Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is a state in northeast India. It became a state on February 20, 1987. The capital is Itanagar. Before 1972, the area was called the North-East Frontier Agency.

Arunachal Pradesh shares borders with Bhutan, Myanmar, and China. China says part of the state is Southern Tibet, but it is part of India.

The state has about 1.4 million people. They live far apart, with only 17 people in each square kilometre. Many different groups of people live there, including Monpa, Tani, Mishmi, Tai, and Naga people. There are about 23 main tribes and over 100 smaller groups.

Etymology

Arunachal Pradesh means Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains in Sanskrit. This name was created when the state was formed. Before 1972, the area was called the North-East Frontier Agency.

Some countries, like the People's Republic of China, do not recognize Arunachal Pradesh as part of India. They believe it belongs to a place they call Southern Tibet. In old Tibetan writings, some parts of Arunachal Pradesh had different names.

History

Ancient period

Main articles: Monpa people and Prince Tsangma

We know little about the early history of this area, except for the northwest and areas near Assam today. The northwest was ruled by the Monpa kingdom of Monyul under Tibet, which grew between 500 BCE and 600 CE. The Monpa and Sherdukpen kept records of local leaders.

Tibetan stories say Monyul was ruled by Gongkar Gyal, a descendant of an exiled Tibetan ruler named Lhase Tsangma, brother of the Tibetan king Ralpacan. He came to Monyul in 837 A.D. or earlier.

A descendant of Gongkar Gyal ruled the Trashiyangtse region of Bhutan. Another descendant ruled the Khorwong valley in Thembanga town, now in West Kameng district.

Later, Gongkar Gyal’s son returned to Tibet but came back to rule Monyul.

The Monpas, also called Menba by the Chinese, managed trade between Assam and Tibet. They were under the ruler of Tawang, who was under the Government of Tibet in Lhasa.

Thembang dzong built during the 12th century, a type of dzong commonly found in Bhutan and Tibet

Medieval period

Main articles: Tsangyang Gyatso and Tawang Monastery

In the 1600s, the 5th Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso ordered the building of fortresses in Monyul to collect taxes.

The fortresses were built to collect taxes from the Dirang Monpa, Kalaktang Monpa, and Tawang Monpa.

The tax was taken to Tawang Monastery and then to Lhasa.

The 6th Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.

Arunachal Pradesh is part of the Kham and Ü-Tsang areas of Tibet.

The lower areas were under the control of the Chutia kings of Assam. The inner parts stayed independent.

British India

After the British took over Assam, they made agreements with local chiefs. They wanted to grow the economy and get resources from Assam, so they worked to stop fights among tribes.

Before the Simla Conference, the British had not decided what to do with the frontier areas. The area was seen as terra nullius, meaning it didn’t belong to anyone.

In 1912, Chinese actions made the British negotiate a formal border. They sent groups into the hills to find the “natural and traditional border” between the tribes and Tibet.

These missions helped draw the McMahon Line.

In 1912–13, the British Indian government set up the North-East Frontier Tracts.

The McMahon line

Main article: McMahon Line

Tawang Monastery built in the 17th century under the instruction of the 5th Dalai Lama, is the largest monastery in India and second-largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. It is one of the few monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism that have remained protected from Mao's Cultural Revolution without any damage.

In 1913–1914, leaders from Tibet and Britain met in India to decide the borders. British leader Sir Henry McMahon drew the McMahon Line as the border between British India and Tibet, putting Tawang inside British India. The Tibetan and British leaders made the Simla Accord, but Chinese leaders did not agree.

China said Tibet was part of China and could not make treaties.

When China did not control Tibet, the line was not challenged. In 1937, the Survey of India released a map showing the McMahon Line as India’s official border.

In 1944, Britain set up local governments from Dirang Dzong to Walong. Control was extended over the Tawang area south of the Sela Pass.

Sino-Indian War

Main article: Sino-Indian War

After British rule ended, India became independent in 1947, and the People’s Republic of China started in 1949. The new Chinese government still said the McMahon Line was not real.

