Arunachal Pradesh

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  ?Arunachal Pradesh
India
Map indicating the location of Arunachal Pradesh
Thumbnail map of India with Arunachal Pradesh highlighted
Location of Arunachal Pradesh in India
Location of Arunachal Pradesh
Coordinates: 27°04′N 93°22′E / 27.06, 93.37
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area 83,743 km² (32,333 sq mi)
Capital Itanagar
Largest city Itanagar
District(s) 16
Population
• Density		 1,091,117 (26th)
• 13 /km² (34 /sq mi)
Language(s) English
Governor Joginder Jaswant Singh (2008-)
Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu (2007-)
Established 1987-02-20
Legislature (seats) Unicameral (60)
ISO abbreviation IN-AR
Website: arunachalpradesh.nic.in
Seal of Arunachal Pradesh
Seal of Arunachal Pradesh

Coordinates: 27°04′N 93°22′E / 27.06, 93.37

Arunachal Pradesh pronunciation (help·info) (Hindi: अरुणाचल प्रदेश   Aruṇācal Pradeś) is the easternmost state of India. Arunachal Pradesh shares a border with the states of Assam to the south and Nagaland to the southeast. Burma/Myanmar lies towards the east, Bhutan towards the west, and Tibet to the north. Itanagar is the capital of the state. Though Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian State, the People's Republic of China claims portions of the state as South Tibet.[1]

Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn lit mountains"[2] in Sanskrit. It is also known as "land of the rising sun"[3] ("pradesh" means "state" or "region") in reference to its position as the easternmost state of India. Most of the people living in Arunachal Pradesh are either of Tibeto-Burman or indigenous tribal origin. Another 16% of the population are immigrants, including 30,000 Bangladeshi and Chakma expatriates, and migrants from other parts of India, notably Assam and Nagaland.[4] Part of the famous Ledo Burma Road, which was a lifeline to China during World War II, passes through the state.

Contents

[edit] History

The earliest references to Arunachal are found in the era of Mahabharata, Ramayana and other Vedic legends. Several characters, such as Princess Rukmini, King Bhismaka and Lord Parashurama, were referred to as people from the region in the Mahabharata. According to traditional accounts Princess Rukmini was born in the family of Bhismaka. (Mahabharata Adi 67.156). Rukmini was the daughter of King Bhismaka of Kundil in Upper Assam (now Sadia). Krishna fought against King Bhismaka in his bid to marry Bhismaka's daughter Rukmini. Bhismaka was the vassal of King Jarasandha of Magadha. The Dibang Valley lying to the extreme north of the state is close to the Chinese border. It was the ancient kingdom of Bhismaka where Rukmini was given in marriage to Lord Krishna. Malinithan a small town has strong historical links with Lord Krishna and his consort Rukmini. Parashuram was born to Saint Jamadagni and Renuka in Lohit valley and Parshuram Kund in Lohit district, which is believed to be the lake where Parshuram washed away all his sins.

The first ancestors of the tribal groups migrated from Tibet during the prehistoric period, and were joined by Thai-Burmese counterparts later. Except for the northwestern parts of the state, little is known about the history of Arunachal Pradesh, although the Adi tribe had legendary knowledge of the history. Recorded history was only available in the Ahom chronicles during the 16th century. The tribal Monpa and Sherdukpen do keep historical records of the existence of local chiefdoms in the northwest as well. Northwestern parts of this area came under the control of the Monpa kingdom of Monyul, which flourished between 500 B.C. and 600 A.D. This region then came under the loose control of Tibet and Bhutan, especially in the Northern areas. The remaining parts of the state, especially those bordering Myanmar, came under the control of the Ahom and the Assamese until the annexation of India by the British in 1858.

Recent excavations of ruins of Hindu temples such as the 14th Malinithan at the foot of the Siang hills in West Siang shed new light on the ancient history of Arunachal Pradesh. Paintings of the Hindu gods and altars remained untouched for many years. They attracted many local pilgrims. Another notable heritage site, Bhismaknagar, suggested that the Idu Mishmi had a local civilisation. The third heritage site, the 400-year-old Tawang monastery in the Tawang district, also provides historical evidence of the Buddhist tribal peoples. Historically, the area had a close relationship with Tibetan people and Tibetan culture, for example the sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.[5]

British map published in 1909 showing the Indo-Tibetan traditional border (eastern section on the top right)
British map published in 1909 showing the Indo-Tibetan traditional border (eastern section on the top right)

In 1913-1914 representatives of China, Tibet and Britain negotiated a treaty in India: the Simla Convention. British administrator, Sir Henry McMahon, drew up the 550 mile (890 km) McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet during the Simla Conference, as Britain sought to advance its line of control and establish buffer zones around its colony in South Asia. The Tibetan and British representatives at the conference agreed to the line, which ceded Tawang and other Tibetan areas to the imperial British Empire. However the Chinese representative refused to accept the line. The Chinese position since then has been that since China had suzerainty over Tibet, the line was invalid without Chinese agreement. Furthermore, by refusing to sign the Simla documents, the Chinese Government had escaped according any recognition to the validity of the McMahon Line.[6]

