Golaghat
| Golaghat গোলাঘাট |
|
| — city — | |
 |
|
|
|
|
| Coordinates | 26°31′N 93°58′E / 26.52°N 93.97°ECoordinates: 26°31′N 93°58′E / 26.52°N 93.97°E |
| Country | India |
| Region | Upper - Assam |
| State | Assam |
| District(s) | Golaghat |
| Deputy Commissioner | N. M. Hussain |
| Population | 97,782 (2011[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 95 metres (312 ft) |
|
Footnotes
|
|
| Website | www.golaghat.gov.in/ |
Golaghat (Assamese: গোলাঘাট), which was one of the largest subdivisions of Assam later, elevated to the position of a full-fledged district of Assam on 15 August 1987, is the headquarters of Golaghat district and is a sister town to Jorhat which is about 55 km away.
Golaghat has been divided into following divisions:
- Golaghat Central
- Golaghat East
- Golaghat North
- Golaghat South
- Golaghat West
Contents |
[edit] History
The name Golaghat ('Gola' which means shop and 'Ghat' meaning the landing point of river ferry) originated from the shops established by the 'Marwari' businessmen during mid part of 20th century AD at the bank of river Dhansiri near present Golaghat town.
Stone inscription of Nagajari Khanikar gaon of Sarupathar, dating back to the 5th century, reveals that there was an independent kingdom in Doyang - Dhansiri valley and relics of ramparts, brick structures, temples, tanks etc. discovered in these area confirms the presence of a kingdom during 9th and 10th century.
The Doyang – Dhansiri valley came under the rule of Ahom's during 16th century. Prior to that, this part was ruled by the Kacharis known as Herombial. During Ahom rule this area was under 'Morongi – Khowa Gohain', an administrative officer.
[edit] Golaghat during British Rule
After British took possession of Assam, Doyang – Dhansiri valley was included under the newly formed Golaghat subdivision of Sibsagar District in 1846. Golaghat was one of the largest subdivisions of Assam which was later, elevated to the position of a full-fledged district of Assam on 15 August 1987. Golaghat boasts of having one of the earliest post/mail service and telegraphic communication systems.
- The earliest head post offices of the Assam Circle of British Assam were located in Golaghat besides Debrughur, Gouhati, Jorhat, Nowgaon, Sibsagar, Shillong and Tezpore (spellings as appear in the book - Glimpse of Assam).[2] Much later after telegraph lines had been stretched between Calcutta and Guwahati in 1869; Golaghat got its speaking wires' system in and around 1876. The telegraphic lines (speaking wires) were stretched to connect Golaghat with Kohima (in Nagaland), Shillong with Guwahati, Sibsagar with Nazira and Dibrugarh with Makum.[3]
- In British Assam, Golaghat derived its importance chiefly because of having advanced communication systems during that time and on account of its connection by road with Kohima.[4]
- Golaghat also has one of the oldest railway lines in Assam.[5] Text noted from the book Glimpse of Assam written by Mrs. SR Ward in 1884 states that, Mr. Bryers who was then the Chief of Cachar and Assam Railway Survey succeeded in finding a railway route that would be carried up the Dhansiri valley to Golaghat... thus giving Assam direct railway communication with Chittagong and Calcutta.[6]
Golaghat is known for its notable contribution in India's Freedom Struggle, Arts, Literature and Culture and Sports
- Kushal Konwar, Kamala Miri, Dwariki Das, Biju Vaishnav, Sankar Chandra Barua, Shri Tara P. Barooah, Maheshwar Barooah, Rajendra Nath Barua, Gaurilal Jain, Ganga Ram Bormedhi and Dwarikanath Goswami are eminent freedom fighters of the town.
- The Golaghat Sahitya Sabha is one of the oldest congresses of Assam Sahitya Sabha, started in 1918.
- The most prominent writer of the 19th century who hailed from Golaghat was Hem Chandra Barua, the writer of first Assamese dictionary Hemkosh.
