Kokrajhar district
Encyclopedia
Kokrajhar district is an administrative district
in the state of Assam
in north-eastern India
. The district headquarters are located at Kokrajhar
town. The district occupies an area of 3,169.22 km². , the district had a population of 905,764. Hindus 594,168, Muslims 184,441(20.36%).
district. In 1957, under the administration of Bimala Prasad Chaliha
as the Chief Minister of Assam, three sub-divisions were created one of which was Kokrajhar. This sub-division was made into a district on the 1 July 1983.
On 29 September 1989 Bongaigaon district was created from parts of Kokrajhar and Goalpara
.
's Waigeo Island.
Kokrajhar district is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra river. It forms the gateway to the Seven Sister States
. Kokrajhar shares its boundary with Bongaigaon
(now known as Chirang), Dhubri
, West Bengal
, Barpeta
and Bhutan
.
(out of a total of 640
). It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
.
Kokrajhar district has a population
of 886,999, roughly equal to the nation of Fiji
or the US state of Delaware
. This gives it a ranking of 467th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 280 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 5.19 %. Kokrajhar has a sex ratio
of 958 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 66.63 %.
, which has an area of 500 square kilometre. It shares the park with four other districts.
Districts of Assam
Assam, a state of India, has twenty-seven administrative districts.A district of an Indian state is an administrative geographical unit, headed by the Deputy Commissioner , which combines the offices of the District Magistrate ultimately responsible for maintaining law and order and District...
in the state of Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
in north-eastern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The district headquarters are located at Kokrajhar
Kokrajhar
Kokrajhar is a city in Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam, one of the North East States and territories of India.Kokrajhar city is located along the bank of Gourang River. The North East Indian Railways divides the city into two sides, north and the south...
town. The district occupies an area of 3,169.22 km². , the district had a population of 905,764. Hindus 594,168, Muslims 184,441(20.36%).
History
Kokrajhar was originally a part the undivided GoalparaGoalpara
Goalpara is the district headquarter of Goalpara district, Assam, India. It is situated west of Guwahati.-Etymology:The name of Goalpara is said to have originally derived from `Gwaltippika` meaning `Guwali village` or the village of the milk men. In the local dialect "para" means...
district. In 1957, under the administration of Bimala Prasad Chaliha
Bimala Prasad Chaliha
Bimala Prasad Chaliha was a leader of Indian National Congress and the Chief Minister of Assam state. He was in office from December 28, 1957 to November 6, 1970...
as the Chief Minister of Assam, three sub-divisions were created one of which was Kokrajhar. This sub-division was made into a district on the 1 July 1983.
On 29 September 1989 Bongaigaon district was created from parts of Kokrajhar and Goalpara
Goalpara District
Goalpara district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters are located in Goalpara town.-History:...
.
Geography
Kokrajhar district occupies an area of 3129 square kilometres (1,208.1 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's Waigeo Island.
Kokrajhar district is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra river. It forms the gateway to the Seven Sister States
Seven Sister States
The Seven Sister States also called "Paradise Unexplored" is a name given to the contiguous states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland & Tripura in northeastern India. These states cover an area of about 250,000 sq. km. or about 7 percent of India's total area. They...
. Kokrajhar shares its boundary with Bongaigaon
Bongaigaon
Bongaigaon is the district headquarters of Bongaigaon District, Assam, India. The city is situated north west of Guwahati.It is a very developing City in Lower Assam. It has two parts - Old Bongaigaon and New Bongaigaon. Bongaigaon is predominantly inhabited by the Koch Rajbongshi Community which...
(now known as Chirang), Dhubri
Dhubri
Dhubri is the headquarters of Dhubri district India. It is a small old town on the bank of the Brahmaputra and Gadadhar Rivers. In 1883, the town was first constituted as a Municipal Board and is situated about west from Guwahati, the state capital.Dhubri was an important commercial centre and...
, West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, Barpeta
Barpeta
Barpeta is the headquarters of Barpeta district, Assam, India. The city is located about north west of Guwahati.Barpeta is renowned in the Historical map of Assam as the "Land of the Satras"...
and Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
.
Economy
In 2006 the Indian government named Kokrajhar one of the country's 250 most backward districtsPoverty in India
Poverty is widespread in India, with the nation estimated to have a third of the world's poor. According to a 2005 World Bank estimate, 41.6% of the total Indian population falls below the international poverty line of 1.25 a day...
(out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Divisions
There are four Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar West, Kokrajhar East, and Sidli. All but Gossaigaon are designated for scheduled tribes. All four are in the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituencyKokrajhar (Lok Sabha constituency)
Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam state in north-eastern India. The seat is reserved for scheduled tribes.-Assembly segments:Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments :...
.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Kokrajhar district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 886,999, roughly equal to the nation of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
or the US state of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. This gives it a ranking of 467th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 280 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 5.19 %. Kokrajhar has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 958 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 66.63 %.
Places of interest
- Onthai Gwlao: Located in Chandrapara near the bank of river Gwrang.
- Mahamaya temple: Located on the border between Kokrajhar and DhubriDhubriDhubri is the headquarters of Dhubri district India. It is a small old town on the bank of the Brahmaputra and Gadadhar Rivers. In 1883, the town was first constituted as a Municipal Board and is situated about west from Guwahati, the state capital.Dhubri was an important commercial centre and...
. - Thandwi Bineswar Brahma Memorial Park: Located in Bhatermary on the bank of River GwrangGwrangGwrang is a river that flows through Kokrajhar district of Assam, India.It has its origin in Bhutan....
. - DaimaluDaimaluJwhwlao Daimalu is perceived to be a hero of the ancient golden period of the Bodos. Today, he is imprinted as the cause of the Bodo people's tragedy because it is believed that he had cursed the Bodos after he was betrayed by his clans...
Park: Located in Kharigaon.
Flora and fauna
In 1990 Kokrajhar district became home to Manas National ParkManas National Park
Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a Wildlife Sanctuary, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger Reserve, an Elephant Reserve and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam, India. Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National park in Bhutan...
, which has an area of 500 square kilometre. It shares the park with four other districts.