Crossing Borders and Trading Stories: Bhutias and the Eastern Duar Exchange from Pre-colonial to Colonial Eras

This essay endeavours to chart the patterns of economic and spiritual interactions in the Assam–Bhutan duars during the pre-colonial era, and it scrutinises the transformations that occurred during the colonial period. The primary focus lies on the Bhutia community, a pivotal link between Himalayan nations like China, Tibet and Bhutan with the lowlands of Assam. The Bhutias’ seasonal migrations through these passes and duars, facilitated by the absence of strict boundaries and vigilant controls, brought them into contact with diverse communities in the plains. These interactions encompassed various forms of exchanges, extending beyond mere trade. The duars connecting Assam and Bhutan were vital conduits, linking pilgrims and traders to destinations such as Hajo in Assam, where religious and secular activities intertwined seamlessly. Moreover, these duars and their networks connected to annual ‘trade fairs’ like Udalguri, Doimara and Sadiya, fostering encounters between the Bhutias and the plains’ inhabitants as early as the sixteenth–seventeenth century. However, the advent of colonial governance disrupted this longstanding tradition of migration and the pre-existing modes of exchange within the duars. This article delves into the conceptual framework surrounding the Bhutia community and their participation in spheres that eventually fell under British dominance.