User:Krupik/sandbox

 Karbi Anglong district  is one of the 33 administrative districts of the state of Assam in India. The district is bounded by Golaghat district on the east, Meghalaya state and Morigaon district on the west, Nagaon and Golaghat districts on the north and Dima Hasao district and Nagaland state on the south. The district is located between 25º 33′ and 26º 35′ North latitude and from 92º 10′ to 93º 50′ East longitude. Diphu is the administrative headquarter of the district.

==Etymology==

'  Karbi '  is an indigenous tribal community living in Assam and '  Anglong'  is a Karbi noun for  Hill(s)  /  Mountain(s) . Literally '  Karbi Anglong'  means  Hills of Karbi people .

==History==

===Pre independence===

During the pre-British rule, the territory was part of the Dimasa Kingdom till the demise of Sengya Tularam Hasnu in AD 1854. After his death, it went into the hands of the British under which it was declared a ‘Scheduled District’ constituted in 1874. Later, Mikir Hills track was constituted as "Partially Excluded areas" under the Govt. of India Act, 1935.

===Post independence===

On November 17, 1951, a new district,  United Mikir Hills and North Cachar Hills  district was created by combining some parts of the districts of the now Golaghat, Nagaon , Cachar and United Khasi and Jaintia Hills district of present-day Meghalaya state.

====Bifurcation====

This was followed by bifurcation of the erstwhile district of United Mikir and North Cachar Hills district into two separate districts —  Mikir Hills  district and  North Cachar Hills  district — on 2 February 1970. Mikir Hills district was renamed as Karbi Anglong district on 14 October 1976.

====Demarcation====

In 2016, the district was divided into two district, the western part including Hamren, Vothatlangso and Donkamokam and other adjoining areas forming the new district of West Karbi Anglong. Hamren is made the headquarter of the newly created district.

==Aspirations for Statehood==

The Twenty-second Amendment of the Constitution of India,  1969 inserted a new  Article 244A  in  Part X  which reads   "Formation of an autonomous State comprising certain tribal areas in Assam and creation of local Legislature or Council of Ministers or both" .

Historically, the hill tribes of NE India were neither a part of India nor of Assam prior to the British colonization of this region. After the recommendation of Simon Commission, the hill area ( Karbi Anglong district ) was given a different status under Section 92 of the Government of India Act 1935 : Mikir Hills was placed under the "Partially Excluded Areas" ( ISBN 8178356619 ). The Govt. of Assam, which means had no jurisdiction over the excluded areas which were administered under the special power of the Governor.

During mid-1930: Political leaders Semsonsing Ingti, Seng Bey, Khorsing Terang, etc. emerged from this particular area.( ISBN 8178356619 ) In 1937, these leaders, in a memorandum to Assam Governor, Sir Robert Neil Reid, at Mohungodijua, demanded a separate hill district for Mikirs. A regional political forum, called Karbi-A-Durbar, was formed to intensify the movement.( ISBN 8178356619 ). Before any decision could be taken, India got her independence in 1947.

After Independence of India, the hill district was finally formed by the name of "United Mikir & NC Hills (UMNCH)" on 17 Nov. 1951 under Sixth Schedule, later bifurcated and renamed these districts into Karbi Anglong district and Dima Hasao district. Around these years Northeast India was on boiling point of tense situation, as different tribes like Naga people, Mizo people , Bodo people , Khasi people and so on were most active demanding separate statehood or complete independence identity for themselves. These demands were agitated not just by common people but even by deadly group of insurgencies.

In such sensitive situation, the Congress Govt. in Assam in 1960 declared Assamese language as the official language of the State ignoring the existence of multiple tribes and languages.This forced the Tribes to fight more determinedly for a separate identity. Thus in 1963, the state of Nagaland was created.

In 1970 the All Party Hill Leaders' Conference (APHLC) demanded for the formation of autonomous/associate ( Meghalaya ) within Assam in the wake of "Assamisation Medium of Instruction".( ISBN 8178356619 ) When Meghalaya attained statehood in 1971, residents of the twin districts ( Karbi Anglong district & Dima Hasao district ) were asked whether to join the newly created Meghalaya or not. After the assurance of greater independence from Assam, the twin districts refused to join and remained.

