|
Assam
 Capital
: Dispur
Largest city : Guwahati
District(s) : 25
Population : 26,655,528 (14th)
Density : 340/km² (881/sq mi)
Language(s) : Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Mishing, Karbi
Governor : Ajai Singh
Chief Minister : Tarun Gogoi
Established : 1947-08-15 (Assam had a legislature since 1937)
Assam is a north eastern state of India with its capital at
Dispur, a suburb of the city Guwahati. Assam along with other
North-eastern states of India (also known as seven-sisters)
was the only independent part of todays India which never was
a part of India before the area came under British rule. Located
south of the eastern Himalayas, Assam comprises the Brahmaputra
and the Barak river valleys and the Karbi Anglong and the North
Cachar Hills. With an area of 78,438 square kilometres (30,285
sq mi) Assam currently is almost equivalent to the size of Ireland
or Austria. Assam is surrounded by the rest of the Seven Sister
States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura
and Meghalaya. These states are connected to the rest of India
via a narrow strip in West Bengal called the "Chicken's
Neck". Assam also shares international borders with Bhutan
and Bangladesh; and cultures, peoples and climate with South-East
Asia—important elements in India's Look East Policy.
Assam TeaAssam is known for Assam tea, petroleum resources,
Assam silk and for its rich biodiversity. It has successfully
conserved the one-horned Indian rhinoceros from near extinction
in Kaziranga, the tiger in Manas and provides one of the last
wild habitats for the Asian elephant. It is increasingly becoming
a popular destination for wild-life tourism and notably Kaziranga
and Manas are both World Heritage Sites. Assam was also known
for its Sal tree forests and forest products, much depleted
now. A land of high rainfall, Assam is endowed with lush greenery
and the mighty river Brahmaputra, whose tributaries and oxbow
lakes provide the region with a unique hydro-geomorphic and
aesthetic environment.
Physical geography
Assam Valley and EnvironsGeologically, as per the plate techtonics,
Assam is in the eastern most projection of the Indian Plate,
where it is thrusting underneath the Eurasian Plate creating
a subduction zone.[6] It is postulated that due to the northeasterly
movement of the Indian plate, the sediment layers of an ancient
geocyncline called Tethys (in between Indian and Eurasian Plates)
have been pushed upwardly to form the Himalayas. It is estimated
that the height of the Himalayas is increasing around 4 cm each
year. Therefore, Assam possesses a unique geomorphic environment,
with plain areas, dissected hills of the South Indian Plateau
system and with the Himalayas all around its north, north-east
and east.
Geomorphic studies conclude that the Brahmaputra is a paleo-river,
older than the Himalayas, which often crosses higher altitudes
in the Himalayas and sustaining its flow by eroding at a greater
pace than the increase in the height of the mountain range.
The heights of the surrounding regions are still increasing
to form steep gorges in Arunachal. Entering Assam, the Brahmaputra
becomes a braided river and along with its tributaries, creates
the flood plain of the Brahmaputra Valley The Brahmaputra Valley
in Assam is approximately 80 to 100 km wide and almost 1000
km long and the width of the river itself is 16 km at many places.
The hills of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar and those in and
around Guwahati and North Guwahati (along with the Khasi and
Garo Hills) are originally parts of the South Indian Plateau
system. These are eroded and dissected by the numerous rivers
in the region. Average height of these hills in Assam varies
from 300 to 400mt. The southern Barak Valley is separated by
the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills from the Brahmaputra
Valley in Assam. The Barak originates from the Barail Range
in the border areas of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur and flowing
through the district of Cachar, it confluences with the Brahmaputra
in Bangladesh. Barak Valley in Assam is a small valley with
an average width and length of approximately 40 to 50 km.
Assam
is endowed with petroleum, natural gas, coal, limestone and
many other minor minerals such as magnetic quartzite, kaolin,
sillimanites, clay and feldspar. A small quantity of iron ore
is also available in western parts of Assam. The Upper Assam
districts are the major reserves of oil and gas. Petroleum was
discovered in Assam in 1889. A recent USGS estimate shows approximately
399 million barrels of oil, 1178 billion cubic feet of gas and
67 million barrels of natural gas liquids in Assam Geologic
Province.
