Guwahati, Dec 23: The long-pending demand for constitutional recognition of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution took centre stage at a major convention of Rabha organisations held at Bamunigaon in Kamrup district.
The two-day convention, organised at the playground of Milaghat Milan Jyoti Youth Club under the Bamunigaon Council constituency, brought together three key Rabha bodies—the Kamrup District Rabha Students’ Union (KDRSU), the Rabha Mahila Parishad and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee. The KDRSU held its 17th biennial session, the Rabha Mahila Parishad its 13th biennial session, and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee its 7th triennial session. The conference concluded late Sunday night with a renewed call for Sixth Schedule inclusion, while reaffirming unity, peace and harmony among communities in the district.
The concluding day began with the hoisting of organisational flags by KDRSU president Anand Rabha, Rabha Mahila Parishad president Lalita Rabha and Sixth Schedule Demand Committee president Vidya Rabha. This was followed by a tribute to martyrs led by general secretary Ashok Nongbak. Delegates also paid floral tributes to the portrait of noted singer Zubeen Garg and legendary Rabha leader Boge Raja Bhuvan Singh Rabha, along with a tree plantation drive symbolising environmental responsibility.
A colourful procession featuring traditional dances and songs of different ethnic groups added vibrancy to the event and underscored the collective demand for Sixth Schedule status. The open session was inaugurated by KDRSU vice-president Pradip Rabha, who spoke on the socio-political challenges faced by the Rabha community and emphasised the need for inclusive and holistic development across the council area.
During the session, the district students’ union’s mouthpiece Phiching was released by editor Sanjib Kumar Rabha, while the Rabha Mahila Parishad’s publication Mapaksini was unveiled by its founder president Lakshi Rabha.
Several prominent personalities attended the programme, including RHAC Chief Executive Member Tankeshwar Rabha, Sixth Schedule Demand Committee president Dashanan Rabha, ARSU president Motilal Rabha and ARWC president Lalita Rabha. Among the distinguished invitees were NSS President’s Award recipient Dolly Choudhury and South-West Kamrup Students’ Union president Manas Pratim Sharma.
Parallel to the district-level sessions, the Bamunigaon Regional Rabha Students’ Union held its 14th biennial session, the Rabha Mahila Parishad its 4th biennial session and the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee its 7th triennial session. A representative meeting led to the formation of new committees for all three district organisations. Anand Rabha and Ashok Nongbak were elected president and general secretary of the Students’ Union, while Sadhana Rabha and Mallika Rabha were named president and secretary of the Mahila Parishad. Kalpa Rabha and Lakshmikanta Rabha were appointed president and general secretary of the Sixth Schedule Demand Committee.
Addressing the gathering, RHAC Chief Executive Member Tankeshwar Rabha highlighted the challenges confronting the Rabha community and called for collective efforts to address them. Congratulating the newly elected office-bearers, he urged the youth to engage directly with villages to raise awareness about community issues. He also informed that a tripartite meeting would be convened soon to discuss the inclusion of RHAC under the Sixth Schedule, reiterating that the council seeks equal rights and opportunities for all communities and stands against no one.
