| Williamnagar | |
| Native Name: | Simsanggre |
| Settlement Type: | city |
| Pushpin Map: | India Meghalaya#India |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Meghalaya, India |
| Coordinates: | 25.4955°N 90.6168°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Meghalaya |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | East Garo Hills |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Total: | 18251 |
| Population As Of: | 2001 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code: | 794111 |
| Registration Plate: | Ml-07b 3172 |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Cwa |
Williamnagar, formerly known as Simsanggre,[1] is the headquarters of East Garo Hills district in the state of Meghalaya in India.
Williamnagar, the headquarters complex of the East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, one of the states of North-Eastern India, was christened after Captain Williamson A. Sangma, the founding Chief Minister of the State of Meghalaya. The township was planned around the erstwhile village of Simsanggre, on the vast plainlands along the bank of the Simsang River, in 1976 after the Garo Hills district of yesteryear was re-organised to carve out a new district called East Garo Hills District.
The place where Williamnagar is situated has historical importance as it was here that the Garos made their last major resistance to the British intrusion into Garo Hills during the year 1837. The legendary Garo leader Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma was felled by the British, in skirmish, at Chisobibra, on the outskirts of Williamnagar, on 12 December 1837.
The area around Williamnagar has been inhabited by the Garo tribe for centuries. The Garos are one of the major tribes of Meghalaya and are known for their unique culture and traditions. The Garos are primarily an agrarian community and cultivate crops such as rice, maize, and millets.
During the British colonial period, the Garo Hills region was under the administrative control of the Bengal Presidency. In 1874, the Garo Hills district was formed with Tura as its headquarters. The district comprised the present-day districts of West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, and East Garo Hills.
After India gained independence in 1947, the Garo Hills region became a part of Assam. However, the demand for a separate state of Meghalaya, comprising the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills, gained momentum in the 1960s. The Meghalaya Statehood Bill was passed by the Indian Parliament in 1970, and Meghalaya became a full-fledged state on January 21, 1972, with Shillong as its capital.
Williamnagar was planned and developed as the headquarters of the newly created East Garo Hills district in 1976. The town is located on the banks of the Simsang River, which is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River. The Simsang River is an important source of water for irrigation, and the fertile plains along its banks are ideal for agriculture.
Apart from its historical significance, Williamnagar is also known for its scenery and tourist attractions. The town is surrounded by hills and forests, and the nearby Simsang Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a variety of flora and fauna.[2] The wildlife sanctuary is known for its population of elephants, which roam freely in the forest.
India census,[3] Williamnagar had a population of 18,251. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Williamnagar has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 64%. In Williamnagar, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.
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