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Jorhat
Jorhat city
city
Population
 (2009)
 • Total284,000

Jorhat is the fourth largest town after Guwahati,Silchar and Dibrugarh in the Indian state of Assam. Jorhat was established as the new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the decaying and declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat, as the name signifies, was just a couple (Jor) of markets (Hat). Two parallel markets namely, Chowkihut and Macharhut, lay on the eastern and the western banks of the river Bhogdoi. Jorhat was "The last Capital of the Ahom Kingdom", has archeological values associated to Rajamaidan - the last burial mounds of the Ahom kings. Nestled in the tea gardens dotted around sprawling in and around the city, boosts of the "Tocklai Research Association (TRA)" is the oldest and the largest tea research station of its kind in the world.

Jorhat today has grown into a thriving cosmopolitan city with a strong sense of character and identity. It is the best laid out town in Upper Assam with broad roads, cutting each other at right angles. People of Jorhat have traditionally displayed a high interest towards arts and culture diversities. Jorhat is known as "The Cultural Capital of Assam". Jorhat also has the distinction of having the largest number of educated residents in Assam, among all other districts.

Geography

Jorhat যোৰহাট is located at 26°45′N 94°13′E / 26.75°N 94.22°E / 26.75; 94.22.[1] It has an average elevation of 116 metres (381 feet).

On the North of the district, the Brahmaputra River forms the largest riverine island of the world, Majuli মাজুলী, which spreads over 924.6 square kilometres with a population of about 1.50 lakh (170,000). The island, threatened by constant erosion by the mighty and unstable Brahmaputra River, had been the principal place of pilgrimage of Vaishnavites since the age of the Ahom আহোম rulers. Several Satras (monasteries) resembling those of medieval times are headed by Satradhikars teaching Vaishnavism which was initiated by Sankardeva (1449-1568). Each Satra has an unknown wealth of Vaishnav Scriptures and extensive revenue-free lands cultivated by the Bhakats (celebated monks) of the Satras.

The district spreads over 2851 square kilometres and had a population of 8.7 lakhs or 870,000 according to a 1991 census. Population density at that time was 306 persons per square kilometre. The sex ratio is 913 (913 males per 1000 females). The district has SC and ST population of 7.61% and 12.09%, respectively, of the total population. However, the Majuli মাজুলী Sub-Division has a tribal population of 70% who are primarily “Misings”. Floods frequent the island every year without any exception. The mean annual rainfall of the district is 2029 mm. There are about 135 tea gardens including "out" gardens. The predominant field crop is rice, with per capita food grain production of 205 kg per annum.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Jorhat had a population of 66,450. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Jorhat has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Jorhat, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

See: Timeline of Jorhat

History of Jorhat

Jorhat, also known as Jorehaut, means two hats or mandis-“Macharhat” and “Chowkihat” which existed on the two different banks of the river Bhogdoi during the 18th Century, Jorhat was "The last capital of the Ahom Kingdom". In the year 1794, the Ahom King Gaurinath shifted the capital from Sibsagar while Rangpur to Jorhat. This town was a flourishing and commercial metropolis but completely destroyed after a series of the Burmese invasions of Assam since 1817 till the arrival of the British force in the year 1824 under the stewardship of David Scott and Captain Richard.

The British Rule, though, was not free from rebellions and revolutions, contributed to reemergence of this historical town. From the very first decade of the British rule, the great revolutionists who emerged were Gomdhar Konwar, Jeuram, and Piyali. The British system of administration came into vogue in the year 1839 with an established Police Thana. During the great Sepoy Mutiny and Piyali Barua was sabotaged and these leaders were hanged in public at this very place in 1858.

In 1885, a narrow gauge train services Jorhat Provincial Railway had come into operation and ultimately became instrumental in rapid growth of the tea industry.

Though, the Civil Sub-division under Sibsagar district at Jorhat was formed in 1869, this great place was declared as administration headquarters of the undivided Sibsagar district in 1911 which comprised the present Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat and parts of Karbi-Anglong district with Major A. Playfare as the first Deputy Commissioner. Presently, Jorhat is on its road to utopian modernization with many commercial and non commercial establishments setting foot on its soil. The oldest residents of this ever prosperous city have played a pivotal role in moulding the city to what it is today. The families of Handique, The Singhs, Sharmas and Borgohains. have been the most influential families in transforming the once sleepy city into a bustling and a well organised city.

The present Deputy Commissioner of the administrative district of Jorhat is Ms LS Changsan.

