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ASSAM
A Unique Collection of General Awareness
ASSAM G K
A Unique collection of General Awareness
Contents Latest Important Events 2019���������� (ii-iv) 1. Government of Assam���������������������������1-2 2. Assam at a Glance���������������������������������3-4 3. Geography of Assam������������������������������5-7 4. History of Assam����������������������������������8-17 5. Administration�����������������������������������18-22 6. Population (Census-2011)�����������������23-38 7. Art and Culture����������������������������������39-47 8. Wildlife of Assam�������������������������������48-49 9. Some Tourist Places of Assam����������50-53 10. Education�������������������������������������������54-57 11. Famous Personalities������������������������58-61 12. First in Assam������������������������������������62-66 13. Transportation�����������������������������������67-69 14. Industry����������������������������������������������70-76 15. Natural Resources of Assam�������������77-79 16. Awards and Awardees�����������������������80-84 17. Books and Authors�����������������������������85-89 18. Sports and Games������������������������������90-92 19. Press���������������������������������������������������93-94 20. Abbreviations�������������������������������������95-96 21. Miscellaneous�������������������������������������97-99 22. Key Departments���������������������������100-101 23. Important Events���������������������������102-113 24. Multiple Choice Questions������������114-122 25. What and Where����������������������������123-124
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Latest Important Events 2019 BHARAT RATNA 2019 Bhupen Hazarika: The President, Ram Nath Kovind on January 25, 2019 conferred the 2019 Bharat Ratna Award, country’s highest civilian honour, was the legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika (posthumously) from Assam who died in 2011. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India that was instituted on January 2, 1954 by the order of Rajendra Prasad, the former President of India. The award was also conferred on RSS ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumously) and former president and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee. Ashok Chakra 2019: Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani (posthumously).
BOGIBEEL BRIDGE : INDIA’S LONGEST RAIL-ROAD BRIDGE
Bogibeel Bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge on Brahmaputra river, is all set to be inaugurated on December 25, 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which will facilitate faster movement of troops to Arunachal Pradesh, the country’s eastern-most state that shares border with China. The 4.94 km-long Bogibeel Bridge is Asia’s second and India’s longest rail-road bridge. It is India’s only fully welded bridge, with the double-decker structure comprising two railway lines on the lower deck and a three-lane road on the upper, strong enough to withstand movement of heavy military tanks. It will connect the south bank of the Brahmaputra river in Assam’s Dibrugarh district with Silapathar in Dhemaji district, bordering Arunachal Pradesh. It has been built by the Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Co. It is also for the first time European codes and welding standards were adhered to in the construction of a bridge in India. It took 21 years for the bridge to be completed. In January 1997, then-PM HD Deve Gowda had laid the foundation stone for the project, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated the construction work for the bridge in 2002. The total construction cost works out to ` 5,900 crore and the bridge has a serviceable period of around 120 years. For the first time, European codes and welding standards have been adhered to while constructing an Indian bridge. ii
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Latest Important Events 2019
Jeevan Raksha Padak Winner 2018
● Monuj Chawtal
● Raju Garh
DHOLA-SADIYA BRIDGE: INDIA’S LONGEST RIVER BRIDGE
India’s longest Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Assam over nine kilometres long, inaugurated on 26 may 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his government completes three years in office. The Dhola-Sadiya bridge is being built over the Lohit river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra. In Assam, the bridge is located in Sadia, 540 kilometres from Guwahati. Its other end is in Dhola, 300 kilometres from Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal. It about 9.2 km in length - that’s nearly 30 per cent longer that the famous Bandra-Worli Sealink in Mumbai. The strategic importance of the bridge for the military is huge. With the bridge, troops will be able to enter Arunachal Pradesh, which borders China, much more quickly and easily. The bridge has been designed to withstand the weight of 60-tonne battle tanks. Construction began in 2011, when the Congress governed Assam. The cost of the project is about ` 950 crore. New State Symbol ● State Flower ● State Tree
: The Fox-tail orchid : The Hollong
● Smt. Eli Ahmed ● Shri Jitendra Nath Goswami ● Shri Prafulla Govinda Baruah ● Shri Arup Kumar Dutta ● Ms. Joyshree Goswami Mahanta ● Illias Ali ● Uddhab Kumar Bharali
: : : : : : :
● Apurba Sarma ● Arupa Kalita ● Sananta Tanti, Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, Dr Rita Chowdhury
: 2015 : 2016 : 2017
National-Awardees From Assam: Padma Shri 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2019 2019
Assam Valley Literary Award
Kula Saikia
Sahitya Akademi Award Akashar Chhabi Aru Anyanya Galpa (Short Stories)
2015
iv
Latest Important Events 2019
Jnan Pujari Jayanta Modhab Bora Sananta Tanti Rituraj Basumatary Loknath Upadhyay Chapagain
Maghmalar Bhraman (Poetry) Moriahala (Novel) Kailoir Dinto Amar Hobo (Poems) Dwngse Lama’ (Short Story) Kino Royeu Upamaa (Short Story)
2016 2017 2018
Bordoloi Trophy Winners Green Valley F.C.
