Golaghat district#History

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

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.

{{Main article|Möng Mao}}

File:Mong Mao-the detail map.svg ruler Si Kefa (yellow) in 1360 CE]]

According to the Brief History of Mengguo Zhanbi, in 1318, Si Kefa after conquering southeast states till Lancang river from the Yuan dynasty, appointed his brother Sanlongfa as the general and led an army of 90,000 to attack the king of Mengwei Sari (Upper Assam) in the northwest. In the end, he designed a plan to make Mengwei Sari surrender and agreed to pay tribute every three years.佚名 著; 龚肃政 译; 杨永生 注. 银云瑞雾的勐果占璧简史. 勐果占璧及勐卯古代诸王史. 昆明: 云南民族出版社. 1988: 1–51. ISBN 7-5367-0352-X.

In Hsweni state chronicle, the two generals Tao Sen Yen and Tao Sen Hai Khai sent with Samlongpha sent a story to Hso Khan Hpa (Si Kefa) at Mongyang that Samlongpha was conspiring with the king of Mong Wehsali Long to dethrone Hso Khan Hpa, Hso Khan Hpa believed the story and sent poison food to Samlongpha and he died at Mongkawng.{{harvcol|Scott|1967|p=17}}

Earlier, this part was ruled by the Dimasa Kingdom. The Ming dynasty had contact with the Dimasas and canonised the Dimasa kingdom as a tusi in 1406.{{harvcol|Laichen|2000|p=79}}

The Ming court sent Zhou Rang, a Supervising Secretary to bestow Imperial orders, patent, seals, paper money, silks etc. to the kingdom"Patents, seals, Imperial tallies and red warrants engraved with gold characters were conferred upon all of them. The Supervising Secretary Zhou Rang was sent to take the Imperial orders and go and confer them upon these people. Further, paper money and silks as appropriate, were conferred upon them all."{{harvcol|Wade|1994|pp=302}} and in return, the chieftain of Dimasa sent horses and local products as a sign of tribute.The chieftains sent separately by Po-di-na-lang, the pacification superintendent of Da Gu-la; La-wang-pa, the pacification superintendent of Di-ma-sa; Bai-zhang, the chief of Xiao Gu-la; and Zao-zhang, the chief of Cha-shan, offered tribute of horses and local products in gratitude for the Imperial grace manifested in the conferring of posts upon them."{{harvcol|Wade|1994|p=432}}

In 1425, paper money, ramie-silks, silk gauzes and thin silk were conferred to Mazhiasa who was sent to the Ming court by Diedaomangpa, the acting head of Di-ma-sa Pacification Superintendency."Paper money, ramie- silks, silk gauzes and thin

silks as appropriate, were conferred upon ...the monk Hui Yuan from Yun-nan Prefecture; the chieftain Ma-zhi-a-sa, who had been sent by Die-dao Mang-pa, the husband of the younger sister of the deceased pacification superintendent of the Di-ma-sa Pacification Superintendency and acting head of the superintendency;"{{harvcol|Wade|1994|p=862}}

[[File: Chinese plate for Dimasa of the era of Empero Yong-le.png|thumb|Chinese plate for Dimasa of the era of Emperor Yong-le (1407 AD.){{Refn|Plate was discovered in Jorhat Assam from Ahom royal family.

① 永樂五年: Yong-le emperor 5 years: 1407 AD.

② 信符: Plate.

③ 底馬撒宣慰司: Di-ma-sa Xuanwei Si

④ 皇帝聖旨: Imperial edict

⑤ 合當差發: "合當" means must or should, "差發" is a commercial form in the early Ming dynasty that frontier ethnic groups or tribes exchange horses for tea with Ming officials. "合當差發" could be understood as if you have this plate then you can exchange horses for tea with a Ming official. The Ming dynasty prohibits the folk tea trade with frontier ethnics and tribes. "合當差發" is the only way they can get tea from Ming.

⑥ 不信者斬: If somebody does not comply, he should be killed.}}|alt=① 永樂五年: Yong-le emperor 5 years: 1407 AD. ② 信符: Plate ③ 底馬撒宣慰司: Di-ma-sa Xuanwei Si ④ 皇帝聖旨: Imperial edict ⑤ 合當差發: "合當" means must or should, "差發" is a commercial form in the early Ming dynasty that frontier ethnic groups or tribes exchange horses for tea with Ming officials. "合當差發" could be understood as if you have this plate then you can exchange horses for tea with a Ming official. The Ming dynasty prohibits the folk tea trade with frontier ethnics and tribes. "合當差發" is the only way they can get tea from Ming. ⑥ 不信者斬: If somebody does not comply, he should be killed.]]

