Constitution and reorganization of Assam

The British took over Assam in 1826 to make the eastern frontier of the British possessions secure, although the architect of the British possession of the extended north-east frontier, David Scott, initially was against the permanent occupation of Assam. But the scene completely changed with the discovery that the tea plant was a native of Assam. The realisation that the plant was genuine tea and capable of manufacture into a marketable item and later discovery of open seams of coal and presence of petroleum and other Minerals made Assam attractive to British capital Investment in progressive measure. The initial hesitancy . vanished and Assam was finally annexed in 1838. Assam underwent rapid transformation after this and British investment increased. With the final annexation of Assam, the Government of India assumed as successor government, the paramountcy over the north-east Hills. Like the Ahoms, the Supreme Government pursued a policy of non-interference tempered by conciliation and display of force. During the period of 1826 and 1874, the British authority extended over the hills bordering Assam and Barak valley.

During this period, relations with the hills had been handled on an adhoc basis by the officials in the neighbouring areas. The degree of authority exercised by the British on becoming the paramount power had varied in different areas and in reference to different races of hillmen. The object of British policy towards the hills had been conciliation and penetration giving the northeast India a new territorial and administrative unity.

With the coming of the Constitution of India in 1950, the tribal areas of north-east India were placed in two parts, A and B in the Table appended to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. In the part A,the United Khasi and Jaintia Hills District, the Garo Hills District, the Naga Hills District, the North-Cachar Hills and the Mikir Hills District were placed. The North-East frontier Tracts including Balipara Frontirer Tract, Tirap Frontier Tract, Abor Hill and Mishmi Hills and the Naga Hills Tribal Areas were categorised in Part B . Part A areas formed the Autonomous Districts and were administered by the Government of Assam with the Autonomous District Councils established in 1952 except in Naga Hills District. The Governor of Assam continued to administer at his discretion Part B areas as Agent to the President of India. The Naga Hills were restive and refused the scheme under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution. In 1954, after minor territorial adjustments, the North-East Frontier Tracts with Abor Hills and Mishmi Hills Districts were transformed into NorthEast Frontier Agency, under Ministry of External Affairs. Subsequently in 1965, the Ministry of Home Affairs took charge of it. The Lushai Hills District became Mizo District in 1954.

The Government of India Act, 1935 and the Constitution of India kindled the aspirations of middle class Leadership of the Brahmaputra valley for an expanded Assam. The inner contradiction of the emerging Society, the emergence of new middle-classes in the Hills, ethnic and linguistic assertions, the lack of sensitivity for equitable Economic Development in the leadership led to the break up of Assam as it stood on the coming of Constitution of India which released new social forces all over the north-east. Insurgency for ethnic identity broke the fragile administrative unity believing that homelands would give better chance in the changing geopolitical scenario. History is a hard taskmaster. Like nature, it asserts itself. Reorganisation is a continuous process. So, further reorganisation of north-east, within the broad frame of the Union of India cannot be ruled out.

With the partition and independence of India in 1947, the district of Sylhet (excluding the Karimganj subdivision) was ceded to Pakistan (the eastern portion of which later became Bangladesh). Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950. In 1961 and 1962 Chinese armed forces, disputing the McMahon Line as the boundary between India and Tibet, occupied part of the North East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh but then part of Assam). In December 1962, however, they voluntarily withdrew to Tibet.

Between the early 1960s and the early 1970s Assam lost much of its territory to new states that emerged from within its borders. In 1963 the Naga Hills district became the 16th state of India under the name of Nagaland. Part of Tuensang, a former territory of the North East Frontier Agency, was also added to Nagaland. In 1970, in response to the demands of the tribal peoples of the Meghalaya Plateau, the districts embracing the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and Garo Hills were formed into an autonomous state within Assam, and in 1972 it became a separate state under the name of Meghalaya. Also in 1972 Arunachal Pradesh (the North East Frontier Agency) and Mizoram (from the Mizo Hills in the south) were separated from Assam as union territories; both became states in 1986.

