Kamrup district

Kamrup Rural district (Pron:ˈkæmˌrəp or ˈkæmˌru:p); is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India formed by dividing the old Kamrup district into two in the year 2003; other being Kamrup Metropolitan district, named after region it constitute. The district, along with Nalbari, Barpeta, Kamrup Metropolitan, Bajali and Baksa districts have been created from the Undivided Kamrup district.

Kamrup district
District of Assam
Location of Kamrup district in Assam
Coordinates (Amingaon): 26°20′N 91°15′E
CountryIndia
StateAssam
DivisionLower Assam
HeadquartersAmingaon
Government
  Lok Sabha constituenciesGauhati Lok Sabha constituency
Area
  Total3,105 km2 (1,199 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total1,517,542
  Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
  Urban
142,394
Demographics
  Literacy70.95%
  Sex ratio914
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Major highwaysNational Highway 31, National Highway 37
Average annual precipitation1,400 mm
Websitekamrup.assam.gov.in

History

Kamrup Rural district was created by bifurcating Undivided Kamrup district in 2003.

Geography and environment

Overview

Kamrup district occupies an area of 4,345 square kilometres (1,678 sq mi),[1] comparatively equivalent to Australia's Kangaroo Island.[2] Kamrup district has some territorial disputes with neighbouring West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, including that over the village of Langpih.[3]

Hydrography

In the immediate neighborhood of the Brahmaputra, the land is low and exposed to annual inundation. In this marshy tract reeds and canes flourish luxuriantly, and the only cultivation is that of rice. At a comparatively short distance from the river banks the ground begins to rise in undulating knolls towards the mountains of Bhutan on the north, and towards the Khasi hills on the south. The hills south of the Brahmaputra in some parts reach the height of 800 feet (240 m). The Brahmaputra, which divides the district into two nearly equal portions, is navigable by river steamers throughout the year, and receives several tributaries navigable by large native boats in the rainy season. The chief of these are the Manas, Chaul Khoya and Barnadi on the north, and the Kulsi and Dibru on the south bank.[4]

Flora and fauna

In 1989 Kamrup district became home to the Dipor Bil Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 4.1 km2 (1.6 sq mi).[5] There is also a plantation where seedlings of teak, sal, sissu, sum, and nahor are reared, and experiments are being made with the caoutchouc tree.[4]

Kamrup is home to one of the few large colonies of greater adjutant storks still in existence. The villagers previously regarded the birds as pests, but outreach efforts including cultural and religious programming, especially aimed at local women, have rallied Kamrup residents to be proud of and protect the storks.[6]

Demographics

Population

According to the 2011 census Kamrup district has a population of 1,517,542,[7] roughly equal to the West African country of Gabon[8] or the US state of Hawaii.[9] This gives it a ranking of 327th in India (out of a total of 640).[7] The district has a population density of 436 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,130/sq mi) .[7] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 15.67%.[7] Kamrup has a sex ratio of 946 females for every 1000 males,[7] and a literacy rate of 72.81%.[7]

Religions in Kamrup District (2011 census)

  Hinduism (57.82%)
  Islam (39.66%)
  others (2.52%)

The religious composition of the district includes Hinduism (877,495) 57.82% majority, second most popular is Islam numbering (601,784) constituting 39.66% of the region and rest 2.52% include others religions like Sikhism , Christianity , Buddhism, Jainism and indigenous tribal religions according to census 2011 report. The district has people belonging to various indigenous Assamese communities like Keots/Kaibarta, Bodo, Rabha, Tiwa/Lalung, Amri Karbi, Dom/Nadiyal, Koch-Rajbongshi etc.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901273,945    
1911304,339+1.06%
1921325,816+0.68%
1931356,369+0.90%
1941424,814+1.77%
1951497,763+1.60%
1961598,357+1.86%
1971804,775+3.01%
19911,091,651+1.54%
20011,311,698+1.85%
20111,517,542+1.47%
source:[10]

Religious important places

Hayagriha Madhava Temple

The district has followers of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Animism. The ancient temples of Kamakhya and Hajo attracts many pilgrims from all quarters.[4] The people of Kamrup also donated a sacred Arya Avalokiteśvara statue to Stakna Monastery in Ladakh.[11]

Language

Major language spoken natively is Kamrupi dialect of Assamese with pockets of Amri, a language related with Karbi, with 1,25,000 speakers;[12] Tiwa (Lalung) and A'Tong, also spoken by 10,000 people, found mostly in southern parts bordering Meghalaya. All the indigenous Assamese communities use the Assamese language to communicate with other indigenous Assamese communities.[13] According to the 2011 census, 74.43% of the population spoke Assamese, 19.92% Bengali, 1.86% Garo, 1.41% Boro and 1.17% Hindi as their first language.[7]

Economy

Indian Institute of Technology in North Gauhati

The staple crop of the district is rice, of which there are three crops. The indigenous manufactures are confined to the weaving of silk and cotton cloths for home use, and to the making of brass cups and plates. The chief exports are rice, oilseeds, timber, and cotton; the imports are fine rice, salt, piece goods, sugar, betel nuts, coconuts, and hardware. A section of the Assam-Bengal railway starts from Guwahati and a branch of the Eastern Bengal railway has recently been opened to the opposite bank of the river. A metalled road runs due south from Guwahati to Shillong.

See also

References

  1. 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.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Kangaroo Island
  3. "Meghalaya flexes muscle on Assam boundary", Zee News, 22 November 2008, archived from the original on 24 February 2014, retrieved 11 August 2012
  4.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kamrup". Encyclopædia Britannica. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 647.
  5. Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Assam". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  6. Toomey, Diane (6 December 2016). "From loathed to loved: Villagers rally to save Greater Adjutant storks". Mongabay. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  7. "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  8. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Gabon 1,576,665
  9. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Hawaii 1,360,301
  10. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  11. "Stakna Gompa". Buddhist-temples.com. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  12. M . Paul Lewis, ed. (2009). "Amri Karbi: A language of India". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  13. M . Paul Lewis, ed. (2009). "A'Tong: A language of India". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 28 September 2011.

Bibliography

  • Bannerje, A C (1992). "Chapter 1: The New Regime, 1826-31". In Barpujari, H K (ed.). The Comprehensive History of Assam: Modern Period. IV. Guwahati: Publication Board, Assam. pp. 1–43.
  • Hunter, William Wislon (1879). A Statistical Account of Assam. 1. Trübner & co. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
Note: Kamrup Metropolitan district is completely surrounded by Kamrup Rural district.
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