Assam - Background
Assam, in ancient times was a part of a land known as Pragjyotisha or Pragjyotishpura and Kamarupa. But the present name Assam is an anglicized version of Asom or Axom. There are several opinions about the origin of the name Assam. One view ascribes its origin to the word Ha-Cham, a Bodo word meaning "low or level country". The second view ascribes it to the word Asama, meaning "unequalled" or "peerless", used mainly for the Ahoms, a Shan tribe which ruled Assam f or six centuries from 13th Century AD.
Assam, one of the seven northeastern states of India, is the gateway to the northeast. Stretched along the Brahmaputra river, Assam is the hub of all cultural and commercial activities in northeast, Assam is situated in the North East region of India - a fact of geographic, cultural, economic and political significance. For centuries, perhaps thousands of years, people and communities have been attracted to the fertile environs of Assam and its abundant natural resources. Streams of people have met and mingled, and cultures and customs have merged. In the process a rich and composite culture has evolved.
Development, or the lack of it, has contributed to the disquiet that has characterised much of the North East for several decades. The region continues to be marked by low agricultural productivity, poor infrastructure, tenuous communications and nascent levels of industrial activity. Conscious of its exceptional features (and of its strategic significance), the Centre has traditionally considered the North East region as deserving of singular treatment. There has also been recognition, in theory, of the fact that Government would need to play a special role in promoting development, creating infrastructure and stimulating economic activity.
Despite these measures, there is evidence based on objective criteria to show that the gap between the North East and the rest of the country has widened. More importantly, the region continues to perceive itself as distant and distinct, and unable to participate in the benefi ts of an expanding, growing economy.
Despite, the richness of mineral resources, the state has not made great headway in industrialization. Agro-based industries play an important role. Guwahati Tea Auction Centre has now become the biggest tea auction centre in the world. Assam is also an important producer of silk, silk products like Saris and fabrics for male and home wear. Production of tusser and silks, weaving of fabrics is an important occupation for a number of people. Another industry consists of cane and bamboo works and small-scale cottage industries like brass metal industry, Carpet making industry etc.
In the last decades, there has been an unprecedented and continuing process of economic reform. Available data indicates that in the 1990s the pattern of incremental investment has been skewed in favour of regions with relative advantages in infrastructure, communication and transportation access, an established environment for entrepreneurship, and the availability of a skilled work force. It is precisely in these areas that the North East and Assam are particularly disadvantaged.
There are several tourist places in and around Guwahati. These are famous Kamakhya temple, Umananda (Peacock Island), Navagrah (temple of nine planets), Basistha Ashram, Dolgobinda, Ganhi Mandap, State Zoo, State Museum, Sukreswar temple, Gita Mandir, Madan Kamdev temple, a magnificent archaeological place of interest and Saraighat bridge. In 16th century the Kamakhya temple destroyed by Muslim invasion. In 1655 Koach king Naranarayan built the new Kamakhya temple. The other places are Shivsagar (famous longest Shiv temple), Tezpur (natural beauty), Bhalukpunj (Angling), Halflong (health resort with Jatinga hills), Majuli (largest river island in the world), Chandubi lake (picnic spot), Hajo (meeting point of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam), Batadrava (birth place of great Vaishnava saint Sankaradeva), Sualkuchi (famous for silk industry), Kaziranga National Park (famous for one horned rhino), Manas (tiger project), Pobi-tora and Orang (wild life sanctuaries).
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
