Jump to content

Dhemaji district

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dhemaji district
District of Assam
From top, left-to-right: Dhemaji town, Dhemaji town at night, a paddy field of Dhemaji, A Satra located in a village of Dhemaji
Map
Interactive map of Dhemaji district
CountryIndia
StateAssam
DivisionUpper Assam
HeadquartersDhemaji
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesLakhimpur
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesDhemaji, Jonai
Area
 • Total
3,237 km2 (1,250 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total
686,133
 • Density212.0/km2 (549.0/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-AS-DM
Websitehttps://dhemaji.gov.in/

Dhemaji district (/deɪˈmɑːdʒi/ or /diːˈmɑːdʒi/) is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located in Dhemaji and commercial headquarters are located in Silapathar. Dhemaji covers an area of 3,237 km2 and has a population of 686,133 (as of 2011). The predominant religion is Hinduism, with Hindus comprising approximately 95.47% of the population.

Etymology

The district's name Dhemaji is derived from the Deori-Chutia word Dema-ji which means great water. The name is a reference to the region being prone to flooding.[2]

History

Medieval period

The areas of the present district formed part of the Chutia kingdom, whose territory extended over much of the north bank of the upper Brahmaputra Valley as far as Biswanath district.[3][4] Chutia rule in the wider region continued until the Ahom conquest of 1523–1524. Following the conquest, the Ahom administration created several new offices for the newly acquired territories, including the Bhatialia Gohain stationed at Habung, south of Dhemaji and Sadiyakhowa Gohain for the northern Dhemaji region.[5] Archaeological and religious remains associated with Chutia rule in Dhemaji and the adjoining foothill region include Malinithan,[6] Garakhia Than,[7] Bordoloni Than, and the Rajakhana ruins and tank.[8]

Misings of Dhemaji

The north-bank frontier also contained a substantial Miri (Mising) population. The Misings inhabiting parts of the erstwhile Chutia Kingdom were designated as the Chutia Miri by the Ahoms during the reign of Suhungmung, the Dihingia Raja.[9] The Ahom kingdom regulated its relations with the Hill Miris through the posa system. Lakshmi Devi, citing Alexander Mackenzie, notes that the Hill Miris commanding the cultivated tracts of Bordoloni, Sisi and Dhemaji had acquired an acknowledged right to collect posa, which was recognised by the Ahom government.[10][11]

During the reign of Udayaditya Singha, a dispute arose between the Chutias and the Miris of Dhemaji after a group of Chutias attacked the Miri villages of Dimau (likely present-day Dimow, Dhemaji) and Rupia (likely present-day Rupahi, near Dimow), killed several inhabitants, and carried away Mar-boats due as tribute to the Ahom king.[12][13] The conflict continued under Ramdhwaj Singha, with Ahom officials operating through Miri intermediaries and from Tinimukhia. The Sadiyakhowa and Marangikhowa Gohains were ordered to fortify the mouth of the Sessa, while officials from Tinimukhia travelled by boat along the Dihang towards Chutia settlements, where some Chutias assembled or sheltered in Miri villages.[13] The Tai text of the Ahom Buranji names the river Di-hang, though Barua translated it as "Dihing".[13]

The Ahom Buranji further records that the Chutias of this tract were required to acknowledge the Ahom king as sovereign and furnish elephant tusks, wild cattle, sikaradaos, jin cloth and female slaves as tribute. Their compliance marked the first establishment of tributary obligations upon these particular Chutia communities following the conflict.[13][12]

Colonial period

During the colonial period, Dhemaji remained part of the larger Lakhimpur district. Nineteenth-century accounts continued to describe the Hill Miri country as lying north of the Sisi and Dhemaji mouzas, while the posa claims of the Hill Miris were associated with the cultivated tracts of Bordoloni, Sisi and Dhemaji.[14] Dhemaji became a fully-fledged district on 14 October 1989 when it was split from Lakhimpur district.[15]