2015
Assam State Electricity Board Not held
2016
Three Star Club
East Bengal
2018
Mohammedan Sporting Club
Oil India
2014
Important Events 2018
● Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a loan agreement of $60 million for financing project for renovation, protection and community-based flood risk management activities along the Brahmaputra river in Assam ● United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has appointed popular singer Nahid Afrin (17) of Assam as the first ‘Youth Advocate’ of the northeastern region to fight for child rights. UNICEF engages ‘Youth Advocates’ to harness their voice as agents of change in society. Nahid had made her playback debut in 2016 Bollywood film ‘Akira’ starring Sonakshi Sinha in the lead. She received best female playback singer award at the Assam state Film Award 2018. ● Assamese movie ‘Village Rockstars’ was selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars 2019 (91st Academy Awards) under Foreign Language Film category. ● Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) in collaboration with Assam Government has launched new Roll on-Roll off (Ro-Ro) facility connecting Neamati to Manjuli Island in Assam ● Union Cabinet approves New National Institutes Of Design,in Jorhat, Assam. ● The Digital North East Vision 2022 was released in Guwahati, Assam by Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad. ● President Ram Nath Kovind has Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2015 passed by State Assembly in August 2015. This law aims to reign in rising incidents of witch hunting cases across the state. ● Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) in Assam became first oil public sector undertaking (PSU) in India to adopt an online legal compliance system by introducing ‘Legatrix’. ● Assam Spring Festival organised at Manas National Park. ● Hima Das : The United Nations Children’s Fund-India (UNICEF) on November 14, 2018 appointed Asian Games gold-medalist sprinter 18 years old girl of Assam, Hima Das as India’s first ever Youth Ambassador. UNICEF India works along with the Central Government to ensure that children born in India get the best start in life, thrive and develop to his or her full potential.
1
Government of Assam
Governor
Shri Jagdish Mukhi
Chief Minister
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
Speaker Shri Hitendra Nath Goswami Deputy Speaker
Shri Kripanath Mallah
Council of Ministers Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
:
Home, Political, Personnel, GAD, SAD, Implementation of Assam Accord Administrative Reform & Training, Election, I & PR, Border Area Development, Sports & Youth Welfare, Revenue and DM and any other department not allotted to the other Ministers.
Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma
:
Finance, Transformation & Development, Health & Family Welfare, PWD
Shri Atul Bora
:
Agriculture, Horticulture and Food Processing, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Town & Country Planning
Smt. Pramila Rani Brahma :
Social Welfare, Soil Conservation
Shri Keshab Mahanta
:
Water Resources, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Cultural Affairs (Only Library & Archeology matters)
Shri Parimal Sukla Baidya :
Fishery, Excise, Environment & Forest
Shri Ranjit Dutta
Handloom and Textile and Sericulture (including Khadi and Village Industry), Welfare of Minorities
:
1
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Assam General knowledge
Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary :
Commerce and Industry, Transport, Parliamentary Affairs, Act East Policy Affairs, Skill Entrepreneur & Employment
Shri Siddhartha Bhattacharya : Education (Higher, Secondary Elementary), GDD, Law & Justice Shri Sum Ronghang
:
Hills Area Development, Mines & Minerals.
