named Hidimba and its kings were known as Hidimbesavar.
When the Kachari king Suradarpa Narayan set himself to recognize the people and improve the capital, brick palaces and temples were built in different parts of Khaspur. The demon Hirimba, to whom the second Pandava Bhima was married, is said to have resided in this place.
Raja Gobind Chandra, the last of the Kachari kings, was assassinated on April 24, 1830 at Haritikar by a group of mutineers with the help of some of his personal associates. In the absence of natural heirs, his territory passed to the British under the terms of a treaty concluded in 1826.
“Reservation of assembly seats for the ST community is a long-standing demand of the community. In the peace agreement signed jointly with DHD (N) and DHD (J) on 4 October 2012 and finally with DNLA on 27 April 2023. One such constituency was also mentioned in the peace accord,” ADSU-CDC president Dwipyijyoti Barman and secretary Upansish barman said in the memorandum.
Barak Valley is one of the most populated regions of the state with a substantial population of ST people. According to an estimate, more than 22 small tribal communities are living in different parts of the three districts of Barak Valley.
“However, there is no representation of the ST community in the valley due to which they are deprived of a fair share of representation in the Assembly. Barak Valley has a significant ST population, which is about 12 to 13 percent of the total population. means that ST communities have an important role to play in the development of the Valley and we deserve a voice in the decision-making process,” the memorandum said.
“An ST reserved seat will allow the ST communities to elect a representative who understands their needs and concerns. This will help ensure that the interests of the ST community are represented in the state assembly, He said in the memorandum.
A constituency may be created for STs to delimit the areas under the influence of tribal population. We demand that at least one seat should be given to STs in Barak Valley for the voice of the deprived class. This will ensure that the ST community of the Valley is adequately represented in the state assembly,” they also said.
The student body demanded some areas to form the new Khaspur constituency.
They include Barkhola GP, Subong GP, Hatichera GP, Chandranethpir GP, Boro Rampur GP, Dalu GP and its adjoining areas under Barkhola Development Block; Tikalpar GP, Khaspur GP, Madhura GP, Joypur-Langlachera GP, Koomber GP, Harinagar GP, Baladhan-Kanakpur GP, Kanakpur-Dalaicherra GP, Barthal-Thailu GP and its adjoining areas under Udharbond Development Block; Dighli-Bahadurpur GP, Fulertal GP, Lakhinagar GP and its adjoining areas under Lakhipur constituency, in the map of the new constituency.
If the demand of ST reserved seat in Barak Valley is not accepted, it will lead to unrest in the region. The ST community in the Barak Valley is already suffering from a sense of deprivation and discrimination. It is important for the government to take a decision in this regard,” he said in the memorandum.
The remnants of the last Dimasa Empire at Khaspur have not been preserved yet, even as the site can be developed as a major tourist destination.
During the beginning of Dimasa’s rule, Dimapur used to be the capital of the kingdom, which was later moved to Maibang (now in Dima hasao district) in Assam and finally to Khaspur (locally known as Rajbari). , meaning the king’s palace) was moved in Cachar district.
Khaspur clearly reflects the rich cultural heritage of Assam and the main monuments include the Sun Gate, Lion Gate, King’s Temple and the Main Gate.
Lack of infrastructure and neglect made this magnificent palace fall into oblivion.

Rani Chandrabha Hasnu Park, named after a Kachari queen and also located in the area, doesn’t care either.

According to history, the kingdom of Kachari king Tamradhaja was invaded by the most powerful Ahom king, Rudra Singha in December 1706.
Defeated by the Ahom king, Tamaradhaja fled southwards to Khaspur.

The Kachari princes settled in the plains of Cachar with their court at Khaspur. It was originally named Hirimba Kingdom in memory of Hirimba, wife of Pandu Bhima, who is said to have lived in the area.
King Surdarapa Narayan built brick palaces and temples in different parts of Khaspur.