Baksa district

Baksa district (/ˈbʌksə/ or /ˈbæksə/) is an administrative district in the Bodoland Territorial Region of Assam, one of the North-Eastern states of India. The administrative headquarters is at Mushalpur. Manas National Park is a part of this district.

Baksa district
District of Assam
View of Bhutan Himalayas from Manas National Park
View of Bhutan Himalayas from Manas National Park
Location in Assam
Location in Assam
Coordinates: 26.6935° N, 91.5984° E
Country India
State Assam
Territorial Region Bodoland
HeadquartersMushalpur
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesKokrajhar
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesTamulpur, Barama, Chapaguri
Area
 • Total1,573 km2 (607 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total560,925
 • Density360/km2 (920/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (Indian Standard Time)
Websitebaksa.assam.gov.in

History

Baksa district falls under Kamrup Duars which includes the region between the Manas river and the Barnadi river. The two Dooars under Baksa district are Chapakhamar and Gurkola.[1]

From the early 17th-century present-day Baksa district was under the control of Kingdom of Bhutan[2] and under the jurisdiction of Tongso Penlop, below the Tongso Penlop were Subah who in turn appointed Mondal, Laskar or Uzir to look after the Duars.[3] The Bhutan government paid 24 tolas of gold-dust, 36 ponies, 24 pieces of musk, 24 cow tails, 24 daggers, 24 blankets and 2400 rupees in cash, the value of which was estimated at Rs. 4785-1 narayani rupees as an annual tribute to the Ahom government for the possession of the Duars.[4]

In 1841, the British East company removed the Bhutanese influence and later the area was merged to undivided Kamrup district of the Indian Union in 1949.

Baksa was notified as one of the districts of Bodoland Territorial Council in October 2003 while it started functioning from 1 June 2004[5] when naturalist-bureaucrat Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury of the Assam Civil Service took charge as its founding Deputy Commissioner. It started working from PWD Inspection Bungalow of Barama beside the NH 31 until it was shifted to Mushalpur in late 2010.

It was created from parts of Barpeta, Nalbari and Kamrup districts.[5]

On 23 January 2022, Tamulpur district was created by separating Tamulpur sub-division of Baksa district.[6]

Geography

This district is bounded by Bhutan in the north, Udalguri district in the east, Barpeta, Nalbari and Kamrup districts in the south and Chirang district in the west. Area of the district is 2,400 km2 (930 sq mi).[7]

National protected area

Administration

Mushalpur town is the headquarters of the district.

Divisions

The district has three sub-divisions: Mushalpur, Salbari and Tamulpur. These sub-divisions are further divided into 13 revenue circles: Baksa, Barama, Tamulpur, Goreswar, Baganpara, Ghograpar, Barnagar, Bajali, Jalah, Patharighat, Rangia, Sarupeta and Tihu.

Three Vidhan Sabha constituencies of this district are Tamulpur, Barama and Chapaguri. All of these are part of Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
190171,620—    
191181,666+1.32%
192195,160+1.54%
1931127,011+2.93%
1941167,589+2.81%
1951197,889+1.68%
1961309,224+4.56%
1971476,655+4.42%
1991769,402+2.42%
2001857,947+1.10%
2011950,075+1.03%
source:[8]
Religions in Baksa district (2011)[9]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 81.74%
Islam
 
 15.20%
Christianity
 
 2.59%
Other or not stated
 
 0.47%

According to the 2011 census Baksa district has a population of 950,075.[10] This gives it a ranking of 458th in India (out of a total of 640).[10] The district has a population density of 475 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,230/sq mi).[10] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.17%.[10] Baksa has a sex ratio of 967 females for every 1000 males,[10] and a literacy rate of 70.53%.

The residual Baksa district has a population of 560,925, of which 6,611 (1.18%) live in urban areas. The residual district has a sex ratio of 977 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Tribes made up 30,837 (5.50%) and 209,686 (37.38%) of the population respectively.[10]

Languages of Baksa district (2011)[11]

  Assamese (38.34%)
  Bodo (36.33%)
  Bengali (17.69%)
  Nepali (2.42%)
  Sadri (1.61%)
  Kurukh (1.47%)
  Others (2.14%)

According to the 2011 census, 38.34% of the population spoke Assamese, 36.33% Boro, 17.69% Bengali, 2.42% Nepali, 1.61% Sadri and 1.47% Kurukh as their first language.[11]

Education

Major educational institutions of Baksa district are:

Tourism

Places of interest
A Capped Langur at Manas National Park

A major part of the world-famous Manas National Park is located in this district. The park is well known for its Tiger, Greater One Horned Rhinoceros, Wild Water Buffaloes and Golden Langurs.[12] Bogamati, a famous picnic spot with picturesque beauties is located in Baksa. Bhangtar is the other scenic location situated close to Bhutan border.

See also

Notes
  1. (Das 1998:50–51)
  2. "While Bhutan generally enjoyed absolute possession of the eleven Bengal duars, its control over the seven Assam duars was not straightforward. Even during the Ahom rule, the Bhutanese did not gain full possession of the duar tracts. As a result, they are said to have harassed the population along the Assam frontiers with persistent incursions and raids."(Phuntsho 2013:394)
  3. (Das 1998:32)
  4. (Das 1998:32)
  5. Law, Gwillim (25 September 2011). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  6. "Assam Govt Forms Tamulpur As New District In State". www.sentinelassam.com. 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  7. "Assam state website – Baksa district". Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  8. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  9. "Table C-01 Population By Religion: Assam". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  10. "District Census Handbook: Baksa" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  11. "Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  12. Gee, E.P. (1964). The Wild Life of India. Collins, London.

References

26°34′51″N 91°25′13″E

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