Dima Hasao district

Dima Hasao district
District of Assam
Barail Range in Dima Hasao
Location in Assam
Coordinates: 25°11′N 93°02′E / 25.18°N 93.03°E / 25.18; 93.03
Country	India
State	Assam
Division	Central Assam
District created	2 February 1970
Headquarters	Haflong
Government
• Type	Autonomous district
• Body	Dima Hasao Autonomous Council
• Chief Executive Member	Debolal Gorlosa, BJP
• Lok Sabha constituencies	Autonomous District (shared with Karbi Anglong & West Karbi Anglong district)
• Vidhan Sabha constituencies	Haflong
Area
• Total	4,890 km2 (1,890 sq mi)
• Rank	2
Elevation	513 m (1,683 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	214,102
• Density	43.667/km2 (113.10/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	English
• Most spoken	See § Languages
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	788XXX
Telephone code	91 - (0) 03673
ISO 3166 code	IN-AS
Vehicle registration	AS-08
Website	dimahasao.assam.gov.in

Dima Hasao district (IPA: [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 c. 1500, Dima Hasao was part of the Dimasa Kingdom (or Kachar kingdom), with its capital at Maibang and Dimapur.^[5][6][7] 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.^[8][9]

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.^{[citation needed]} 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^[10] 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.^{[11][Note 1][12][13]}

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.^[14][15] In 1880, this portion was constituted into a sub-division with headquarters at Gunjung under Cachar district.^[12] This headquarters was shifted to Haflong in 1895. Since then, Haflong continued to be the headquarters till 1951.^[12]

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][16] On 2 February 1970, the government declared an independent administrative district, viz. North Cachar Hills District with the geographical boundary of present-day Dimapur Hasao district.^[4] On 30 March 2010, the district was further renamed to Dima Hasao district.^[17]

The district headquarters are located at Haflong. Dima Hasao district occupies an area of 4,888 square kilometres (1,887 sq mi),^[18] It is the second-largest district of Assam after Karbi Anglong.^[19][20] 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.^[21]

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 44 inhabitants per square kilometre (110/sq mi). 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%.^[19] The major tribal communities inhabiting the district are Dimasa Kachari, Zeme Naga, Hmar, Kuki, Karbi, Khasi, Hrangkhol, Biate and few others.^[23][4] Non-tribal communities includes Bengalis, Nepalis, Hindi-speakers and few other communities who have made the district their home.^[23]

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%).^[23]

As of the 2011 census, 67.07% of the population are Hindus, 29.57% Christians and 2.04% Muslims.^[24]

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.^[23]

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.^[27]

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).^[28]

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.^[29]

• Jatinga village

The village Jatinga is known for mysterious 'suicide of birds', between the months of September and November.^[12][30] Large number of tourists visit that time of the year to witness the phenomenon.^[12]

• Panimur waterfall

Panimur is also located in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, India. It is most famous for the Panimur Waterfall, also known as the Niagara of Northeast,^[31] which forms from the Kopili River as it flows over rocky terrain, creating a wide, cascading waterfall that is a major attraction for tourists and photographers.^[32] Additionally, the surrounding areas offer unique opportunities for eco-tourism and adventure activities, making it a favourite among explorers.^[33]

• Maibang

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.^[12]

• Umrangso golf field

Umrangso golf field is a plateau floodbed of nearby NEEPCO Dam. It is a popular resting place of Amur falcon, it also host the annual Falcon Festival for the same. It is also popular for sightseeing, camping, trekking.

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.

• Haflong Government College, Haflong

• Ever Green High School, Maibang

• All India Radio, Akashvani Haflong broadcasts from Haflong at 100.02 megahertz on FM band.

• Haflong
• Maibang
• Panimur
• Umrangso

• List of districts of Assam
• 2024 Dima Hasao Autonomous Council Election

• Bhattacharjee, J B (1987). "The Economic Content of the Medieval State Formation Processes among the Dimasas of North East India". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 48: 222–225. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44141683.
• Phukan, J. N. (1992), "Chapter III The Tai-Ahom Power in Assam", in Barpujari, H. K. (ed.), The Comprehensive History of Assam, vol. II, Guwahati: Assam Publication Board, pp. 49–60
• Ramirez, Philippe (2007), "Politico-ritual variations on the Assamese fringes: Do social systems exist?", in Sadan, Mandy; Robinne., François (eds.), Social Dynamics in the Highlands of Southeast Asia Reconsidering Political Systems of Highland Burma, Boston: Brill, pp. 91–107
• Shin, Jae-Eun (2020). "Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas". The Indian Economic and Social History Review. 57 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1177/0019464619894134. S2CID 213213265.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Dima Hasao.

• Dima Hasao District Official Website