Monday, June 27, 2011


Fine arts

Main article: Fine Arts of Assam
See also: Culture of Assam
The archaic Mauryan Stupas discovered in and around Goalpara district are the earliest examples (c. 300 BC to c. 100 AD) of ancient art and architectural works. The remains discovered in Daparvatiya (Doporboteeya) archaeological site with a beautiful doorframe in Tezpur are identified as the best examples of art works in ancient Assam with influence ofSarnath School of Art of the late Gupta period. Many other sites also exhibit development of local art forms with local motifs and sometimes with similarities with those in the Southeast Asia. There are currently more than forty discovered ancient archaeological sites across Assam with numerous sculptural and architectural remains. Moreover, there are examples of several Late-Middle Age art and architectural works including hundreds of sculptures and motifs along with many remaining temples, palaces and other buildings. The motifs available on the walls of the buildings such as Rang Ghar, Joydoul, etc. are remarkable examples of art works.
Painting is an ancient tradition of Assam. Xuanzang (7th century AD) mentions that among the Kamarupa king Bhaskaravarma's gifts to Harshavardhana there were paintings and painted objects, some of which were on Assamese silk. Many of the manuscripts such as Hastividyarnava (A Treatise on Elephants), the Chitra Bhagawata and in the Gita Govinda from the Middle Ages bear excellent examples of traditional paintings. The medievalAssamese literature also refers to chitrakars and patuas.
There are several renowned contemporary artists in Assam. The Guwahati Art College in Guwahati is a government institution for tertiary education. Moreover, there are several art-societies and non-government initiatives across the state and the Guwahati Artists Guild is a front-runner organisation based in Guwahati.

[edit]Economy

Main article: Economy of Assam
In the 1950s, per capita income in Assam was little higher than that in India. In 2000–01, in Assam it was INR 6,157 at constant prices (1993–94) and INR 10,198 at current prices; almost 40% lower than that in India.[50] According to the recent estimates,[51] per capita income in Assam has reached INR 6756 (1993–94 constant prices) in 2004–05, which is still much lower than India's.
A tea garden in Assam: tea is grown at elevations near sea level, giving it a malty sweetness and an earthy flavor, as opposed to the more floral aroma of highland (e.g. Darjeeling, Taiwanese) teas.

[edit]Macro-economy

Economy of Assam today represents a unique juxtaposition of backwardness amidst plenty.[52] Despite its rich natural resources, and supplying of up to 25% of India's petroleum needs, growth rate of Assam’s income has not kept pace with that of India’s; differences increased rapidly since 1970s.[53] Indian economy grew at 6% per annum over the period of 1981 to 2000, the same of Assam was only 3.3%.[54] In the Sixth Plan period Assam experienced a negative growth rate of 3.78% when India's was positive at 6%.[53] In the post-liberalised era (after 1991), the differences widened further.
According to recent analysis, Assam’s economy is showing signs of improvement. In 2001–02, the economy grew (at 1993–94 constant prices) at 4.5%, to fall to 3.4% in the next financial year.[55] During 2003–04 and 2004–05, the economy grew (at 1993–94 constant prices) more satisfactorily at 5.5% and 5.3% respectively.[55] The advanced estimates placed the growth rate for 2005–06 at above 6%.[51] Assam's GDP in 2004 is estimated at $13 billion in current prices. Sectoral analysis again exhibits a dismal picture. The average annual growth rate of agriculture, which was only 2.6% per annum over 1980s has unfortunately fallen to 1.6% in the 1990s.[56] Manufacturing sector has shown some improvement in the 1990s with a growth rate of 3.4% per annum than 2.4% in the 1980s.[56] Since past five decades, the tertiary sector has registered the highest growth rates than the other sectors, which even has slowed down in the 1990s than in 1980s.[56]

[edit]Agriculture

Accounts for more than a third of Assam’s income and employs 69% of workforce.[57]Assam's biggest contribution to the world is tea. It produces some of the finest and expensive teas and has its own variety Camellia assamica. Assam also accounts for fair share of India’s production of rice, rapeseed, mustard seed, jute, potato, sweet potato, banana, papaya,areca nut and turmeric. It is also a home of large varieties of citrus fruits, leaf vegetables, vegetables, useful grasses, herbs, spices, etc.
Assam’s agriculture is yet to experience modernisation in real sense. With implications to food security, per capita food grain production has declined in past five decades.[58]Productivity has increased marginally; but still lower comparing to highly productive regions. For instance, yield of rice (staple food of Assam) was just 1531 kg per hectare against India’s 1927 kg per hectare in 2000–01[58] (which itself is much lower than Egypt’s 9283, US’s 7279, South Korea’s 6838, Japan’s 6635 and China’s 6131 kg per hectare in 2001[59]). On the other hand, after having strong domestic demand, 1.5 million hectares of inland water bodies, numerous rivers and 165 varieties of fishes,[60] fishing is still in its traditional form and production is not self-sufficient.[61]
The Assam Agriculture University is located at Jorhat, Assam. It is the only agricultural university for the Seven Sisters.