With the 'Tropical Monsoon Rainforest Climate', Assam is a temperate
region and experiences heavy rainfall and high humidity. Winter
lasts from late October to late February. The minimum temperature
is 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. Nights and early mornings are foggy,
and rain is scanty. Summer starts in mid May, accompanied by
high humidity and rainfall. The maximum temperature is 35 to
38 degrees Celsius, but the frequent rain reduces this. The
peak of the monsoons is during June. Thunderstorms known as
Bordoicila are frequent during the afternoons. Spring and Autumn
with moderate temperatures and modest rainfall are the most
comfortable seasons.
Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world.
There are number of tropical rainforests in Assam. Moreover,
there are riverine grasslands, bamboo orchards and numerous
wetland ecosystems. Many of these areas have been protected
by developing national parks and reserved forests. The Kaziranga
and Manas are the two World Heritage Sites. The Kaziranga is
the home for the rare Indian Rhinoceros, while Manas is a tiger
sanctuary. Moreover, there are numerous other valuable and rare
wildlife and plant species available in Assam. Few of the rarest
species are the Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei), the White-winged
Wood Duck or Deuhnah (Cairina scultulata), the Golden Cat, etc.
The Hoolock Gibbon in Assam is the only ape found in South Asia.
Assam is also known for orchids.
The region is also prone to natural disasters. High rainfall,
deforestation, and other factors have resulted in annual floods
that cause widespread loss of life, livelihood and property.
The region is also prone to earthquakes. Mild tremors are familiar,
and strong earthquakes are rare. There have been three strong
earthquakes: in 1869 the bank of the Barak sank by 15 ft; 1897
(8.1 on the Richter scale); and 1950 (8.6).
Pre-history and myths
Assam and adjoining regions have evidence of human settlement
from all periods of the Stone ages. That the known hills settlements
belonged to earlier periods may suggest that the valleys were
populated later, or it may reflect sampling bias due to mountainous
areas being more likely to remain less disturbed over long stretches
of time.
The earliest ruler according to legend was Mahiranga (sanskritized
form of the Tibeto-Burman name Mairang). He was followed by
others in his line: Hatak, Sambar, Ratna and Ghatak. Naraka
removed this line of rulers and established his own dynasty.
The Naraka king mentioned at various places in Kalika Purana,
Mahabharata and Ramayana covering a wide period of time were
probably different rulers from the same dynasty. Kalika Purana,
a Sanskrit text compiled in Assam in the 9th and 10th century,
mentions that the last of the Naraka-bhauma rulers, Narak, was
slain by Krishna. His son Bhagadatta, mentioned in the Mahabharata,
fought for the Kauravas in the battle of Kurushetra with an
army of kiratas, chinas and dwellers of the eastern coast. Later
rulers of Kamarupa frequently drew their lineage from the Naraka
rulers.
Languages
Assamese and Bodo are the major indigenous and official languages
of the state while Bengali holds official status in particular
districts in the Barak Valley.
Traditionally Assamese was the language of the commons (of mixed
origin - Bodo, Khasi, Sanskrit, Magadhan Prakrit) of the ancient
kingdoms such as Kamrupa and medieval kingdoms of Kamatapur,
Kachari, Cuteeya, Borahi, Ahom and Koch. Traces of the language
can be found in many poems in Charyapada written by Luipa, Sarahapa,
etc during the period of the Xalostombho / Salastambha dynasty
(7th/8th century AD) of Kamarupa Kingdom. Modern Kamrupi dialect
is the remnant of this language. Moreover, Assamese in its ancient
and medieval form was used by almost every ethno-cultural group
as the lingua-franca of the region. Probably the language was
then required for needed economic integration and was also probably
spread through the stronger and larger politico-economic systems
such as that of the ancient Kamrupa. Traditional and localised
forms of this language still exist in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh,
North Bengal, Kacar (Cachar) and in Southern Assam (similarities
with Chittagonian language in present-day Bangladesh exists).
The form used in the upper Assam was enriched by contributions
from many eastern immigrations such as of those of Tai-Ahoms
and others beginning from 13th century onwards.
