An Aspect of Indigenous Medicinal Practices by Medicinal Plants of the Rajbanshi People in Coochbehar District, Westbengal

Coochbehar district is the lastract of greater kamrup kingdom. Excepting some of the more important States in Rajputana, there are few States in India which can boast of a more remote antiquity than that of Cooch Behar, now it is a district of westbengal. The name Cooch-Behar is derived from the name of the Koch tribe. Other than Koch, several other tribes like Rajbanshi, Meich, Rava, Munda, Santhal, Garo, Oraon, etc. inhabits this area and the indigenous culture is maintained by them in more or less in its native form. In this paper I have been made an attempt to highlight on ‘the traditional medical practice of the Rajbanshi people (Both Human and Animal) of coochbehar district. All human societies have knowledge of health care, which acquired through long experience, generation after generation is called enculturation. The Rajbanshi are mostly agriculturist and people living in rural areas often face obstacles in accessing basic health care service due to remoteness and backwardness of the areas in which they live. Many researchers have discussed much from various corners and angels about the folk medicinal practices of the Rajbanshi people, but they have not said anything about the medicinal plants used by the concerned society or have not wasted a word how to cure the disease. In this context I focused on these subject, with the help of standardized questionnaire, local medicine man i.e. kaviraj and Ojha and resource persons were interviewed on local flora in three Rajbanshi village of coochbehar district.