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B. N. Rau

2021-08-06T02:03:29Z

2403:3800:3217:2A93:4478:6FC3:4AC6:C445: /* Bureaucratic and judicial career */

{{short description|Indian civil servant and jurist (1887-1953)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sir B. N. Rau
| image = BN Rau 1988 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = B. N. Rau on 1988 stamp of India
| office1 = Judge of the [[International Court of Justice]]
| term1 = 1952–1953
| predecessor1 = [[Charles De Visscher]]
| successor1 = [[Muhammad Zafarullah Khan]]
| office2 = [[President of the United Nations Security Council]]
| term2 = June 1950
| office3 = Prime Minister of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]
| predecessor3 = [[Kailash Nath Haksar]]
| successor3 = [[Ram Chandra Kak]]
| term3 = 1944–1945
| birth_date = {{birth date|1887|02|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mangalore]], [[Madras Presidency]], British India Present day – [[Karnataka]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1953|11|30|1887|02|26|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Zurich]], Switzerland
| occupation = Civil servant, jurist, constitutional scholar
| spouse =
}}

'''Sir Benegal Narsing Rau''', [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], (26 February 1887 – 30 November 1953) was an [[Indian Civil Service|Indian civil servant]], jurist, diplomat and statesman known for his key role in drafting the [[Constitution of India]]. He was the Constitutional Advisor to [[Constituent Assembly of India|Constituent Assembly]]. He was also India's representative to the [[United Nations Security Council]] from 1950 to 1952. His brothers were [[Governor of the Reserve Bank of India]] [[Benegal Rama Rau]] and journalist and politician [[B. Shiva Rao]].

One of the foremost Indian jurists of his time, Rau helped draft the constitutions of Burma in 1947 and India in 1950. As India's representative on the United Nations Security Council (1950–52), he was serving as president of the council when it recommended armed assistance to South Korea (June 1950). Later he was a member of the Korean War post [[s:Korean Armistice Agreement|Armistice]] United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission ([[UNCMAC]]).

A graduate of the Universities of Madras and Cambridge, Rau entered the Indian civil service in 1910. After revising the entire Indian statutory code (1935–37), he was knighted (1938) and made judge (1939) of the Bengal High Court at Calcutta (Kolkata). His writings on Indian law include a noted study on constitutional precedents as well as articles on [[human rights in India]]. He served briefly (1944–45) as [[Minister of Jammu and Kashmir]] state. From February 1952 until his death, he was a judge of the [[International Court of Justice]] at [[The Hague]]. Before his election to the court, he was regarded as a candidate for [[secretary-general of the United Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/492161/Sir-Benegal-Narsing-Rau |title=Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (Indian jurist) – Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Britannica.com |date=30 November 1953 |access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Rau was born on 26 February 1887 in a [[Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin]] family of intellectuals.<ref>[https://books.google.co.in/books?id=RajqAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA140 The Hindu Family and the Emergence of Modern India: Law, Citizenship and Community, Cambridge University Press ]</ref> His father Benegal Raghavendra Rau was an eminent doctor. Rau graduated from the [[Canara High School]], Mangalore, topping the list of students of the entire [[Madras Presidency]]. He graduated in 1905 with a triple first degree in English, Physics, and Sanskrit, and gained an additional first in Mathematics in 1906.<ref name=":0">[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xv</ref> On a scholarship, he proceeded to [[Trinity College, Cambridge]], and took his [[Tripos]] in 1909, just missing the Senior Wranglership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/12/01/stories/2003120100400800.htm |title=B. N. Rau dead |work=The Hindu |date=1 December 2003 |access-date=13 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111012306/http://hindu.com/thehindu/2003/12/01/stories/2003120100400800.htm |archive-date=11 November 2012}}</ref> He died of intestinal cancer at Zurich on 30 November 1953 and at that time he was a Judge of International court of Justice, Hague.<ref>{{cite news |last1=The New York Times |first1=NYT |title=Sir Benegal Narasing Rau 66 dies |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/11/30/archives/sir-benegal-narsing-rau-66-dies-indian-leader-world-court-judge.html |access-date=26 February 2020 |agency=NYT |publisher=NYT |date=30 November 1953}}</ref>

==Bureaucratic and judicial career==
B. N. Rau passed the [[Indian Civil Service]] Examination in 1909 and returned to India, posted to Bengal. Doing well on the executive side, in 1909 he moved to the judiciary thereafter, and served as a judge in several districts in East Bengal.<ref name=":0" /> In 1925, he was offered a dual position by the Assam government, as Secretary to the provincial council as well as Legal Remembrancer to the government. He served in this position for about eight years.<ref name=":0" /> In addition to these duties, he occasionally fulfilled additional functions for the Assam government, such as drafting memoranda for financial support for the [[Simon Commission]]'s tour of India in 1928–29, and presenting their case before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament in London after the third Round Table Conference in 1933.<ref name=":1">[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xvi</ref> He also worked with Sir John Kerr to prepare a note on how provincial legislatures in India might be designed to work better.<ref name=":1" />

On his return to India in 1935, Rau worked with the Reforms Office of the Government of India, on drafting the Government of India Act, 1935. At the end of this project, Sir [[Maurice Gwyer]], the first Chief Justice of India's Federal Court, suggested that he gain the necessary five years' experience that would qualify him to serve as a judge on the Federal Court as well.<ref name=":2">[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xvii</ref> He served thereafter as a judge on the Calcutta High Court, but his tenure was interrupted by two additional projects that he was assigned to by the Government of India – he first presided over a court of inquiry concerning wages and working conditions on railways in India, and thereafter with a commission working on reforms concerning [[Hindu law]].<ref name=":2" /> He also was reassigned to chair the Indus Waters Commission, which submitted a report on riparian rights on in 1942.<ref name=":3">[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xviii</ref>