Shri Phani Bhusan Choudhury : Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Pension & Public Grievance Shri Chandan Brahma
:
Tourism, Welfare of Plain Tribes and Backward Classes
Shri Rihan Daimary
:
Public Health Engineering, Cooperation,
Ministers of State (Independent Charge) Shri Naba Doley
:
Panchayat and Rural Development (Independent), Cultural Affairs excluding Library & Archeology matters (Independent), Environment & Forest (assist Cabinet Minister as MoS)
Shri Pallab Lochan Das
:
Labour and Employment (Independent), Tea Tribes Welfare (Independent), Education (assist Cabinet Minister as MoS)
Shri Bhabesh Kalita
:
Irrigation (Independent), Revenue and DM (assist Hon’ble CM as MoS)
Shri Topon Kumar Gogoi
:
Power (Independent) , PWD ( assist Cabinet Minister as MoS)
Shri Pijush Hazarika
:
Urban Development excluding T&CP (Independent), Health & FW (assist Cabinet Minister as MoS)
2
Assam at a Glance
The word Assam is derived from the Sanskrit word “ASOMA” meaning peerless. The natural beauty of Assam is one of the most enchanting in the country with majestic rivers, rich landscape, lofty green hills, evergreen forests, lushy grass plains, rarest flora and fauna, beautiful islands and virtually everything. Moreover, the humbleness, hospitality and simplicity of the people residing here add a grace to the beauty of this magical valley, making it unique in itself and not only this, each place of this mystical valley has something celestial and astonishing to offer. So, many people call it a ‘Magical Land’. Dispur is the capital city of Assam. Assam is surrounded by the states of Arunachal Pradesh in the east and north-east, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya in the south, and it has also common international boundary of 500 km with Bhutan and 200 km with Bangladesh. Assam is situated between 90° and 96° East Longitude and 24° and 28° North Latitude and has a total area of 78,438 sq km. about 2.39 percent of the country’s total geographical area. Assam receives the highest amount of rainfall among other north east states. The state is known for its tea, petroleum resources, muga silk and biodiversity. It is also becoming an increasingly popular destination for wildlife tourism. The state is rich in water resources and has vast tracts of fertile land. Assam is also the third-largest producer of petroleum and natural gas in the country and has ample reserves of limestone. With its five national parks and 18 wildlife sanctuaries, the state is a biodiversity hotspot. Other potential areas of investment include power and energy, mineral-based industries, tourism and crude oil refining. Assam is known to many as a nightmarish land of earthquakes. As Assam is situated in a zone inclined to earthquakes, so, the state, very often, experiences earthquake tremors. Among the most severe are those recorded in 1897, with the Shillong Plateau as the epicentre; in 1930, with Dhuburi as the epicentre; and in 1950, with Zayu (Rima) in Tibet at the Arunachal Pradesh border as the epicentre. The 1950 earthquake is considered one of the most disastrous in South Asia’s history. It created heavy landslides that blocked the courses of many hill streams. The floods that followed the bursting of those earthquake-generated dams caused more loss of life and property than the earthquake itself. 3
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Assam General knowledge
Some Basic Facts About Assam ● Capital : Dispur ● State Assembly Seats : 126 ● Lok Sabha Seats : 14 ● Rajyasabha Seats : 7 ● State Emblem : One Horned Indian Rhino. ● State Animal : One Horned Indian Rhino ● State Bird : The White winged wood duck ● State Flower : The Fox-tail orchid ● State Tree : The Hollong ● Area : 78,438 sq. km. (approx.) ● Population (2011) : 31,205,576 – Male : 15,939,443 – Female : 15,266,133 ● Density (persons per sq. km .) (2011) : 398 ● Sex Ratio (2011) : 958 (females per 1000 males) ● Decadal Growth Rate (2001 -2011) : 17.07% ● Literacy Rate (2011) 72.19% ● Districts : Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Goalpara, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Golaghat, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Kamrup , Nagaon, Nalbari, Kokrajhar, Cachar, Dima Hasao, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Baksa, Udalguri, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Biswanath Charial, Hojai, Karbi Anglong, Charaidev ,South Salmora Mankachar and Majuli island (India’s first island district) ● Major Cities : Guwahati, Rangia, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Silchar, Jorhat, etc. ● Seat of High Court : Guwahati ● Wildlife Sanctuaries : 18 ● Major Rivers : Brahmaputra and Barak. ● Major Languages : Assamese, Bodo, Hindi, Bengali, etc. ● Major Festivals : Bihu, Durga Puja, Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, etc. ● Agriculture : 80% population in dependent on agriculture ● Cash Crops
