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| Arunachal Pradesh |
|
|
Capital
- Coordinates |
Itanagar
- 27.08° N 93.4° E |
| Largest city |
Itanagar |
Population (2001)
- Density |
1,091,117 (26th)
- 13/km² |
Area
- Districts |
83,743 km² (14th)
- 16 |
| Time zone |
IST (UTC+5:30) |
Establishment
- Governor
- Chief Minister
- Legislature (seats) |
1987-02-20
- S.K. Singh
- Gegong Apang
- Unicameral (60) |
| Official language(s) |
English, Hindi |
| Abbreviation (ISO) |
IN-AR |
| Website: arunachalpradesh.nic.in |
Seal of Arunachal Pradesh |
The name Arunachal is derived from Sanskrit Aruna meaning "the first ray of light" and Achal, or mountain[1]. Arunachal Pradesh's serene environment, Himalayan landscape and Hindu-Buddhist culture has made a popular tourist destination in recent years[2]. Arunachal Pradesh is home to more than 600 species of orchids, due to which it is often known as "nature's treasure trove"[3] .
[edit] History
The first ancestors of the tribal groups migrated from Tibet during the pre-historic period, they 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 Apatani 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.
A region known as Arunachal is mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts such as the the Mahabharata and Kalika-Purana. According to Hindu mythology, Arunachal was the site where Lord Krishna married his consort Rukmini and sage Vyasa meditated[4]. Recent excavations of ruins of Hindu temples such as the 14th-century 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.
In 1913-14, the British administrator, Sir Henry McMahon, drew up the 550-mile McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet during the Simla Conference, as Great 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 British India; however the Chinese representative refused to accept the line owing to domestic pressures. The Chinese position since then has been that since China was sovereign 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.[5]
For the first two decades after the Simla Conference, the Survey of India did not show the McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet either; only in 1937 did they publish a map showing it as the official boundary; in 1938 the Survey of India published a map showing Tawang as a part of Tibet. 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 districts south of the McMahon Line.[6] 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 Tibetan administration out of the Tawang area in 1951, despite PRC's protests[7][8]. The NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) was created in 1954.
After the failure of more than a decade of talks between India and China to resolve the dispute, the Sino-Indian War broke out in 1962. After capturing most of the area under North East Frontier Agency, the Chinese voluntarily withdrew back to the McMahon Line and returned Indian prisoners of war in 1963. However, Arunachal Pradesh continues to remain one of two main disputed regions between India and China, the other being Aksai Chin. The name South Tibet (Zangnan) is often used by Chinese sources to refer to the disputed region. At the same time, both the PRC and India have defined a Line of Actual Control, and it is widely believed that this dispute is not likely to result in actual hostilities. The NEFA was given full statehood by India in November 1986 after taking into consideration the security situation in the east and Sino-Indian tensions.
[edit] Geography
Arunachal Pradesh is famous for its mountainous landscape.
Much of Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the Himalayas, albeit parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap are covered by the Patkai. Kangto (7090m), Nyegi Kangsang (7050m), the main Gorichen peak (6488m) and the Eastern Gorichen peak (6222m) are some of the highest peaks in this part of the Himalayas.[9]
[edit] Climate
The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with elevation. Areas with very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas near the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate. Below the Upper Himalayas come the Middle Himalayas, where people experience a temperate climate. Fruits like apples, oranges, etc are grown. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation experience a humid sub-tropical climate, with hot summers and mild winters.
The state receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,000 mm) annually, most of it falling 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:
- Anjaw District
- Changlang District
- East Kameng
- East Siang
- Kurung Kumey
- Lohit District
- Lower Dibang Valley
- Lower Subansiri
- Papumpare
- Tawang District
- Tirap District
- Upper Dibang Valley
- Upper Subansiri
- Upper Siang
- West Kameng
- West Siang
[edit] Demographics
-
Main article: Demographics of Arunachal Pradesh
Buddhism is practiced by 13% of the population. Shown here is a statue of Buddha in Twang, Arunachal Pradesh.
65% of the Arunachalis belong to 20 major-collective tribes and 82 tribes, who had a heritage of a diverse and rich culture, language and beliefs. Most of them are either of Tibetan or of Thai-Burmese origin. Another 35% of the population are immigrants, including 30,000 Bangladeshi, Bodo Hajong and Chakma expartriates, and immigrants from other parts of India, notably Assam and Nagaland. The most notable tribes include the Adi, Nishi, Monpa and Apatani.
The literacy of the State rose to 54.74% from 41.59% in 1991. As of today, the number of literates is 487,796. Recent statistics shows that 36% of Arunachal's population are Animist, who follow Animistic religions such as Donyi-Polo and Rangfrah. 37% of the population is comprised of Hindus. Tribes who follow Hinduism include the Nocte and Miri[10]. Buddhism is practiced by 13% of the population. 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.
Christians, mostly Baptist, present since 1961, account for another 13% of the population. There are some non Baptist groups active since 1990. Christianity is widely practiced by several Naga tribes in Changlang and Tirap adjacent to Nagaland, although many Nagas in these areas remain followers of traditional beliefs. Though not common, a few tribal groups combine the Christian and traditional belief systems together. The presence of large groups of Chakma and Bodo Hajong refugees had spurred up mixed reactions among the local people. Although some Chakmas were granted voting rights in 2004,[11] they were refused citizenship status by the Chief Minister.[12]
[edit] Economy
Arunachal Pradesh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $706 million in current prices. According to report published by the Planning commission of India, Arunachal Pradesh's Human Development Index (HDI) stood at 0.572 which is below the national average of 0.611[13]. However, Arunachal Pradesh is one of the fastest growing states in India. In 1998, the Per Capita Net State Domestic Product of Arunachal Pradesh stood 3,571 INR up from 1,725 INR in 1982[14]. The state's labor force is comprised of 55.3% of the entire population. Approximately 398,000 people, i.e. 33.47% of the entire population live below the poverty line. In 2001, the state's literacy rate was 54.74% while the infant mortality rate stood at 0.091.
The chart below depicts the trend of the rise of gross state domestic product of Arunachal Pradesh at market prices[15]:
| Year |
Gross State Domestic Product
(in million INR) |
| 1980 |
1,070 |
| 1985 |
2,690 |
| 1990 |
5,080 |
| 1995 |
11,840 |
| 2000 |
17,830 |
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 the 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] Transport
The state's airports are located at Itanagar, Daparjio, Ziro, Along, Tezu and Pasighat. However, owing to the rough terrain, these airports are mostly small and cannot handle many flights. Arunachal Pradesh has two highways; the 336km National Highway 52, completed in 1998, connects Jonai with Dirak.[16] There is another highway which connects Tezpur in Assam with Tawang.[17]
[edit] Tourism
The unspoiled environment of Arunachal Pradesh has attracted tourists from many parts of the world. There is also significant locally arranged tourism to see the cultural diversity of Arunachal Pradesh, places from Bomdila and Tawang to Tirap. At this time, foreigners need a special travel permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh.
[edit] See also
- List of disputed or occupied territories
- List of people from Arunachal Pradesh
- Religion in Arunachal Pradesh
- Arunachal Dragon Force
- South Tibet
[edit] External links
|
State of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh Topics | History | Politics |
| Capital |
Itanagar |
| Districts |
Changlang • East Kameng • East Siang • Kurung Kumey • Lohit • Lower Dibang Valley • Lower Subansiri • Papumpare • Tawang • Tirap • Upper Dibang Valley • Upper Subansiri • Upper Siang • West Kameng • West Siang |
| Major cities |
Along • Daporijo • Naharlagun • Pasighat • Seppa • Tezu |
States and territories of India
