Lohit district
Encyclopedia
Lohit is an administrative district
in the state of Arunachal Pradesh
in India
. The district headquarters are located at Tezu
. As of 2011 it is the third most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh (out of 16), after Papum Pare
and Changlang
.
, from the Sanskrit
Louhitya, reddish- or rust-coloured, and consists of the river valley and hills/mountains to the North and South.
In June 1980, Dibang Valley district was split from Lohit (and has since been bifurcated again to create the new Lower Dibang Valley district
). On 16 February 2004, Anjaw district
was carved out from the northern part of Lohit district bordering Tibet and Myanmar, with its headquarters at Hawai. Anjaw was carved out under The Arunachal Pradesh Re-organization of Districts Amendment Bill.
is an important sub-division of this district. Namsai, India connects with Tinsukia
district of Assam
. Lohit district occupies an area
of 11,402 km² and has a population
of 143,478 (as of 2001).
constituencies located in this district: Tezu, Chowkham, Namsai, and Lekang. All of these are part of Arunachal East Lok Sabha constituency
.
just south of the China border, site of the famous Battle of Walong in 1962.
has a population
of 145,538 , roughly equal to the nation of Saint Lucia
. This gives it a ranking of 601st in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 28 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 16.44 %. Lohit has a sex ratio
of 901 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 69.88 %.
Lohit is the home of the Adi
, Zekhring, Khampti, Deori, Ahom, Singpho, Chakma
and Mishmi tribes. A small group of Tibetan refugees have settled in Lohit since the 1960s. The Zekhring are Tibetan Buddhists; the Khampti,Chakmas and Singpho are Theravada Buddhists, and the Mishmi are mainly Animists.The Chakmas inhabit a land which is surrounded in all side by two mighty rivers, the Kamlang to the north and Guri Kamlang to the south. There is no proper bridge on Guri Kamlang which can connect the people to Chowkham. They have to walk on a swinging bridge on which its very difficult to carry goods. Every election time the people demand for a new permanent bride over the Guri Kamlang but none of the elected MLAs sufficed to their demands. Ahoms are residing at Namsai and Mahadevpur circle of Lohit district. The Singphos are very few in numbers in comparison to the other tribes. The Singhpos do not make houses near each other and seeing houses in proximity to other houses are rare.
Sino-Tibetan tongue with 30 000 speakers, spoken in the eastern part of the district.
It is the home to some of the endangered flora
and fauna
.The district has been found to be an ideal place for Jatropha
cultivation, which is used for bio-diesel making.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
in the state of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
in 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 Tezu
Tezu
Tezu is a census town and the headquarters of Lohit district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.The ancient inhabitant of this land of valley and rivers are the Mishmi tribes. The Mishmi tribes have traditions and customs dating back to the times of Mahabharata. According to sacred Hindu...
. As of 2011 it is the third most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh (out of 16), after Papum Pare
Papum Pare district
Papum Pare district is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh.-Geography:...
and Changlang
Changlang District
Changlang district is located in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, located south of Lohit district and north of Tirap district. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh , after Papum Pare.-Post-independence:...
.
Etymology
It was known earlier as the Mishmi Hills. The district is named after the Lohit RiverLohit River
Lohit River is a river in Arunachal Pradesh in India. It is a tributary to the Brahmaputra River.The lohit river rises in eastern Tibet, in the Zayal Chu range and surges through Arunachal Pradesh for two hundred kilometers,before disgorging itself in the plains of Assam...
, from the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
Louhitya, reddish- or rust-coloured, and consists of the river valley and hills/mountains to the North and South.
History
This area was one of the last territories to be brought under British control after the punitive Abor and Mishmi Expedition in the first decade of the 20th Century.In June 1980, Dibang Valley district was split from Lohit (and has since been bifurcated again to create the new Lower Dibang Valley district
Lower Dibang Valley District
The Lower Dibang Valley district is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. It is the tenth least populous district in the country .-History:...
). On 16 February 2004, Anjaw district
Anjaw district
Anjaw District is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. It is a newly created district, having been split from Lohit district on 16 February 2004 under The Arunachal Pradesh Re-organization of Districts Amendment Bill. The district borders China on the...
was carved out from the northern part of Lohit district bordering Tibet and Myanmar, with its headquarters at Hawai. Anjaw was carved out under The Arunachal Pradesh Re-organization of Districts Amendment Bill.
