| Dima Hasao district | |
| Settlement Type: | District of Assam |
| Coordinates: | 25.18°N 93.03°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Assam |
| Subdivision Type2: | Division |
| Subdivision Name2: | Central Assam |
| Subdivision Name3: | Assam Hill Districts |
| Established Title: | District created |
| Established Date: | 2 February 1970 |
| Seat Type: | Headquarters |
| Seat: | Haflong |
| Government Type: | Autonomous district |
| Governing Body: | Dima Hasao Autonomous Council |
| Leader Title: | Chief Executive Member |
| Leader Name: | Debolal Gorlosa, BJP |
| Leader Title1: | Lok Sabha constituencies |
| Leader Name1: | Autonomous District (shared with Karbi Anglong & West Karbi Anglong district) |
| Leader Title2: | Vidhan Sabha constituencies |
| Leader Name2: | Haflong |
| Area Rank: | 2 |
| Area Total Km2: | 4890 |
| Elevation M: | 513 |
| Population Total: | 214,102 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | 43.667 |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | English |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Most spoken |
| Demographics1 Info2: | See |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 788XXX |
| Area Code Type: | Telephone code |
| Area Code: | 91 - (0) 03673 |
| Registration Plate: | AS-08 |
| Website: | dimahasao.assam.gov.in |
| Iso Code: | IN-AS |
Dima Hasao district (pronounced as /ˈdɪmə həˈsaʊ/), is an administrative district in the state of Assam, India. As of 2011, it is the least populous district of Assam.[1] [2]
Dima Hasao district is one of two autonomous hill districts of Assam. The district headquarters Haflong is the only hill station in the state.[3]
"Dima Hasao" means "Dimasa Hills" in the Dimasa language.[4]
From, Dima Hasao was part of the Dimasa Kingdom (or Kachar kingdom), with its capital at Maibang and Dimapur. As per Ahom Buranji, the kingdom stretched from the Kopili river in present-day Nagaon district to the Dhansiri river in present-day Golaghat district. This included parts of Cachar and North Cachar (Dima Hasao), the districts of Hojai, Nagaon, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong of Assam and Dimapur district, in Nagaland.In the colonial period, Khaspur in present-day Cachar district was the administrative centre. However an internal schism led to the division of the old Kachar Kingdom into two parts. The last Dimasa king, Govinda Chandra Hasnusa, assigned Kashi Chandra the hilly tract of Kachar (i.e. the area between Mahur river and the Naga Hills in the south, the Doyang river on the west, the Dhansiri River on the east and Jamuna river in the north.) for administrative purposes. Soon the latter declared his independence over the hilly portion. That led to the treacherous murder of Kashi Chandra by Raja Govinda Chandra Hasnusa. Incensed, the son of Kashi Chandra, Tularam Senapati, incessantly created political turbulence, asserting his sovereignty over hilly portion of Kachar Kingdom. Finally, with British assistance, Tularam succeeded in carving out his own territory from Kachar Kingdom. David Scott, agent to the British Raj in 1829[5] made an arrangement to recognise Tularam as the ruler of hilly tract of Kachar. In 1850, Tularam died and the frequent Angami raids and a grave incident at Semkhor village paved the ground to extend British influence over Tularam's territory. In 1852, his territory was annexed and made part of the Nowgong district of British Assam as a subdivision, with Asalu as its headquarter.[6] [7]
In 1866, this sub-division was abolished and apportioned into three parts among the Cachar, Naga Hills district, and Nowgong district. The present area of the Dima Hasao district was included in the old Cachar district.[8] [9] In 1880, this portion was constituted into a sub-division with headquarters at Gunjung under Cachar district.[10] This headquarters was shifted to Haflong in 1895. Since then, Haflong continued to be the headquarters till 1951.[10]
On 17 November 1951, United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District was created with area occupying present-day Dima Hasao district, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong district.[4] [11] On 2 February 1970, the government declared an independent administrative district, viz., North Cachar Hills District with the geographical boundary of autonomous North Cachar Hills district council.[4] The council possesses administrative control over almost all departments of the district except police and Law and Order.[4] [12]
The district headquarters are located at Haflong. Dima Hasao district occupies an area of 4888km2,[13] It is the second-largest district of Assam after Karbi Anglong.[14] Dima Hasao District is surrounded by Karbi Anglong district and Nagaland on the northeast, Manipur on the east, Hojai District to the north, West Karbi Anglong district on the northwest, Meghalaya on the west and Cachar district in the south.[15]
According to the 2011 census, Dima Hasao had a population of 214,102, giving it a ranking of 588th in India (out of a total of 640). The district had a population density of 44PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.53%. Dima Hasao had a sex ratio of 931 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 78.99%.[1]
Dima Hasao is one of the three hill districts in Assam with a tribal majority population, the others being Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.[4] The tribal population in Dima Hasao accounts for about 70.92% of the total population of the district according to the 2011 census, the highest percentage in the state. Scheduled Castes are 2.02%.[16] The major tribal communities inhabiting the district are Dimasa Kachari, Zeme Naga, Hmar, Kuki, Karbi, Khasi, Hrangkhol, Biate and few others.[4] Non-tribal communities includes Bengalis, Nepalis, Hindi-speakers and few other communities who have made the district their home.
