Golaghat district
District of Assam
From top, left-to-right: Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park, Negheriting Shiva Doul, Deopahar, Golaghat city view, Athkheliya Namghar.
Location in Assam
Location in Assam
Coordinates: 26°00′N 93°00′E / 26.0°N 93.0°E / 26.0; 93.0
CountryIndia
StateAssam
DivisionUpper Assam
HeadquartersGolaghat
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesKaliabor
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesBokakhat, Sarupathar, Golaghat, Khumtai, Dergaon,
Area
 • Total3,502 km2 (1,352 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,066,888
 • Density300/km2 (790/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Websitegolaghat.assam.gov.in

Golaghat district (Pron:ˌgəʊləˈgɑ:t) is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. It attained district status in 1987. The district headquarters are located at Golaghat. The district occupies an area of3,502 km2 (1,352 sq mi) and lies 100 metres (330 ft) above sea level.

Etymology

The name 'Golaghat' originated from the markets established by a business class of people called Marwari during the middle of 19th century at the bank of the river Dhansiri in the vicinity of the district headquarters. "Gola" means market and "Ghat" means the port of river transport.

History

The Nagajari-Khanikargaon rock inscription of Nagajari Khanikar village of Sarupathar, remnants of fortifications, brick structures, monuments, temples, tanks, etc. are evidence of a 9th-century kingdom in the Doyang-Dhansiri valley. The Ahoms were the rulers of the Doyang-Dhansiri valley in the 16th century. Earlier, this part was ruled by the Kacharis. The Kacharis were pushed back towards west of the Karbi hills. The Ahom King Suhungmung (1497–1539), appointed a ruler entitled Marangi-Khowa Gohain, an administrative post with the Rank of a Governor/Minister of the Ahom administration. Under Marangi-khowa Gohain, large number of people from different parts of Ahom kingdom were settled in erstwhile Kachari Kingdom. An interesting aspect of such settlement was that a large number of people from different castes/communities were mixed up together so that there was remote chance of rebellion in such newly acquired territory. Most of the Morongi-Khowa Gohains were appointed from the Burhagohain families although there were few exceptions.

Later, when the British took control of Assam, the Doyang-Dhansiri valley was incorporated under the newly formed Golaghat subdivision of the Sibsagar district in 1846. Golaghat district played an active part in the freedom struggle of India. Kushal Konwar, Kamala Miri, Dwariki Das, Biju Vaishnav, Sankar Chandra Barua, Shri Tara Prasad Barooah, Rajendra Nath Barua, Gaurilal Jain, Ganga Ram Bormedhi and Dwarikanath Goswami are eminent freedom fighters of the region.

Golaghat was raised to the position of a district of Assam on 15 August 1987, when it was split from Sibsagar district.[1]

Geography

Golaghat district occupies an area of 3,502 square kilometres (1,352 sq mi),[2] comparatively equivalent to the Bahamas' North Andros Island.[3]

Location

Golaghat district is surrounded by the river Brahmaputra to the north, the state of Nagaland to the south, Jorhat district to the east and Karbi Anglong and Nagaon district to the west. Dhansiri is the principal river, which originates from Laisang peak of Nagaland. It streams through a distance of 352 km from south to north before joining the Brahmaputra. Its catchment area is 1,220 km2 (470 sq mi). Doyang, Nambor, Doigrung and Kalioni are the four rivulets of the Dhansiri. The river Kakodonga marks the border between Golaghat and Jorhat districts.

National protected area

Climate

The climate is tropical with a hot and humid weather prevailing most of the summer and monsoon months. Total average annual rainfall is 1300 mm. Maximum precipitation occurs in June and July. Maximum temperature is 38.0 °C in June and minimum temperature is 8.0 °C in December.

Divisions

There are four Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Bokakhat, Sarupathar, Golaghat, and Khumtai.[4] All four are in the Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency.[5]

Administration

Within the merged establishment of the Deputy Commissioner, Golaghat are the Offices of the Sub-Divisional Officers, Dhansiri and Bokakhat. There are multiple functions and issues looked after by the Deputy Commissioner's office from its headquarters. The branches of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner are rationalized as Administration, Civil Defence, Confidential, Development, Election, Excise, Home Guards, Magisterial, Nazarat, Personnel, Registration, Revenue, Supply, Treasury and Zila Sainik Board. The Courts of District and Session Judge are also located in its headquarters at Golaghat.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901158,474—    
1911184,701+1.54%
1921221,328+1.83%
1931261,816+1.69%
1941265,148+0.13%
1951317,550+1.82%
1961400,238+2.34%
1971523,707+2.73%
1991828,096+2.32%
2001946,279+1.34%
20111,066,888+1.21%
source:[6]

