India 2018

States and Union Territories 595
Tourist Centres
Places of tourist interest are Tawang, Dirang, Bomdila, Tipi, Itanagar,
Malinithan, Likabali, Pasighat, Along, Tezu, Miao, Roing, Daporijo
Namdapha, Bhismaknagar, Parshuram Kund and Khonsa.
O. W.: http://www.arunachalpradesh.gov.in
Government
Governor : Brig. Dr. B.D. Mishra Chief Secretary : Shri Satya Gopal
(Retd.)
Chief Minister : Shri Pema Khandu Jurisdiction of : Falls under Guwahati
High Court High Court
Assam
Area : 78,438 sq. km Population : 3.12 crore (census 2011)
Capital : Dispur Principal Language : Asamiya, Bodo
History and Geography
Assam is situated in the north-east corner of the country between 89° 42'
E to 96° E longitude and 24° 8' N to 28° 2' N latitude. For centuries, people and
communities have been attracted to the fertile environs of Assam and its
abundant natural resources. Streams of people have met and mingled, cultures
and customs have merged and in this process a rich and composite culture has
been evolved.
Assam, also known as a “Land of Red River and Blue Hills”, is one of the
most attractive and beautiful states of the country. The mighty river
Brahmaputra flows through it, serving as a lifeline for its people settled on
both sides of its banks. The word ‘Assam’ is believed to have derived from the
Sanskrit word Asoma meaning peerless or unparalleled. Another academic
interpretation claims that the word came from the Ahoms, who ruled the land
for about six hundred years prior to its annexation by the British. The influence
of several races like Austric, Mongolian, Dravidian and Aryan that came to
this land long long ago; have contributed to its rich composite culture.
Assam was known as Pragjyotisha or the place of eastern astronomy
during the epic period and later named as Kamrupa. The earlier epigraphic
reference to the kingdom of Kamrupa is found in the Allahabad pillar
inscription of King Samudragupta. Kamrupa is mentioned as a pratyanta or
frontier state outside the Gupta Empire, but with friendly and subordinate
relation to it. Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese scholar pilgrim who visited Kamrupa
in about 743 AD on an invitation of its monarch, Kumar Bhaskar Varman, left
a record of the kingdom he called Kamolupa. Kamrupa also figured in the
writings of the Arabian historian Alberuni in the eleventh century. Thus, from
the epic period down to the twelfth century AD, the eastern frontier kingdom
was known as Pragjyotisha and Kamrupa and kings called themselves ‘ Lords
of Pragjyotisha’.