His distinguished work brought him a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in the [[1934 New Year Honours]] list<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34010/supplements/6 London Gazette, 29 December 1933]</ref> and a knighthood in 1938.<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34518/supplements/3687 London Gazette, 9 June 1938]</ref> Rau retired from service in 1944, and was then appointed as the [[Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir|Prime Minister]] of the princely state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)|Jammu and Kashmir]].<ref name=":3" /> He resigned from this position in 1945, following differences with the then-Maharaja of Kashmir, writing in his resignation letter that "...I have been conscious for some time that we do not see eye to eye on certain fundamental matters of external and internal policy. And that leads, as it must lead, to disagreement in many a detail. I have never questioned and I do not now question, the position that in all these matters Your Highness' decision must be final. The Prime Minister must either accept it or resign."<ref name=":3" />

Following his resignation as Chief Minister of Kashmir, Rau was asked to serve in a temporary capacity in the Reforms Office of the Government of India, which he did so. He was also offered, and declined, the position of a permanent judge on the [[Calcutta High Court]], preferring to stay in the Reforms office and work on constitutional and federal issues.<ref name=":4">[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xix</ref> He was consequently appointed as a Secretary in the Governor-General's office, working on constitutional reforms, until he became the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly in 1946.<ref name=":4" />

While the Constituent Assembly was engaged in discussing the draft Constitution, Rau also worked on preparing a brief on the question of whether the [[United Nations Security Council]] could intervene in a dispute between the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] and the Indian government, and was part of a delegation that represented India at the United Nations General Assembly, concerning this question as well as issued relating to the peaceful uses of atomic energy.<ref>[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xxiv</ref>

==Role in drafting the Constitution of India==
B. N. Rau was appointed as the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly in formulating the [[Constitution of India|Indian Constitution]] in 1946.<ref name=":4" /> He was responsible for the general structure of its democratic framework of the Constitution and prepared its initial draft in February 1948.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://arunshourie.voiceofdharma.com/articles/ambedkar.htm |title=The Manu of Our Times?|author=Shourie, Arun |access-date=30 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220030736/http://arunshourie.voiceofdharma.com/articles/ambedkar.htm |archive-date=20 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This draft was debated, revised and finally adopted by the [[Constituent Assembly of India]] on 26 November 1949.<ref>{{cite news|title=Celebrating Constitution Day|url=http://www.thehindu.com/specials/in-depth/november-26-celebrating-constitution-day/article7918507.ece|access-date=2 December 2015|date=26 November 2015}}</ref>

As part of his research in drafting the Constitution of India, in 1946, Rau travelled to the US, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, where he had personal consultations with judges, scholars, and authorities on constitutional law.<ref>[[#Rau|Rau]], p. xxii</ref> Amongst others, he met Justice [[Felix Frankfurter]] of the American Supreme Court, who famously advised him against the inclusion of a clause for '[[due process]]' in the Indian Constitution as it would impose an 'undue burden' on the judiciary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/Of-constitutional-lsquodue-process/article16302879.ece |title=Of Constitutional 'Due Process' |last=Chandrachud |first=Abhinav |date=24 May 2010 |website=The Hindu |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170323212504/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/Of-constitutional-lsquodue-process/article16302879.ece |archive-date=23 March 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2017 }}</ref>

The Constituent Assembly's resolution setting up the Drafting Committee on 29 August 1947, under the chairmanship of [[B. R. Ambedkar]], declared that it was being set up to "Scrutinise the Draft of the text of the Constitution prepared by the Constitutional Adviser, give into effect the decisions taken already in the Assembly and include all matters ancillary thereto or which have to be provided in such a Constitution, and to submit to the Assembly for consideration the text of the Draft Constitution as revised by the Committee." The draft prepared by the constitutional advisor was submitted in October 1947. Along with this draft, the proposals offered by the various other committees set up by the Constituent Assembly were considered and the first draft by the Drafting Committee was published in February, 1948. The people of India were given eight months to discuss the draft and propose amendments. In the light of the public comments, criticisms and suggestions, the Drafting Committee prepared a second draft, which was published in October 1948. The final draft of the Constitution was introduced by Dr. [[B. R. Ambedkar]] on 4 November 1948 (first reading). The second reading was clause by clause consideration and took over a year. After three drafts and three readings, the constitution was declared as passed on 26 November 1949.
Dr [[B. R. Ambedkar]] in his concluding speech in constituent assembly on 25 November 1949 stated that:
{{Quote
|The credit that is given to me does not really belong to me. It belongs partly to Sir B.N. Rau the Constitutional Advisor to the Constituent Assembly who prepared a rough draft of the Constitution for the consideration of Drafting Committee.
}}<ref>{{Citation
| url = http://prasarbharati.gov.in/whatsnew/whatsnew_653363.pdf| title = Dr B.R. Ambedkar concluding speech in constituent assembly on November 25, 1949}}</ref>

