Lower Assam division

Lower Assam Division
Division
Guwahati is the important and most developed city in Lower Assam division
Guwahati is the important and most developed city in Lower Assam division
The five divisions of Assam
The five divisions of Assam
Country India
StateAssam
CapitalRangia
Largest CityGuwahati
Area
 • Total
22,024 km2 (8,504 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total
11,252,365
 • Density510/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)

Lower Assam division is one of the 5 administrative divisions of Assam in India. It was formed in 1874, consisting of the undivided Kamrup district of Western Assam, undivided Darrang and Nagaon districts of Central Assam and Khasi & Jaintia hills of Meghalaya, created for revenue purposes.[1] The division is under the jurisdiction of a Commissioner, who is stationed at Guwahati. The division currently covers the Western Brahmaputa Valley.[citation needed] Shri Jayant Narlikar, IAS is the current Commissioner of Lower Assam division.

History

Most parts of Lower Assam was under the Kingdom of Bhutan before the 1865 Duar War

Most parts of Lower assam districts till the 19th century were under the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Districts

Lower Assam division contains 12 districts, namely Dhubri, South Salamara, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Barpeta, Bajali, Nalbari, Baksa, Kamrup and Kamrup metropolitan.[2] Among these, 3 districts namely Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa lie within Bodoland.[3]

Code[4] District Headquarter Population (2011)[5] Area (km²) Density (/km²)
BK Baksa# Mushalpur 950,075 2,457 387
- Bajali Pathsala 253,816 600 423
BP Barpeta Barpeta 1,439,806 2,645[6] 544
BO Bongaigaon Bongaigaon 738,804 1,093 676
CH Chirang# Kajalgaon 482,162 1,170 412
DU Dhubri Dhubri 1,394,144 1,608 867
GP Goalpara Goalpara 1,008,183 1,824 553
KM Kamrup Metropolitan Guwahati 1,253,938 1,528 821
KU Kamrup Rangia 1,517,542 3,105 489
KJ Kokrajhar# Kokrajhar 887,142 3,169 280
NB Nalbari Nalbari 771,639 2,257 342
SSM South Salmara-Mankachar Hatsingimari[7] 555,114 568 977
Total 12 — 1,12,52,365 22,024 511

# Districts within the Bodoland Territorial Region

Demographics

As per 2011 census, Lower Assam division has a population of 11,252,365 people.

Languages

Languages spoken in Lower Assam Division (2011)[8]

  Assamese (52.98%)
  Bengali (30.90%)
  Boro (7.73%)
  Hindi (2.83%)
  Others (5.56%)

According to 2011 census, the total number of Assamese speakers in the division were 59,61,583, Bengali speakers were 34,76,953, Boro speakers were 8,70,198 and Hindi speakers were 3,17,958. Although the Bengali speaking population was 30.9% as per the 2011 census language report, but Lower Assam Division is home to a large Muslim population of Bengali origin, most of whom now identify as Assamese speakers in the census.[9][10]

Muslims are around 49.5% of the total lower Assam population at the time of the 2011 Census.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bose, Manilal (1985). Development of Administration in Assam: With Special Reference to Land. Concept Publishing Company.
  2. ^ "Divisions | General Administration | Government of Assam, India".
  3. ^ "Bodoland.in".
  4. ^ ISO 3166
  5. ^ "District Census 2011".
  6. ^ "District Profile | Barpeta District | Government of Assam, India".
  7. ^ "South Salmara-Mankachar dist inaugurated". Assam Tribune. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  8. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Assam". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  9. ^ Saikia, Arunabh. "A new generation of 'Miya' Muslims in Assam may vote for Congress-AIUDF – but only out of compulsion". Scroll.in. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  10. ^ X, Samrat. "National Register of Citizens: Identity issue haunts Assam, again". Newslaundry. Retrieved 16 July 2021.