Jorhat

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
type=city
native_name=Jorhat
latd = 26.75
longd = 94.22
locator_position = left
state_name = Assam
district = Jorhat
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 116
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 66,450
population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =0376
postal_code =785001
vehicle_code_range =AS-03
sex_ratio =
unlocode =INJRH
website =
footnotes =

Jorhat (যোৰহাট) is a town in Jorhat district in the Indian state of Assam.Jorhat was established as the new capital in the closing years of the 18th century by the decaying and declining Tunkhungia Ahom Dynasty. Jorhat as the name signifies, was just a couple("Jor") of marts ("Hat"). From these two parallel marts namely Chowkihut and Macharhut, which lay on the eastern and the western banks of the river Bhogdoi. Jorhat today has grown into a thriving cosmopolitan town with a strong sense of character and identity. It is the best laid out town in Upper Assam with broad roads, cutting each other at right angles. The people of Jorhat are very rich in arts & culture.Urban, polite and polished behaviour is the distinguishing features of an average Jorhat man. Jorhat has the honour to be the largest number of educated people living,among all other districts of Assam.jorhat is known as cultural capital of assam.it is also known as tea capital of assam.

Geography

Jorhat যোৰহাট is located at coord|26.75|N|94.22|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/3/Jorhat.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Jorhat] ] It has an average elevation of 116 metres (380 feet).

On the North of the district, the Brahmaputra River forms the largest riverine island of the world, Majuliমাজুলী, which spreads over 924.6 square kilometers with a population of about 1.50 lakh (170,000). The island, threatened by constant erosion by the mighty and unstable Brahmaputra River, had been the principal place of pilgrimage of Vaishnavites since the age of the Ahom আহোম rulers. Several Satras (monasteries) resembling those of medieval times are headed by Satradhikars teaching Vaishnavism which was initiated by Sankardeva (1449-1568). Each Satra has an unknown wealth of Vaishnav Scriptures and extensive revenue-free lands cultivated by the Bhakats (celebated monks) of the Satras.

The district spreads over 2851 square kilometers and had a population of 8.7 lakhs or 870,000 according to a 1991 census. Population density at that time was 306 persons per square kilometer. The sex ratio is 913 (913 males per 1000 females). The district has SC and ST population of 7.61% and 12.09%, respectively, of the total population. However, the Majuliমাজুলী Sub-Division has a tribal population of 70% who are primarily “Misings”. Floods frequent the island every year without any exception. The mean annual railfall of the district is 2029 mm. There are about 135 tea gardens including "out" gardens. The predominant field crop is rice, with per capita food grain production of 205 kg per annum.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Jorhat had a population of 66,450. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Jorhat has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 79%. In Jorhat, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

"See: Timeline of Jorhat"

History of Jorhat

Jorhat, also known as Jorehaut, means two hats or mandis-“Macharhat” and “Chowkihat” which existed on the two different banks of the river Bhogdoi during the 18th Century, Jorhat was "The last capital of the Ahom Kingdom". In the year 1794, the Ahom King Gaurinath shifted the capital from Sibsagar while Rangpur to Jorhat. This town was a flourishing and commercial metropolis but completely destroyed after a series of the Burmese invasions of Assam since 1817 till the arrival of the British force in the year 1824 under the stewardship of David Scott and Captain Richard.

The British Rule, though, was not free from rebellions and revolutions, contributed to reemergence of this historical town. From the very first decade of the British rule, the great revolutionists who emerged were Gomdhar Konwar, Jeuram, and Piyali. The British system of administration came into vogue in the year 1839 with an established Police Thana. During the great Sepoy Mutiny and Piyali Barua was sabotaged and these leaders were hanged in public at this very place in 1858.

In 1885, a narrow gauge train services Jorhat Provincial Railway had come into operation and ultimately became instrumental in rapid growth of the tea industry.

Though, the Civil Sub-division under Sibsagar district at Jorhat was formed in 1869, this great place was declared as administration headquarters of the undivided Sibsagar district in 1911 which comprised the present Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat and parts of Karbi-Anglong district with Major A. Playfare as the first Deputy Commissioner.Presently, Jorhat is on its road to utopian modernization with many commercial and non commercial establishments setting foot on its soil. The oldest residents of this ever prosperous city have played a pivotal role in moulding the city to what it is today. The families of the Baruahs, Sharmas, The Singhs and Goswamis have been the most influential families in transforming the once sleepy city into a bustling and a well organised city.

The present Deputy Commissioner of the administrative district of Jorhat is Ms LS Changsan.

Medieval constructions

Roads

Culture

Jorhat is and has been a vibrant place and is a perfect mixture tradition and modernity. It was the hub of anti-british struggle of Assam. Before that it was the last capital of the Ahoms, the dynasty which ruled over Assam for six centuries.The cultural environment which prevails in Jorhat is the result of untiring effort of people trying to preserve its culture. Jorhat has been able to produce many creative writers, historians, journalists, et cetera. The first Assamese to win highest award of literature in India, Gyanpith, happens to be from Jorhat. Jorhat is the home of internationally reputed ideologists and educationists like Krishna Kanta Handique, founder Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University.

The healthy education and cultural life of Jorhat can be best judged from the fact that District has as many as five daily Newspapers published from here. Some of the important newspapers include; The Saptahik Janambhumi, The Dainik Janambhumi and The Eastern Clarion, The North East Times in English, Amar Asom in Assamese and The Purbanchal Prohori in Hindi.