== Role in drafting the Constitution of Burma ==
Rau also assisted in drafting the early Constitution of [[Myanmar]], or [[Burma]], as it was then known. He met with [[U Aung San]], Burma's Prime Minister, in New Delhi in December 1946, who invited him to assist in drafting Burma's Constitution. Burma's Constitutional Advisor was deputed to New Delhi in April 1947 where they worked together to collect research materials, and prepared a first draft that was taken back to [[Rangoon]] for modifications by a Drafting Committee. The Constitution was adopted on 24 September 1947.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rau|first=B. N.|year=1948|title=The Constitution of the Union of Burma|url=http://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/washlr23&start_page=288&collection=journals&id=294|journal=Washington Law Review and State Bar Journal|volume=23|pages=288–300|via=HeinOnline}}</ref> Rau went to [[Rangoon]] (now [[Yangon]]) to witness the final draft of the Constitution being passed by the legislature.<ref>[[#Rau|Rau]], pp. xix–xx</ref>

==Diplomatic career==
Rau served India as a representing delegate in the United Nations. From 1949 to 1952 he was India's Permanent Representative to the UN, till he was appointed as a Judge of the International Court in The Hague. He also served as the [[President of the United Nations Security Council|President]] of the [[United Nations Security Council]] in June 1950.<ref>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828045749/http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/resguide/scpres1950.htm | url=http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/resguide/scpres1950.htm | archive-date=28 August 2011 | title=Presidents of the Security Council : 1950–1959 | publisher=United Nations | access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>

=== Tenure on the Court of International Justice ===
Rau was invited by the Ministry of External Affairs to stand for election to the International Court of Justice towards the end of 1951, and began service towards 1952. He served for about a year, before succumbing to ill health while being treated in Zurich in 1953.<ref>[[#Rau|Rau]], pp. xxvii–xxviii</ref>
In 1988, On the occasion of his birth centenary, the Govt. of India issued a postage stamp in honor of B.N. Rau.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Philatelics|url=http://www.indianphilatelics.com/stamps/commemorative-stamps/1987-1988/item/8339-birth-centenary-of-bn-rau-click-for-stamp-information.html|access-date=30 November 2017|date=30 November 2017}}</ref>

==Indian parliament condolence message==
https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55593/1/lsd_01_05_30-11-1953.pdf Page no. 43

== Publications ==
* B.N. Rau (1947) ''Constitutional Precedents'' (New Delhi: Government of India Press)
* B.N. Rau (1948) ''The Constitution of the Union of Burma,'' 23 Wash. L. Rev. & St. B. J. 288
* B. N. Rau (1949) ''The Parliamentary System of Government in India'' 24 Wash. L. Rev. & St. B. J. 91
* B.N. Rau (1949) ''The Indian Constitution'' (Manchester: Manchester Guardian)
* B.N. Rau (1951) ''India and the Far East: Burwash Memorial Lectures'' (Toronto: Victoria University)
* {{Cite book|ref=Rau|title=India's Constitution in the Making|last=Rau|first=B. N.|publisher=Orient Longmans|year=1960|editor-last=Rao|editor-first=B. Shiva|location=Calcutta}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rau, Benegal Narsing}}
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1953 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Dakshina Kannada district]]
[[Category:Mangaloreans]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Indian Civil Service (British India) officers]]
[[Category:Indian diplomats]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Scholars from Mangalore]]
[[Category:Permanent Representatives of India to the United Nations]]
[[Category:International Court of Justice judges]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Politicians from Mangalore]]
[[Category:Indian judges of United Nations courts and tribunals]]

Bongaigaon district

2021-08-05T13:59:52Z

2403:3800:3217:2A93:4478:6FC3:4AC6:C445:

{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Bongaigaon}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2012}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Bongaigaon district
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = as
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Assam|District]] of [[Assam]]
| image_skyline = Bhumeshwar hill.jpg
| image_caption = Bhumeshwar Hill
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| image_shield =
| image_map = India Assam Bongaigaon district map.svg
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| coordinates = {{coord|26.4667|N|90.5667|E|type:adm3rd_source:itwiki|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Assam]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Divisions of Assam|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Lower Assam Division|Lower Assam]]
| established_title =
| established_date =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Bongaigaon]]
| leader_party =
| leader_title = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name = [[Barpeta (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barpeta]] (shared with Barpeta district)
| leader_title1 = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name1 = [[Bongaigaon (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Bongaigaon]], [[Abhayapuri North (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Abhayapuri North]], [[Abhayapuri South (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Abhayapuri South]]
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 1093
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 738,804
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| timezone1_DST =
| utc_offset1_DST =
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-AS]]
| website = {{URL|http://bongaigaon.gov.in/}}
| official_name =
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_info1 = 69.74%<ref name="http">{{cite web|title=Total Population, child population in the age group 0–6, literates and literacy rates by sex: 2011|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/as/table-2.xls|publisher=Office of The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Government of India|access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio
| demographics1_info2 = 966
}}
'''Bongaigaon district''' (Prpn:ˈbɒŋgaɪˌgãʊ) is an administrative [[districts of Assam|district]] in the state of [[Assam]] in northeastern [[India]]. The district headquarters are located at [[Bongaigaon]]. The district occupies an [[area]] of 1,093 km2.

== Etymology ==
According to lore, the name 'Bongaigaon' derives from the words 'bon' (wild) and 'gai' (cow). In the distant past, wild cows were often a menace to villagers in this area due to which the district got its name.