Communal tensions and violence remained a problem in Assam even after the four ethnic-based states were created. In the early 1980s, resentment among the Assamese against “foreigners”—mostly immigrants from Bangladesh—led to widespread violence and considerable loss of life. The antiforeign campaigns were spearheaded by the All Assam Students’ Union, which was led by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. Subsequently, disaffected Bodo tribal people (in Assam and Meghalaya) agitated for an autonomous state. They were joined by the militant United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which waged a vigorous guerrilla campaign for the outright secession of Assam from India.

In 1985 Mahanta helped form a new political party, the Assam People’s Council (Asom Gana Parishad; AGP), which won legislative Elections in the state that year and formed a government with Mahanta as chief minister (head of government). There followed a period of greatly increased violence, which was attributed to the ULFA. When it was revealed that AGP members had forged direct links with the ULFA, the national government in 1990 dismissed Mahanta’s government. The Indian army subsequently undertook a series of military campaigns against the separatists (1990–91), and membership in the ULFA was made a criminal offense.

The AGP, which had struggled with internal dissension after being ousted from power in 1990, again took control of the State Government in 1996. The party had campaigned on a platform calling for greater autonomy and self-determination in Assam, but it came to oppose the ULFA. However, after it was learned that the AGP government had recruited former ULFA members to kill family members of ULFA leaders, the AGP was voted out of office in the 2001 legislative elections. The ULFA and other separatist groups continued guerrilla and terrorist activities into the 21st century, and the government stepped up counterinsurgency operations. The group, however, also engaged in discussions with government officials, which resulted in the signing of a preliminary peace agreement in 2011.

The Constitution and Reorganization of Assam

Assam is a state in northeastern India. It is the largest state in India by area, and the third most populous state after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The state is bordered by Bhutan to the north, Arunachal Pradesh to the northeast, Nagaland to the east, Manipur and Mizoram to the southeast, Tripura to the south, Meghalaya to the southwest, and West Bengal to the west. The state has a coastline of about 540 kilometers along the Bay of Bengal.

The capital of Assam is Dispur. The other major cities in the state are Guwahati, Silchar, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Tezpur. Assam is a land of diverse cultures and languages. The major ethnic groups in the state are the Assamese, Bodos, Karbis, Dimasas, Mishings, and Nagas. The Official Language of the state is Assamese.

Assam is a land of natural beauty. The state is home to the Brahmaputra River, the longest river in India. The state also has a number of hills and forests. The Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Assam.

The history of Assam is long and complex. The state was ruled by a number of different dynasties over the centuries. The Ahom dynasty ruled Assam from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The British East India Company took control of Assam in the 1820s. Assam became a part of India in 1947.

The Assam Accord was a peace agreement signed in 1985 between the Government of India and the All Assam Students Union (AASU). The accord was signed to end the Assam Agitation, a six-year-long movement against illegal immigration into Assam. The accord led to the creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), an autonomous council for the Bodo people.

The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India provides for the administration of tribal areas in India. The Sixth Schedule applies to the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The Sixth Schedule provides for the creation of autonomous districts and autonomous councils for the tribal people in these states.

The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) is an autonomous council for the Bodo people in Assam. The BTC was created in 2003 under the Assam Accord. The BTC has its own legislature, executive, and judiciary. The BTC is responsible for a number of subjects, including Education, Health, agriculture, and forests.

The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) is an autonomous council for the Karbi people in Assam. The KAAC was created in 1963 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The KAAC has its own legislature, executive, and judiciary. The KAAC is responsible for a number of subjects, including education, health, agriculture, and forests.

The Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAS) is an autonomous council for the Dima people in Assam. The DHAS was created in 1972 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The DHAS has its own legislature, executive, and judiciary. The DHAS is responsible for a number of subjects, including education, health, agriculture, and forests.

The North Cachar Hills Autonomous District Council (NCHADC) is an autonomous district council for the Dimasa people in Assam. The NCHADC was created in 1952 under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. The NCHADC has its own legislature, executive, and judiciary. The NCHADC is responsible for a number of subjects, including education, health, agriculture, and forests.

The United Minorities Front of Assam (UMFA) is a political party in Assam. The UMFA was founded in 1985 by Badruddin Ajmal. The UMFA is a secular party that represents the interests of the minorities in Assam. The UMFA has been a part of the ruling coalition in Assam since 2001.