According to the 2011 census Golaghat district has a population of 1,066,888,[7] roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus[8] or the US state of Rhode Island.[9] This gives it a ranking of 430th in India (out of a total of 640).[7] The district has a population density of 302 inhabitants per square kilometre (780/sq mi) .[7] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.88%.[7] Golaghat has a sex ratio of 961 females for every 1000 males,[7] and a literacy rate of 78.31%. 9.16% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 5.84% and 10.48% of the population respectively.[7]

Religion

Religions in Golaghat district (2011)[10]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 85.99%
Islam
 
 8.46%
Christianity
 
 4.74%
Other or not stated
 
 0.81%
Negheriting Shiva Doul temple is a major temple in Golaghat district

Hinduism is followed by majority of the people in Golaghat district: 85.99%. Muslims form 8.46% of population. while Christians are 4.74% of the population.[10]

Languages

Languages of Golaghat district (2011)[11]

  Assamese (78.40%)
  Bengali (4.59%)
  Mising (2.71%)
  Nepali (2.50%)
  Boro (1.86%)
  Hindi (1.79%)
  Sadri (1.52%)
  Odia (1.36%)
  Others (5.27%)

According to the 2011 census, 78.40% of the population speak Assamese, 4.59% Bengali, 2.71% Mising, 2.50% Nepali, 1.86% Boro, 1.79% Hindi, 1.52% Sadri and 1.36% Odia as their first language.[11]

Territorial dispute

Around 420 km2 (160 sq mi) of Golaghat district is under occupation by the state of Nagaland (Merapani region). There were major conflicts between the two sides in 1979 and 1985, with 54 and 41 deaths respectively. Almost all the deaths were from the Assamese side and the attackers included NSCN militants and Nagaland police.[12]

Culture

Golaghat district crowns many literary intellects who have made outstanding contributions to Assamese literature. The most prominent writer of the 19th century who hailed from Golaghat was Hem Chandra Barua, the writer of first Assamese dictionary Hemkosh. Raghunath Mahanta, Satradhikar of Doyang Alengi Satra of Golaghat, was another writer of 19th century who composed three masterpieces, namely Shatrunjoy Kavya, Adbhoot Ramayan and Katha Ramayan. One significant poet of the Ahom age was Durgeswar Dwiji. He composed a book titled Sangkhosur Badh. Hem Chandra Goswami is regarded as one of the most exceptional writers of the late 19th century and early twentieth century. He is the first sonnet writer of Assamese language. The credit of first Assamese poetess plus first Assamese short story writer amongst women went to Yamuneswari Khatoniar of Golaghat. Her collection of verses called Arun was the first book written by a woman poet.

Raibahadur Ghanashyam Barua of Golaghat, who was also famous in the field of politics as the first Central Minister of Assam, translated William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors into the Assamese language along with three of his partners. Kamal Chandra Sarma of Golaghat enjoyed the influential position of secretary of 'Asomiya Bhasa Unnoti Sadhini Sabha'. Syed Abdul Malik, the invincible writer of Assamese literature, belongs to the village of Nahoroni in Golaghat. He was the president of Assam Sahitya Sabha. Malik received many exalted prizes, including Sahitya Akademy, Sankar Dev Award, Xahityacharyya, etc.

Other people from Golaghat who marked their names as great writers of Assamese literature include Surendranath Saikia, Hari Parsad Barua, Kirtinath Hazarika, Dr Nagen Saikia, Dr Debo Prasad Barooah, Nilamoni Phukan, Samir Tanti, Lakhikanta Mahanta, Purna Chandra Goswami, Dr Upen Kakoty, Lolit Barua, Golap Khound and Premadhar Dutta. The Golaghat Sahitya Sabha is one of the oldest congresses of Assam Sahitya Sabha, started in 1918.

Flora and fauna

In 1974 Golaghat district became home to Kaziranga National Park, which has an area of 472 km2 (182.2 sq mi).[13] It shares the park with Nagaon district. It also home to Nambor - Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ Law, Gwillim (2011-09-25). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  2. ↑ Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) (2010). "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. p. 1116. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  3. ↑ "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 1998-02-18. Retrieved 2011-10-11. North Andros Island 3,439
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Census Handbook: Golaghat" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  8. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Cyprus 1,120,489 July 2011 est.
  9. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Rhode Island 1,052,567
  10. 1 2 "Table C-01 Population By Religion: Assam". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  11. 1 2 "Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  12. ↑ "Explained: Assam vs Nagaland, a border dispute of five decades". 22 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Assam". Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
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