Linguistically modern Assamese traces its roots to the version
developed by the American Missionaries based on the local form
in practice near Xiwoxagor/Sibsagar district. Assamese or Oxomeeya
(as called in Assam) is a rich language due to its hybrid nature
with its unique characteristics of pronunciation and softness.
Assamese literature is one of the richest. The constitution
of India recognises it as a major language of Republic of India.
Bodo
is the ancient language of Assam and is mother of majority of
the present day languages and dialects within the state and
also in surrounding areas. Looking at the spatial distribution
patterns of related ethno-cultural groups and their cultural
traits and also phenomenon such as of naming all the major rivers
in the North East Region with original Bodo words (e.g. Dihing,
Dibru, Dihong, D/Tista, Dikrai, etc) it is understood that it
was the most important language in the North East India in the
ancient times, where history yet haven't opened its gates. Bodo
is presently spoken largely in the Lower Assam areas mostly
under the areas of Bodo Territorial Council. During past few
decades (after years of neglect) it is fortunate that Bodo as
a language is getting attention and much care is being taken
for development of Bodo literature.
Assam is also rich with several native languages such as Mishing,
Karbi, Dimaca, Rabha, Tiwa, etc of Tibeto-Burman origin and
are closely related to Bodo. There are also small groups of
people in different part of Assam with languages such as Tai-Phake,
Tai-Aiton, Tai-Khamti, etc related to Tai-group of languages
of Southern China and South East Asia. The Tai-Ahom language
(brought by Sukaphaa and his followers) is now fortunately getting
attentions for wide-spread research after centuries long care
and preservation by the Bailungs (traditional priests), which
is no more a spoken language for commons today. There are also
small groups of people speaking Manipuri, Khasi, Garo, Hmar,
Kuki, etc in different parts of Assam.
In the past century migration of Bengalis to the medieval kingdom
of Kacar (of Kocaries) in the Barak Valley has led to their
majority, prompting the government of Assam to include Bengali
as the official language in the Barak Valley districts.
Tradition and culture
Assamese culture is traditionally a hybrid one, developed due
to cultural assimilation of different ethno-cultural groups
under various politico-economic systems in different periods
of pre-history and history. The roots of the culture go back
to almost two thousand years when the first cultural assimilation
took place with Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman as the major
components.
Thereafter, western migrations such as those of various branches
of Mediterraneans, Indo-scythians /Irano-scythians and Nordics
along with (or in the form of) the mixed northern Indians (the
ancient cultural mix already present in northern Indian states
such as Magadha) have enriched the aboriginal culture and under
certain stronger politico-economic systems, Sanskritisation
and Hinduisation intensified and became prominent. Such an assimilated
culture therefore carries many elements of source cultures,
of which exact roots are difficult to trace and are matter of
research. However, in each of the elements of Assamese culture,
i.e. language, traditional crafts, performing arts, festivity
and beliefs either local elements or the local elements in a
Hinduised / Sanskritised forms are always present.
The major milestones in evolution of Assamese culture are:
- Assimilation under the great dynasties of Pragjyotisha-Kamrupa
for almost 700 years (Varman dynasty for 300 years, Mlechchha
dynasty for 200 years and Pala dynasty for another 200 years)
in the first millennium AD.
- Advent of Ahom dynasty in the 13th century AD and establishment
of the Ahom politico-eonomic system and cultural assimilation
for next 600 years.
- Assimilation under the Koch Kingdom (15th-16th century AD)
of western Assam and Kachari Kingdom (12th-18th century AD)
of central and southern Assam.
- Vaishnava Movement led by Srimanta Sankardeva (Xonkordeu)
and its contribution and cultural changes.
With a strong base of tradition and history, the modern Assamese
culture is greatly influenced by various events those took place
in the British Assam and in the Post-British Era. The language
was standardised by the American Baptist Missionaries such as
Nathan Brown, Dr. Miles Bronson and local pundits such as Hemchandra
Barua with the form available in the Sibsagar (Xiwoxagor) District
(the nerve centre of the Ahom politico-economic system). A renewed
Sanskritisation was increasingly adopted for developing Assamese
language and grammar. A new wave of Western and northern Indian
influence was apparent in the performing arts and literature.