[edit]Industry

Apart from tea and petroleum refineries, Assam has few industries of significance. Industrial development is inhibited by its physical and political isolation from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, China and Bangladesh and from other growing Southeast Asian economies; ultimately leading to neglect by the federal government in regards to development – a key motivation for separatist groups.[62] The region is landlocked, situated in the eastern periphery of India and is linked to the mainland by a flood and cyclone prone narrow corridor, known as the Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck, with weak transport infrastructure that have remained undeveloped since independence. The international airport in Guwahati is yet to find airlines providing direct international flights. The Brahmaputra suitable for navigation does not possess sufficient infrastructure for international trade and success of such a navigable trade route will be dependent on proper channel maintenance and diplomatic and trade relationships with Bangladesh.
Processed Assam tea
Assam is a major producer of crude oil and it accounts for about 15% of India's crude output,[63] exploited by the Assam Oil Company Ltd., and natural gas in India and is the second place in the world (afterTitusville in the United States) where petroleum was discovered. Asia’s first successful mechanically drilled oil well was drilled in Makum (Assam) way back in 1867. Most of the oilfields are located in the Upper Assam region. Assam has four oil refineries located in Guwahati, Digboi, Golaghat (Numaligarh) and Bongaigaon with a total capacity of 7 Million metric tonnes (7.7 million short tons) per annum. It is worth mentioning here that Asia's first refinery was setup at Digboi and discoverer of Digboi oilfield was the Assam Railways & Trading Company Limited (AR&T Co. Ltd.), a registered company of London in 1881.[64] Despite its richness in natural resources, the benefits have yet to improve the lives of the people of Assam.
Although having a poor overall industrial performance, several other industries have nevertheless been started, including a chemical fertiliser plan at Namrup, petrochemical industries at Namrup and Bongaigaon, paper mills at Jagiroad, Panchgram and Jogighopa, sugar mills at Barua Bamun Gaon, Chargola, Kampur, cement plant at Bokajan & Badarpur, cosmetics plant (HLL) at Doom Dooma, etc. Moreover, there are other industries such as jute mill, textile and yarn mills, silk mill, etc. Unfortunately many of these industries are facing loss and closure due to lack of infrastructure and improper management practices.[65]

[edit]Education

Main article: Education in Assam
See also: List of educational institutions in Assam
Cotton College in Guwahati initiated modern tertiary education and research in Assam and has been continuing classical and high-educational standards for more than hundred years; many of the buildings in the college are excellent examples of Assamese architecture with colonial flavours.
Academic complex of IIT Guwahati
Assam boasts of the most wide-ranging networks of higher educational institutions in the whole of North-Eastern region of India. Assam has developed into a top educational destination at the state as well as at the national level. To enhance the status of Assam education, the state government has introduced many innovative education polices. It’s capital city; Guwahati is a key destination for higher education for students of the whole of north-eastern region. One of India's best boarding schools The Assam Valley School is located in the Balipara district of Assam. It is a co-educational residential school. It is an ICSE school. This article offers an understanding of Assam Education system.Assam has several institutions for tertiary education and research. The major institutions are:

[edit]Universities

[edit]Medical Colleges

[edit]Law Academy

The National Law School & Judicial Academy, Assam (NLSJAA) promises to be an exciting new development in the field of legal education in North Eastern India. The institution is in the process of setting up its premises at Amingaon near Guwahati – a city dating back to over a thousand years, and also boasting a rich legal heritage – not only is the Gauhati High Court situated here, but also some of the finest lawyers and judges of the country trace their roots back to this city. Nevertheless, the functions of the institute have already started from its temporary office at Ujan Bazar, Guwahati, and all the necessary arrangements are being made for commencement of its first academic session from August 2011.