Medieval constructions

Roads

Roads Year/Period During Whose Regin Remark
Seuni Ali (A.T. Road) 1650 Swargadeo Jayadhwaj Singha Jorhat to Gaurisagar 48 km Constructed by Baduli Borphukan.
Dhudor Ali 1681-1695 Swargadeo Gadadhar Singha Kamargaon to Joypur touching Mariani Total length 211 km.
Kharikatia 1696-1714 Swargadeo Rudra Singha Kharikatia to Titabor
Mohbondha Ali 1795-1810 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha Jorhat to Mohbondha
Kamarbandha 1795-1810 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha Jorhat to Kamarbandha
Malow Ali 1751-1769 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha Desoi to Bosa
Susandebandha Ali 1795-1810 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha Within Jorhat
Choladhora Ali 1795-1810 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha within Jorhat
Borpatra Ali 1795-1810 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha Within Jorhat running in front of J.B.College
Na-Ali 1796 Swargadeo Kamaleswar Singha Jorhat to Titabor

The first asphalt road in Jorhat was built by the British known as the 'Club Road' connecting the City Centre to the Jorhat Gymkhana Clubhouse.

Temples

Temple Year/Period During Whose Regin Remark
Hatigar 1812-Half done 1817-completed Swargadeo Chandrakanta Singha Constructed by Purnananda Burhagohain. 5 km from Jorhat on the way to Sibsagar.
Burigosani Than or Dewal 1794-1795 Garuinath Singha/Chandrakanta Singha Shifted to bank of river Bhogdoi. Now on the side of Dewal Road.
Garakhiadol Temple (Shiva Temple) 1714 Swargadeo Siba Singha 7 km from Jorhat.
Borbheti Than (Originally moneastery) 1769-80 Swargadeo Rajeshwar Singha Constructed by Muwamoria Priest Ashtabhuz, 7 km from Jorhat town.
Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar 1497-1539 Swargadeo Suhungmung By the devotees of Madhavdev.

Monasteries

Monastery Year/Period During Whose Regin
Dakhinpat Satra 1562 Swargadeo Jayadhwaj Singha
Garmur Satra 1562 Swargadeo Jayadhwaj Singha

Culture

Jorhat is and has been a vibrant place and is a perfect mixture tradition and modernity. It was the hub of anti-British struggle of Assam. Before that it was the last capital of the Ahoms, the dynasty which ruled over Assam for six centuries. The cultural environment which prevails in Jorhat is the result of untiring effort of people trying to preserve its culture.

In the year 1915, Jorhat Sahitya Shabha was established in Jorhat followed by Asam Sahitya Sabha (Assamese: অসম সাহিত্য সভা, Ôxôm Xahityô Xôbha or "Assam Literary Society") was established in 27th Dec, 1917 in Sibasagar. The "Chandra Kanta Handique Bhavan", donated by late Radha Kanta Handique is the Headquarters of the Asam Sahitya Sabha in Jorhat.

Jorhat has been able to produce many creative writers, historians, journalists, et cetera. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, the first Assamese to win India's highest literature award, the Jnanpith Award, was from Jorhat.[3] Jorhat is the home of internationally reputed ideologists and educationalists like Krishna Kanta Handique, founder Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University. In the building of Modern Assam Jorhat played a vital role so far as a sizable section of Assamese intelligentsia has always been from Jorhat.

The healthy education and cultural life of Jorhat can be best judged from the fact that District has as many as five daily Newspapers published from here. Some of the important newspapers include: The Saptahik Janambhumi, The Dainik Janambhumi and The Eastern CLARION (English), The North East Times in English, Amar Asom in Assamese and The Purbanchal Prohori in Hindi.

The Jorhat Town Hall is administrative building of the town administration located in the centre of the City. The Elyee Talkies presently known as Elyee Cinema was the first moving cinema theatre hall in Garali, the heart of the city.

Education & Research

Jorhat is the most literate district of Assam. Jorhat is considered to be a good place for ethical modern education values.Some major education and research institutes include

Research Institute

  • North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat (Formerly RRL, Jorhat)[4] under CSIR
  • Tea Reasearch Association (TRA) Tocklai[5] under Tea Research Association
  • Institute of Rain and Moist Deciduous Forest Research (IRMDFR)[6]
  • Central Eri & Muga Research Training Institute, Ladoigarh, under Central Silk Board
  • Institute of Biotechnology & Geotectonics Studies (INBGS), ONGC Complex, Cinnamara, Jorhat - 785008
  • National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning (NBSSLUP), Regional Centre, Jamuguri Road, Jorhat-785004
  • Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute, Jorhat
  • Regional Sericultural Research Stations (under Central Silk Board), Club Road Tinali, Bongal Pukhuri, Jorhat-785001
  • Central Silk Technological Research Institute (Demonstration Centre, under Central Silk Board) Industrial Estate, Tinali, Jorhat-785008
  • Extension Education Institute (EEI)AAU, Jorhat-13, Assam funded by Directorate of Extension Education, Govt. of India, Ministry of Agriculture, New Delhi
  • Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM), Jorhat Centre, Under Min. of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India

University

Technical Institute

Medical Institute

College

School

Central School

  • Kendriya Vidyalaya, NEIST(RRL), Jorhat-785006[1]
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya (ONGC)[2]
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya (Air Force Station), Jorhat-785005[3]

The ongoing development for proposed developmental projects are:

Places of Interest

Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar

It is one of the famous Bor namghar (place of worship) in Assam, established by saint-reformer Madhabdev in 1461. It is located at Dhekiakhowa village of Jorhat, 3.5 km away from 37 no. national highway. From the time of saint-reformer Sri Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev, this namghar has been continuing as an important centre for Baisnav Religion.

