Goalpara district

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
Goalpara district
Shiva temple at Sri Surya Pahar
Shiva temple at Sri Surya Pahar
Nickname: 
Raghunath
Country India
StateAssam
DivisionLower Assam
HeadquartersGoalpara
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesDhubri (shared with South Salmara-Mankachar District, Dhubri district)
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesDudhnai, Goalpara East, Goalpara West, Jaleswar
Area
 • Total1,824 km2 (704 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,008,183
 • Density550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
DemonymGoalpariya
Languages
 • OfficialAssamese
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
783 101 to** (** area code)
Telephone code03663
ISO 3166 codeIN-AS, IN-AS-GP
Vehicle registrationAS 18
Websitegoalpara.gov.in

Goalpara district is an administrative district of the Indian state of Assam.

History[edit]

It was a princely state ruled by the Koch kings and the then ruler of the undivided kingdom. Today the erstwhile Goalpara district is divided into Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, and Goalpara district.

The name of the district Goalpara is said to have originally derived from 'Gwaltippika' meaning 'Guwali village' or the village of the milk men means (Yadav). The history of Goalpara goes back to several centuries. The district came under British rule in 1765. Before this, the area was under the control of the Koch dynasty. In 1826 the British accessed Assam and Goalpara was annexed to the North-East Frontier in 1874, along with the creation of district headquarters at Dhubri.[1]

On 1 July 1983 two districts were split from Goalpara: Dhubri and Kokrajhar.[2] On 29 September 1989 Bongaigaon district was created from parts of Goalpara and Kokrajhar.[2]

Geography[edit]

The district headquarters are located at Goalpara. Goalpara district occupies an area of 1,824 square kilometres (704 sq mi),[3] comparatively equivalent to South Korea's Jeju-do.[4]

Economy[edit]

In 2006 the Indian government named Goalpara one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[5] It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[5]

Political divisions[edit]

There are four Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Dudhnoi, Goalpara East, Goalpara West, and Jaleswar.[6] Dudhnoi is designated for scheduled tribes.[6] Dudhnoi is in the Gauhati Lok Sabha constituency, whilst the other three are in the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency.[7]

Demographics[edit]

Languages of Goalpara district (2011)[8]

  Assamese (51.78%)
  Bengali (28.83%)
  Garo (7.56%)
  Rabha (5.16%)
  Bodo (3.53%)
  Others (3.14%)
Religions in Goalpara district (2011)
Religion Percent
Islam
57.52%
Hinduism
34.51%
Christianity
7.72%
Other or not stated
0.25%

According to the 2011 census Goalpara district has a population of 1,008,183,[9] roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus[10] or the US state of Montana.[11] of which 171,657 are children between 0–6 years of age. Goalpara has a sex ratio of 964 females for every 1000 males.[9] The crude literacy rate of the district is 55.91%, while the effective literacy rate of 7+ population is 67.4%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 4.47% and 22.97% of the population respectively.[9]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
190190,482—    
1911117,602+2.66%
1921149,263+2.41%
1931172,782+1.47%
1941198,407+1.39%
1951216,763+0.89%
1961297,178+3.21%
1971433,516+3.85%
1991668,138+2.19%
2001822,035+2.09%
20111,008,183+2.06%
source:[12]

Languages[edit]

Assamese is the official language of the district and is spoken by 51.80% of the population, while Bengali is spoken by 28.83% as per 2011 census. These are followed by Garo, Rabha, Bodo, Hindi and Nepali speakers in descending order.[8][13] Bengali speakers are 29.7% as per as 2011 census language census report, but Goalpara district is home to a large Muslim population of Bengali origin, most of whom now identify as Assamese speakers in the census.[14][15]

Religions[edit]

Muslim population in Goalpara district is 57.52%, while Hindu population is 34.51% and Christian Population stands at 7.72% and others include 0.25% respectively as per as census 2011 report. All the Garos are Christian.[16]

Tourism[edit]

Tourist spots in the district include:

  • Sri Surya Pahar, a significant but relatively unknown archaeological site in Assam, a hill which showcases the remains of cultural heritage of three important religions of India, Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.[17]
  • Dadan Hill has a Shiva Temple on its top. The temple was established by a general of the army of King Bana of Sonitpur named Dadan.
  • Pir Majhar is situated in Goalpara town, a tomb of a saint named Hazarat Sayed Abul Kasem Kharasani. He is a saint who was respected by Hindus and Muslims alike.
  • Pir Majhar is situated in Katarihara, Golapara, a tomb of a Muslim saint named Al Bakdadi.
  • Hulukanda hill is located at the center of Goalpara.
  • Sri Tukreswari hill
  • Paglartek Baba at Barbhita
  • Urpod beel of Agia
  • Dhamar Risen beel of Lakhipur, Goalpara are some other attractions of the district.
  • Hulukanda Hill, near Bramhaputra river in the town used to be the center of salt trading during British rule. Daniel Raush used to stay there.

References[edit]

  1. "A brief history of Goalpara District". 11 September 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Law, Gwillim (25 September 2011). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  3. Srivastava, Dayawanti, ed. (2010). "States and Union Territories: Assam: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. p. 1116. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7.
  4. "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Jeju-do 1,825km2
  5. 5.0 5.1 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Revenue & Election District wise break - up" (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  7. "List of Assembly Constituencies showing their Parliamentary Constituencies wise break - up" (PDF). Chief Electoral Officer, Assam website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Goalpara". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 "District Census 2011". Census,gov,in. 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  10. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Cyprus 1,120,489 July 2011 est.
  11. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Montana 989,415
  12. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  13. "Goalpara District : Home". goalpara.gov.in. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  14. Saikia, Arunabh (2 April 2021). "A new generation of 'Miya' Muslims in Assam may vote for Congress-AIUDF – but only out of compulsion". Scroll. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  15. X, Samrat (8 January 2018). "National Register of Citizens: Identity issue haunts Assam, again". Newslaundry. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. "C-16 Population By Religion - Assam". census.gov.in. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  17. Malakar, Bhaskar. "Goalpara District : Home". goalpara.gov.in. Retrieved 7 April 2020.

External links[edit]

Template:Minority Concentrated Districts in India Coordinates: 26°26′N 90°22′E / 26.433°N 90.367°E / 26.433; 90.367

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