Kol people
The Kols, also known as Kolarians, are the original inhabitants of modern-day West Bengal and North-east India. The term Kol has been corrupted by the Aryan-Sanskritic speakers to the word "kalu", meaning both "black" and "ugly", in almost all of the 16 major languages of the subcontinent. The Kolarians are a Dravidian peoples stock group, whose descendant communities can be found also in West Bengal and elsewhere in the eastern part of the East India.
Most geological scholars will contend that most of Bangladesh was fashioned 1 to 6.5 million years ago during the Tertiary era. Semi-recent excavations in the Deolpota village of western Bengal seem to suggest that a Paleolithic civilization in the region existed about one hundred thousand years ago. A 10,000 to 15,000 year old stone structure in Rangamati is the primary evidence of Paleolithic civilization along with a hand axe found in the mountainous inclines of the Feni district. This Neo-stone age began 3,000 BC lasting almost 1500 years. Similar tools were found in Sitakunda of the eastern region Chittagong, and near Comilla district. The sparsely forested hills in eastern Bengal strewn with fertile valleys imparted a hospitable location for Neolithic settlements.
Physically, the indigenous peoples of eastern India were long-headed, dark skinned, broad-nosed, and short in stature. Sometimes labeled as "Negritos" and "Negroids", their physical features are unchanged today among the lowest castes of Bengal, mainly the peasants, as well as 95% of population of West Bengal today who derive from these lower castes and tribes.Kol people belonging too Darjelling(Phansidewa,Naxalbari,Matigara) Naxalbari areas over all 500 hundred family belong.Naxalbari Kol leaders -Kalinath murmu kol,Lakhiram karmakar very excited of our custe.
This refers to our uninterrupted long efforts to include our community, the KOL in Scheduled Tribes List in state of West Bengal under the constitution of INDIA. The facts and our efforts in past in this regard are as under: 1.The KOL Community of Bengal (now West Bengal) originally hails from the Manbhum,singhbhum district of erstwhile Bihar state during the rule of British India and settled in Bengal in different districts such as Darjeeling,Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar,Cooch Bihar, Malda, Dinajpur (North & south),Hooghly,Bankura,Birbhum,Burdwan and Purulia.They were brought there to work mainly as laborers in tea plants and other work like paddy field and mine areas North Bengal and Assam Region under the British Raj. 2.That in spite of their being landless laborers or exceptionally marginal land holders in different parts of WB,the KOL Community people kept alive their ancient culture,faith,rituals and customary Laws according to their tribal traditions. 3.The community still feels proud of the ancient sprit of freedom,self-reliant,religion,faith inherited from their fore fathers who fought against the British Rule; which is known as the KOL Rebellion in History.The rebellion particularly under the leadership of KOL RAJ of Singhbhum in the year 1831-1833. 4.The KOL Community has been recognized as STs under the constitution in other states of India in e.g MP;CG;JH;Bihar etc.But since the Kol Community is living in small numbers in different districts of WB,their claim claims have not been entertained since long. 5.We have been triying hard for the same since last two decades, details being attached in separate statement. 6.Since the Kols have not been given ST status in WB; our community ,the poorest of the poor is bound to live in a pigmy, marginalized state; deprived of proper food, education and roof. 7.Literacy –education among the Kols is very low especially among the females,hardly any Kol could attain graduate degree,exceptionally of them are in Govt servise. 8.Most of them are depended for their livelihood in agriculture labours,building pr other contruction work, mines of tea garden labours. 9.They are neither classified in SCs ,OBC or Minorities apart from ST s in WB.Result theryby they out the ambit of different welfare schmes of the state meant of the upliftment of the socially and economically wesker sections of the society. 10. Even the benefits under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 are being denied to 11. Our Gautras are similar to the Santhals, we are still folloing our own traditions, rituals, customary laws, way of worship – the Mother Nature, We too have Majhi-Than, Marang-Bonga(Bada Deb) +Sing-Bonga (the sun) and we have our own community institution of Headmen- Manjhi,Godat &Pranik etc similar to the Santhals. System of polygramy (Bahu-Vivah) thought not common, but still prevelling among our Kol Community. 12. We the Kol Community quality to be recognized and enlisted in the schedule for the Janjatis, the tribes at all parameters stipulated for purpose. 13.Our Community will have an opportunity in Governance our affairs at least at lower level and thereby participatory democracy apart from opportunity to get adequare education and jobs once we are brought under the protective priority umbrella of the STs category. We are now suffering from acute sepression and disappointment for our genuie claims being constanly neglected since long.But our community know it for certain that our present popular government in the State in for Maa Mati and Manus- eager to uplift the condition of the poor, marginalized and downtrodden communities in their jurisdiction. Madam , with this end in view and for getting the recorganization of the Kol Community living in different district of WB and consideration their claims for inclusion Kol community in the relevant Schedule pf the Constitution of India and also in other relevant documents of the Govt,and so that the WB Kol Community may get such benefit as mentioned above, we have approached you with high hopes;and for this act of kindness we shall remain ever grateful to you.