- Ghanashyam Barua of Golaghat, who was also famous in the field of politics as the first Central Minister of Assam, translated William Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors into the Assamese language along with three of his partners.
- Golaghat has played an important role in the field of sports in Assam. The tea town has produced several National and International players of repute in athletics, table tennis, tennis, boxing and football. Sports Authority of India has a training centre at SAI Sports Complex in Golaghat.
- Golaghat Tennis Club is one of the oldest in Assam. Presently, besides two clay courts in Golaghat Tennis Complex, there are also 2 lawn courts at Kushal Kunwar Memorial Trust complex. The old club is now quipped with modern infrastructure facilities that includes the facility of floodlight system and qualified coach. The club has been organising North East Tennis Championship and other AITA tournaments regularly since 1987.
- The Lawn court at Kushal Kunwar Memorial Trust Complex located near Mission Circle in Golaghat is the only grass court of Assam.
[edit] Geography
Golaghat is located at 26°31′N 93°58′E / 26.52°N 93.97°E.[7] It has an average elevation of 95 metres (311 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[8] Golaghat had a population of 33,021. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Golaghat has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 84%, and Female literacy is 79%. In Golaghat, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. For detailed description, one can log on to the Assam Tourism.
-
Golaghat traffic circle
-
Golaghat Mission School
-
Golaghat traffic circle with musical fountain on display
-
Golaghat Baptist Church
[edit] Education
Golaghat is known for many literary intellects who have made outstanding contributions to Assamese literature. The place has good old institutions which have got their distinctive credits in terms of academic performance and record high scores in the past when compared with other institution equivalents of similar repute in Assam.
Primary and secondary education in Golaghat is offered by various schools which are affiliated to one of the boards of education, such as the High School Leaving Certificate (SEBA), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Schools in Golaghat are either government run or are private (both aided and un-aided by the government). After completing their secondary education, students either attend Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) through Degree/Junior College or continue Secondary School (AISSSE) in one of three streams – Arts, Commerce or Science.
Following are few of the institutes:
Colleges - Level: Undergraduate & Postgraduate Degree and HSSLC (Jr.)
- Debraj Roy College (D.R. College)
- Golaghat Commerce College
- College of Teacher Education Golaghat
- H.P.B Girls College
- Law College
- Reliance College Jr. (RERS: Reliance Education Research Society)
Schools - Level: Primary & High Schools and Higher or Senior Secondary
- No. 1 Town Model School (Primary)
- No. 2 Town Model School (Primary)
- No. 3 Town Chandmari School (Primary)
- Dandhar Barooah Girls High School (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Hindi School (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Bengali School (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Golaghat Jatiya Vidyalaya (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Government Boys Bezbarooah Higher Secondary School (SEBA - HSLC/HSSLC)
- Mission School, Golaghat - Christian High School (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Montessori School, Golaghat - KKBB: Kushal Konwar Balya Bhawan (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya - JNV Golaghat (CBSE - AISSE/AISSSE)
- Kendriya Vidyalaya - KV Golaghat (CBSE - AISSE)
- Sacred Heart School - Golaghat (SEBA - HSSLC)
- Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar (CBSE - AISSE)
- Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya - VKV Golaghat (CBSE - AISSE/AISSSE)
Others
- Maheshwar Barooah Sangeet Mahavidyalaya: Music college
- Rupaban Mahavidyalaya: College of music and dance
- Ajanta Kala Manadal: School of dance.
- KVK: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR - AAU)
- NEiiT: North East Institute of Information Technology
[edit] Places of Interest
Uncle Robin's Children Museum: The museum is located on the Mission Road in Golaghat and within the residence of Dr Robin Banerjee, a naturalist of International repute. The museum is full of dolls, artifacts, mementos, movies and other personal collections of Dr Banerjee's lifetime. There are 587 dolls and 262 other show pieces. They have mostly been presented by admirers and children during his many trips to abroad and within the country as well.
