Nalbari Nabadeep | |
---|---|
Town | |
Nalbari | |
Nickname: Town of Wisdom | |
Coordinates: 26°26′42″N91°26′24″E / 26.445°N 91.440°E | |
Country | India |
State | Assam |
Region | Lower Assam |
District | Nalbari |
District Office | Nalbari |
Government | |
• Body | Nalbari Municipality Board |
• Deputy Commissioner | Varnali Deka, IAS |
Elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 27,389 |
Demonym | Nalbeira |
Languages | |
• Official | Assamese |
• Native | Kamrupi dialect of Assamese |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 781335, 781369 |
Telephone code | 03624 |
ISO 3166 code | IN-AS |
Vehicle registration | AS-14-XXXX |
Website | nalbari |
Nalbari is a small town in Nalbari district in the Indian state of Assam. Nalbari is also the headquarters of Nalbari District.
The word Nalbari is derived from nal and bari. Nal is a variety of reed, while bari means 'enclosed ground with plantation'.[ citation needed ]
Until the late 19th century, Nalbari acted as the southern boundary of the Kingdom of Bhutan when it was ceded to British India after the Duar War.
The history of Nalbari dates back to many centuries B.C. Arthashastra of Kautilya mentioned the import of various economic products from Nalbari. [1] The Suvarnakundya village near Nalbari town produced the finest silk of Kautilya's time. [2] The area also produced a special perfume among others. The Chandan and Aguru products were highly exported to faraway places including north India. [3] Western Assam was known as Kamarupa from earlier times to the pre-modern period, which existed in harmony with Davaka of central Assam. Kamarupa was divided into Kamarupa Pithas or geographical divisions; Nalbari was placed in Kamapitha division.
The native speech of Nalbari is Nalbariya dialect, a dialect of the Kamrupi group of Assamese language. [4]
The Nalbari area is important archeologically; there have been various discoveries of copper plate inscriptions of Kamrupi kings from Nalbari. [5] The village Guwakuchi near Nalbari town is one such archeological site where several ancient inscriptions were discovered. [6]
In the early part of the twenties[ clarification needed ] a railway station of the Assam-Bengal Railway Company had been established here. As the train started running through the town, certain traders and businessmen from outside the state came and interacted with the local people. Business transactions were started on the rail station road. The Nalbari M.E. School had been started in the meantime to the Gurdon School site, and it was upgraded into a high school named Gurdon High School in 1917. These two events attracted the people to throng to the area which had changed in shape and size. It became a strong business centre with great growth potential along the whole of the north bank of the river.
Migration started in a significant way. Population increased, administrative offices were started gradually and in 1931, it assumed an urban look. In 1941, it was declared as a town in Kamrup district with a town committee with a population of 3578. In 1945, the Nalbari College was started in a temporary shed and in 1950 it was shifted to its present site which helped in the growth of the Bidyapur-Shantipur area of the town into a densely populated area. The establishment of the PWD offices on the Palla road led to the growth of the Gopalbazar area.
In 1968, Nalbari was upgraded into a subdivision with headquarters at Nalbari and in 1984, it was made the district headquarters of Nalbari District, all of which led to the upsurge of the development process with huge population migration, primarily of local people. [7]
Nalbari has a subtropical climate, with chilly winters, hot summers and wet monsoon.
Climate data for Nalbari | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 28.8 (83.8) | 32.2 (90.0) | 38.4 (101.1) | 39.0 (102.2) | 37.0 (98.6) | 38.3 (100.9) | 36.5 (97.7) | 36.2 (97.2) | 35.8 (96.4) | 34.3 (93.7) | 31.0 (87.8) | 28.1 (82.6) | 39.0 (102.2) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.6 (74.5) | 26.2 (79.2) | 30.0 (86.0) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.9 (89.4) | 32.2 (90.0) | 31.7 (89.1) | 30.3 (86.5) | 27.6 (81.7) | 24.7 (76.5) | 29.4 (84.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.3 (50.5) | 12.0 (53.6) | 15.9 (60.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.7 (72.9) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.6 (78.1) | 24.7 (76.5) | 21.9 (71.4) | 16.7 (62.1) | 11.8 (53.2) | 19.3 (66.8) |
Record low °C (°F) | 4.7 (40.5) | 5.1 (41.2) | 8.3 (46.9) | 13.0 (55.4) | 16.2 (61.2) | 20.4 (68.7) | 21.4 (70.5) | 22.1 (71.8) | 19.7 (67.5) | 13.6 (56.5) | 10.3 (50.5) | 6.0 (42.8) | 4.7 (40.5) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 11.9 (0.47) | 18.3 (0.72) | 55.8 (2.20) | 147.9 (5.82) | 244.2 (9.61) | 316.4 (12.46) | 345.4 (13.60) | 264.3 (10.41) | 185.9 (7.32) | 91.2 (3.59) | 18.7 (0.74) | 7.1 (0.28) | 1,717.7 (67.63) |
Average rainy days | 1.8 | 2.9 | 5.8 | 13.1 | 17.0 | 19.6 | 22.3 | 18.5 | 15.2 | 7.4 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 127.7 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 65 | 57 | 68 | 75 | 81 | 83 | 82 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 82 | 77 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 226.3 | 214.7 | 220.1 | 201.0 | 192.2 | 132.0 | 124.0 | 161.2 | 138.0 | 204.6 | 231.0 | 232.5 | 2,277.6 |
Source: World Meteorological Organization |
Nalbari has been ranked 23rd best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 3 population under 3 lakhs cities) in India. [8]
Educational opportunities in Nalbari are of high quality. It boasts of producing the highest number of exceptional students at the school level. Nalbari is famous for its Sanskrit education and is known as Nabadeep for the presence of various Sanskrit education institutions like Kamrup Sanskrit Sanjivani Sabha.