In February 1951, India took control of the Tawang area from Tibet.

What is now Arunachal Pradesh became the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) in 1954. The border disagreement was a reason for the Sino-Indian War in 1962, when China took most of Arunachal Pradesh. China said it won and pulled back to the McMahon Line.

Renaming and statehood

Under Indira Gandhi, the North-East Frontier Agency became Arunachal Pradesh in 1972 and a union territory. Later, it became a state in 1987 under Rajiv Gandhi.

Recent claims

The 14th Dalai Lama has changed his views on Arunachal Pradesh over time.

In recent years, China has sometimes said it claims Tawang. India has said these claims are wrong.

In 2024, reports said China had built villages in areas of Arunachal Pradesh that are in dispute.

Site	Dated to	Built by
Bhismaknagar Fort, Roing	8th–15th century	Chutia kings
Bolung Fort, Bolung	13th century	Chutia kings
Dimachung-Betali, West Kameng	13th century	Chutia kings
Gomsi Fort, East Siang	13th century	Chutia kings
Rukmini Fort, Roing	14th–15th century	Chutia kings
Tezu Fort, Roing	14th–15th century	Chutia kings
Naksha Parbat ruins, East Kameng	14th–15th century	Chutia kings
Ita Fort, Itanagar	14th–15th century	Chutia kings
Buroi Fort, Papum Pare	13th century	Chutia kings
Malinithan Temple, Likabali	13th–14th century	Chutia kings
Ita Pukhuri, Ithili	13th–14th century	Chutia kings
Padum Pukhuri, Ithili	13th–14th century	Chutia kings
Kampona brick tank, Idili	13th–14th century	Chutia kings
Kanying brick tank, Idili	13th–14th century	Chutia kings
Bolung brick canal, Bolung	13th–14th century	Chutia kings
Dirang Dzong, West Kameng	17th century	Monpa
Tawang Monastery, Tawang	17th century (1680–1681)	Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso

Geography

Main article: Geography of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is a state in northeast India. It is located between latitudes 26.28° N and 29.30° N and longitudes 91.20° E and 97.30° E. It covers an area of 83,743 km². The highest peak is Kangto, standing at 7,060 metres. The state’s name comes from the Aruna Mountains, known as “the place where the sun rises.” The villages of Dong and Vijaynagar are among the first in India to see sunlight.

The state has many rivers, including the Kameng, Subansiri, Siang (Brahmaputra), Dibang, Lohit, and Noa Dihing. These rivers are fed by underground water and summer snow melt. The mountains here are part of the Eastern Himalayas and other ranges like the Mishmi Hills and Patkai Range.

Arunachal Pradesh has a wide range of climates depending on height above sea level. Lower areas have a warm, moist climate, while higher areas have cooler mountain climates. The state receives heavy rain each year, mostly falling between May and October.

The state is rich in wildlife, with many types of birds and mammals. Its forests are important for biodiversity and include several national parks. The area is home to many different plants, including special trees and shrubs adapted to cold mountain climates. Animals such as tiger, snow leopard, and Asian elephant live here, along with unique species like the Mishmi Hills hoolock gibbon.

Administration

Districts

Main article: Districts of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is split into three parts called Central, East, and West. Each part has a leader named a divisional commissioner. The state has twenty-eight districts, each with a leader called a deputy commissioner. West Siang is the biggest district, and Tawang is the smallest. Papum Pare has the most people, while Diwang Valley has the fewest.

Major towns

These are some of the larger towns in Arunachal Pradesh.

Municipal corporation

Itanagar Municipal Corporation

Municipal councils

Pasighat Municipal council

Municipal committees

Towns

Division	West	Central	East
Headquarters	Yazali	Basar	Namsai
Districts	East Kameng Kamle Kra Daadi Kurung Kumey Lower Subansiri Pakke-Kessang Papum Pare Tawang West Kameng	Lepa-Rada Lower Siang Shi-Yomi Upper Subansiri West Siang	Anjaw Changlang Dibang Valley East Siang Lohit Longding Lower Dibang Valley Namsai Siang Tirap Upper Siang

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is home to many different groups of people. There are 12 groups known as Scheduled Tribes, and they make up most of the population. The state has several cultural areas based on the tribes' identity, language, religion, and traditions. These areas include the Monpa area near Bhutan, the Tani area in the center, the Mishmi area to the east, the Tai/Singpho/Tangsa area near Myanmar, and the Naga area to the south. There are also smaller groups and areas where these main groups meet.

