Raha (Nagaon), Aug. 17: For a king, the demands of Arup Raja are pretty modest: he wants the three beels (wetlands) under his jurisdiction returned to the people so that they can make use of them to keep the Tiwa way of life alive.

His other demands include the construction of a community hall with tubewell and a temple for his subjects to meet and discuss issues connected with their welfare and the repair or replacement of the traditional swords and drums.

Arup, one of the 13 kings of the Tiwa community, has placed the demands before the candidates contesting the August 19 Tiwa Autonomous Council polls from the Jongolbolohu constituency in central Assam's Nagaon district. The polls will be held in 30 constituencies, spread over Nagaon and Morigaon districts, for the second time since the council was formed in 1995.

It's a simple life for most in the areas going to the polls, and there are many like Arup Raja, who want speedy development but not at the cost of tradition.

A major ethnic group settled mostly in Nagaon, Morigaon and Kamrup districts, the Tiwas have not done away with their kings, all of whom work for a living but are still a revered lot.

"The beels were leased out for the first time in 1989. Since then our people, mostly poor, don't get to fish or pray according to our customs in/along the beels. Our people can only fish for personal consumption but they cannot deal in fish. I have been trying to get this lease overturned for the past several years but to no avail. I will continue to raise the issue so that our people get free access to the beels," the king, who has 10 villages with a population of around 15,000 under his jurisdiction, told The Telegraph while pointing to the over 25-bigha Mikidhar Beel.

"After all, wasn't the autonomous council formed to preserve and promote our traditional ways of life, besides ushering in development? As a king I have a duty towards my people. Things have come to such a pass that our tradition is being threatened. Even the bordhol, harudhol (drum) and toruwal (swords) are in a state of disuse. We need to preserve them. I have sought help from both the MLA and the council. I hope the elected member from our constituency will pursue our case," said Arup, who works as a small-time contractor and also helps his father cultivate the 15-odd bigha land they own.

The contestants have been calling on him but the "neutral" king wants only the "deserving" one to win for the benefit of the people.