:
Tea ,Jute, Cotton, Potato
● Main Cereal Crop ● Forest Products ● Major Religions
: : :
● Major Tribes
:
● Assam Chief Minister ● Governor
: :
Rice Wood, Bamboo, Cane, Herbs and Ivory Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam and Christianity. Bodo Kachari, Karbi, Mishing, Sonowal, Kacharis, Tiwas, Dimasa, Garo, Deuris, Chutias, Varmans, Hajong, etc. Sarbananda Sonowal Jagdish Mukhi
3
Geography of Assam
Geographically Assam is situated in the North-eastern region of the Indian sub-continent. It is located between 24˚10’N to 27˚58’N Latitude and 89˚49’E to 97˚26’E Longitude. It covers an area of 78,52,359 Kilometers (approximate). Assam-the gateway of North East India is a land of blue hills, valley and rivers. The Capital of Assam is Dispur and the state emblem is one-hoed rhino. Assam is bounded by Manipur, Nagaland and Myanmar in the east and the rest by west Bengal in the north by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh and in the route by Mizoram, and Bangladesh and Meghalaya. The Physiography of Assam is one of the most enchanting in the country. It can be broadly classified into three well defined geographical regions. 1. The Brahamputra River Valley. 2. The Barak Valley. 3. The hilly regions comprising the North Cachar Hill (Now Dima Hasao) and the Karbi Anglong district which separate the two valleys. Brahamputra River Valley A major population of Assam resides in the vast Brahamputra valley in the north Amidst numerous mountains, stream and rivulets from the nearby hills, this extended valley offers a enchanting view and is a great attraction among tourists and travelers. The mighty river enters the state after gorging through Arunachal Pradesh. It runs south-east and finally merges with the Gangas, to form a vast delta. Its entire course can be navigated from the Barak valley to the district of Dibrugarh. Based on the flow of Brahamputra River, the entire state of Assam can be divided into two parts upper and lower Assam. The major districts that come under upper Assam are Digboi, Duliajan, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat. The district that fall under lower Assam include Dhermaji, Nalbari, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon. Barak Valley The Southern zone or the Barak valley region of Assam is, in fact, an extension of the neighbouring country Bangladesh. The major districts of the region are Karimganj, Cachar and Hailakandi. 6
7
Geography of Assam
Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills Karbi Anglong , in the central part of Assam, covers a total area of 10,434 square kilometer and is the largest district of the state. It is also home to some major tribes like the Bodos, Kukis, Dimasas, Tiwas Gados and Khasis to the south of the district lies the districts of North Cachar and Nagaland. Climate Assam is temperate region and experiences heavy rainfall and humidity. The location, situation and topography of Assam make its climate different from rest of India. The weather is dry in winter and hot and wet in summer. The Himalayan range protect Assam from cold wind from central Asia in winter but causes heavy rain as it obstruct the Southwest wind from over running. In winter, the western/Mediterranean disturbances influence the climate of Assam to some extent by causing rainfall and fog. Sandstorms, fog and cyclones are some local factors which influences the climate of Assam. Rain fall The state of Assam records one of the highest rainfall in the world. The heavy monsoon rain normally begins from early June and it lasts up to September or the first part of October. IMPORTANT RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES Rivers
Tributaries
1. Brahamputra
Subansiri, Puthimari, Pagladiya, Manas, Na-Dihing, Disang, Bornodi, Burhi-Dihing, Bhoroli, Dikhow, Dhansiri, Kapili, Jiyadhol, Ronganoi, Kakodonga, Dibru, Sampaboti, Buroi, Dudhoni, Krishnai, Dikong, Bhagdoi, etc.
