ASSAM

Area : 78,438 sq km

Population: 2,66,38,407; growth rate (1991-2001): 18.85%

Density per sq km: 340

Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males): 932

Literacy rate: 64. 28% (males: 71.93%; females: 56.03%)

Capital : Dispur

No. of Districts: 23

Legislature: Unicameral

Principal Language: Assamese

Important Cities, Towns and Religious/ Tourist Place: Barpeta, Batadrava (with place of great Vishnav Saint Sankardev), Bhalukpung (angling), Chandubi Lake (picnic spot), Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Goalpara, Golaghat, Guwahati, Madan Kamdev Temple, Navagraha (Temple of Nine Planets), Straight Bridge, State Museum, State Zoo, Sukresuwar Temple, Umanada [Peacock Island]), Halflong (health resort), Hajop (meeting point of Buddhism, and Islam), Hailkandi, Jatinga hills, Jorhat, Karimagnj, Kaziranga National Park (famous for one-horned Great Indian Rhinoceros), Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli (largest river island in the world), Marigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Pragjyotishpur, Sibsagar (Shiva temple), Silchar, Sualkchi (famous for silk industry), Tezppur (scenic beauty), Tinsukia.

Location: Location in eastern India, Assam is almost separated from central India by Bangladesh. It is bounded west by west Bengal, north by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, east by Naglad, Manipur and Myanmar, south by Meghalaya, Bangladesh, Tripura and Mizoram.

Assam is an ancient land with a rich cultural heritage. Known as Pragjyotisha and later Kamrupa, she played a prominent part in history of Ancient and medieval India. Assam first became a British Protectorate at the close of the first Burmese war in 1826. In 1832, Cachar was annexed; in 1835, the jaintia Hills were included in the East India company's dominions and in 1839, Assam was annexed to Bengal.

In 1874, Assam detached from Bengal and made a separate chief commissionership. On the partition of Bengal in 1095, it was united to the Eastern Districts of Bengal under a Lt. Governor. From 1912 the chief commissionership of Assam was revived and in 1921 a governor. From 1912 a governorship was created. On the partition of India almost the whole of predominantly Muslim district of Sylhet was merged with East Bengal (Pakistan, now Bangladesh).

Dewangiri in North Kamrup was ceded to Bhutan in 1951. The Naga Hill district, administered by the union Government since 1957, became part of Nagaland in 1962. The State of Meghalays within Assam, Comprising the districts of Garo Hills and Khasoi and Jaintia Hills, came into existence on April 2, 1970 and achieved full statehood in January 1972 when it was decided to form a Union Territory of Mizoram from the Mizo Hill district. Mizoram became a State in 1987. The rest of the part remained as Assam.

About 74 percent of the State's working force is engaged in agriculture and allied activities. More than 79 percent of the total cropped area is utilised for food crops production. Rice is the principal food crop. Jute, tea, cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, Potato and fruits are the main cash crops.

Forests account for 22.21 percent of the total area of the State. The State has five national parks and 11 wild life sanctuaries. The Kaziranga National Park and the Manas Tiger Project (National Park) are renowned internationally. Assam holds a unique position in respect of mineral oil production. Coal, Limestone, refractory clay, dolomite and natural gas are the other minerals found in the State. Tea occupies an important place so far as agriculture-based industries are concerned.

Assam has over 800 tea plantations and contributed about one-sixth of the world's entire tea production. A substantial part of the country's total petroleum output and natural gas is found in the State. The State has two oil refineries and the third with a petrochemical complex is being set-up. Besides a public sector fertilizer factory at Namrup, the industries located in the State are sugar, jute, silk, paper, plywood manufacture, rice and oil milling. A polyester spinning mill has also been established at Nathkuchi village of Kamrup district.

The major power stations are: Chandrapur Thermal Project, Namrup Thermal Project, Karbi-Langpi Hydel-Electric Project and Lakwa Thermal Power Station.

ASSAM