It is speculated that Dimasa kingdom is referred to as Timmasala in the Yan-anng-myin pagoda inscription of Burma in 1400 A.D."The Yan-anng-myin pagoda inscription at Themaungan, south of Pinya, claims that in 1400 A.D. the rule of the king extended beyond the Kandu (Kadu, an ethnic group

in northern Burma) and the "Palaung who grow tails," to the "heretic kingdoms of the naked Nagas on the borders of Khamti Khun kyuiw, as far as the heretic kingdom called Timmasala where they kill people and turn into spirits." This Timmasala should be

identified with the Dimasa Kacharis of Upper Assam."{{harvcol|Laichen|2000|pp=21-22}}"The Khaṁtī mentioned after Muiwkon (Mogaung) and Muin Can (Maing Zin) in the Kyankse Hill inscription (List 1084a 5, 955 s.), is doubtless Singkaling Khamti. The recently discovered Yan-aung-myin pagoda inscription at Thèmaunggan, south of Pinya (Obverse, line 8, 762 s.), claims that in 1400 A.D. the rule of the king extended beyond the Kandu (Kadu) and the Ponlon amri yols ("Palaungs who grow tails"), to the "heretic kingdoms of the Naked Nagas on the borders of Khamti Khun lcyviw (?), as far as the heretic kingdom called Timmasàla where they kill people and turn into spirits," i.e., the Dimasa Kacharis of Upper Assam."{{harvcol|Luce|1958|p=174}} In this inscription by Minkhaung I, the kingdom of Ava is said to extend on the east to Shan Pyi, northwest to Timmasala, west to Kula Pyi, and south to Talaing Pyi."At, or shortly after, his formal ascension, Mingaung the First claimed in the same inscription noted above that "Myanma Pyi" extended on the east to "Shan Pyi," on the northwest to "Timmasala" (Assam?), on the west to "Kula Pyi," and on the south to "Talaing Pyi." What these entities might have been depends on the word pyi. Since Pagan times, the Old Burmese word pran (pyi) has been used in both a concrete, geopolitical

and cultural sense (as it is here), as well as in an abstract way, such as in the phrase nibban pyi (the state of nirvana)."{{harvcol|Aung-Thwin|2017|p=71}}

File:Burma in 1450.png

In a 1442 inscription from Pagan of Burma mentions Timmasala (Hill Kacharis) to be one of the 21 principalities under Mong Mao ruler Thonganbwa (1413–1445/6),"On Tuesday the [5th] waxing of Tagu he captured the capital of Suiw Khut called Kale. On Thursday the 7th waxing of the month, he captured the Mo[Mong Mao] king Suiw Nam Phwa, own grandson of the lord of Nine Hundred Thousand, Suiw Khan Phwa (Thonganbwa), ruler of the 21 Umbrellas:- Muin Mo, Muin Nan; the ocean-ordered anklet wearing Kula (Indians) and Timmasala (Hill Kacharis); Muin Kale; Kasan (Manipur); Kakran (Kachin); Muin Tin; Muin Pran; Muin Ti; Muin Na; Muin Myan; Kyra Uiw; Muin Nuiw; Muin Luiw; Muin Saou; Muin Ya; Muin Khruin; Muin Khun; Muin Yuiw;........Many of these 'Umbrellas', i.e independent states can be identified :- Maw (Lu-ch'uan); Mohnyin (Mengyang); Kula and Dimasa; Kalemyo; Manipur; Kachin - these are unmistakeable"{{harvcol|Luce|Htway|1976|p=214}} who was later captured by the Governor of Taungdwin and presented to King Narapati I of Ava."Thonganbwa and the chief of Kale were soon afterwards taken by the governor (of Taungdwin) to the presence of King Narapadi, who was then sojourning in a temporary palace on Minwun hill, and on Sunday, the 12th waxing of Kason, several elephants and ponies and a quantity of jewellery obtained from Kale were presented to the king."{{harvcol|Nyein Maung|1998|p=38}}

The Ahoms became the rulers of the Doyang-Dhansiri valley in the 16th century. 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.statoids.com/yin.html | title = Districts of India | access-date = 2011-10-11 | last = Law | first = Gwillim | date = 2011-09-25 | work = Statoids}}

Golaghat district occupies an area of {{convert|3502|km2|sqmi}},{{cite book | last1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Assam: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | pages = 1116 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}} comparatively equivalent to the Bahamas' North Andros Island.{{cite web | url = http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm | title = Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area | access-date = 2011-10-11 | date = 1998-02-18 | publisher = United Nations Environment Program | quote = North Andros Island 3,439}}

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 {{cvt|1220|km2}}. Doyang, Nambor, Doigrung and Kalioni are the four rivulets of the Dhansiri. The river Kakodonga marks the border between Golaghat and Jorhat districts.

• Kaziranga National Park (Part)
• Nambor - Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary

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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2007}}

There are four Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Bokakhat, Sarupathar, Golaghat, and Khumtai.{{cite web|title=List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Revenue & Election District wise break - up |url=http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.1%20-%20DEOs%20wise%20ACs%20breakup.pdf |publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website |access-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322074811/http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.1%20-%20DEOs%20wise%20ACs%20breakup.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2012 }} All four are in the Kaliabor Lok Sabha constituency.{{cite web|title=List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Parliamentary Constituencies wise break - up |url=http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.2%20-%20PC-wise%20LAC%20breakup.pdf |publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website |access-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322074903/http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.2%20-%20PC-wise%20LAC%20breakup.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2012 }}

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.