==History==
The district of Bongaigaon was created on 29 September 1989 from parts of [[Goalpara district|Goalpara]] and [[Kokrajhar district]]s.<ref name='Statoids'>{{cite web | url = http://www.statoids.com/yin.html | title = Districts of India | access-date = 2011-10-11 | last = Law | first = Gwillim | date = 25 September 2011 | work = Statoids}}</ref> 2004 saw a loss of size when part of the district was split to make [[Chirang district]].<ref name='Statoids'/>

The district was part of the [[Kamarupa|Kamarupa kingdom]], and was ruled by the [[Baro-Bhuyan|Baro-Bhuyans]]. In the 1580s [[Nara Narayan]] of the [[Kamata Kingdom|Kamata kingdom]] conquered the area and it subsequently became the fiefdom of the Bijni family, who were descendants of Nara Narayan. When the Kamata kingdom split into [[Cooch Behar State|Koch Bihar]] and [[Koch Hajo]] due to rivalry between the king and his nephew Raghu Rai, Bongaigaon became part of Koch Hajo. Soon Koch Hajo and Koch Bihar went to war, and the Mughal [[Nawab of Dhaka]], supporting Koch Bihar, defeated Rai at [[Dhubri]] in 1602. Rai's son Parikshit signed a peace treaty, but hostilities resumed in 1614 and Parikshit was driven back to modern-day [[Guwahati]], where he surrendered and soon after died. His son, Bijit Narayan, was made Zamindar of the region between the [[Manas River|Manas]] and [[Sankosh River|Sankosh]]: from him the Bijni family descended. Koch Hajo was tributary to the Mughals, but in the last decades of the 17th century Mughal influence waned significantly due to the [[Ahom–Mughal conflicts|Ahom-Mughal wars]] in which the [[Ahom kingdom|Ahoms]] were eventually successful. Koch Hajo, including Bijni Zamindari, fell under Ahom influence.

In the late 1750s, the [[East India Company]] strengthened their influence in [[Bengal]] and [[Lower Assam]]. In 1822 the East India Company created Goalpara district containing present-day Lower Assam, the [[Garo Hills]] and northeastern [[Rangpur Division|Rangpur division]] in Bangladesh. The Bijnis continued to pay tribute to the British, and even gained a small amount of land after the [[Duar War]] in 1865. Rangpur and the Garo Hills were eventually stripped away to form different districts, but Goalpara continued to be administered as part of a Cooch Behar province. Eventually the Assam Valley province was founded in 1874, and Goalpara was moved to it. Goalpara was later divided into various districts including [[Kokrajhar district|Kokrajhar]] and [[Dhubri district|Dhubri]], and later Bongaigaon.<ref>[https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1820_PART_B_DCHB_BONGAIGAON.pdf District census 2011 - Bongaigaon]</ref>

==Geography==
Bongaigaon district occupies an area of {{convert|1093|km2|sqmi}},<ref name="Reference Annual">{{cite book|title=India 2010: A Reference Annual|last1=Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.)|publisher=Additional Director General, Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], [[Government of India]]|year=2010|isbn=978-81-230-1617-7|edition=54th|location=New Delhi, India|pages=1116|chapter=States and Union Territories: Assam: Government}}</ref> comparatively equivalent to [[Réunion]].<ref name='Islands'>{{cite web | url = http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm | title = Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area | access-date = 2011-10-11 | date = 18 February 1998 | publisher = [[United Nations Environment Program]] | quote = Réunion 2,535km2}}</ref> Bongaigaon district is surrounded by Barpeta in the east, the Brahmaputra in the south and Kokrajhar in the north and west corner and share international border with [[Bhutan]] in the north.

The places that are worth visiting in Bongaigaon are eco-park, [[Bagheswari Temple, Bongaigaon|Bagheswari temple]], tea garden, and [[Sri Surya Pahar|Suryapahar]]. The history of Bagheswari temple is such that once a priest saw in his dream that Maa Bagheswari asked him to go to a particular place where if he digs out he will find a sword that belonged to Maa Bagheswari. And the next morning when the priest went to dig in the place he saw in his dreams, he found the sword.{{citation needed|date= November 2019}} After that day a temple was built over the place and there they worship the sword. There is no idol inside the temple.

==Economy==
In 2006 the Indian government named Bongaigaon one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=brgf/> It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |date=8 September 2009 |title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme |publisher=National Institute of Rural Development |url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Divisions==
The district has three subdivisions: Bongaigaon, [[Bijni]], and [[North Salmara]]. In 2004, parts of the Bongaigaon district (mainly areas under Bijni subdivision) were given over to form the Chirang district, under the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), with its district headquarters at Kajalgaon.

