Assam is a state in north-eastern India, situated south of the eastern Himalayas along the valleys of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. It is the largest state in the North East Region by population and one of the most economically significant, particularly on account of its tea industry, petroleum and natural gas reserves, and silk production. The capital is Dispur, a locality within the city of Guwahati.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| Region | North East India |
| Capital | Dispur (Guwahati) |
| Largest city | Guwahati |
| Official languages | Assamese, Bodo (additional official in Bodoland Territorial Region) |
| Statehood | 26 January 1950 (constituted as a state of the Indian Union) |
| Legislature | Unicameral (Assam Legislative Assembly) |
| High Court | Gauhati High Court |
| Major rivers | Brahmaputra, Barak |
Geography
Assam lies between approximately 24°N and 28°N latitude. It is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Nagaland and Manipur to the east, Mizoram and Tripura to the south, and Meghalaya, West Bengal and Bangladesh to the west and south-west. The state is connected to the rest of India through the narrow Siliguri Corridor.
The terrain is dominated by two large river valleys—the Brahmaputra Valley in the north and the Barak Valley in the south—separated by the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hill ranges. The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers in the world by discharge, flows through Assam from east to west. Majuli, on the Brahmaputra, is among the largest river islands in the world.
The climate is humid subtropical with heavy monsoon rainfall, and the state experiences recurrent flooding and erosion along the Brahmaputra.
History
Ancient and medieval Assam was known by names such as Pragjyotisha and Kamarupa. The Varman, Salastambha and Pala dynasties ruled successive kingdoms of Kamarupa from the 4th to the 12th century. From the early 13th century, the Ahom dynasty, of Tai origin, established a kingdom in the upper Brahmaputra valley that endured for nearly six centuries. The Ahoms repulsed multiple Mughal invasions, most notably at the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, where the Ahom general Lachit Borphukan defeated Mughal forces.
The Ahom kingdom was weakened by the Moamoria rebellion in the late 18th century and Burmese invasions in the early 19th century. Following the First Anglo-Burmese War, the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826) ceded Assam to the British East India Company. Under British rule, commercial tea cultivation was developed from the 1830s, and crude oil was discovered at Digboi in 1889, leading to the establishment of one of the earliest oil refineries in Asia.
After Indian independence in 1947, Assam initially included most of present-day north-east India. Successive reorganisations carved out Nagaland (1963), Meghalaya (1972), Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh (initially as Union Territories in 1972, with full statehood later).
Economy
Assam's economy is supported by agriculture, the petroleum and natural gas sector, tea, tourism and handicrafts. Tea gardens spread across the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys make Assam one of the largest tea-producing regions in the world; Assam tea is recognised as a distinct variety with Geographical Indication status.
The state was the site of India's first commercially exploited oil reserves. Major hydrocarbon installations include the Digboi Refinery (one of the oldest operating refineries in the world), Guwahati Refinery, Bongaigaon Refinery and Numaligarh Refinery. Oil India Limited, a public sector enterprise headquartered at Duliajan in Assam, operates extensively in the Upper Assam basin alongside the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. Sericulture, particularly the production of muga, eri and pat silk, is another important traditional industry.
Demographics and culture
Assam is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with communities including Assamese, Bodo, Karbi, Mising, Dimasa, Tiwa, Rabha, Bengali, Nepali and various tea-tribe communities. Assamese and Bodo are official languages of the state, with Bengali holding additional official status in the Barak Valley districts.
Bihu is the principal festival of Assam, celebrated thrice a year as Rongali (Bohag), Kongali (Kati) and Bhogali (Magh) Bihu, marking phases of the agricultural calendar. Classical Sattriya dance, originating from the neo-Vaishnavite monasteries (Sattras) founded by the 15th–16th century saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardev, is recognised as one of the classical dances of India. The Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal Hill in Guwahati is among the most important Shakta pilgrimage sites in India.
Administration
Assam is divided into administrative districts grouped under five divisions. The state has an elected Legislative Assembly and sends members to both houses of the Indian Parliament. The Gauhati High Court at Guwahati exercises jurisdiction over Assam and certain other north-eastern states. The Bodoland Territorial Region, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council provide tribal self-governance under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
Wildlife and protected areas
Assam is home to several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, harbours the largest population of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros. Manas National Park, also a World Heritage Site and a Project Tiger reserve, lies in the foothills along the Bhutan border. Other notable protected areas include Nameri National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Orang National Park.