Sonari
| Sonari | |
| — town — | |
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| Coordinates | 27°04′N 95°02′E / 27.07°N 95.03°ECoordinates: 27°04′N 95°02′E / 27.07°N 95.03°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Assam |
| District(s) | Sibsagar |
| Population | 17,430 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 97 metres (318 ft) |
Sonari is a sub-divisional mid-size town and a municipal board in Sibsagar district in the Indian state of Assam.
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[edit] Geography
Sonari is located at 27°04′N 95°02′E / 27.07°N 95.03°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 97 metres (318 feet). It is a major town on the nearly 500 year old "Dhodor Ali" (Free translation= Road of the lazy) built by the Ahom Kings. Dhodar ali was forcefully commissioned by Ahom king Gadadhara Singha using the so called lazy people or the socially unproductive 'Dhods' residing within Assam . Situated by the side of the Taokak river, Sonari is the head quarter of Charaideo subdivision, Sivasagar District, Assam. The nearest railway station is Bhojo, which is about 3km away located by the bank of historical Disang River.The best way to reach sonari by road is from Sivasagar town through the Dhodar Ali near which the famous royal mausoleum of the Ahom Kings at Charadeo is situated. Sonari is a centre for tea and timber industries and is the gateway to the Mon district of Nagaland.
[edit] History
It is claimed that the original name of Sonari was Sonapur. During the Ahom king's period in 1253 AD, the goldsmiths working for the Ahom royals lived here giving the name of the town(the Assamese word for goldsmith is Sonari). There are even claims that Great Borahi king Mahamanikya (Mahamanifa) lived in Rajadhap area of Sonari during 15th century, in whose court Madhava Kandali translated Ramayana into Assamese before the era of saint Shankardeva. It is also believed that Bhogoniya Raja Jayadwaj Singha rested for days in Sonari before proceeding to Namrup during the invasion of Assam and Ahom capital by Aurangzeb's general Mirjumlah during 1663.
In the middle of the town there is a park around a historic Ahom Kingdom's tank called Bor Pukhuri. This park near the post office is now called Lachit Nagar park, since a full size statue of Assam's great general from Ahom period is erected here. Similarly a statue of Koch General Chilarai has been erected near Tawkak river bridge while entering the town.In 2004 during the birth centenary of Geetikavi Parvati Prasad Baruva a bust size white statue of this lyrical poet was inaugurated at Sonari.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Sonari had a population of 17,430. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Sonari has an average literacy rate of 92%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79% and female literacy is 72%. In Sonari, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Importance
Sonari is one of the most important towns in eastern Assam. It is a commercial center for Charaideu Sub-Division of Sivasagar District. There are several tea gardens around sonari and a Gymkhana club nearby within tea garden areas.
In the Middle of the town there is a park around a historic Ahom Kingdom's tank called Bor Pukhuri.
There is a Daily Super market in the middle of the town. Produces from nearby villages like Mahmora, kakatibari are sold near this market. Other important shopping areas are Hongkong market, Modrena shopping Complex etc.
There are many good educational institutions in the town,catering the needs of many nearby villages and tea-gardens. Some of them are: Sonari College, , B.P.B.M. Higher Secondary School, P.K.B. Girls HS School, Sonari Town High School, Haji OMM school, St.Joseph High School,Elite Academy, Sonari Junior College, Chah Mazdoor Vidya Niketan, Sonari Commerce College, etc. Notably,B.P.B.M.H.S.School recently completed her Diamond Jubilee year. Sonari has Hindi school and Bengali high school for many years now. There is a Sub-divisional public library near sonari college as well. there are religious places of worship like Sarbojanin Naam ghar,Gurudwara, Hari Mandir, Kali Mandir,Shiv Mandir, Mosque, Buddha Mandir etc giving a truly secular and cosmopolitan feeling.
In recent years a 100 bedded sub-divisional civil hospital has been created in the outskirt of the city with funds from the Govt. of Assam and the North-Eastern Council(N.E.C) with additional support from N.R.H.M.Project.
Some of the famous people from sonari are Lyrical-Poet "Geetikavi" Parvati Prasad Baruwa, Poet 'Kavita Konwar' Ambeswar Chetia Phukan etc.Parvati Prasad Baruwa(1904–1964) was a tea planter, poet, lyricist, dramatist: an icon of Assamese culture and literature.
Sonari town is located about 45 km. away from the historic town of Sivasagar and roughly located between Sivasagar and Namrup Town. Bhojo, the nearest railway station is well connected by major passenger trains like intercity. Distance from Dibrugarh Mohanbari Airport to Sonari is about 77 kms.
The Pin code of Sonari is 785690 and the STD code 03772.
[edit] Politics
Sonari is part of Jorhat (Lok Sabha constituency). [3]
Sarat borkataky is the incumbent MLA from INC. Bhadreswar Buragohain, Satya Tanti were some earlier MLAs. Contemporary general secretary of AASU is from Sonari(Borhat).
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Sonari
- ^ "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.
- ^ http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S03/AS_ACPC.pdf
|http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S03/AS_ACPC.pdf
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