Due to increasing efforts of standardisation in the 19th and
20th century, the localised forms present in different districts
and also among the remaining source-cultures with the less-assimilated
ethno-cultural groups have seen greater alienation. However,
Assamese culture in its hybrid form and nature is one of the
richest and is still under development.
Assamese
culture in its true sense today is a 'cultural system' comprised
of different sub-systems. It is more interesting to note that
even many of the source-cultures of Assamese culture are still
surviving either as sub-systems or as sister entities. In broader
sense, therefore, the Assamese cultural system incorporates
its source-cultures such as Bodo (Boro) or Khasi or Mishing
(Micing) but individual development of these sub-systems are
today becoming important. However, it is also important to keep
the broader system closer to its roots.
Festivals
There are several important traditional festivals in Assam.
Bihu is the most important and common and celebrated all over
Assam.
Bihu is a series of three prominent festivals of Assam. Primarily
a festival celebrated to mark the seasons and the significant
points of a cultivator's life over a yearly cycle, in recent
times the form and nature of celebration has changed with the
growth of urban centers. A non-religious festival, all communities---religious
or ethnic---take part in it. Three Bihus are celebrated: rongali,
celebrated with the coming of spring and the beginning of the
sowing season; kongali, the barren bihu when the fields are
lush but the barns are empty; and the bhogali, the thanksgiving
when the crops have been harvested and the barns are full. Rongali,
kongali & bhogali bihu are also known as 'bohag bihu', 'kati
bihu' & 'magh bihu' respectively. The day before the each
bihu is known as 'uruka'. There are unique features of each
bihu. The first day of 'rongali bihu' is called 'Goru bihu'
(the bihu of the cows). On this day the cows are taken to the
nearby rivers or ponds to be bathed with special care. Traditionally,
cows are respected as sacred animals by the people of Assam.
Bihu songs and Bihu dance are associated to rongali bihu.
Moreover, there are other important traditional festivals being
celebrated every year for different occasions at different places.
Many of these are celebrated by different ethno-cultural groups
(sub and sister cultures). Few of these are:
Me-dam-me-phi
Ali-aye-ligang
Kherai
Garja
Hapsa Hatarnai
Awnkham Gwrlwi Janai
Chojun/Swarak
Rongker
Sokk-erroi
Hacha-kekan
Porag
Music
Assam, being the home to many ethnic groups and different cultures,
is very rich in folk music. The indigenous folk music has in
turn influenced the growth of a modern idiom, that finds expression
in the music of such artists like Bhupen Hazarika, Anima Choudhury
Nirmalendu Choudhury & Utpalendu Choudhury, Luit Konwar
Rudra Baruah, Parvati Prasad Baruva, Jayanta Hazarika, Khagen
Mahanta among many others. Among the new generation, Zubeen
Garg, Jitul Sonowal and Angaraag Mahanta have a great fan following.
Traditional crafts
Assam has maintained a rich tradition of various traditional
crafts for more than two thousand years. Presently, Cane and
bamboo craft, bell metal and brass craft, silk and cotton weaving,
toy and mask making, pottery and terracotta work, wood craft,
jewellery making, musical instruments making, etc remained as
major traditions.[32] Historically, Assam also excelled in making
boats, traditional guns and gunpowder, ivory crafts, colours
and paints, articles of lac, traditional building materials,
utilities from iron, etc.
Cane and bamboo craft provide the most commonly used utilities
in daily life, ranging from household utilities, weaving accessories,
fishing accessories, furniture, musical instruments to building
construction materials. Traditional utilities and symbolic articles
made from bell metal and brass are found in every Assamese household.[33][34]
The Xorai and bota have been in use for centuries to offer gifts
to respected persons and are two prominent symbolic elements.
Hajo and Sarthebari / Xorthebaary are the most important centres
of traditional bell-metal and brass crafts. Assam is the home
of several types of silks, the most prominent and prestigious
being Muga, the natural golden silk is exclusive only to Assam.
