Government of India Act, 1919, were later categorized as Excluded Areas and Partially Excluded Areas (Hansaria, 1983). Some of the provisions for the administration of tribal areas in the Government of India Act, 1935 were taken up in the Indian (Provisional Constitutional) Order, 1947. The provisions which existed for these regions on the eve of the framing of Constitution did not apply ipso facto to these areas. Secondly, the mechanism of applying these laws with or without modification was granted to the Governor for governing the territories. The tribal leaders and the people were not much concerned with self- determination in the colonial period, but for the security of land tenure, freedom to practice their traditional ways of livelihood and customs (Hansaria, 1983).
A former Chief Minister of Assam, B. R. Medhi stated in 1950 on tribal areas and autonomous districts,
“A sub-committee (consisting of Shri Gopinath Bardoloi, Shri J. J. M. Nichols Roy, Shri Rupnath Brahma and Shri A. V. Thakkar) appointed by the Constituent Assembly to recommend the lines of constitutional advance for the tribal areas of Assam, recognized the distinctive factors governing the Part B Tribal Areas (that is the North East Frontier Agency) and therefore they expressed the opinion (para 21 of the report) that so far as the frontier tracts tribal areas are concerned, they have no representation, and the circumstances are such that until it is declared that an area is or can be brought under regular administration, representation cannot be provided.”
He also stated that, as there is no proper representation from tribal communities Part B and Paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India was included to provide representation of the tribal communities.97 In a report by the Assam Disturbances Inquiry Commission, it was argued that the Tribal Belts and Line system were created for the betterment of the tribal people. The names of Belts and Blocks included Goalpara, Darrang (Mangaldoi and Tezpur Sub-Divisions), Kamrup, Lakhimpur, and Nowgong. The report also stated that according to Para 156 of the Line System which was introduced in 1920 was to restrict the unending flow of Bengal Immigrants and their settlements in Assam.98
Tribal areas which fall under the Sixth Schedule Areas are the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills District, Garo Hills District, Lushai Hills District, Naga Hills District, North Cachar Hills, Mikir Hills, Balipara Frontier Tract, Tirap Frontier Tract, Abor Hills District
97 See, Paper retaining to Tribal Areas and Autonomous Districts, Note by Hon. B. R. Medhi, Chief Minister, Assam, September 9, 1950.
98 See, Report of the Assam Disturbances Inquiry Commission- regarding Tribal Belts and the Line System, Assam, 1950.
and Mishmi Hills District.99 By a regulation, Mikir Hills, and the North Cachar Hills were constituted to a new administrative district which was known as the United District of Mikir and North Cachar Hills.100 Tribal people who lived in these areas were divided into the schedule of three parts, i.e. the autonomous district, the tribal areas other than the autonomous district and population excluding the tribal areas. There were ten tribal communities under the autonomous districts which were scheduled as Dimasa (Kachari), Garo, Hajong, Khasi and Jaintia, Kuki tribes, Lakher, Lushai (Mizo) tribes, Mikir, any Naga tribes and Synteng. Tribal people who lived in the tribal areas other than the autonomous districts were Abor, Aka, Apatani, Dafla, Galong, Khampti, Mishmi, any Naga tribes, Singpho, Momba and Sherdukpen. Other tribal people who lived in the excluded tribal areas were the Boro- Borokacharis, Deoris, Hojais, Kacharis, Lalungs, Mechs, Miris, and Rabhas.101 However, the Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 1956 tried to provide for the inclusion and the exclusion of groups from the list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. An amendment of Scheduled Castes Order, 1950 was made.
The main focus of this amendment was to re-determine the population of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for Section 42 of the States Reorganization Act, 1956.102 According to the States Reorganization Act 1956, state boundaries were created which were divided on the basis of languages.
Apart from policies of tribal administration, the years that followed independence, witnessed conflicts on reorganization of territories in Assam as well as in the rest of India.
According to some scholars, reorganization of states can be understood in three phases, i.e.
99 See, Report of Tribal Areas under the Sixth Schedule Areas, Government of Assam, February 11, 1950.
100 See, Regulation No. X 1951 of The Assam United District of Mikir and North Cachar Hills (Administration) Regulation, 1951.
101 See, Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.
102 See, The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Act, 1956.
1956-1971, 1971-1987 and till 1999 (Chadda, 2002). In the second phase of reorganization, Assam was split up in different states. What was the reason behind such internal remapping and fragmentation of the areas (Chadda, 2002)? Was it for the proper administration of the areas, or for other issues related to security of the country? The constitution of India gave importance to the creation of different administrative units on the basis of geography, demography, administrative convenience, language or culture. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appointed a three-member State Reorganization Commission (SRC). The purpose of forming SRC was to create more states for administrative effectiveness. An amendment was made in the First Schedule to the constitution of India dividing the states into different parts.103 Second federal reorganization during 1971 to 1987 focused on re-division of Assam. Tripura and Manipur were created as Union Territories in 1956, and were declared as states within India in 1972. The state of Meghalaya was an autonomous state and in 1972 it was recognized as a full-fledged state. Creation of states in the Northeast was essential primarily for two reasons; first, it was because of the boundary issues with neighboring China and second, because of the parliamentary elections and assembly elections of 1972 and 1973 respectively (Chadda, 2002). The electoral incentives of the government forced the Indian political elites to take the initiative of reorganizing the states in the Northeast India.
As per the provisions of the North Eastern (Reorganization Areas) Act in 1971, Meghalaya became the full-fledged state. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh also followed the trend of getting statehood. Earlier Shillong was the joint capital of both Assam and Meghalaya till 1972 before the formation of the state of Meghalaya. But, in that year, the Government of Assam decided to shift the capital to Dispur, Guwahati as Shillong became the state capital
103 See, The States Reorganization Act, 1956 (37 of 1956): An act to provide for the reorganization of the states of India and for matters connected therewith, Government of India.
of Meghalaya in 1972.104 In the next section, the process of state formation will be discussed in detail.