^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Dimasa People (India)

image by Chrystian Kretowicz, 16 April 2009

Dimasa people

See also:

Dimasa People

The Dimasa people (or Dima-fisa, and also called Dimasa-Kachari) from Assam in northeastern India are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari group. The Dimasas live mostly in the northern half of the North Cachar Hills, an administrative district of the Indian state of Assam, including the ravines of the Jatinga valley and the adjoining land. The Kachari kingdom is associated with the Dimasa people." (Wikipedia, more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimasa_people).

Mass migration of outsiders, mainly Muslim Bangladeshis, ignited violent reaction of the tribal people of Assam and Dimasas began the struggle to have their own state - Dimaraji. Creation of the Autonomous Council of North Cachar Hills didn't satisfy them and the agitation for Dimaraji continues, peacefully and violently. Most active organizations in the push for Dimaraji State are Dima Halim Daoga (DHD) and Dimasa Student's Union (DSU).
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/assam/terrorist_outfits/dhd.htm.

James B. Minahan (Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations - Ethnic and National Groups Around the World - volume III), under the caption "Masas", pictures and describes the flag:
"The Masa national flag, the flag of the national movement, is a red field bearing a narrow horizontal yellow stripe across the center."

Jaume Ollé presented the flag of Dimasa in colors as above, but with equal stripes (Flag Report).

The news photos of the demonstrations for the creation of the Dimaraji State show the flag with narrow extreme stripes at the top and bottom and some kind of the device (logo or emblem) added on the middle, yellow stripe. But the color scheme remains the same in all three cases.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 15 April 2009