Even then, several memorandums, wave of agitations continue to remain by the people of twin Districts ( Karbi Anglong district and Dima Hasao district ) complaining of lack of fulfilment, ignorance and imposition of Assamese towards these districts by the State Govt. The most recent being in 2013 when Bodo, Dimasa amd Karbi agitated in their respective areas, called bandhs and blocked railways from entering further. Shoot-at-sight orders was issued in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, four persons were injured when the police fired to disperse a mob that attacked a police station in which several policemen were injured in stone pelting. 14 persons in Diphu, 24 in Bokajan and seven in Hamren were arrested on charges of arson and destruction of public property. Agitators torched several government offices, a food processing centre, public vehicles, and obstructed the movement of security forces by felling trees and keeping boulders on roads. The rail track in the Lilang area of the hill district was damaged, disrupting train services to and from upper Assam. Two persons were killed (Gautam Timung and Rahul Singnar) in police firing during the protest. On August 19, 2019 KAAC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang handed over a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in this regard.

There were several incidents of clash among the militants or against non-tribals and common people bear the burn. Such clashes are often triggered by militants manipulated by political rulers. These clashes are finally named as "ethnic conflict" rather than "militant conflict" to which the actual people doesn't have anything to score against each other. Since then, leaders and individuals from both sides have blamed each other for violence. One section blames the other party for instigating clash among the tribes to disrupt the tribal unity and ruin the aspirations of Statehood, other blame the third party from neighbouring state of providing arms & training to locals in their camps only to return them & trigger violence in the district. There is also an accusation against the Karbi leaders, trying to eliminate non-Karbis from the district with the help of armed extremist. It must be noted that even the Karbis are targeted by the Karbi militants through the means of kidnapping or extortion.

==Politics==

 Articles 244(2)  and  275(1) , "Sixth Schedule" of the Constitution of India provides "Mini Constitution" to all the Tribal Autonomous regions of India. In these regions, elections are held according to "District Council Election Rules". Like other Autonomous region, the Karbi Anglong districts are also empowered to frame their own "District Council Election Rules" under "Sixth Schedule" and elect its members from ST (Schedule Tribe) to the Councils. Which means, only ST people are exclusively allowed to contest election and represent its people in the Council. Since many tribal are hardly aware of this special provisions, non-ST politicians have been contesting MCA elections in the Councils which strictly violates the fundamental rights of Tribal people who are legitimately entitled to rather. The districts for the last 60 years have been contesting elections without this special provisions reserved for Tribal. Recently, some people from the hills took notice of this serious matter and filed PIL ( PIL No. 9/2017) in the Gauhati High Court and Diphu Judicial Court against non-Tribal elected in Council. The Gauhati High Court in its final verdict on July 13, 2018 directed the KAAC to frame new acts and rules under paragraph 2 (7) of the Sixth Schedule for preparation of electoral roll. The release mentioned that the KAAC will have to act without any delay to frame its own Acts and laws as directed by the High Court and empowered by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. But still there has been no completion of "District Council Election Rules" by the KAAC surpassing the duration limit ordered by the Court.

===Constituency ===

There are three Vidhan Sabha constituencies in the district, namely Bokajan, Howraghat and Diphu and one Baithalangso (Vothatlangso) in West Karbi Anglong district. All are part of 3 S.T. Autonomous District Lok Sabha constituency of Assam designated for scheduled tribe s.

==Economy==

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

The GDP of the district was  2,198.39 crore  (13th among Districts of Assam ) based at constant price (2004-2005) for year 2009-10. Agriculture is the main source of income for the people along with Horticulture, Sericulture , Plantation , Weaving , Livestock farming etc. Tribals are generally self sufficient. They mostly rely on wild vegetables found in hills both for domestic consumption and commercial purpose.