Golaghat Baptist Church: Golaghat Baptist Church, one of the oldest and biggest Baptist Churches in Assam, which celebrated its Centenary Jubilee in 1999, came into being in December 1898. The pioneering man in this Great Venture was Dr. O. L. Swanson, a missionary from America, who had come to Assam in 1893 along with his wife. Dr. Swanson was assisted by a number of local people.
GATS - Golaghat Amateur Theatre Society: It is a Theatre cum Local Town Covention Hall that is located at the Centre of the City. Most of the seminars, conferences, theatres, meetings and other workshops are conducted in GATS Hall.
Jamuna Water Park: It is a Public Park within the city that provides water boating facility for the localites and the tourists who visit the city.
Jamuna Water Body: It is an especialized region of the Jamuna Water Park that has been preserved and is not open to public boating that has a rich recorded history of abundant flora and fauna plantations.
Doss & Co. is one of the largest and oldest Department Store in Assam and largest within the City, that has been established way back during British Raj which is still present in the Centre of the City in its original building complex. The Department Store has may divisions that houses home appliances, electronics, and additionally select other lines of products such as paint, hardware, toiletries, cosmetics, photographic equipment, jewellery, toys, and sporting goods amongst others. A branch of this Store is also present in the sister town of Jorhat which is also equally huge and old.
[edit] Sports
[edit] The Sports' Clubs
Golaghat Tennis Club: Being one of the oldest clubs in Assam, the GTC has 2 clay courts in Golaghat Tennis Complex besides two lawn courts at Kushal Kunwar Memorial Trust complex in Mission Circle. The club equipped with modern infrastructure facilities has also Floodlight stipulation - the facility that provides broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights for outdoor playing in low-light conditions, and qualified coaches. The club has been organising North East Tennis Championship and other AITA tournaments regularly since 1987.
The Sports Stadium: The premises confined near to Mission Circle, the Table Tennis and Badminton Indoor Stadium is equipped with four table tennis boards and two badminton courts. It is a great professional cum recreational sports centre for sports enthusiast.
The Boxing Club: Golaghat boxing club is one of the pioneering boxing clubs of Assam. The club in the Amolapatty - Old is a centre for Boxing events.
The Swimming Club: Located next to the indoor stadium near to Mission Circle the swimming pool managed by District's Sport Office, has training facility for all age groups conducted by trained and experienced coaches.
Golaghat Cricket Stadium: It is a fully built stadium with Galeeries and sitting capacitiy of 4000 people. Good Cricket pitch which is however also used to host football matches
[edit] Prominent Localities
Few prominent localities of Golaghat are:
- Amolapatty - New {Residential Locality}
- Amolapatty - Old {Residential Locality}
- Baagicha Ali {Residential Locality}
- Begenakhuwa {Residential cum Commercial Locality}
- Chandmari {Residential}
- Court Road {Residential cum Commercial Locality}
- Chitra Sen Kakoty Path {Residential Locality}
- Junaaki Nagar {New development area}
- Marwari Patty - {Residential Locality}
- Mission Road {Mostly residential however exist few commercial establishments}
- Station Road - Betmahal {Residential cum Commercial Locality}
- Tapan Nagar-{Mostly residential however exist few commercial establishments}
[edit] Politics
Golaghat is part of Kaliabor (Lok Sabha constituency).[9]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/aglimpseassam00wardgoog#page/n36/mode/2up
- ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/aglimpseassam00wardgoog#page/n36/mode/2up/search/golaghat
- ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/aglimpseassam00wardgoog#page/n36/mode/2up/search/golaghat
- ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/aglimpseassam00wardgoog#page/n82/mode/2up/search/golaghat
- ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/aglimpseassam00wardgoog#page/n92/mode/2up/search/golaghat
- ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/aglimpseassam00wardgoog#page/n92/mode/2up/search/golaghat
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Golaghat
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "List of Parliamentary & Assembly Constituencies". Assam. Election Commission of India. http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S03/AS_ACPC.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
