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| North East of India |
Assam is the gateway to the north-east, a state known for its breath taking scenic beauty, rarest flora and fauna, lofty green hills, vast rolling plain, mighty waterways and a land of fairs and festivals. Known in the ancient lore as the kingdom of Pragjyotisha and Kamrupa, the capital having been Pragjyotishpura situated in or near Guwahati. It originally included in addition to modern Assam, parts of modern Bengal and modern Bangladesh. The name Assam is of recent origin. It came into use after the conquest of Assam by the Ahoms. It is also known that “Assam” is derived from the word “Asama” meaning uneven. Assam is almost separated from central India by Bangladesh. Nagaland, Manipur and Myanmar bound it in the east, west by West Bengal, north by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh and south by Meghalaya, Bangladesh, Tripura and Mizoram. It is dominated by the mighty Brahmaputra, one of the great rivers of the world (length: 2900 kms), which not only has a fertile alluvial plain for growing rice, but also is famous for tea. Earthquakes are common.
The Ahoms, a Buddhist Tai tribe, under Sukapha arrived in 1228 A.D., deposed the ruler and established the kingdom of “Assam” with its capital in Sibsagar. The advent of the Ahoms changed the course of Assam’s history. They later intermixed with immigrant Bengalis and most converted to Hinduism. The Mughals attempted to invade without success, but the Burmese finally invaded Assam at the end of the 18th century and held it continuously until it was ceded to the East India Company at the close of the First Burmese War in 1826. The British administered it in name until 1947. Geographically Assam is a shadow of its former self. It has been reduced to one-third of its original size in 30 years. On the partition of India lamost the whole of Sylhet was merged with East Bengal(present Bangladesh). Dewanagiri in North Kamrup was ceded to Bhutan in 1951. In 1948, the N.E.F.A. was separated from Assam. In 1963 Nagaland was carved out of Assam as a full fledged state. On 21st January, 1972 Meghalaya was cut out of Assam as a separate state and Mizoram became a Union Territory.
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| Bihu Dance |
The major festivals celebrated in assam are Bihu-Bhogali or Magh Bihu (January), Rongali or Bohag Bihu (April), and Kongali or Kati Bihu (May) celebrated by people irrespective of caste, creed and religion throughout Assam. Other festivals are- Baishagu (celebrated by Bodo Kacharis during mid April), Ali-Ai-Ligang (festival of the Mishing tribe, February-March), Baikho (Rabha tribe, spring season), Rongker (important festival of the Karbis, April), Rajini Gabra and Harni Gabra (Dimasa tribe), Bohaggiyo Bishu (spring festival of the Deoris), Ambubashi Mela (most important festival of the Kamakhya Temple is celebrated during mid June every year. It is a ritual of austerities celebrated with “tantric” rites) and Jonbill Mela (spectacular fair held every year during winter at Jonbeel of Jagiroad, near Guwahati) and so on. However, the people of assam also celebrate Janmastmi (August), Durga Puja (October), Diwali, Idd, Muharram, Me-Dam-Me-Phi, the birth and death anniversaries of the Vaishnavite saints Shrimanta Sankardev and Shri Madhabdev.
WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
1. Kaziranga National Park: Kaziranga, the world-renowned park lies in Golaghat and Nagaon district. It covers an area of 430 sq kms. It is the home of the great Indian one- horned rhino, breeding place of pelican.2. Manas National Park: The only Tiger Reserve of Assam. Manas is one of the most magnificent National Parks of India. It is also a world heritage site.
3. Nameri National Park (on the border of Arunachal and Assam).
4. Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
5. Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park.
6. Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Bura-Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary, Dhubri.
10. Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Darrang.
11. Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, Golaghat.
12. Pani Dihing Bird Sanctuary, Sivasagar.
13. Bordoibam Bilmukh Sanctuary, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji.
14. Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati
Social and Cultural Heritage:
There is a gradual development of liberalism in religious system in Assam. The indigenous groups are Aninmism, Tantricism, Brahminism and Vaishnavism. The Assamese were practising Tantric forms of rituals until the advent of the new Vaishnavite religion formed by Shrimanta Sankardeva (1449-1568). The pristine form of Hinduism began only when the Aryans arrived in Assam.
| Assam is a land of fairs and festivals. Most of the festivals celebrated in Assam have their roots in the diverse faith and belief of her inhabitants. They reflect the true spirit, tradition and life style of the people of Assam. The culture of Assam is a rich tapestry woven with multicolour yarns of distinct heritage of all the races that inhabit there. The predominant language is Assamese. | |
In 1987, Mizoram was granted statehood. Nature has ungrudgingly blessed Assam with an abundance of scenic grandeur, a wealth of rare and near-extinct wildlife. It forms part of a global bio-diversity “hotspot”, out of 41 listed endangered species of wildlife are found in Assam, which includes Golden Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, Pygmy Hog, Hispid Hare, White-Winged Woodduck, Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Swamp Deer, Gangetic Dolphins, etc. Moreover, during season, flock of resident and migratory birds make Assam their natural habitat. Rainfall, one of the highest in the world (between 178 and 305 cms), is concentrated in 4 months, June to September. Straddling either banks of the Brahmaputra, Guwahati-said to be the legendary Pragjyotishpur or City of Eastern Light was said to have been founded by King Narakasur, who is mentioned in the Puranas and Epics. is a bustling, busy and crowded city. It is the commercial capital of the North-East. Guwahati are actually two words: Guwa meaning areca nut and Hat meaning market or market for areca nuts.