===Ginger===

Karbi Anglong ginger has been accorded geographical indication (GI) rights by the GI Registry of India. Growers of Karbi Anglong produce mainly two varieties of ginger-Nadia with high fibre and Aizol with less or no fibre. Karbi Anglong ginger exists from the time of formation of the district in 1951. Ginger is grown in Singhasan Hills, Khonbamon area. Initiation by Ginger Growers' Cooperative Federation Ltd (GINFED) led to the popularity of Karbi Anglong Ginger. Ginger of Karbi Anglong is also exported to Germany. The average annual production of ginger in Karbi Anglong is 30,000 tonnes. About 10,000 farmers are growing these items.

===Tea===

As per the  Statistical Hand Book Assam , 2018 the district has 1,590 tea growers registered with Tea Board of India with total area of 2,488.21 hectare '''.  In 2017 the district's tea production was  4.59 million Kgs ''' and stood at no.12th among other districts of Assam.

===Rubber===

in 2017-18 with a total area of 8,589.85 hectare and production of 2,925 million tonnes (3rd among inter districts of Assam) it generated 26,800 employments.

The region also produces significant numbers of Maize, Sugarcane , Potato , Sweet potato , Pear , Tapioca , beans, Turmeric , Areca nut , Jackfruit , Orange (fruit) , Pineapple , Peach , Plum , Baccaurea ramiflora etc. One of CCI working factory (out of three) called Bokajan Cement Factory is located in Bokajan. Its product is exported to the whole country.

===Potentiality for development===

The district is rich in mineral resources. According to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Karbi Anglong has reserve Coal of 1.3 m. tonnes, Kaolinite of 0.7 m. tonnes & Granite of 30 m. cum. On 12 Oct, 2018 a Geologist from Dibrugarh University in an undisclosed location of the district has detected the presence of Platinum deposits, making Assam the fourth state in the country after Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu where the rare metal is found. Along with platinum other minerals like Iron, Vanadium and Titanium were also found at the site.

==Administration==

The district is under the administration of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. Diphu is the district headquarters, as well administrative headquarters of the same. Hamren is the headquarters of newly created West Karbi Anglong district. Other important towns of the district are Bokajan and Dokmoka. Total number of villages in the districts as per 2011 census is 2,928. Karbi Anglong: 2073, West Karbi Anglong: 855 with combined eleven Development Blocks to look after the development activities in these districts.

Total four Sub-divisions are there. Three of them are in Karbi Anglong itself and one in West Karbi Anglong. They are: Diphu, Bokajan , and Howraghat. While the Hamren Sub-Division is in West Karbi Anglong.

==Demographics==

===Population===

In 1971 Census of India, the Tribal population was at 65%, as of 2011, it stand at 56.3% with large numbers of illegal influx and encroachment from outside causing disturbance to both natural landscape & economic opportunities. Illegal issuance of land patta is also the major concern for the Indigenous tribal communities. On March 5, 2019 the Land Revenue department and the Forest department of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), aided by police and Executive Magistrate, demolished more than 600 illegal structures in Lankaijan Reserve Forest, around 30 km from the headquarter town of Diphu, bordering hojai district of Assam. On 31, August 10:00 am ( Indian Standard Time ) the much awaited National Register of Citizens of India ( Assam ) was declared. 19,06,657 (Nineteen Lakh, six thousand, six hundred and fifty seven) were excluded of 3.11 Cr people from all over Assam. According to many news reports, both from Karbi Anglong (10th position) & West Karbi Anglong district (7th position)  14.31% & 15.47%  of people were excluded from these respective areas while the highest exclusion came from neighboring Hojai district with ''' 32.99%. '''

Overall Karbi people form the majority of the population. Other indigenous peoples (Garos, Tiwas, Dimasas, etc.) inhabit these areas. According to the 2011 census Karbi Anglong District has a population of 965,280,

This gives it a ranking of 451 st in India (out of a total of 640 ). The district has a population density of 93 PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.58%. Karbi Anglong	has a sex ratio of 	951 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 74% with Male and Female constituting 82% and 65% respectively.