As per the language data, the largest non-tribal communities are Bengalis (25,264: change of -7.53% from 2001), Nepalis (13,615: +9.76%), Hindi speakers (9,926: +13.83%), Assamese speakers (4,057: -26.32%), Halam(Ranglong)-Kuki/Khelma/Riam (1,940 : +15.41%), Bodo-Kachari (1,604 : -7.82%), Meitei (1,373 : -24.64%), Tripuri (527: -21.11%), and Bishnupriya (401: -14.32%).
As of the 2011 census, 67.07% of the population are Hindus, 29.57% Christians and 2.04% Muslims.[17]
| Ethnic Group | Decadal growth rate | 2001[18] | 2011[19] | Religion (2001) | Religion (2011) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | +13.83% | 188,079 | 214,102 | Hindu - 69.91% | Hindu - 67.07% | |
| Dimasa | +14.83% | 64,881 | 74,502 | Hindu - 98.73% | Hindu - 99.19% | |
| Kuki | +43.69% | 16,757 | 24,079 | Christian - 91.98%, Hindu - 7.56% | Christian - 93.17%, Hindu - 6.03% | |
| Naga | +21.98% | 17,078 | 20,832 | Christian - 52.20%, Hindu - 43.72%, Animist - 3.43% | Christian - 53.67%, Hindu - 40.46%, Animist - 5.14% | |
| Hmar | +8.7% | 13,863 | 15,070 | Christian - 98.71% | Christian - 99.18% | |
| Karbi | +16.59% | 7,973 | 9,296 | Hindu - 63.18%, Christian - 36.52% | Hindu - 50.77%, Christian - 48.69% | |
| Khasi | +17.89% | 3,157 | 3,722 | Christian - 95.31% | Christian - 96.94% | |
| Smaller tribes | -8.6% | 4,719 | 4,342 | Christian - 59.00%, Hindu - 38.12% | Christian - 62.92%, Hindu - 34.94% | |
| Non-tribal | +3.41% | 59,651 | 61,686 | Hindu - 86.57%, Muslim - 7.34%, Christian - 4.57% | Hindu - 85.80%, Muslim - 6.50%, Christian - 5.57% |
At the time of the 2011 census, 35.72% of the district spoke Dimasa, 11.80% Bengali, 9.65% Zeme, 7.65% Hmar, 6.36% Nepali, 5.11% Kuki, 4.46% Karbi, 3.14% Hindi, 1.93% Khasi, 1.89% Assamese.[20]
See main article: Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. Dima Hasao district is an autonomous district with Sixth Schedule status granted by the Constitution of India. The Dima Hasao District is administered by Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHADC). Members of the Autonomous Council (MAC) are elected by people of Dima Hasao. The Political party who has majority MACs form the ruling party. The Autonomous Council is a powerful body and almost all the department of government are under its control except the police and Law & Order is under Assam Government.[4]
Dima Hasao comprises three subdivisions: Haflong, Maibang, and Diyungbra. The district consists of five Community Development Blocks: Jatinga Valley, Mahur; Diyung Valley, Maibang; Harangajao ITD Block, Harangajao; Diyungbra ITD Block, Diyungmukh; and New Sangbar, Sangbar.[21]
In 2006, the Indian government named Dima Hasao one of the country's 250 most backward districts (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).[22]
Kopili Hydro Electric Project is a power project near Umrangso, involving two dams on Kopili river and Umrong nalla, a tributary of Kopili. There are two power stations as part of Kopili HEP, Khandong Stage I & II (75 MW) and Kopili Stage I & II (200 MW), with total output of 275 MW.[23]
The village Jatinga is known for mysterious 'suicide of birds', between the months of September and November.[10] [24] Large number of tourists visit that time of the year to witness the phenomenon.[10]
The town of Maibang is notable for its rock-cut temple carved out of a single black sandstone in triangular dimension. It houses the Hindu goddess Ranachandi or Mahamaya.[10]
Average literacy rate of Dima Hasao in 2011 were 77.54% compared to 67.62% of 2001. All schools of Dima Hasao are run by the state government or private organisations. English is the primary languages of instruction in most of the schools. The schools are recognised either by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam, the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council, or the Central Board of Secondary Education. All Dima Hasao colleges are affiliated to Assam University, a central university, which imparts education in both the general as well as professional streams.
| Channel | Year founded | Language | Owned by | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDH (News Dima Hasao) | Dimasa, Hindi, English | Zed Nunisa | https://web.archive.org/web/20151031132014/http://newsdimahasao.today/ | ||
| Assam Talks | Mahmadhul Hussan | ||||
| News Live | Ashim Choudhury | ||||
| News Time Assam | Anup Biswas | ||||
| Prag News | Sanjib Dutta | ||||
| DY365 | Samsul Alam | ||||
| NKTV | Assamese | Pankaj Kumar Deb | |||
| Hills Live TV | |||||
| Borail News | |||||
| Karbi Anglong Live | English and Karbi | Suroj Barman | |||
| Pratidin Times | Assamese | Pankaj Tumung |