Now this Bor namghar has 13 bighas of land, an auditorium of its own. The devotees of Assam donate freely to this namghar and due to their helping hand, the managing committee of namghar works a lot of social and cultural welfares. Almost 461 years old, this namghar has been playing an important role in the exercise of Baisnav Religion and unity for the people of Assam. There are many stories associated with this Bor namghar. It is said that the main piller of the namghar is made of a Xaal tree (Shorea robusta). One night one of the bhakat (monk) of the namgahr saw in his dream that the river near the Bor namghar (known as dhekiyakhua jaan) is flowing in opposite direction and is carrying a Haal tree mean to be for the construction of the Bor namghar. Next day when people saw that dream to be true, they made the main pillers of the Bor namghar from the tree.

Lachit Borphukan's Maidam

This is the Maidam of great Lachit Borphukan. He was the greatest ever Ahom General who defeated the mighty Mughals at Saraighat in 1672. It is located at Gohain gaon of Meleng-Hulungapar. It is 8 km far from the famous "Gibon Wildlife Sanctuary".

Raja Maidam

The existing maidam (vault) which lies on the south bank of Tocklai river on the northern side of Jorhat town is of king Purandar Sinha who expired on 1 October 1894. The present maidam was constructed to preserve the ashes of the late king.

Jorhat Gymkhana Club

Established by British was built in 1876 by D. Slimmon, the then Secretary of the club in Seconidhara village. The club is famous as a venue for horse races ever since its inauguration. The "Governor's Cup" is the major trophy awarded here every year.

It has a lush green 9-hole golf course circuit vying for a position in the "World Heritage list" as the oldest golf course in Asia. The club offers facilities in lawn tennis grass courts, swimming pool, billiards, polo, gentleman's bar and cinema theatre The cricket ground here is known as 'Jorhat Gymkhana Ground'. It had the grace of hosting the CK Naidu Under-19 Indian Cricket tournament matches.[7] Khelmati sports club uses this ground for practising cricket.

The Club road was the first asphalt road laid by the Britishers to connect the City Centre with the Jorhat Gymkhana Club.

Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan

The Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan, donated by late Radhakanta Handique, is the head quarter of "Asom Sahitya Sabha". It was built in 1926. Personalities like late Chandradhar Baruah, late Dimbeswar Neog, late Mitradev Mahanta and others form Jorhat adorned the presidentship of "Asom Sahitya Sabha".

Thengal Bhawan

Thengal Bhawan is built in 1880 by Raibahadur Shiva Prasad Barooah. In 1929, he published a weekly Assamese newspaper. Later, he established his printing press and office at Thengal Bhawan and managed to publish a daily newspaper named "DAINIK BAATARI". Shiv Prasad Barooah was the owner and Bagmibar Nilamani Phukan was the editor of this daily newspaper. This newspaper was published from such a place, named "Thengal Bhawan", where there was no post office. It was the first daily newspaper in Assamese and also the first daily newspaper in any language, published from a village in entire India.

Gibon Wildlife Sanctuary

Main article: Gibon Wildlife Sanctuary

Named after Hoolock gibbon.

  • Borbheti
  • Gorokhiya Dol
  • Majuli River Island

Hatigarh and its Shiva Mandir

Politics

Jorhat is part of Jorhat (Lok Sabha constituency).[8] Current MLA from Jorhat assembly constituency is Rana Goswami of INC who won the seat in State elections in 2006.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Jorhat
  2. ^ Template:GR
  3. ^ "Bhattacharya, Birendrakumar" in Amaresh Datta, ed., Encyclopaedia of Indian literature vol. 1 (Sahitya Akademi, 1987), ISBN 9788126018031, p. 482 (excerpt available at Google Books).
  4. ^ http://www.rrljorhat.res.in
  5. ^ http://www.tocklai.net
  6. ^ http://envfor.nic.in/icfre/irmdfr/irmdfr.html
  7. ^ "Jorhat Gymkhana Ground". Cricinfo.com. Retrieved 2008-11-13.
  8. ^ "List of Parliamentary & Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Assam. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  9. ^ "State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparison for 98-Jorhat Constituency of Assam". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jorhat.

See also

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