6. The Inhabitants of Bam

South Cachar comprises of the Bam region. A large portion of Cachar's population inhabits this area, keeping it vibrant. Among the people who live in this area are individuals from diverse communities, including castes, tribes, ethnic groups, and Scheduled Castes, as well as other indigenous ethnic groups that have been residing in this region for generations. A harmonious relationship has developed among these inhabitants who have been living side by side.

 

Analyzing the demographic structure of 'Bam', it is observed that the total population of this area is 94,379 (2011), which is 5.43 percent of the total population of Cachar.

Dividing this population by demographic categories, the demographic profile of the area is as follows: Scheduled Castes – 16,619 people (17.60 percent of the area's total population), Scheduled Tribes – 3,309 people (3.50 percent of the area's total population).

In this brief demographic overview, one can observe linguistic diversity, religious diversity, and ethnic diversity.

The Bam area is ethnographically diverse. Bam is an ideal place for anthropological research. Here reside the Brahmin community, Kayastha community, Patni community, Namasudra community, Nath community, Bengali-speaking Muslim community, Meitei Manipuri community, Bishnupriya Manipuri community, Odia community, Dimasa community (known as Barman), Hindustani community, Naga community, Riang community, Khasi community, Mizo community, Kuki community, Mar community, Tipra community, fishing community of Maimal Muslims, tea garden communities, and many other communities. Despite coming from various places with such diversity, everyone lives peacefully.  Even amidst this diversity, there is no division; rather, an environment of unity prevails through harmony. The people of the Barak Valley spontaneously use the word pair 'Bam-Bauri' by adding the word 'Bauri' to 'Bam'. Bauri is another conceptually used place. It is located 7 kilometers southeast of Sonai, near Swadhin Bazar, and 26 kilometers northeast of Bhagabazar. The word pair 'Bam-Bauri' is used as a compound word, like an idiom, to denote a disconnected, remote, and underdeveloped region, and an image associated with it comes to mind. To outsiders, Bam remains an enigma.

 

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