Biswanath district

The major part of Biswanath district formed a part of the Chutia kingdom until it was annexed in the 16th century by the Ahoms.^[4] Some local traditions associate the western part of the district with independent Bhuyan chieftains, although the Ahom Buranjis do not record the presence of the Baro-Bhuyans in this region. The Adi Charita, which is the source of these traditions, is also considered spurious by various scholars.^[5][6][7][8] It is speculated that the border between the Chutia kingdom and Bhuyan principalities was marked by the Dikarai ^[9] and the Ghiladhari rivers.^[10] The Chutia kings built many forts in the region, which included the Naksaparvat, Ramghat-Buroi fort (near Nyishi hills)^[11] and the Pratapgarh fort built by king Pratap Narayan.^[12][13] The Ita Fort, another Chutia era fort, lies to the north of Biswanath Chariali.

The Buranjis mention that after the conquest of the Chutia kingdom in 1524 CE, the Ahom forces of Suhungmung crossed the Bharali River in 1527 and 1529 CE, suppressed the Bhuyans of Rauta-Temoni (modern-day Darrang-Nagaon region) and resettled them in the Uttarkula or North bank of Upper Assam (Lakhimpur-Biswanath region). ^[14] In 1526 CE, Suhungmung first appointed Konsheng Dhanudharia Gohain as Bhatialia Gohain or Namoniyal Sandikoi to rule the region and later gave him the title of Barpatra Gohain (Chao-Sheng-lung) in imitation of the earlier Chutia Barpatra title. Similarly, Shengpem Dhanudharia Gohain was made Thaomung Katak and stationed at Phulbari, Lakhimpur^[15], after which the Ahom forces crossed the Bharali and subjugated the Bhuyans in the years 1527 and 1529 CE.^[16][17] Thus, it can be seen that the Chutia kingdom extended as far as the Bharali River.

During the later Ahom period, Biswanath developed into an important religious centre. Ahom kings built a number of temples like the Biswanath temple, Sivanath Moth and Bordol temple.^[18] The region also appears indirectly in accounts of the Ahom conflicts with Muslim and Mughal forces. During Suhungmung's reign, the Ahoms are said to have driven an invading Muslim force back to the Burai river, after which a fort was constructed at the mouth of the river and a detachment was posted at Phulbari.^[19] In the Mughal period proper, the nearby Bharali river formed an important frontier zone: the Ahoms defeated Mughal forces under Abu Bakr on the Bharali in 1615, an event also associated with the Samdhara inscription of 1616.^[20] After Mir Jumla's invasion, the Treaty of Ghilajharighat in 1663 ceded the country west of the Bhareli river on the north bank of the Brahmaputra to the Mughal emperor.^[21]

In the early British period, Biswanath served for a few years as the headquarters of the Naduar or Biswanath district before being included in Darrang district in 1835. During British rule, Biswanath Ghat became an important steamer ghat and trading centre in north Assam.^[22] Allen's gazetteer also lists Bishnath among the steamer ports of Darrang district.^[23]

Headquarter

Biswanath Chariali

Name of Sub-Divisions

Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur

Name of Revenue Circles/ Tehsils

Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur, Helem

Name of Development(C.D.) Blocks

• Pub-Chaiduar Development Block
• Chaiduar Development Block
• Behali Development Block
• Baghmora Development Block
• Biswanath Development Block
• Sakomotha development Block
• Sotea Development Block

Name of Police Stations

• Gohpur Police Station
• Helem Police Station
• Behali Police Station
• Ginjia Police Station
• Biswanath Chariali Police Station
• Sootea Police Station
• Hawajan Police Outpost
• Borgang Police Outpost

Number of Villages

832

Names of Towns

Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur

Name of Town Committees

Biswanath Chariali, Gohpur

According to the 2011 census, Biswanath district has a population of 612,491, of which 31,368 (5.12%) live in urban areas. Biswanath had a sex ratio of 968 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 43,763 (7.15%) and 93,174 (15.21%) of the population respectively.^[24]

As of the 2011 census, Hindus made up 514,259 (83.96%), while Muslims made up 52,155 (8.52%) and Christians (6.92%) of the population respectively.^[25]

At the time of the 2011 census, 34.06% of the population speaks Assamese, 13.56% Sadri, 8.58% Bengali, 7.93% Nepali, 7.23% Boro, 7.09% Mising, 6.76% Odia, 3.41% Mundari, 2.56% Karbi and 1.84% Hindi as their first language.^[26]

1. Dubia
2. Gohpur
3. Brahmajan
4. Helem
5. Niz Borgang
6. Monabari
7. Viswanath Chariali
8. Niz Sotea

• List of districts of Assam
• Maral gaon
• Gelapukhuri