2. Barak
Jatinga, Sonai, Bogapani, Jiri, Singra, Jadukata, Longai etc.
3. Subansiri
Sarikoria, Kumotiya, Jiyadhol.
4. Na-Dihing
Dirak
5. Dibru
Dangari, Dumduma.
6. Buri-Dihing
Tipling, Tingrai, Namsang, Sancha.
7. Kakodonga
Dholi
8. Dhansiri
Daiyang, Nambar, Koliyoni.
9. Manas
Ai
10. Kapili
Borapani, Jamuna, Kiling.
8
(Lakes of Assam )
Assam General knowledge
Chandubi This is a natural lagoon situated at a distance of 64 km from Guwahati Fishing and boating facilities are available here. Tamranga It is located in Bongaiguon. The lake is considered as ornithologist’s paradise as a large number of migratory birds here during winter. Padum Pukhuri Padum Pakhuri, one of the most famous landmarks of Tazpur is a famous lake with an island which converted into park having musical fountains. Urpad Beel Urpad Beel is situated at Agia in Goalpara district. It is one of the biggest lake of lower Assam. Besides its natural beauty, the lake is rich in natural resources. Every year a number of migratory birds visit the lake during October to March. Deepor Beel A wetland lying on south - Northern part of Guwahati, which has been listed on Ramsar list of wetland. It support some endangered species of birds like Spotbilled Pelican, Lessez Adjutant Stork, Baer’s Pochard, Palas Sea Eagle, Greater Adjutant Strok. Son Beel It is the largest fresh water tectonic lake in Assam lies in the Southern part of the state. It is situated in the Northern part of Karimganj district and also covers some portion of the district Hailakandi. The Singla river, which flows from Mizoram serves the in let of the Beel, while the Kachua river originating from the Northern part of the Beel the main outlet. Halflong It is one of the natural Lakes on the hilly station of Assam. Boating and hot water spring are the major tourist attractions on this lake. Minerals of Assam Assam is an important state of India with varieties of minerals. The largest industries in Assam are Oil, Tea and Hydrocarbon. Geographically Assam lies in an oil Rich belt. A small quantity of Iron is also available in Western part of Assam. In 1899 the Assam oil company was formed as several oil seepages were observed in the districts of upper Assam. It is estimated that Assam and surrounding region possess around 150 million tonnes of petroleum reserves. Natural gas is another valuable source of power and various other chemical by-products. In Assam, almost all the petroleum producing areas of the Brahmaputra Valley contains ‘associated natural gas’.