The All Assam Students Union (AASU) is a student organization in Assam. The AASU was founded in 1972 by students who were protesting against illegal immigration into Assam. The AASU played a leading role in the Assam Agitation. The AASU is a powerful organization that has a significant influence on the politics of Assam.

The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) is a student organization of the Bodo people in Assam. The ABSU was founded in 1968. The ABSU has been a leading voice in the Bodoland movement. The ABSU has been involved in a number of violent protests and clashes with the security forces.

The Karbi Anglong Students Union (KASU) is a student organization of the Karbi people

Here are some frequently asked questions about Assam:

What is the capital of Assam?
The capital of Assam is Dispur.
What is the Population of Assam?
The population of Assam is 31,169,272 (2011 census).
What is the language spoken in Assam?
The language spoken in Assam is Assamese.
What is the religion of the majority of people in Assam?
The religion of the majority of people in Assam is Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism.
What is the main occupation of the people of Assam?
The main occupation of the people of Assam is agriculture.
What are some of the famous tourist attractions in Assam?
Some of the famous tourist attractions in Assam are Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
What are some of the famous festivals of Assam?
Some of the famous festivals of Assam are Bihu, Rongali Bihu, Bohag Bihu, and Magh Bihu.
What are some of the famous dishes of Assam?
Some of the famous dishes of Assam are Aloo Pitha, Bora, and Jhaal Muri.
What are some of the famous people from Assam?
Some of the famous people from Assam are Bhupen Hazarika, Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, and Lakshminath Bezbaruah.
What are some of the challenges faced by Assam?
Some of the challenges faced by Assam are POVERTY, illiteracy, and Unemployment.
What are some of the achievements of Assam?
Some of the achievements of Assam are the establishment of the Assamese language as the official language of the state, the establishment of the Assamese Sahitya Sabha, and the establishment of the Assam University.
What is the future of Assam?
The future of Assam is bright. The state has a lot of potential for development in the fields of agriculture, tourism, and education.

Sure. Here are some MCQs without mentioning the topic Constitution and reorganization of Assam:

Which of the following is not a state of India?
(A) Assam
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Nagaland
(D) Manipur
Which of the following is the capital of Assam?
(A) Guwahati
(B) Dibrugarh
(C) Silchar
(D) Jorhat
Which of the following is the largest river in Assam?
(A) Brahmaputra
(B) Barak
(C) Manas
(D) Dihang
Which of the following is the national animal of Assam?
(A) One-horned rhinoceros
(B) Royal Bengal tiger
(C) Asiatic elephant
(D) Gangetic dolphin
Which of the following is the national bird of Assam?
(A) Great hornbill
(B) Green peafowl
(C) Red junglefowl
(D) Indian peafowl
Which of the following is the national flower of Assam?
(A) Rhododendron
(B) Magnolia
(C) Orchid
(D) Lotus
Which of the following is the national language of Assam?
(A) Assamese
(B) Bengali
(C) Hindi
(D) English
Which of the following is the chief minister of Assam?
(A) Himanta Biswa Sarma
(B) Sarbananda Sonowal
(C) Tarun Gogoi
(D) Prafulla Kumar Mahanta
Which of the following is the highest mountain in Assam?
(A) Saramati
(B) Dehing Patkai
(C) Patkai Bum
(D) Nokrek
Which of the following is the largest lake in Assam?
(A) Deepor Beel
(B) Loktak Lake
(C) Barapani Lake
(D) Dibru Saikhowa National Park
Which of the following is the most populous city in Assam?
(A) Guwahati
(B) Dibrugarh
(C) Silchar
(D) Jorhat
Which of the following is the oldest university in Assam?
(A) Gauhati University
(B) Dibrugarh University
(C) North Eastern Hill University
(D) Tezpur University
Which of the following is the most popular sport in Assam?
(A) Football
(B) Cricket
(C) Hockey
(D) Kabaddi
Which of the following is the most famous festival in Assam?
(A) Bihu
(B) Durga puja
(C) Kali Puja
(D) Rath Yatra
Which of the following is the most famous dish in Assam?
(A) Aloo Pitha
(B) Bora
(C) Jhaal Muri
(D) Laru

I hope these MCQs are helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.