Geography

The Dhemaji district occupies an area of 3,237 square kilometres (1,250 sq mi),[16] roughly equivalent to Solomon Islands' Makira Island.[17] It is one of the fastest developing districts of India, and located at the easternmost part of Assam. Being in a confluence of rivers, with the Brahmaputra river flanking the district and its numerous tributaries running through the district, the region is perennially affected by floods. The heart of Dhemaji district is Dhemaji Mouza (an area demarcated by the British regime for the purpose of tax collection, equivalent to a taluk or pargana in the pan-Indian context). Secondly, Silapathar is the main business place of Dhemaji. The Bogibil project was running nearest to these place and is completed which connects Dibrugarh.

Education

Statue of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika at Dhemaji ASTC

The notable schools in the district include Borpataria L. P. School, Bhairabpur Netaji M. E. School, St.Francis de Sales School, Dhemaji Public School, Moridhal High School, Sankar Dev High School (No. 2 Manik Pur), Mother's Pride School, Silapathar Town Hanuman Gadhi Hindi High School and Dhemaji Boys' Higher Secondary School. Colleges in Dhemaji District are:

  • Dhemaji College
  • Dhemaji Commerce College
  • Dhemaji Girls College
  • Moridhal College
  • Machkhowa Degree College
  • Sisiborgaon College
  • Pachim Dhemaji College
  • Simen Chapori College
  • Gogamukh College
  • Bordoloni Central College
  • Dimow College
  • Silapathar College
  • Silapathar Science College
  • Silapathar Town College
  • Purbanchal College
  • Murkongselek College
  • Jonai Girls College
  • Jonai Science College
  • Akajan College
  • Dhemaji Engineering College
  • Dhemaji Polytechnic
  • Industrial Training Institute, Dhemaji
  • DIET College Dhemaji
  • Dhemaji PGT College (Private)

Economy

In 2006, the Indian government named Dhemaji as one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[18] It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Silapathar is the most developed city in Dhemaji district. Its economy is mainly depended upon trade and commerce for development.[18]

Divisions

There are two Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Dhemaji and Jonai.[19] Both are designated for scheduled tribes.[19] They make up a part of the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency.[20] Dhemaji district is politically very poor. Community politics is the main reason for this. As of 2019, Pradhan Baruah is MP (Member of Parliament), Ranuj Pegu is MLA from Dhemaji and Bhubon Pegu from Jonai.[21]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
190121,324—    
191126,930+2.36%
192136,106+2.98%
193144,742+2.17%
194154,896+2.07%
195164,745+1.66%
1961113,439+5.77%
1971230,762+7.36%
1991478,830+3.72%
2001571,944+1.79%
2011686,133+1.84%
source:[22]
Languages of Dhemaji district (2011)[23]
  1. Assamese (39.2%)
  2. Mishing (32.5%)
  3. Bengali (9.80%)
  4. Bodo (6.95%)
  5. Nepali (5.26%)
  6. Hindi (1.49%)
  7. Hajong (0.95%)
  8. Others (3.81%)

According to the 2011 census Dhemaji district has a population of 686,133,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Equatorial Guinea[24] or the US state of North Dakota.[25] This gives it a ranking of 504th in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 213 inhabitants per square kilometre (550/sq mi).[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 20.3%.[1] Dhemaji has a sex ratio of 949 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 69.07%. 7.04% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 6.45% and 47.45% of the population respectively.[1]

Hindus are 95.47% of the population. There are small minorities of Muslims (1.96%) and Christians (1.27%). After Majuli district, Dhemaji has the second-highest proportion of Hindus of all districts in Assam.[26]

According to the 2011 census, 39.21% of the district's population speaks Assamese, 32.53% Mising, 9.80% Bengali, 6.95% Boro, 5.26% Nepali, 1.49% Hindi and 0.95% Hajong as their first language.[23]