Arunachal Pradesh
the 24th state of the Indian Union, is bounded by Bhutan to the west, Myanmar to the east, China to the north and north-east and the plains of Assam to the south. Arunachal Pradesh is acknowledged to be one of the most splendid, variegated and multilingual tribal areas of the world.
Arunachal is the largest state (area-wise) in the north-east region. The entire region had remained isolated since 1873 when the British stopped free movement. After 1947, Arunachal became part of the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA). Its strategic significance was demonstrated by the Chinese invasion in 1962, and the Indian government subsequently broke up the agency giving statehood to all the territories surrounding Assam. Arunachal Pradesh finds mention in the literature such as the Kalika Puran and in the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. It is believed that sage Vyasa meditated here and also that the remains of the brick structure, scattered around two villages in the hills north of Roing was the palace of Rukmini, the consort of Lord Krishna. The sixth Dalai Lama was also born on the soil of Arunachal Pradesh.
Manipur
is the land of rich valleys surrounded by beautiful hills and lakes, a land of gentle people full of laughter and joy. Many legends tell us the origin of Manipur. One of the legends is that Krishna requested Shiva to keep a watch while he danced the Ras with Radha and Gopis. Parvati on seeing Shiva protecting a particular spot was curious to see what Shiva was protecting. On her insistence, Shiva permitted her to see the Ras. She was so enamored by Krishna’s dance that she decided to perform the Ras with Shiva. Shiva searched for a place high and low for a beautiful and a secluded place for dancing the Ras with Parvati. He saw Manipur surrounded by mountains, its beautiful valleys covered by a sheet of water. With his trident, he stuck the mountain ranges making a path for the water to flow out. The valley of Manipur emerged and Shiva and Parvati danced on it. Manipur means the 'land of gems'. This north-eastern state was described as the land of gold or ‘Suvarnabhu’. Manipur was a princely state under the British rule in 1891. A democratic form of government with Maharaja as the executive head was established in 1947, under the manipur Constitution act. This ruling family gave them a long peaceful era in which they developed their arts and crafts undisturbed. The territory became a full-fledged state with the integration on 21st January 1972. The state, was a single district territory with 10 sub- divisions, was recognized in 1969. The state now consists of six districts with district Head Quarters at Imphal, Ukhrul, Tamenlong, Senapati, Chandel and Churachandpur. Meghalaya,
A Sanskrit word meaning "the abode of cloud", was created as an autonomous State on 2nd April 1970. The full-fledged State of Meghlaya came into existence on 2nd January 1972. Meghalaya has precise historic, geographic and strategic significance for India. It is bound on north and east by the state of Assam, and on south and west by Bangladesh. The three physical division in the state are Garo (Western), Khasi (Central) and Jaintia (Eastern) hill divisions.
In the Garo hills, the Tura range occupies dominantly a middle portion running west to east where the Nokrek peak is located. Khasi -Jaintia ranges are interwined with a curved-alignment. Spurs of ranges in Jaintia hills are shorter in height than the Shillong Plateau; hillbases lie side by side with flat lands, valley and meadows.
Mizoram, a mountainous region is sandwiched between Myanmar in the east and the south and Bangladesh and Tripura in the west with its northern frontiers touching Assam and Manipur states. Located in a strategic position, it has an 1100 km international boundary with Myanmar and Bangladesh. It was one of the districts of Assam until 1972 when it became a Union Territory. After being annexed by the British in 1891, for the first few years, Lushai Hills in the north remained under Assam, while the southern half remained under Bengal. Both these parts were amalgamated in 1898 into one district called Lushai Hill District under the Chief Commissioner of Assam.
With the implementation of the North- Eastern Reorganization Act in 1972, Mizoram became a Union Territory and as a sequel to the signing of the historic memorandum of settlement between the Government of India and the Mizo National Front in 1986, it became the 23rd state of the Indian union on 20 February 1987. Mizoram literally translated means "Land of the Highlanders". The hills are steep with an average height of 900 metres. The highest peak in Mizoram is the Blue Mountain (Phawngpui) with a height of 2210 metres. The tropical forests of Mizoram abound in a wide variety of flora and fauna. The thick bamboo groves strewn with wild plantations dominate the lower altitude, slowly giving way to dense woods festooned with creepers and canes as the hills rise higher. Orchids of various hues, pinkish- white bauthinia, sparkling rhododendrons, yellow sunflowers and many other colourful wild flowers, add a touch of delightful tonal contrasts to the greeneries. Besides being an ornithologist's delight, the jungles are home to tigers, wild boars, leopards, monkeys, barking deers, sambars and elephants.