First School was set up in Nalbari in the year 1887, which later became known as Nalbari Govt Gurdon H.S School. Nalbari College, Nalbari; Nalbari Sanskrit College, Nalbari; Nalbari Commerce College, Nalbari; MNC Balika College, Nalbari; Barbhag College, Kamarkuchi; Baska College, Mashalpur; Barkhetri College, Mukalmua; Tihu College, Tihu; Barama College, Barama; Kamrup College, Chamata; Dhamdhama Anchalik College, Dhamdhama; Gyanpeeth Mahavidyalaya; Nalbari Law College, Nalbari; Sankardev Academy, Nalbari, D.S.R.Academy, Nalbari, Spectrum Gurukul, Nalbari are some premier colleges of Nalbari. Along with 28 higher secondary schools, 145 high schools, and 276 ME and MV schools, Nalbari has massive educational infrastructure.
Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University named after the king of Kamarupa, Bhaskar Varman, and the Planetarium and the Science Centre at Sariahtali have been added to this existing system. [9]
By road, Nalbari is accessible through National Highway 27 in the north and connected to National Highway 427 in the south. The Nalbari railway station is within the town center, and Guwahati International Airport is at a distance of 60 km.
Nalbari is part of Mangaldoi (Lok Sabha constituency). [10]
Kamarupi Prakrit is the postulated Middle Indo-Aryan (MIA) Prakrit language used in ancient Kamarupa. This language has been derived from Gauda-Kamarupi Prakrit and the historical ancestor of the Kamatapuri lects and the modern Assamese language; and can be dated prior to 1250 CE, when the proto-Kamta language, the parent of the Kamatapuri lects, began to develop. Though not substantially proven, the existence of the language that predated the Kamatapuri lects and modern Assamese is widely believed to be descended from it.
The Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal hills in Guwahati, Assam is one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantric practices, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. The temple is the center of the Kulachara Tantra Marga and the site of the Ambubachi Mela, an annual festival that celebrates the menstruation of the goddess. Structurally, the temple is dated to the 8th-9th century with many subsequent rebuildings—and the final hybrid architecture defines a local style called Nilachal. It is also one among the oldest 4 of the 51 pithas in the Shakta tradition. An obscure place of worship for much of history it became an important pilgrimage destination, especially for those from Bengal, in the 19th century during colonial rule.
Nalbari is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters is located at Nalbari. The district derives its name from the combination of two words, "Nal" and "Bar."
Kamarupa, an early state during the Classical period on the Indian subcontinent, was the first historical kingdom of Assam. The Kamrupa word first appeared in the Samudragupta Allahabad Edict before that there is no mention of existence of this word.
Barpeta is a major city in Barpeta district of the state of Assam in India and is district headquarters. The city is located 90 kilometres (56 mi) north west of Guwahati and is one of the major cities in Western Assam. It is also called Satra Nagari of Assam due to the presence of various Vaishnavite Satras in the vicinity.
Though the precise Etymology of Assam, a state in India is unclear—there is general agreement that it is related to the Ahom people. Whatever the source of the English name, Assam is itself an anglicization.
Chand Sadagar was an Indian sea merchant of Champaknagar in Eastern India. This merchant has been claimed by both the Assamese and Bengali people of India to be associated with their respective states and communities. Medieval Bengali poet Bipradas Pipilai mentioned in his "Manasamangal Kāvya" that merchant ship of Chand Sadagar used to proceed to the sea from ancient Champaknagar after passing through Tribeni, situated at the junction of Saptagram and the confluence of Ganges, Saraswati and Jamuna River of modern-day West Bengal. Narayan Dev in the scriptures gave an account in his Manasamangal about the merchant ship of the trader Chand Saudagar proceeding to the sea from ancient Champaknagar passing through Saptagram and Tribeni, the tri-junction of the Ganges, Saraswati and Jamuna River. In the Padma Puran, account of Chand Bania (Sadagar) is specifically mentioned.