Religion

Main articles: Religion in Arunachal Pradesh and Hinduism in Arunachal Pradesh

People in Arunachal Pradesh follow many different religions. The main religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Donyi-Polo, Buddhism, and Islam. The state has a rich mix of religious beliefs, with many people following their traditional tribal religions, such as Donyi-Polo. Buddhism has been present since the 8th century, especially in areas near Tibet. Christianity has grown over the years.

Languages

Literacy

Literacy in Arunachal Pradesh improved from 2001 to 2011. In 2011, about 789,943 people could read and write. More men could read and write compared to women.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1961	336,558	—
1971	467,511	+38.9%
1981	631,839	+35.1%
1991	864,558	+36.8%
2001	1,097,968	+27.0%
2011	1,383,727	+26.0%
Source: Census of India

Economy

Year	Gross Domestic Product (Billion ₹)
1980	1.070
1985	2.690
1990	5.080
1995	11.840
2000	17.830
2005	31.880
2010	65.210
2015	155.880

Transport

Air

Itanagar Airport opened in 2022 at Holongi. The airline IndiGo flies directly from Mumbai and Kolkata to Itanagar. Alliance Air also flies to Pasighat from Kolkata, stopping in Guwahati. There are small airports in Daporijo, Ziro, Along, and Tezu, but they are not open yet. Plans exist to develop them. Before roads connected the state, these air strips helped bring food to people.

Roads

The main highway in Arunachal Pradesh is the Trans-Arunachal Highway. It runs from Tawang to Wakro and passes through most of the state. It was announced in 2008 to be finished by 2015–16 but opened in 2018. The Bogibeel Bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Assam helps connect central Arunachal Pradesh. Bus services run from Itanagar to many nearby towns and cities. By 2007, all villages had road access thanks to government funding.

Railway

Arunachal Pradesh’s first railway line opened in late 2013, connecting Harmuti in Assam to Naharlagun. Itanagar, the state capital, got its train service in April 2014. The first train all the way from New Delhi reached Naharlagun in February 2015. India plans to keep building railways until they reach Tawang, close to the border with China.

Education

Main article: Education in Arunachal Pradesh

The government of Arunachal Pradesh is working to improve schools and colleges. Groups like Vivekananda Kendra are helping. This has helped many more people learn to read and write. The biggest university is Rajiv Gandhi University. It used to be called Arunachal University. Students can study subjects like teaching, health, and nursing there. Other universities include Indira Gandhi Technological and Medical Sciences University and Himalayan University.

The first college, Jawaharlal Nehru College in Pasighat, opened in 1964. A technical university called North East Frontier Technical University (NEFTU) started in 2014 in Aalo. There are also important schools like the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology and the National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh in Yupia.

Some of the best colleges have been checked and approved by a group called NAAC. These include Jawaharlal Nehru College in Pasighat and St Claret College in Ziro.

There are special schools run by Buddhist groups that teach old scripts with regular school subjects. The state also has polytechnic schools and law colleges, and a college for studying plants and forests.

Politics

State symbols

Emblem	Emblem of Arunachal Pradesh
Animal	Mithun (Bos frontalis)
Bird	Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)
Flower	Foxtail orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa)
Tree	Hollong (Dipterocarpus retusus)

Geographical indication

Arunachal Pradesh Khaw Tai (Khamti Rice) received a special label called Geographical Indication (GI) on October 3, 2023. This label means the rice can only come from Arunachal Pradesh.

The rice was proposed for this label by a company in Lohit. After applying in December 2021, it was officially granted the GI tag in 2023 in Chennai. It is the first rice variety from Arunachal Pradesh to have this special recognition.