• Population: 26,655,528
• Capital: Dispur
• Area: 30,285 square miles (78,438 sq km)
• Capital: Dispur
• Area: 30,285 square miles (78,438 sq km)
Assam is located in the northeastern part
of the country and has an area of 30,285 square miles (78,438 square kilometres).
It is bounded to the north by the kingdom of Bhutan and the state of Arunachal
Pradesh; to the east by the states of Nagaland and Manipur; to the south by the
states of Mizoram and Tripura; and to the west by the state of Meghalaya,
Bangladesh, and the state of West Bengal
The Brahmaputra River valley is the
dominant physical feature of Assam. The river enters Assam near Sadiya in the
extreme northeast and runs westward across the length of Assam for nearly 450
miles before turning south to enter the plains of Bangladesh. The river valley,
rarely more than 50 miles wide, is studded with numerous low, isolated hills
and ridges that abruptly rise from the plain. The valley is surrounded on all
sides, except the west, by mountains and is intersected by many streams and
rivulets that flow from the neighboring hills to flow into the Brahmaputra.
Assam does not have the normal Indian hot,
dry season. Monsoons in Assam begin from March. Rainfall in Assam ranks among
the highest in the world; its annual rainfall varies from 70 inches in the west
to 120 inches per year in the east. Much of the state is covered with dense
tropical forests of bamboo and, at higher elevations there is abundant
greenery. Common animals of Assam include the elephant, tiger, leopard,
rhinoceros, and bear.
The Assamese are a mixture of
Mongolian-Tibetan, Aryan, and Burman ethnic origins. Their official language,
which is called Assamese, is closely related to Bengali. An unbroken record of
Assamese literary history is traceable from the 14th century. About two-thirds
of the Assamese are Hindus, and about a quarter are Muslim. The Muslims are
mostly recent settlers from Bangladesh or converts belonging to the lower
strata of Hindu society. A majority of the Hindus accept Vaisnavism, which is
based on the deity Vishnu. The hilly margins of the plain are inhabited by the
hill tribes of the Garo, Khasi, and Hajong. The Bodo are the largest minority
group in Assam and are concentrated in the northern areas of the Brahmaputra
River valley.
Artist and sculptors, masons and
architects, and others practicing minor crafts such as weavers, spinners,
potters, goldsmiths, artisanns of ivory, wood, bamboo, cane and hide flourished
in Assam from ancient times. The Eri, Muga and Pat are the important silk
products of Assam. Weaving is another important aspect of the cultural life of
the people of Assam, particularly of the women. Every Assamese house,
irrespective of caste, creed, and social status, has at least one loom, and
each woman is required to be skilled in producing fine silk and cotton cloths.
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