West Karbi Anglong District

Early History & Formation

• • The Karbi people, a Tibeto-Burman group, migrated from western China and settled near the Kalang and Kopili rivers before moving into the hills due to Dimasa Kachari rule.
  • They later lived under Jaintia suzerainty in the Jaintia Hills.
  • Hill tribes of the region, including present-day Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao, remained independent until British colonization.
  • As per the Government of India Act, 1935, the region was classified as a “Partially Excluded Area,” administered directly under the Governor’s special powers.
  • Semsonsing Ingti and others demanded a separate administrative unit for Karbis, leading to the formation of Karbi-A-Dorbar in 1946.

Semsonsing Ingti — Important Contributions

• Karbi leader: Played an important role in the political mobilisation of the Karbi people.

• Karbi-A-Dorbar: Associated with the movement that led to the formation of the Karbi-A-Dorbar in 1946.

• Bordoloi Sub-Committee: Served as a co-opted member of the committee dealing with the administration of the tribal and excluded areas of Assam.

• Separate administrative unit: Advocated a separate administrative district/unit for the Karbi-inhabited hill areas,rather than complete separation from Assam.

• Sixth Schedule: His participation in the constitutional process concerning tribal areas is associated with the development of the autonomous-administration framework that eventually came under the Sixth Schedule.

• Karbi autonomy: Remembered as an important pioneer/architect of the Karbi movement for political and administrative autonomy.Semsonsing Ingti is widely revered as the architect and “Father of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council” (formerly Mikir Hills Autonomous Council)

Post-Independence & District Formation

• • November 17, 1951: United Mikir & North Cachar Hills district was created under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
  • February 2, 1970: The district was split into Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts.
  • October 14, 1976: Mikir Hills district was renamed Karbi Anglong.
  • 2016: Karbi Anglong was further divided, creating West Karbi Anglong, with Hamren as its headquarters.