[edit]Media and magazine

[edit]Print media

[edit]Magazines

[edit]Electronic media

NE TV, News Live, DY 365, News Time Assam, DD North-East, Frontier TV, Prime News

[edit]Places

[edit]Cities and towns

A view of Guwahati; the city known as Pragjyotishapura (city of eastern light) in the ancient times has a past extended to more than two thousand years.
History of urban development goes back to almost two thousand years in the region. Existence of ancient urban areas such as Pragjyotishapura (Guwahati), Hatapesvara (Tezpur), Durjaya, etc. and medieval towns such as Charaideu, Garhgaon, Rongpur, Jorhat, Khaspur, Guwahati, etc. are well recorded.[16]
Guwahati is the largest urban centre and a million plus city in Assam. The city has experienced multifold growth during past three decades to grow as the primate city in the region; the city's population was approximately 900,000 (considering GMDA area) during the census of 2001.Population-wise and area-wise Silchar is the second largest and important city in the state. It is the economic gateway to the state of Mizoram,Manipur and Tripura. The town of Silchar has tremendous commercial importance. It consequently, witnesses the settlement of a sizeable population of traders from distant parts of India. The other important urban areas are Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat, Tinsukia (Tinicukiya), Sibsagar (Sivasagar), Tezpur,Nagaon, North Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, etc. Nalbari, Rangia, Mangaldoi, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Diphu,Dhubri (Dhubury), Haflong etc. are other towns and district head quarters. On the other hand Duliajan, Digboi, Namrup, Moran,Bongaigaon, Numaligarh, Jogighopa, Rangia, etc. are major industrial towns. Currently, there are around 125 total urban centres in the state.
Growth Dynamism in Major Urban Areas

[edit]Tourism

See also: Tourism in Assam
Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. For the purposes of tourism there are wildlife preserves like the Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park etc. The climate is sub-tropical. Assam experiences the Indian monsoon and has one of the highest forest densities in India. The winter months are the best time to visit.
It has a rich cultural heritage going back to the Ahom Dynasty which governed the region for many centuries before the British occupation.
  • The famous rhinoceros of Assam grazing at Kaziranga.
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  • Rang Ghar in Sivasagar.
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  • Kamalabari satra of Majuli.
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  • View of Nameri National Park of Sonitpur District.

[edit]Main Destinations

Brahmaputra: The only male river in India, this is both a source of sorrow and sustenance for the people of Assam.There is cruise facility to enjoy the beauty of the river.
Guwahati: One of the key urban centres of Assam and the biggest city in North-East India, this serves as the major gateway to the whole region. This is the primary hopping point for accessing Shillong, the hill station.
Tinsukia Tinsukia is considered as the business capital of Assam.
Jorhat Jorhat was established as the new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the decaying and declining TunkhungiaAhom Dynasty.Jorhat is also a major tourist spot in Assam.It has a numerous tourist spots and temples like Tokolai Tea Research center,Hatigar Dewal, Burigosani Than or Dewal, Garakhiadol Temple (Shiva Temple), Borbheti Than (Originally moneastery), Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar, NEIST,Gymkhana Club, Lachit Borphukan's Maidam, Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary,The Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan Asom Sahitya Sabha. and major spot etc., Jorhat today has grown into a thriving with a strong sense of character and identity.
Majuli: The largest freshwater island in South Asia on the Brahmaputra River.
Kaziranga National Park: This is one of the few places covered as a World Heritage Site and the main habitat of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros. Also check out Orang National Park and Nameri National Park.
Jatinga: The mystery of the bird suicides in Jatinga in the North Cachar Hills.
Agnigarh Hill, Tezpur
Tezpur: Small town steeped in history and culture. Check out Usha Pahar, Agnigarh,Mahabhairav Temple, etc...
Sivasagar: Seat of the Ahom Kingdom. Check out Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar, Sivadol, Kareng Ghar of Garhgaon etc...
Hajo: Hajo is a small township situated to the northwest of Guwahati across the river Brahmaputra.Hajo is a remarkable example of communal harmony .This is an ancient pilgrimage centre for three religions Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a beautiful National Park situated in Tinsukia district. There are few Eco lodges situated here to enjoy the beauty of this park.
Goalpara: Goalpara is also a major tourist spot in Assam.It has a numerous tourist spots and temples like Sri Surya Pahar,Tekreshwari Pahar,Paglartek in Pancharatna,Pir Babas Mazar in Joleshwar,Naranarayan Setu (Bridge) connecting northern Assam districts like Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri etc. to Goalpara,Guwahati and major part of Meghalaya.
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