Education & Research

Jorhat is the most literate district of Assam. Jorhat is considered to be a good place for ethical modern education values.Jorhat has a unique distinction of having the highest number of people having PHD degree among cities in the whole of India.Some major education and research institutes include

Research Institute

*North East Institute of Science & Tecnology (Formerly RRL) [http://www.rrljorhat.res.in official website]
*Tockali Tea Research Centre [http://www.tocklai.net Official Website]
*Rain & Forest Research Institute [http://envfor.nic.in/icfre/irmdfr/irmdfr.html Official Website]
*Central Muga Research

University

*Assam Agriculture University

Technical Institute

*Jorhat Engineering College
*Prince Of Wales Institute
*Industrial training Institute

Medical Institute

*Jananayak Debeswar Sarma Medical College (JDS Medical College)

College

*Chandra Kamal Bezbaruah (C.K.B.) College, Teok. [http://www.ckbcollegeteok.com/]
*Jagannath Barooah College
*D.C.B. Girls' College [http://www.dcbgirlscollegejorhat.net Official Website] .
*Bahona College [http://bahonacollege.org/ Official website] .
*Jorhat College [http://www.jorhatcollege.in official website] .
*Post Graduate Training College.
*Jorhat Law College.
*CKB Commerce College [http://www.ckbcc.org official website] .
*Kendriya Mahavidhalaya.
*Govt. Science College.
*COMIT(College of Management and Information Technology).

chool

*Balya Bhavan, Jorhat
*Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,Titabor
*Bahona Balya Bhawan,Bahona
*Teok High School
*Edith Douglas School
*Jorhat Government Boys School
*Jorhat Government Girls School
*Jorhat Gitarthi Vidyalaya
*Jonaki Sangha Vidyalaya
*Carmel School
*Sankardev Seminary School
*Assam Rifle Nodal School
*Hemalata Handique Memorial Institute
*Don Bosco School [http://www.dbsjorhat.org official website] .
*Rebakanta Barooah Public High School
*Air Force School, Air Force Station (Inside AF Station campus)

Central School

*Kendriya Vidyalaya, NEIST(RRL)
*Kendriya Vidyalaya (ONGC)
*Kendriya Vidyalaya (Air Force Station)Borholla Higher Secondary School

Places of Interest

Dhekiakhowa Bornamghar

It is one of the famous Bor namghar (place of worship) in Assam, established by saint-reformer Madhabdev in 1461. It is located at Dhekiakhowa village of Jorhat, 3.5 km away from 37 no. national high way. From the time of saint-reformer Sri Srimanta Sankardev and Madhavdev, this namghar has been continuing as an important centre for Baisnav Religion.

Now this Bor namghar has 13 bighas of land, an auditorium of its own. The devotees of Assam donate freely to this namghar and due to their helping hand, the managing committee of namghar works a lot of social and cultural welfares. Almost 461 years old, this namghar has been playing an important role in the exercise of Baisnav Religion and unity for the people of Assam.There are many stories associated with this Bor namghar. It is said that the main piller of the namghar is made of a Xaal tree (please help to find the name of the tree in English). One night one of the bhakat (monk) of the namgahr saw in his dream that the river near the Bor namghar ( known as dhekiyakhua jaam ) is flowing in opposite direction and is carrying a Haal tree mean to be for the construction of the Bor namghar. Next day when people saw that dream to be true, they made the main pillers of the Bor namghar from the tree.

Lachit Borphukan's Maidam

This is the Maidam of great Lachit Borphukan. He was the greatest ever Ahom General who defeated the mighty Mughals at Saraighat in 1672. It is located at Gohain gaon of Meleng-Hulungapar. It is 8 km far from the famous "Gibon Wildlife Sanctuary".

Raja Maidam

The existing maidam (vault)which lies on the south bank of Toklai river on the northern side of Jorhat town is of king Purandar Sinha who expired on 1st Oct 1894. The present maidam was constructed to preserve the ashes of the late king.

Jorhat Gymkhana Club

established by british, which is famous as a place for horse racing since then. Also famous for the golf course here.

Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan

The Chandrakanta Handique Bhavan, donated by late Radhakanta Handique, is the head quarter of "Asom Sahitya Sabha". It was built in 1926. Personalities like late Chandradhar Baruah, late Dimbeswar Neog, late Mitradev Mahanta and others form Jorhat adorned the presidentship of "Asom Sahitya Sabha".

Thengal Bhawan

Thengal Bhawan is built in 1880 by Raibahadur Shiva Prasad Barooah.In 1929, he published a weekly Assamese newspaper. Later,he established his printing press and office at Thengal Bhawan and managed to publish a daily news paper named "DAINIK BAATARI". Shiv Prasad Barooah was the owner and Bagmibar Nilamani Phukan was the editor of this daily news paper.This news paper was published from such a place, named "Thengal Bhawan" ,where there was no post office.It was the first daily newspaper in Assamese and also the first daily newspaper in any language, published from a village in entire India

Gibon Wildlife Sanctuary

Named after Hollock Gibon.

Hatigarhanad its Shiva mandir

Politics

Jorhat is part of Jorhat (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S03/AS_ACPC.pdf
title = List of Parliamentary & Assembly Constituencies
accessdate = 2008-10-06
work = Assam
publisher = Election Commission of India ]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.jorhatonline.com/ jorhatonline.com] Jorhatonline

ee also

* Jorhat (Lok Sabha constituency)