There are four [[Assam Legislative Assembly]] constituencies in this district: Bongaigaon, Bijni, [[Abhayapuri North (Assembly constituency)|Abhayapuri North]], and Abhayapuri South. The latter is designated for [[scheduled caste]]s.<ref name="ceo1">{{cite web|title=List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Revenue & Election District wise break – up|url=http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.1%20-%20DEOs%20wise%20ACs%20breakup.pdf|publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website|access-date=26 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322074811/http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.1%20-%20DEOs%20wise%20ACs%20breakup.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Bijni is in the [[Kokrajhar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency]], whilst the other three are in the [[Barpeta (Lok Sabha constituency)|Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency]].<ref name="ceo2">{{cite web|title=List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Parliamentary Constituencies wise break – up|url=http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.2%20-%20PC-wise%20LAC%20breakup.pdf|publisher=Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website|access-date=26 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322074903/http://ceoassam.nic.in/Gen_Informations/2.2%20-%20PC-wise%20LAC%20breakup.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
According to the 2011 census, the total population of the district is 738,804, out of which 375,818 are males while 362,986 are females. The average sex ratio is 966. As per Census 2011 out of total population, 14.9% people lives in Urban areas while 85.1% lives in the Rural areas. The average literacy rate in urban areas is 87.4% while that in the rural areas is 66.4%. Also the Sex Ratio of Urban areas in Bongaigaon district is 960 while that of Rural areas is 967. The total literacy rate of Bongaigaon district is 69.74%. The male literacy rate is 63.09% and the female literacy rate is 54.26% in Bongaigaon district. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 11.21% and 2.55% of the population respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=District Census Hand Book|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB.html|website=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Bongaigaon district 2011
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|Islam |#008000|50.22}}
{{bar percent|Hinduism|darkorange|48.61}}
{{bar percent|others|black|1.17}}
}}
The district religious composition are as follows: [[Hindu]] 359,145, [[Muslim]] 371,033, [[Christians|Christian]] 5,924, [[Sikh]] 384, [[Buddhist]] 236, [[Jain]] 871 as per 2011 census report.

=== Languages ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages spoken in Bongaigaon district (2011)<ref name="censuslang">{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Bongaigaon |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
|value1 = 49.00
|color1 = gold
|label2 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|value2 = 43.35
|color2 = coral
|label3 = [[Hindi]]
|value3 = 3.06
|color3 = orange
|label4 = [[Rangpuri language|Rajbongshi]]
|value4 = 1.45
|color4 = goldenrod
|label5 = [[Boro language (India)|Boro]]
|value5 = 1.13
|color5 = purple
|label6 = Others
|value6 =2.01
|color6 = grey
}}

According to the 2011 census, 49% of the population spoke [[Assamese language|Assamese]], 43.35% [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 3.06% [[Hindi]], 1.45% [[Rangpuri language|Rajbongshi]] and 1.13% [[Boro language (India)|Boro]] as their first language.<ref name="censuslang">{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Bongaigaon |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://bongaigaon.gov.in/ Bongaingaon district official website]

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Bongaigaon district
| North = [[Chirang district]]
| Northeast =
| East = [[Barpeta district]]
| Southeast =
| South = [[Goalpara district]]
| Southwest = [[Dhubri district]]
| West =
| Northwest = [[Kokrajhar district]]
}}
{{Assam}}
{{Minority Concentrated Districts in India}}

[[Category:Bongaigaon district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Assam]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1989]]
[[Category:Minority Concentrated Districts in India]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Assam]]
[[as:বঙাইগাঁও]]

Sonitpur district

2021-08-05T13:28:39Z

2403:3800:3217:2A93:4478:6FC3:4AC6:C445:

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Sonitpur district
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Assam|District]] of [[Assam]]
| image_skyline = Tea plantation in Sonitpur district of Assam, India.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Tea plantation in Sonitpur district
| nickname =
| image_map = India Assam Sonitpur district map.svg
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|26.63|N|92.8|E|display=title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Assam]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Divisions of Assam|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[North Assam Division|North Assam]]
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Tezpur]]
| government_footnotes =
| leader_party =
| leader_title = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name = [[Tezpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Tezpur]]
| leader_title1 = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name1 = [[Barchalla (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Barchalla]], [[Tezpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Tezpur]], [[Rangapara (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Rangapara]], [[Sootea (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sootea]]
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 2076.70
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 48-560
| population_total = 13,11,619
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = AS12
| website = {{URL|sonitpur.nic.in}}
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-AS]]
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

'''Sonitpur district''' {Pron: ˌsə(ʊ)nɪtˈpʊə or ˌʃə(ʊ)nɪtˈpʊə} is an administrative [[districts of Assam|district]] in the state of [[Assam]] in [[India]]. The district headquarters is located at [[Tezpur]].

==Etymology==

At this place a huge bloody battle took place between [[Shiva|Shiva's]] army and [[Krishna|Krishna's]] army centered on the abduction of Krishna's grandson [[Aniruddha]] by [[Uṣā]], the daughter of Shiva devotee [[Banasura]]. The name of this place is Sonitpur for this mythological story. The [[Sanskrit]] word ''Śōṇita'' means blood. The etymology of [[Tezpur]], the headquarter of this district, also centers on this myth.

==History==
Sonitpur district was once part of the kingdom of [[Kamarupa]]. A plate dated to the 11th century CE, during the reign of the [[Pala dynasty (Kamarupa)|Pala dynasty]], records a land grant to a Brahmin. Descriptions in the plate indicate the region was ruled by a relatively powerful monarch with a well-organized administration. The district gazetteer of Darrang speculated it was very possible the Pala capital, [[Durjaya|Durajya]], was located near Tezpur. They were succeeded by the [[Baro-Bhuyan]] feudal lords when the [[Kamarupa kingdom]] broke up.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Assam District Gazetteers Volume V: Darrang|url=http://indianculture.gov.in/gazettes/assam-district-gazetteers-volume-v-darrang-0|access-date=2021-05-07|website=INDIAN CULTURE|language=en}}</ref>

In the 16th century, the eastern part of the district, up to the [[Kameng River|Kameng]], was conquered by the [[Ahom kingdom|Ahoms]]. In 1523, they deported a large number of Chutia families to a place on the east bank of the Kameng, called Sutia. In 1532, they defeated a Mughal army sent against them at the banks of the Kameng.