===Languages===

Karbi is the prominent language in the district. Other significant spoken languages include Assamese, Dimasa (Garo-dima), Bodo, Kuki (Khawchung Thadou). Assamese, Hindi & English language is used as the common language for communicating among different communities residing in the district.

===Religion===

Religion category has been not properly represented by the Govt. of India. As many Tribes in the district practices Animism or Traditional Gods. These beliefs are often included under Hinduism category.

==Culture==

With Karbi as majority, there also exist numerous other tribal groups like Paite, Bodo, and Hmar are found scattered in the district. All these tribal represents different and unique identities, customs and traditions, clothing, food and religions of their own, yet they share many common practices making them self sufficient, satisfied and less dependent from outside supplies than the rest of conventional civilized sections. They all rely on Bamboo for their essential frequent use including food (new bamboo shoot) and house, curve out utensils from wood, spin out cotton, jhum cultivation, non-dowry practice, local hygienic green vegetables instead of regular green market, clothes manufacturing, and so on.

 Karbi Youth Festival  is an annual festival celebrated by the Karbi people of Assam along with other tribals to propagate and display their rich culture and traditions in one platform. It is celebrated on 15–19 February of every year in Taralangso, Diphu, Karbi Anglong District. It is locally called  Riso-Nimso Rong Arje .

==Tourism==

===Places of interest===

A hilly district of Assam, Karbi Anglong is still somewhat unknown to the tourist in spite of its natural green forest and hills. Some reasons are poor connectivity, infrastructure also several places whose local origin name have been renamed by outsiders. Visitors frequent littering openly have caused serious threat to these places.

; Diphu

There are tourist attractions in and around the town.

; Kaiphlangso


 * in Dolamara vicinity under No. 26 Duarbagroi MAC Constituency in Karbi Anglong and famous for its scenic beauty and bordering the enchanting hills. Outsiders knows it as Kakochang falls.

; Akashiganga

In front of it, there is a Siva temple

; Dikrut Waterfall (also Paklongkam)

Outsiders knows it by the name of Bhelughat.

; Garampani (also Langkar-om)

There is hot water spring in here near the National Highway-29 (also AH1 ).

; Kangthilangso Waterfall



; Longsokangthu (also Siloni)



; Silbheta

The place surrounded by rain forests. Nature built a stone bridge (dyke) with a waterfall is the main attraction of this place.

; Recreation Park

It is a place of attraction for the tourists. 

==Flora and fauna==





Karbi Anglong is sprawled across 10,434 sq km, of which about 77 or 76.9 percent is under forest cover. According to MSME-Development Institute, Diphu The important forest types found in Karbi Anglong District are: Moist semi-evergreen forests, Moist Mixed Deciduous forests, Riverain Type and Miscellaneous type with scattered pure or mixed patches of bamboos. Karbi Anglong is part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. These forest areas are natural museums of living giant trees, a treasure house of rare, endemic and endangered species, a dispensary of medicinal plants, a garden for Botanists, a gene bank for economically important organisms, a paradise for nature lovers and a laboratory for environmentalists. The forests in this region harbour a variety of threatened species including Asian elephant &lt;nowiki/&gt; s, Bengal tigers, Leopards and Clouded leopards , Slow loris , Pangolin , Porcupine , Hoolock gibbon etc. The district includes five wildlife sanctuaries, two elephant reserves (Kaziranga – Karbi Anglong and Dhansiri – Lumding) and 17 District Council Reserve Forests (DCRFs). In 1952, Karbi Anglong district became home to the Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 6 km2. Other four Wildlife Sanctuaries are Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary, East Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary , North Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary and Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary. However, the forests and wildlife of these districts continue to face threats from habitat fragmentation and destruction, caused by encroachment on forest lands (both locals and outsiders), the rampant practice of slash-and-burn (or  jhum  ) agriculture, and unplanned developmental activities. Human-Elephant Conflict is a severe problem that manifests in the destruction of crops and property, and the loss of human and elephant lives. Frequent Illegal minings are also immense concern as they very much contribute to ecological disturbance.