4
History of Assam
Assam a name is derived from the Sanskrit word “ASOMA” meaning “Peerless” or ‘unparallel’ is located south of eastern Himalayas and is home of the Sun of Lord Brahma which perhaps accounts for the Brahmaputra River being the only male river in India. Its ancient history has been from literature and historical stories like Mahabharata and during the epic period of India history Assam was named “Pragiyotishpura” meaning place of eastern astronomy. It was referred to as the kamarupa kingdom from the 4th –12th century and its medieval history is dominated by the Ahoms a Tai group that migrated from what is now Yunnan in China and ruled Assam for nearly 600 years (1228-1826) and the Tibeto-Burmese koch whose kingdom split in two, one group allying will the Moguls and the other will the Ahoms. AhomsMogol conflict finally ended in 1682 will a mogul defeat. Assam repelled numerous invasions, mostly led by Muslim rulers but with the waning of Ahom power the Burmese overran the entire territory in the early 19th century. It was then ceded to the British in 1826 the first and only western power to ever rule Assam in 1874 a separate province of Assam was created with shillong as its capital. It become a state of the Union of India when India attained independence in 1947 then, after Assam was divided in 1972, shillong was made capital of the new state of Meghalaya and Dispur located near the city of Guwahati became Assam’s new capital. The Varmana Dynasty : The real political history of ancient Assam begins with the foundation of the Varmana line of kings. The inscription of Bhaskaravarman, the greatest king of this dynasty as well as of ancient Assam, Banabhatta’s Harshacharita and the accounts of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuem-Tsang furnish considerable materials relating to the history of the Varmanas. It is learnt from epigraphical sources that Pushyavarman, born in the lineage of Naraka - Bhagaduta was the founder of the Varmana of Bhauma line of kings. When and how Pushyavarman came to power is not known. He probably taking advantage of the political instability of the time, made himself king and to justify his claim, traced his descent from Naraka-Bhagadutta. According to B.M. Barua.” 9
10
Assam General knowledge
Pushyavarman was the first Indo-Aryan ruler set up by Samudragupta over the two territories of Kamarupa and Davaka unified into a single kingdo.” But this view is not tenable because Pushyavarman assumed the important title of Maharajadhiraja which indicates his independent status. Pushyavarman was probably a contemporary of Samudragupta. In the Allahabad pillar inscription of this Gupta emperor, the name of Kamrupa occurs as a frontier kingdom Samalata, Dvaka, Nepal and Kartipur, whose kings owed allegiance to Samudragupta on their own accord. The unnamed king of Kamarupa of this inscription is usually identified with Pushyavarman. If we count the date of Pushyavarman on the basis of the Badaganga epigraph of Bhutivarman, (dated 234 Gupta era which corresponds to 553-54 A.D.) who was the eighth king of the dynasty and allow its king an average reigning period of 25 years, Pushyavarman’s reign would fall between c.355-80 A.D. he would thus be a contemporary of Samudragupta (C.320-80 A.D.). It was perhaps in honour of his overlord that he name his son as Samudravarman and his daughter-in-law as Dattadevi in imitation of the names of the Gupta emperor Samudragupta and his queen Dattadevi. During the reign of kalyanavarman, the son of Balavarman, the Davaka or the Kapili valley (comprising possibly the present district of Nagoan, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar area) was absorbed into the empire Kamarupa. To signalise this victory, he sent a diplomatic mission to china in 428 A.D. Mahendravarman, grandson of Kalyanvarman expanded his empire to south-east Bengal upto the sea by shaking off the last vestiges of the Gupta influence in Kmarupa. He was the first king of Assam to perform Aswamedha and he did it on two occasions. Mahendra-varman’s grandson Bhutiavarman was a powerful king. He conquered Pundravardhana (North Bengal) Sometime between 545-50 A.D. and donated lands to more than 200 Brahmanas in the Chandrapuri visaya located within the Pundravardhana bhukti. He might have also extended his sway in the south and the west and brought the outlying regions of Samatata, Sylhet, Tripura and other regions under his control. He has also performed one Aswamedha sacrifice. The glory of Kamarupa suffered a temporary set back during the reign of Bhaskaravar man’s father Susthitavarman, who suffered a defeat at the hands of the Later Gupta monarch Mahasenagupta and as a result of this defeat lost the possession of Pundravardhana. Bhaskaravarman (c.600-650 A.D.).