Starting in the 16th century, under the reign of [[Nara Narayan]], the [[Kamata Kingdom|Koch kingdom]] expanded to a great extent. Several years after the Ahom victory at the Kameng, Nara Narayan sacked the Ahom capital at Gargaon and forced the Ahoms to pay tribute. Its eastern conquests were completed by Raghudev, the nephew of the king and heir as Nara Narayan had no son. However eventually one of Nara Nayaran's queens gave birth to a child, Lakshmi Narayan. Raghudev rebelled, supported by the Ahoms, but was eventually defeated. In response Nara Narayan gave Koch territory east of the [[Sankosh River|Sankosh river]] to Raghudev and the rest to Lakshmi Narayan. Raghudev's kingdom became known as [[Koch Hajo]], and quickly fell under Ahom hegemony, while the western [[Cooch Behar State|Koch Bihar]] kingdom fell under Mughal influence. Koch Hajo's boundary with the Ahoms was at the [[Kameng River|Kameng river]], also known as the Bareli, which flowed through the middle of what is now Sonitpur district.<ref name=":0" />

Soon war broke out between Raghudev and Lakshmi Narayan. Lakshmi Narayan was defeated and appealed to the Mughals for help. The Mughals sent a large force and defeated Raghudev, although Sonitpur was on the eastern boundary and so was not conquered. Raghudev's brother Bali Narayan then fled to his Ahom overlords for help, and when the Mughals demanded his return, the Ahoms refused. This led to [[Ahom–Mughal conflicts|several wars]] between the Ahoms and Mughals, most of which were in lower Assam. In 1615, a Mughal army advanced as far as the Kameng, but was soon defeated on both land and water. In 1637, the Mughals defeated and killed Bali Narayan and in the treaty that followed, the entirety of Sonitpur came into Ahom possession. During the chaos that followed the death of Shah Jahan in 1658, the Ahoms tried to push their boundary to the Sankosh but were pushed back by Mir Jumla, who captured Gargaon. On their advance, the Mughals took a fort near Silghat while the Ahoms evacuated the Chandara fort near Tezpur. However the rains that set in during their retreat, as well as the dieases, took a huge toll on the Mughal army, and the Ahoms soon took back Guwahati and kept it.<ref name=":0" />

The rajas of Darrang quickly became reduced in territory to a small area around Mangaldoi. In 1792, the [[Moamoria rebellion]] broke out, and fighting soon ensured the entirety of Ahom territory fell into anarchy. Several outside kingdoms, including Manipur, attempted to send help but could not do much. The Moamorias raised a Ahom prince to kingship, and in 1786 conquered Rangpur, the Ahom capital. The Ahom raja Gaurinath Singh was forced to flee. While the Ahoms were beset by the Moamoria rebellion, the Darrang raja and a descendant of Bali Narayan, Krishna Narayan, tried to reassert their independence with the help of Bengali mercenaries. However in 1792, a British force sent to help the Ahom kings managed to take back Guwahati and defeated Krishna Narayan. In 1794, they retook Rangpur. However much of the kingdom was still only under weak Ahom control, and subject to constant raids from the surrounding hill-tribes like the Nyishis. In 1818, the Burmese invaded to restore their preferred monarch on the throne, and forced out the Ahom king and took over his land. The Burmese occupation of Assam resulted in massive death and destruction. In 1826, the British declared war on Myanmar and defeated them in the first Anglo-Burmese War. In the subsequent Treaty of Yandabo, the territory came under British control.<ref name=":0" />

Darrang, including present-day Sonitpur district, became a separate district in 1833, and the capital was shifted to Tezpur in 1835. The British introduced tea plantation to the district, and imported large numbers of labourers from the tribal belt of Chota Napur to the Sonitpur area.<ref name=":0" />

==Administration==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2018}}
* Headquarters: Tezpur
* Number of Revenue Circles/Tehsils
* Number of Mouza: 26
* Number of Community Development(C.D.) Blocks: 17
* Number of Police Stations: 11
* No. of Anchalik Panchayats: 7
* Name of Gaon Panchayats: 158
* Number of Villages: 1615 (including 19 under [[BTAD]])
* Number of Towns: 6
* Names of Towns: [[Tezpur]], [[Dhekiajuli]], [[Rangapara]] & [[Jamugurihat]]
* Number of Municipality Board: 2
* Number of Town Committees: 4
* Number of Police District: 2 (Sonitpur Police District & Biswanth Police District)