Apart from Muga, there are other two varieties called Pat, a
creamy-bright-silver coloured silk and Eri, a variety used for
manufacturing warm clothes for winter. Apart from Sualkuchi
/ Xualkuchi, the centre for the traditional silk industry, in
almost every parts of the Brahmaputra Valley, rural households
produce silk and silk garments with excellent embroidery designs.
Moreover, various ethno-cultural groups in Assam make different
types of cotton garments with unique embroidery designs and
wonderful colour combinations.
Moreover, Assam possesses unique crafts of toy and mask making
mostly concentrated in the Vaishnav Monasteries, pottery and
terracotta work in lower Assam districts and wood craft, iron
craft, jewellery, etc in many places across the region.
Paintings
Painting is an ancient tradition of Assam. The ancient practices
can be known from the accounts of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang
(7th century CE). The account mentions that Bhaskaravarma, the
king of Kamarupa has gifted several items to Harshavardhana,
the king of Magadha including paintings and painted objects,
some of which were on Assamese silk. Many of the manuscripts
available from the Middle Ages bear excellent examples of traditional
paintings. The most famous of such medieval works are available
in the Hastividyarnava (A Treatise on Elephants), the Chitra
Bhagawata and in the Gita Govinda. The medieval painters used
locally manufactured painting materials such as the colours
of hangool and haital. The medieval Assamese literature also
refers to chitrakars and patuas. Traditional Assamese paintings
have been influenced by the motifs and designs in the medieval
works such as the Chitra Bhagawata.
There are several renowned contemporary painters in Assam. The
Guwahati Art College in Guwahati is a government institution
for tertiary education. Moreover, there are several art-societies
and non-government initiatives across the state and the Guwahati
Artists Guild is a front-runner organisation based in Guwahati.
Places in Assam
Major cities and towns
History of urban development goes back to almost two thousand
years in the region. Existence of ancient urban areas such as
Pragjyotishapura (Guwahati), Hatapesvara (Tezpur), Durjaya,
etc and medieval towns such as Charaideu, Garhgaon, Rongpur,
Jorhat, Khaspur, Guwahati, etc are well recorded.
Guwahati is the largest urban centre and a million plus city
in Assam. The city has experienced multifold growth during past
three decades to grow as the primate city in the region; the
city's population was approximately 0.9 million (considering
GMDA area) during the census of 2001. The other important urban
areas are Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tinsukia (Tinicukiya), Sibsagar
(Xiwoxagor), Silchar (Silcor), Tezpur, Nagaon, Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon,
etc. Population growth in the Barak Valley town of Silchar is
also astonishing during past two decades. Nalbari, Mangaldoi,
Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Dhubri (Dhubury), etc are other
towns and district head quarters. On the other hand Duliajan,
Digboi, Namrup, Moran, Bongaigaon, Numaligarh, Jogighopa, etc
are major industrial towns. Currently, there are around 125
total urban centres in the state.
Attractive destinations
Orchids are abundantly found in Assam; a variety - Bhatou Phul
or Vanda coerulea, the 'Blue OrchidAssam has several attractive
destinations; majority of these are National Parks, Wildlife
and Bird Sanctuaries, areas with archaeological interests and
areas with unique cultural heritage. Moreover, as a whole, the
region is covered by beautiful natural landscapes.
Kaziranga National Park
Manas National Park
Nameri National Park
Dibru-Saikhuwa National Park
Orang National Park
Joydihing Rainforest
Gobbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary
Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary
Buracapori Wildlife Sanctuary
Bornodi Wildlife Sanctuary
Sonai-rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
Nambar Wildlife Sanctuary
Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
Gibon Wildlife Sanctuary
East Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed)
Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed)
Podumani Bherjan Borajan Wildlife Sanctuary
Bordoibum Beelmukh Bird Sanctuary (Proposed)
Panidihing Bird Sanctuary
Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary
Majuli
Sualkuchi
Sarthebari
Digboi oil town
Ledo and Stilwell Road
Haflong and Jatinga
Umrangshu hotwater spring
Guwahati archaeological region
Hajo archaeological region
Madan Kamdev
Sibsagar archaeological region
Charaideo
Surya Pahar Goalpara archaeological region
Tezpur archaeological region
Kapili Valley archaeological region
Dhansiri/Dhonxiri Valley archaeological region
Maibong
|