In 2019, a trio of researchers led by Assam forest officer Jatindra Sarma discovered the presence of  Dracaena cambodiana , a dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong district. This was the first time that a dragon tree species had been sighted in India. Dracaena cambodiana is an important medicinal plant as well as an ornamental tree. It is a major source of dragon’s blood, a bright red resin that has several uses such as in dyes and pigments and is highly valued in the traditional medicine of China.

==Education==

Karbi Anglong is home to a variety of educational institutions. Some of these major institutions are:

===Universities===


 * Assam University, Diphu Campus is located in the hilly terrain spreading over 273 bighas allotted by Karbi-Anglong Autonomous District Council authority. Rich in biodiversity and eco-friendly environment, lush green hillocks, ponds and the picturesque tea gardens and teak forest of Karbi Anglong surrounds the Diphu campus. It is about 8km westward from downtown Diphu towards Lumding. The campus is a pioneering higher-level study centre in this remote eastern part of the country. The Campus offers different Post-Graduate courses and research facilities.

===Colleges===

The district has many well established colleges. Among them, Diphu Government College, is the only NAAC accredited government higher educational institution in Karbi Anglong District of Assam. It was due to the pioneering efforts and visions of Lt. Chatra Sing Teron, Lt. Sai Sai Terang, Lt. Jogendra Nath Goswami, Lt. Dhoniram Rongpi, Lt. Joysing Doloi, Lt. Sar Rongpi and Lt. Padma Kanta Barua, that the college came to be formally inaugurated on 23rd June,1964. The College being a venture Arts College and beginning with only seven students and five teachers was taken over by the Government of Assam in the year 1967. The college offers Higher Secondary Courses (Arts, Science & Commerce); B.A, B.Sc and B.Com (Three Year Degree Course- Semester System) and Self Financing Courses. Other notably colleges are Diphu Law College ; Don Bosco Junior College, Diphu; Eastern Karbi Anglong College, Hanjanglangso (Sarihajan) and Thong Nokbe College, Donkmukak (Dokmoka).

===Technical institutes===

* Industrial Training Institute, Diphu

* Polytechnic, Diphu

===Schools===

The district has many schools that provides quality education to the hill people. These established are run by the Govt., Private, and Missionaries. Some well known schools are: Diphu Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School, Diphu; Diphu Govt. Girls High School, Diphu; Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Diphu; Howraghat Higher Secondary School, Howraghat; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Diphu; Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Dongkamukam; Kendriya Vidyalaya , Bokajan; Kendriya Vidyalaya, Diphu; Kidzee, Diphu; Krist Jyoti School, Dokmoka; Mount Calvary English High School, Diphu and Presbyterian Mission High School, Diphu.

==Media==

===Newspaper===

The Hills Times, a largely circulated English daily published from Diphu and printed in Guwahati.  The Arleng Daily  , a Karbi daily, is tabloid format newspaper that heralded a new beginning for Karbi newspaper.  Thekar  , a Karbi daily, is the first RNI Registered Karbi newspaper. Since then, there are several dailies in Karbi language. In the year of 2005-06, a Hindi newspaper  Jana Prahari  was launched from Baguliaghat, a small town in Karbi Anglong. 'Hill Observer' is an English Daily Newspaper published from Diphu. The Drongo Express is another daily newspaper published from Diphu, Karbi Anglong.

===Television===

* Doordarshan TV relay centre, Diphu

* KAT News (Cable Channel), Diphu

* Karbi Anglong Live (Cable Channel), Hamren, West Karbi Anglong

===Radio===

* All India Radio, Diphu

==Notable towns==

* Amlakhi

* Bokajan

* Bokulia

* Diphu

* Dokmoka

* Howraghat

* Manja

* Tumpung

==Notable people==

* Prof. Rongbong Terang, Padmashree awardee.

* Late Semsonsing Ingti, founder of Karbi Anglong district  (the then Mikir Hills) .

* Jayanta Rongpi

* Biren Sing Engti

* Joyram Engleng

* Tuliram Ronghang

==See also==

* West Karbi Anglong district

* List of districts of Assam

* Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council

==References==

==External links==

* Karbi Anglong district website