==Geography==
Sonitpur district lies on the plains between the foothills of the [[Himalayas]] and the valley of the [[Brahmaputra]] which forms its southern border.<ref name="Dutta-2012">{{Citation|last=Dutta |first=Joydev |year=2012 |chapter=Chapter 2. Study Area |title=Assessment of soil and water quality in and around the small tea gardens of Gohpur and Biswanath Chariali sub divisions of Sonitpur district Assam India |series=thesis, [[Gauhati University]] |hdl=10603/116399 |chapter-url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/116399/10/10_chapter%202.pdf |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/116399 }}</ref><ref name="Saikia">{{Citation|last=Saikia |first=Bipul |year=2013 |chapter=Chapter 3. Study Area |title=Taxonomic diversity, utilization and market potential of wild edible plants in Sonitpur District of Assam |series=thesis, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) |hdl=10603/45986 |chapter-url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/45986/11/11_chapter%203.pdf |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/45986 }}</ref> Sonitpur district had the second largest area of districts in Assam, after [[Karbi Anglong district]], at {{Convert|5324|sqkm|sqmi|0}},<ref name='Reference Annual'>{{Cite book | last1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Assam: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], [[Government of India]] | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | pages = 1116 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref> comparable in size to the island of [[Guadalcanal]].<ref name='Islands'>{{cite web | url = http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm | title = Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area | access-date = 2011-10-11 | date = 1998-02-18 | publisher = [[United Nations Environment Program]] | quote = Guadalcanal 5,353km2}}</ref> Other than the [[Brahmaputra]], the major rivers in the district are its right tributaries and include the [[Jiabharali]], [[Gabharu river|Gabharu]], Borgang and Buroi.<ref name="Saikia" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sarma |first=Nayan |chapter=An Overview of the Brahmaputra River System |editor-last1=Singh |editor-first1=Vijay P. |editor-last2=Sharma |editor-first2=Nayan |editor-last3=Ojha |editor-first3=C. Shekhar P. |title=The Brahmaputra Basin Water Resources |date=9 March 2013 |location=Dordrecht |publisher=Springer Verlag |pages=72–87, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RjrpCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83 page 83] |isbn=978-94-017-0540-0 }}</ref>

===National protected area===
Sonitpur District is home to several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. In 1998, Sonitpur district became home to [[Nameri National Park]] in the north, which has an area of {{convert|200|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name=parks>{{cite web|author=Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment|title=Protected areas: Assam|url=http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|access-date=September 25, 2011|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163836/http://oldwww.wii.gov.in/envis/envis_pa_network/index.htm|archive-date=August 23, 2011}}</ref> It is also home to [[Orang National Park]], which it shares with [[Darrang district]]. Orang National Park was established in 1999 and has an area of {{convert|79|km2|mi2|abbr=on|1}}.<ref name=parks/>

Sonitpur is home to two [[Wildlife Sanctuaries in India|wildlife sanctuaries]]: [[Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref name=parks /> It is also home to the registered forests (RF) of Behali RF (140 km2), Naduar RF (69 km2), and Charduar RF (260 km2).<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Mazoomdaar |first=Jay |date=20 June 2011 |title=Where the Forests Have No Trees |magazine=[[Open (Indian magazine)|Open]] |url=https://openthemagazine.com/features/india/where-the-forests-have-no-trees/ }}</ref>

===Climate===
Sonitpur District falls in the [[Climatic regions of India#Sub-tropical humid climate group|Sub-Tropical Rainforest climate region]], ('''Af''' ) in Koppen's climate classification and enjoys Hot & Wet type of climate. Summers are hot and humid; with an average temperature of 27 °C. Rainfall is heavy above 3,000 mm (9 ft) in wet months January to June which is both a boon and a bane for the people. A boon, for it, provides natural irrigation to the fields; and a bane, as it causes the rivers to overflow their banks and cause floods. All months have average precipitation of at least 60 mm and the average temperature of the cold month is above 18 °C. As anyone can expect, Tropical rainforest is the vegetation in and around the city. {{Citation needed|date= August 2019}}

===Flora and fauna===
The forests of Sonitpur district are semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests and bamboo forests, with hydrophytes in the wetlands.<ref name="Saikia" /> Species include: ''[[Aegle marmelos]]'', ''[[Albizia procera]]'', ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'', ''[[Arundo donax]]'', ''[[Bambusa balcooa]]'', ''[[Cynodon dactylon]]'', ''[[Dipterocarpus macrocarpus]]'', ''[[Duabanga grandiflora]]'', ''[[Eichhornia crassipes]]'', ''[[Mesua#Species|Mesua assamica]]'', ''[[Melocanna baccifera]]'', ''[[Mesua ferrea]]'', ''[[Shorea assamica]]'' (mekai) and ''[[Shorea robusta]]''.<ref name="Saikia" />

==Demographics==

The population of Sonitpur district is 1,924,110 as per 2011 Census. It is the third most populous district of Assam (out of [[Districts of Assam|27]]), after [[Nagaon district|Nagaon]] and [[Dhubri district|Dhubri]].<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web | url = https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/18/1807_PART_A_DCHB_SONITPUR.pdf | access-date = 2021-07-17 | year = 2011 | publisher = Ministry of Home Affairs, India}}</ref> The demography of Sonitpur district is not entirely homogenous as several linguistic, religious and ethnic communities and groups live in Sonitpur district.

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Sonitpur district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 1,924,110,<ref name="districtcensus"/> roughly equal to the nation of [[Lesotho]]<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Lesotho 1,924,886
}}</ref> or the US state of [[West Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=2010 Resident Population Data|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=2011-09-30| quote = West Virginia 1,852,994
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 245th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 365 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]]{{failed verification|date=December 2018}} over the decade 2001-2011 was 15.67%.<ref name=districtcensus/>{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} Sonitpur has a [[sex ratio]] of 946 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 69.96%. The divided district has a population of 13,11,619.<ref name=districtcensus/>

===Religion===

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Sonitpur district (2011)
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hindus]]|darkorange|69.27}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|#008000|22.75}}
{{bar percent|[[Christians]]|dodgerblue|7.30}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.68}}
}}

The major religions of the populace of Sonitpur district are – [[Hindu]] and [[Muslim]], As per 2011 census there are approximately 908,565 (69.27%) Hindus and 298,381 (22.75%) Muslims in the district. There are around 95,774 (7.30%) Christians in the district.
Other small population following [[Buddhism]] (0.5%), [[Jainism]] and [[Sikhism]] is also present in the district.