Geography
NamsaiNamsai
Namsai is a census town in Lohit district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.- Overview :The Land of rising Sun!!!Arunachal Pradesh! Situated in the eastern most part of India, the place is full of rich vegetation and mind touching hospitality of tribal life...
is an important sub-division of this district. Namsai, India connects with Tinsukia
Tinsukia
Tinsukia is a city and a municipal board in Tinsukia district, Assam, India.Tinsukia is a business city in the Indian state of Assam. It is situated north east of Guwahati and kilometres away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of...
district 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...
. Lohit district occupies an area
Area
Area is a quantity that expresses the extent of a two-dimensional surface or shape in the plane. Area can be understood as the amount of material with a given thickness that would be necessary to fashion a model of the shape, or the amount of paint necessary to cover the surface with a single coat...
of 11,402 km² and has a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 143,478 (as of 2001).
Divisions
There are four Arunachal Pradesh Legislative AssemblyArunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly is the unicameral state legislature of Arunachal Pradesh state in north-eastern India. The seat of the Legislative Assembly is at Itanagar, the capital of the state...
constituencies located in this district: Tezu, Chowkham, Namsai, and Lekang. All of these are part of Arunachal East Lok Sabha constituency
Arunachal East (Lok Sabha constituency)
Arunachal East Lok Sabha constituency is one of the two Lok Sabha constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh state in northeastern India...
.
Transport
The area is highly inaccessible, and it was only in 2004 that a permanent bridge has been made operational across the Lohit at the holy site of Parashuram Kund, giving round-the-year connection to Tezu. East of Tezu (about 100 km) lies the small town of Hayuliang, and this is slated to become the headquarters of a new district. The road along the Lohit runs right up to the small garrison town of WalongWalong
Walong is a small cantonment and administrative town in the Anjaw District of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. Walong is also the easternmost town in India Anjaw was carved out of Lohit District in 2004. Walong's approximate position is 28 degrees 06 minutes North, 97 degrees...
just south of the China border, site of the famous Battle of Walong in 1962.
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...
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 145,538 , roughly equal to the nation of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
. This gives it a ranking of 601st 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 28 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 16.44 %. Lohit 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 901 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 69.88 %.
Lohit is the home of the Adi
Adi people
The Adi, or Bangni-Bokar Lhoba people is a major collective tribe living in the Himalayan hills of Arunachal Pradesh, and they are found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions within the districts of East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley. The older term Abor is a deprecated...
, Zekhring, Khampti, Deori, Ahom, Singpho, Chakma
Chakma people
The Chakmas , also known as the Changhma , are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or...
and Mishmi tribes. A small group of Tibetan refugees have settled in Lohit since the 1960s. The Zekhring are Tibetan Buddhists; the Khampti,Chakmas and Singpho are Theravada Buddhists, and the Mishmi are mainly Animists.The Chakmas inhabit a land which is surrounded in all side by two mighty rivers, the Kamlang to the north and Guri Kamlang to the south. There is no proper bridge on Guri Kamlang which can connect the people to Chowkham. They have to walk on a swinging bridge on which its very difficult to carry goods. Every election time the people demand for a new permanent bride over the Guri Kamlang but none of the elected MLAs sufficed to their demands. Ahoms are residing at Namsai and Mahadevpur circle of Lohit district. The Singphos are very few in numbers in comparison to the other tribes. The Singhpos do not make houses near each other and seeing houses in proximity to other houses are rare.
Languages
Languages spoken include Galo, an endangeredEndangered language
An endangered language is a language that is at risk of falling out of use. If it loses all its native speakers, it becomes a dead language. If eventually no one speaks the language at all it becomes an "extinct language"....
Sino-Tibetan tongue with 30 000 speakers, spoken in the eastern part of the district.
Flora and fauna
In 1989 Lohit district became home to the Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 783 square kilometre.It is the home to some of the endangered flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
.The district has been found to be an ideal place for Jatropha
Jatropha
Jatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees , from the family Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἰατρός , meaning "physician," and τροφή , meaning "nutrition," hence the common name physic nut. Mature plants produce separate male and female...
cultivation, which is used for bio-diesel making.