Kamrupi literature is the literature written in the modern Kamrupi dialects of Assamese language.
Chaygaon is a town in Kamrup district of Assam, India; situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra river. It is 38 km from major town Guwahati. The town is known for "Maa Chandika Devalaya", a Shakti Peeth, where thousands of devotees visit during Durga Puja. Historical "Mer Ghar" of Chand Sadagar situated in Champak Nagar, Chaygaon.
Kamarupa was a kingdom in Northeast India that was ruled by three dynasties from their capitals in Pragjyotishpura, Haruppeshwara, and Durjaya. The kingdom was known for its power and influence in the region.
Kamrupi dialects are a group of regional dialects of Assamese, spoken in the Kamrup region. It formerly enjoyed prestige status. It is one of two western dialect groups of the Assamese language, the other being Goalpariya. Kamrupi is heterogeneous with three subdialects— Barpetia dialect, Nalbariya dialect and Palasbaria dialect.
Kamrup is the modern region situated between two rivers, the Manas and the Barnadi in Western Assam, with the same territorial extent as the Colonial and post-Colonial "Undivided Kamrup district". It was the capital region of two of the three dynasties of Kamarupa and Guwahati, the current political center of Assam, is situated here. It is characterized by its cultural artifacts.
Kamarupi script was the script used in ancient Kamarupa from as early as 5th century to 13th century, from which the modern Assamese script eventually evolved. In the development of the Assamese script, this phase was followed by the medieval and then by the modern Assamese scripts.
Domahi, or Domasi and Damhi, is a popular harvesting festival, celebrated in the Kamrup and eastern Goalpara regions of Western Assam. It marks the commencement and end of the harvesting season, and start and end of the Kamrupi and Goalpariya new years.
Assam – 16th largest, 15th most populous and 26th most literate state of the 28 states of the democratic Republic of India. Assam is at 14th position in life expectancy and 8th in female-to-male sex ratio. Assam is the 21st most media exposed states in India. The Economy of Assam is largely agriculture based with 69% of the population engaged in it. Growth rate of Assam's income has not kept pace with that of India's during the Post-British Era; differences increased rapidly since the 1970s. While the Indian economy grew at 6 percent per annum over the period of 1981 to 2000, the same of Assam's grew only by 3.3 percent.
Anima Choudhury is a singer from the Indian north eastern state of Assam. Her musical career over more than four decades has focussed on folk and modern Assamese songs. She has been awarded local and state level musical and cultural recognitions and titles including. "Luit Kuwari", and "Jan Dimali". Some of her most popular songs are 'Dikhou noir parore', 'Log diyar kotha asil' and 'E pran gopal'.
Sonkuriha, 'Suvarnakundya' in ancient times, is a village in Nalbari district of Western Assam.
The Brittial Bania/Bania is an ethnic community in Assam, India. The group traces its roots to a merchant community who reached Assam (Kamarupa) in ancient times. Some historians claim that after the Austric group migrated to ancient Assam, the next group of people who arrived was the Dravidian group, who are represented by the Bania and Kaibbartas today. Unlike the mainland Baniya community, this community of Assam is recognized as a Scheduled Caste by the government of India.
Haribhanga is an agricultural village of Nalbari district in Western Assam under 45 No. Paschim Nambarbhag Gram Panchayat. Eighty percent of the population of this village depends on agriculture for their livelihood. For the development of economic, social, political, art and culture of the greater Haribhanga area, the Haribhanga Gaon Unnayan Sammittee was formed in. 1945. The most renowned, historical and religious holy place of Haribhanga is the Kaliya Gosai Mandir.
Rajen Sharma, commonly known as Uddipta Hazarika, was the first publicity secretary of the militant organisation United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Popular for his poem Mor Rakta Borna Protigya, Sharma was killed on 8 October 1989.
Commentators of Kautilya's Arthashastra of third century B.C. viz. Bhattaswami and Kulluka Bhatta make special reference to the best specimens of Ksauma, Dukula and Pattorna standing for pat, muga and edi from Kamarupa. An dgurdn of sisupdt could be concealed in ones palm. Modern Sonkuriha, a village in Uporborbhag mouza of Nalbari circle in Kamrup district has been identified with Suvarnakudya of the ancient times (Arthashastra).
The sub-dialectical varieties of Kamrupi may be grouped mainly into three divisions —western, central and southern. The variety spoken in the area comprising Barpeta, Sundardiya, Patbausi, Bhabani- pur etc. is western, that of Nalbari and its surrounding areas is central.