Simla was initially rejected by the Government of India as incompatible with the 1907 Anglo-Russian Convention. However, this agreement(Anglo-Russian Convention) was renounced by Russia and Britain jointly in 1921, thus making the Simla Conference official. However, with the collapse of Chinese power in Tibet the line had no serious challenges as Tibet had signed the convention, therefore it was forgotten to the extent that no new maps were published until 1935, when interest was revived by civil service officer Olaf Caroe. The Survey of India published a map showing the McMahon Line as the official boundary in 1937.[14][13] In 1938, the British finally published the Simla Convention as a bilateral accord two decades after the Simla Conference; in 1938 the Survey of India published a detailed map showing Tawang as part of NEFA. In 1944 Britain established administrations in the area, from Dirang Dzong in the west to Walong in the east. Tibet, however, altered its position on the McMahon Line in late 1947 when the Tibetan government wrote a note presented to the newly independent Indian Ministry of External Affairs laying claims to Tibetan district(Tawang) south of the McMahon Line.[7] The situation developed further as India became independent and the People's Republic of China was established in the late 1940s. With the PRC poised to take over Tibet, India unilaterally declared the McMahon Line to be the boundary in November 1950, and forced the last remnants of Tibetan administration out of the Tawang area in 1951.[8][9] The PRC has never recognized the McMahon Line. (In 1959 a suppressed Tibetan uprising resulted in PRC's abolition of Tibet's self-ruling government headed by the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, where he continues to lead the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. Maps published by the Tibetan Government-in-Exile now show the McMahon Line as the southern border of Tibet.

The NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) was created in 1954. The issue was quiet during the next decade or so of cordial Sino-Indian relations, but erupted again during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The cause of the escalation into war is still disputed by both Chinese and Indian sources. During the war in 1962, the PRC captured most of the NEFA. However, China soon declared victory and voluntarily withdrew back to the McMahon Line and returned Indian prisoners of war in 1963. The war has resulted in the termination of barter trade with Tibet, although in 2007 the state government has shown signs to resume barter trade with Tibet.[10]

Of late, Arunachal Pradesh faces threat from resistance groups, notably the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), who were believed to have base camps in the districts of Changlang and Tirap.[11] There were occasional reports of these groups harassing the local people.[12]

[edit] Geography

Arunachal Pradesh is famous for its mountainous landscape.
Arunachal Pradesh is famous for its mountainous landscape.
The Himalayas bordering Arunachal Pradesh
The Himalayas bordering Arunachal Pradesh

Much of Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the Himalayas. However, parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap,which are covered by the Patkai. Kangto, Nyegi Kangsang, the main Gorichen peak and the Eastern Gorichen peak are some of the highest peaks in this region of the Himalayas.

In 2006 Bumla pass in Tawang was opened to traders for the first time in 44 years. Traders from both sides of the pass were permitted to enter each other's territories.

The Himalayan ranges that extend up to the eastern Arunachal separate it from China. The ranges extend toward Nagaland, and form a boundary between India and Burma in Changlang and Tirap district, acting as a natural barrier called Patkai Bum Hills. They are low mountains compared to the Greater Himalayas.[13]

[edit] Climate

The climate of Arunachal Pradesh differs with the elevation. Areas that are at a very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas close to the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate. While below the Upper Himalayas are the Middle Himalayas, where people experience a climate which is temperate. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation generally experience a humid sub-tropical climate, along with the hot summers and mild winters.

Arunchal Pradesh receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,000 mm) annually, most of it between May and September. The mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine, temperate, and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron, oak, pine, maple, fir, and juniper; sal (Shorea) and teak are the main economic species.

[edit] Sub-divisions

Arunachal Pradesh is divided into sixteen districts, each administered by a district collector, who sees to the needs of the local people. Especially along the Tibetan border, the Indian army has considerable presence due to the concern about Chinese intentions. Special permits called Inner Line Permits (ILP) are required to enter Arunachal Pradesh through any of it checkgates on its border with Assam.

Districts of Arunachal Pradesh:

[edit] Economy

This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Arunachal Pradesh at market prices estimated by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Year Gross State Domestic Product
1980 1,070
1985 2,690
1990 5,080
1995 11,840
2000 17,830

Arunachal Pradesh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $706 million in current prices. Agriculture is the primary driver of the economy. Jhum, the local word for shifting cultivation, which was widely practised among the tribal groups has come to be less practiced. Arunachal Pradesh has close to 61,000 square kilometers of forests, and forest products are the next most significant sector of the economy. Among the crops grown here are rice, maize, millet, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, ginger and oilseeds. Arunachal is also ideal for horticulture and fruit orchards. Its major industries are sawmills, plywood (these two trades however have been stopped by law), rice mills, fruit preservation units and handloom handicrafts.