History of Assam
11
During the reign of Bhaskaravarman that the great Chinese pilgrim Houen Tsang Kamrupa in 643 A.D. and stayed in his capital for nearly two months. The pilgrim speaks highly about the noble qualities of Bhaskara and his prowess. In the religious assemblies held at Prayag and Kanauj by harsha, Bhaskara was shown special honour in the presence of all the kings assembled there. After the death of Harsha in 648 A.D., Bhaskara became the supreme lord of Eastern India extending his sway as far as Nalanda. He had also brought under his control Sylhet and Tripura including south-east Bengal. This is testified by Hiuen Tsang who refers to Bhaskara as “King of eastern India” and stated that the rules of Kamarupa had the sea-route to China under their protection. Inscriptions bear testimony to the many-sided qualities and achievements of centre of learning attracting students from outside. With the expansion of the political sway of the Varmana line of kings large portion of Eastern India came under the cultural ideas of Kamarupa. This influence ever spread to the islands in the pacific and some of the architectural remains in Combodia, Annam and other places are possibly to be attributed to the influence of the rulers of Kamarupa. Salasthmbha Dynasty The Salasthambha dynasty was the next in the line which began with
the reign of a chieftain called Salasthambha. Among all the kings of the Salasthambha dynasty, it was Shri Harshadeva (728-750 AD) who acquitted himself as a good king. After the last king of this dynasty, Tyaga Singha (970-990), it was Brahmapala (990-1010 AD), who opened the door to a new dynasty - the Pala dynasty. Jayapala (1120-1138 AD) was the last ruler of this (Pala) dynasty. Pala Dynasty Tyagasigha possible died childless but the danger of rebellion centering round his heirless death was tactfully avoided by the officers by choosing Brahmapala to the throne he established a new dynasty named Pala dynasty. His son Ratanapala ruled over this kingdom for about 30 years and was followed by Indrapala as his successor. They ruled over Kamarupa for about 200 years. Prithu (1200 - 1228 AD), a powerful king came to power immediately after the fall of Pala dynasty, successfully repeated the first Muslim invasion of Kamarupa, but was thrown out from power after the second Muslim invasion in 1228 AD.
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Assam General knowledge
Sutiya Kingdom This kingdom was established on the north bank of the river Brahamputra in north-eastern Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh by Birpal. The Sutiyas were a Tibeto- Burmese race who secured power in Assam at the same time as the Khen kings and Barobhuyan chieftains (to the west), during the decline of kamarupa kingdom. The claimed descent from remnants of the former Mlechha kings of Assam. He was succeeded by ten kings of whom the eighth king Dhirnarayan or Dharmadhwajpal, in his old age, handed over his kingdom to his sonin-law Nitai or Nityapal. Later on Nityapal’s incompetent rule gave a wonderful chance to the Ahom king Suhungmung or Dihingia Raja, who annexed it to the Ahom kingdom. Ahom Rule The Ahoms belonged to the Shan Tai Meng Mao race which originated in parts of southern china and south-east Asia. Adopting the Hindu religion they formed kingdom in regions of Kamarupa (in Assam) in the early thirteenth century. They also gave their name to the region, Ahom being the ancient version of the Anglicised Assam. The largest of these kingdoms was formed by Sukhapa, a Shan prince who was captured part of Assam after descending from the Patkai mountains. He ruled from his capital at Charaideo. The base for 600 years of Ahom rule was set up by Sukafa. Sukafa died in 1268 AD. His son Suseupha (1268-1281) succeeded and extended the boundaries of the kingdom from the area adjoining Dikhow river at Namdang river. In 1397 Sudangpha (1397-1407) was established. His accession marks the first stage in the growth of Brahmanical influence amongst the Ahoms. A war between Ahoms and Tipams took place during his reign but was later on peacefully concluded. It was Suhumgmung’s reign (1497 -1539) which is counted as one of the most memorable in 600 year of Ahom rule. He was popularly known as Dihingia Raja, because he shifted the Ahom capital to Bokota near Dihing river. He annexed the Chutia and the Kachari territories to the Ahom domains. He created a third class of Ministers, Borgohain, Buragohain and Borpatra Gohain. The first ever census took place during his reign. The economic scenario of the State was also comprehensively surveyed. During his reign, the Mughala invaded thrice but they could not get victory. This invasion taught Ahoms the use of gunpower, which
DB 08284
PRESENTS
ISBN 978-93-5296-995-1
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