===Ethnic groups and languages===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages spoken in Sonitpur (2011)<ref name="censuslang">{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Sonitpur |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1800.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Assamese language|Assamese]]
|value1 = 37.01
|color1 = gold
|label2 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|value2 = 19.36
|color2 = salmon
|label3 = [[Sadri language|Sadri]]
|value3 = 12.52
|color3 = red
|label4 = [[Boro language (India)|Boro]]
|value4 = 8.93
|color4 = purple
|label5 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
|value5 = 6.63
|color5 = pink
|label6 = [[Hindi]]
|value6 = 3.79
|color6 = orange
|label7 = [[Odia language|Odia]]
|value7 = 2.54
|color7 = firebrick
|label8 = [[Mundari language|Mundari]]
|value8 = 1.98
|color8 = mediumturquoise
|label9 = Others
|value9 = 7.24
|color9 = grey
}}
Almost 600,000 people in the district are from indigenous Assamese communities, making up around 46% of the population. These are [[Assamese Brahmins]], [[Rajbongshi people|Koch Rajbongshis]], [[Ahom people|Ahom]], [[Karbi people|Karbi]], [[Jalia Kaibarta|Keot]](Kaibarta), [[Mising people|Mising]], Nath Jogis, [[Boro people|Bodo]], Thengal Kachari, [[Sutiya community|Chutia]], [[Rabha people|Rabha]] and other indigenous Assamese communities. They have become a minority in the district due to influx of immigrants like Bengalis (both Hindu and Muslim), Nepalis, Biharis, Marwaris etc.<ref name="censuslang"/>

The immigrant [[Bengali people|Bengali]] speaking Hindus came from erstwhile undivided Bengal and Bangladesh, as officials and clerks of the British administration and the Tea Industry; and stayed back. Later, on account of the partition of India, Hindu people from Bangladesh coming as refugees added significantly to the community. Their primary language is Bengali most of them are also fluent in Assamese too. They are mostly urbanised having a sizeable population in towns of Rangapara, Tezpur, Dhekiajuli, Biswanath Chariali, and Balipara. The population of immigrant Bengali Hindus is over 100,000 in the district. There has a sizeable population of immigrant Bengali speaking Muslims living since colonial times in the district mainly in and around char areas of Brahmaputra river and surrounding areas of Dhekiajuli, Thelamara, and Tezpur (Napam). The population of Bengalis total is now around 250,000 in the district and make up almost 20% of the population.

The third largest community is the [[Tea-garden community of Assam|Adivasis]], or tea garden tribes. Their ancestors were brought from tribal areas of central India to work as labourers on tea plantations. They are now spread all over the district. However, they are mostly concentrated in the surrounding regions of [[Dhekiajuli]], [[Rangapara]], Balipara, [[Jamugurihat]], [[Biswanath Chariali|Biswanath chariali]], [[Behali]], [[Gohpur]], Helem and northern parts of the district. They use [[Sadri]], a dialect of [[Hindi]] as their first and primary language amongst themselves and [[Assamese language|Assamese]] as their second or third language. Around 50,000 still speak their original languages like [[Mundari language|Mundari]] and [[Kurukh language|Kurukh]]. Almost 100,000 of them practices Christianity.

There are nearly 50,000 speakers of Hindi and it's dialect [[Bhojpuri]] living in the district who are primarily immigrated into the district from Hindi-speaking regions of India particularly [[Bihar]] and [[Rajasthan]].

As per the 2011 census, 37.01% of the population spoke [[Assamese language|Assamese]], 19.36% [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 12.52% [[Sadri language|Sadri]], 8.93% [[Boro language (India)|Boro]], 6.63% [[Nepali language|Nepali]], 3.79% [[Hindi]], 2.54% [[Odia language|Odia]] and 1.98% [[Mundari language|Mundari]] as their first language.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue]</ref>

==Notable people==
The town has produced notable people, including:-


*[[Kamalakanta Bhattacharya (Assam)|Kamalakanta Bhattacharya]], Assamese essayist and poet
*[[Ankushita Boro]], boxer
*[[Jamuna Boro]], boxer
*[[Bhupen Hazarika|Dr. Bhupen Hazarika]], playback singer, poet and film-maker
*[[Bishnu Prasad Rabha]] (1909–69), promoter of Assamese culture
*[[Phani Sarma]] (1909–70), theatre and film actor, playwright and director
*[[Partha Pratim Bora]], Youth Leader, Politician and Advocate.




==Transportation==
* Major Railway Station : [[Dekargaon Railway Station|Dekargaon]], [[Rangapara North Junction railway station|Rangapara]] & [[Viswanath Charali railway station|Biswanath Chariali]].
* Nearest Airport : [[Salonibari Airport]], [[Tezpur]].
* [[Assam State Transport Corporation]] (ASTC) Stand : At the midst of Tezpur town.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://sonitpur.gov.in/ District Administration website]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Sonitpur district
|North = [[East Kameng district]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|Northeast = [[Papum Pare district]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
|East = [[Lakhimpur district]]
|Southeast = [[Golaghat district]]
|South = [[Nagaon district]]
|Southwest = [[Morigaon district]]
|West = [[Udalguri district]], [[Darrang district]]
|Northwest = [[West Kameng district]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
}}

{{Assam}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sonitpur district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Assam]]
[[Category:1983 establishments in Assam]]