[edit] Demographics

Buddhism is practiced by 13% of the population. Shown here is a statue of Buddha in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
Buddhism is practiced by 13% of the population. Shown here is a statue of Buddha in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
Main article: Demographics of Arunachal Pradesh

63% of the Arunachalis belong to 19 major tribes and 85 tribes, who had a tradition which is diverse and of rich culture, language and beliefs. Most of them are either of Tibeto-Burman or Tai-Burmese origin. Another 35% of the population are made up of the immigrants, including 31,000 Bengali, Bodo, Hajong and Chakma expartriates from Bangladesh, and immigrants from neighbouring Assam, Nagaland and other parts of India. The most major tribes include the Adi, Galo, Nishi, Khamti, Monpa and Apatani.

Literacy rose to 54.74% from 41.59% in 1991. As of today, the number of literates is 487,796. 2001 census data by Government of India shows that[14] 20% of Arunachal's population are animist, who follow animistic religions such as Donyi-Polo and Rangfrah. Thirty-five percent are Hindus. Tribes who follow Hinduism include the Nocte and Miri.[15][16] Another 13% are practicing Buddhists.[17] Tibetan Buddhism predominates in the districts of Tawang, West Kameng and isolated regions adjacent to Tibet, and Theravada Buddhism is practiced by tribal groups living near the Burmese border. Around 19% of the population are followers of the Christian faith[18].

[edit] Transport

The state's airports are located at Daparjio, Ziro, Along, Tezu and Pasighat. However, owing to the rough terrain, these airports are mostly small and cannot handle many flights, they were actually used for transportation of food, when these parts were not connected by the roads. Arunachal Pradesh has two highways; the 336km (205 miles) National Highway 52, completed in 1998, connects Jonai with Dirak.[19] There is another highway which connects Tezpur in Assam with Tawang.[20] Now in 2007, every village is connected by road. It's due to the funding that central government has provided. Every small town has got its own bus station and daily bus services are available. All places are connected to Assam, which has increased the trading capacity. A National Highway is being constructed on the famous Stillwell Ledo Road, which connects Ledo in Assam to Jairampur in Arunachal.

[edit] Education

The current education system in Arunachal Pradesh is relatively underdeveloped. The state government is expanding the education system in concert with various NGOs like Vivekananda Kendra. Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh is the state's premier educational institution. NERIST (North Eastern Regional Institute of Science And Technology) is playing a very important role in raising the technical and management education. The state also has several reputed schools, colleges and institutions. There are also trust institutes like Pali Vidyapith run by Budhist society. They impart pali script and khamti script apart from normal educational subjects. Khamti is the only tribe in Arunachal Pradesh who have scripts of their own. Library of sciptures are located in number of places in Lohit district and the major one is in Chonkham.

[edit] Tourism

Arunachal Pradesh attracts tourists from many parts of the world. Tourist attractions include the Namdapha tiger project in Changlang district, Sela lake near to Bomdila, the bamboo bridges hanging over the river. Religious places of interest include Malinithan in Lekhabali and Rukhmininagar near Roing, the place where Rukmini, Lord Krishna's wife in Hindu mythology, is said to have lived; Parshuram Kund in Lohit district, is believed to the lake where Parshuram washed away all his sins. Rafting and trekking are also available. A visitor's permit from the tourism department is required. [4]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ China revives claims on Indian territory. Islamic Republic News Agency. Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  2. ^ Arunachal Pradesh - Land, People, Festival, Arts, Tourism, Economy
  3. ^ arunachal pradesh
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ 仓央嘉措生平疏议 (Biography of Cangyang Gyaco; in Chinese)
  6. ^ Lamb, Alastair, The McMahon line: a study in the relations between India, China and Tibet, 1904 to 1914, London, 1966, p529
  7. ^ Lamb, 1966, p580
  8. ^ The battle for the border
  9. ^ India’s China War by Neville Maxwell
  10. ^ PM to visit Arunachal in mid-Feb
  11. ^ Apang rules out Chakma compromise
  12. ^ [2]
  13. ^ Trekking in Arunachal,Trekking Tour in Arunachal Pradesh,Adventure Trekking in Arunachal Pradesh
  14. ^ http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ 2001 Indian Census Data
  15. ^ http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ 2001 Indian Census Data
  16. ^ [http://www.bharatvani.org/books/wiah/ch9.htm 9. Are Indian tribals Hindus?
  17. ^ http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ 2001 Indian Census Data
  18. ^ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm
  19. ^ http://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses1/0113099101.htm
  20. ^ [3]

[edit] External links

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