Township areas

Flora and fauna

In 1996 Dhemaji district became home to the Bardoibum-Beelmukh Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 11 km2 (4.2 mi2).[27] It shares the park with Lakhimpur district.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "District Census Handbook: Dhemaji" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  2. ↑ Brown, W.B. An Outline of the Deori-Chutia language. Assam secretariat printing office,1895, p. 70.
  3. ↑ "..the Chutiya kingdom was bound by the Himalayas on the north, river Burhi Dihing on the south, Patkai ranges on the east and Bharali river in the west. Robinson and following him, N.N.Acharya, are of the opinion that the Chutia kingdom extended up to Viswanath in the present Darrang district of Assam."(Dutta 1985:28)
  4. ↑ Gogoi, Jahnavi (2002). Agrarian System of Medieval Assam. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company. pp. 20–21. Thus, the Chutiya territory extended over almost the entire region of the present districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, and parts of Dibrugarh.
  5. ↑ Bhuyan, Suryya Kumar, ed. (1932). "30". Deodhai Asam Buranji: With Several Shorter Chronicles of Assam. Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies.
  6. ↑ Sarma, P. C. (2020). "Chutiya Architecture". A Study of the Temple Architecture of Assam from the Gupta Period to the End of the Ahom Rule (PDF) (PhD thesis). Guwahati: Gauhati University. p. 205. Kings of the Chutiya Kingdom in the 13th-14th Century built the Malinithan temple. He reigned in the Sadiya region in the Northeast corner of Assam on the north bank of Brahmaputra. The chief deity of Malinithan temple is Durga/Kechai-Khaiti or feminine supreme power deity of Hindu mythology. Goddess in her Shakti form worshipped. A nearby narrow stream named Akhashiganga similar to the site of Tamreswari and Bura-Buri Temples of Sadiya. It indicates that sacrifices were in the temple.
  7. ↑ "Garakhia Than" (PDF). Directorate of Archaeology, Government of Assam.
  8. ↑ Barua, Swarnalata, Chutia Jatir Buranji, p. 439.
  9. ↑ Devi 1968, p. 202. sfn error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFDevi1968 (help)
  10. ↑ Devi, Lakshmi (1968). Ahom-Tribal Relations: A Political Study. Gauhati. p. 158.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ↑ Mackenzie, Alexander (1884). History of the Relations of the Government with the Hill Tribes of the North-East Frontier of Bengal. Calcutta: Government of India. p. 34.
  12. 1 2 Devi, Lakshmi (1968). Ahom-Tribal Relations: A Political Study. Gauhati. pp. 70–72.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. 1 2 3 4 Barua, Golap Chandra (1930). Ahom-Buranji (with Parallel English Translation): From the Earliest Time to the End of Ahom Rule. Calcutta: Assam Administration. pp. 224–230.
  14. ↑ Mackenzie, Alexander (1884). History of the Relations of the Government with the Hill Tribes of the North-East Frontier of Bengal. Calcutta: Government of India. pp. 33–34.
  15. ↑ Law, Gwillim (2011-09-25). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  16. ↑ "States and Union Territories: Assam: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. 2010. p. 1116. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7.
  17. ↑ "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 1998-02-18. Retrieved 2011-10-11. Makira 3,190
  18. 1 2 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  19. 1 2 "List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Revenue & Election District wise break – up" (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  20. ↑ "List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Parliamentary Constituencies wise break – up" (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  21. ↑ "MEMBERS OF ASSAM LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY". Government of Assam, Directorate of Information & Public Relations. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
  22. ↑ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  23. 1 2 "Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  24. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Equatorial Guinea 668,225 July 2011 est.
  25. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2011-09-30. North Dakota 672,591
  26. ↑ "Table C-16 Population By Religion: Assam". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  27. ↑ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Assam". Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.

27°28′47″N 94°33′04″E / 27.4798°N 94.5511°E / 27.4798; 94.5511

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dhemaji_district&oldid=1378737882"