• Sapjuri{{cite web |title=Schools in Sapjuri Cluster {{!}} List of Schools in Sapjuri Cluster, Golaghat District (Assam) |url=https://schools.org.in/assam/golaghat/west/sapjuri |website=schools.org.in |access-date=26 July 2024}}

According to the 2011 census Golaghat district has a population of 1,066,888,{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Golaghat |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/216/download/514/DH_2011_1814_PART_A_DCHB_GOLAGHAT.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}} roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 13, 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Cyprus 1,120,489 July 2011 est.

}} or the US state of Rhode Island.{{cite web

|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php

|title=2010 Resident Population Data

|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau

|access-date=2011-09-30

|quote=Rhode Island 1,052,567

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721072426/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php

|archive-date=2011-07-21

}} This gives it a ranking of 430th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of {{convert| 302 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.88%. Golaghat has a sex ratio of 961 females for every 1000 males, 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.

{{historical populations|11=1901|12=1,58,474|13=1911|14=1,84,701|15=1921|16=2,21,328|17=1931|18=2,61,816|19=1941|20=2,65,148|21=1951|22=3,17,550|23=1961|24=4,00,238|25=1971|26=5,23,707|27=1991|28=8,28,096|29=2001|30=9,46,279|31=2011|32=10,66,888|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]|align=center}}

{{bar box

|title=Religions in Golaghat district (2011)

|titlebar=#FCD116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|float=left

|bars=

{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|85.99}}

{{bar percent|Islam|green|8.46}}

{{bar percent|Christianity|dodgerblue|4.74}}

{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.81}}

}}

File:নেঘেৰিটিং দ'লৰ এক দৃশ্য সন্মুখৰ পৰা, A frontside view of Negheriting Dol, one of the most ancient temple of Lord Siva since pre ahom era.JPG 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.{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population By Religion: Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11365/download/14478/DDW18C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=census.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

{{Pie chart

|caption = Languages of Golaghat district (2011)

|label1 = Assamese |value1 = 78.40 |color1 = purple

|label2 = Bengali |value2 = 4.59 |color2 = orchid

|label3 = Mising |value3 = 2.71 |color3 = lightskyblue

|label4 = Nepali |value4 = 2.50 |color4 = lightcoral

|label5 = Boro |value5 = 1.86 |color5 = royalblue

|label6 = Hindi |value6 = 1.79 |color6 = orange

|label7 = Sadri |value7 = 1.52 |color7 = burlywood

|label8 = Odia |value8 = 1.36 |color8 = saddlebrown

|label9 = Others |value9 = 5.27 |color9 = grey

}}

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.{{cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10195/download/13307/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

Around {{cvt|420|km2}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/explained-assam-vs-nagaland-a-border-dispute-of-five-decades/|title=Explained: Assam vs Nagaland, a border dispute of five decades|date=22 August 2014}}

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.

In 1974 Golaghat district became home to Kaziranga National Park, which has an area of {{convert|472|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.{{cite web|author=Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment |title=Protected areas: Assam |url=http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm |access-date=September 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163836/http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm |archive-date=August 23, 2011 }} It shares the park with Nagaon district. It also home to Nambor - Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Manoj Gogoi, animal rescuer at Kaziranga National Park
• Lovlina Borgohain, Indian Boxer (Olympic medalist).

{{Reflist}}

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• {{cite book | last=Aung-Thwin | first=Michael A. | title=Myanmar in the Fifteenth Century | publisher=University of Hawai'i Press | year=2017 | location=Honolulu | isbn=978-0-8248-6783-6}}
• {{cite thesis |type=Ph.D. |first=Uttam |last=Bathari |title=Memory History and polity a study of dimasa identity in colonial past and post colonial present |publisher=Gauhati University |year=2014|hdl=10603/115353 }}
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• {{citation |last=Ramirez |first=Philippe |year=2007 |chapter=Politico-ritual variations on the Assamese fringes: Do social systems exist? |pages=91–107 |title=Social Dynamics in the Highlands of Southeast Asia Reconsidering Political Systems of Highland Burma |editor-first=Mandy |editor-last=Sadan |editor-first2=François |editor-last2=Robinne. |place=Boston |publisher=Brill}}

{{refend}}

• {{Official website|https://golaghat.assam.gov.in/|Golaghat District Official Website}}
• [http://www.kaziranga.nptr.in/ Official Website of Kaziranga National Park]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Golaghat district

|North = Sonitpur district

|Northeast = Jorhat district

|East = Wokha district, Nagaland

|Southeast = Kohima district, Nagaland

|South = Dimapur district, Nagaland

|Southwest =

|West = Karbi Anglong district

|Northwest =

}}

{{Assam}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1987 establishments in Assam

Category:Districts of Assam