Barak Valley

Barak Valley is the southernmost region and administrative area of the Indian state of Assam. It gets its name from the Barak River, which forms its northern border. The valley includes three districts: Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi.

The largest city in Barak Valley is Silchar. It is the main city of Cachar district and also serves as the administrative center for the whole Barak Valley division. The valley is surrounded by several places: Mizoram and Tripura to the south, Bangladesh and Meghalaya to the west, and Manipur to the east.

Over time, the area has changed. What was once called North Cachar Hills started as part of Cachar district, became a subdivision in 1951, and later became its own district. In 1983, Karimganj became a separate district from Cachar. Then in 1989, Hailakandi was upgraded from a subdivision to become its own district.

Etymology

The name "Barak" comes from the Dimasa words 'Bra' and 'Kro'. 'Bra' means splitting, and 'Kro' means upper part or stream. The Barak River splits near Haritikar in the Karimganj district into the Surma River and the Kushiyara River. The area where the river splits was called "Brakro" by the Barman Kacharis living in the Cachar plains.

Barak Valley, except for Karimganj, was once part of the Kachari kingdom. Some believe the word "Kachar" in Bengali means land at the foot of a mountain. Others think the name comes from the Dimasa people, who were known as "Kachari" before they settled in the Cachar plains.

Districts

The Barak Valley is made up of three districts: Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi.

History

Main articles: Kamarupa kingdom, Kachari kingdom, Twipra Kingdom, and History of Sylhet

The Barak river splits into two parts, called the Surma and the Kushiara, between the towns of Badarpur and Karimganj. Old writings tell us that in the 10th century, the area around these rivers was settled by kings from Kamarupa in the 7th century.

The three districts of the Barak Valley each have their own history. The area was shaped by old kingdoms and later by leaders from the East India Company and the British Raj. These leaders helped define the borders of the land.

Pre-colonial formations

Cachar

In the 1500s, the Tripura kingdom controlled the Cachar plains. Later, a leader named Chilarai brought the area into the Koch kingdom. After the Koch ruler Nara Narayan passed away, the area became independent, ruled by descendants of Chilarai's half-brother Kamalnarayan. In the 1700s, the rule passed to leaders from the Kachari kingdom.

The Kachari leaders invited religious teachers and gave land to people from far away to live and work. People from places like Manipur and the Ahom kingdom also moved there.

Hailakandi

Hailakandi was a busy market town near the Dalasuri river. It connected rich hills to markets along the Barak river. Both the Tripura and Kachari kingdoms wanted control over it, making it a place where different groups met and traded.

Karimganj

The East India Company slowly moved into the area east of Sylhet town after winning the right to collect taxes in 1765. Karimganj became part of the Sylhet area, which later joined Assam in 1874. After a vote in 1947, part of Sylhet joined India and became Karimganj district.

Sylhet, west of Karimganj, was not ruled by any state until the Mughals set up control there in 1612.

Colonial boundaries

The East India Company took control of Sylhet and wanted to control trade routes and farming lands to make money. They set borders to protect their interests and increase income.

Inclusion of Karimganj

See also: 1947 Sylhet referendum and Pratapgarh Kingdom

In 1947, a vote was held in Sylhet to decide whether it would join India or Pakistan. The eastern part, Karimganj, chose to join India and is now a district of Assam. The rest of Sylhet joined what became East Bengal. Leaders worked hard to make sure Karimganj stayed with India.

Demographics

The Barak Valley is home to many people. In 2011, about 3.6 million people lived there, and by 2021, the number was estimated to be over 4.3 million. The area has almost equal numbers of males and females.

People in the Barak Valley speak many different languages. The most common language is Bengali, followed by Hindi, Manipuri, Bishnupriya Manipuri, and several others. The main religions are Hindus and Muslims, with smaller numbers of Christians and others.

The valley has three main districts: Cachar district, Hailakandi district, and Karimganj district. Each district has several smaller areas called circles, and each circle has its own population count.

Trends

Hindu and Muslim population by district tehsils

According to the 2011 census, in Cachar district, Hindus are the majority in three areas named Silchar, Lakhipur, and Udharbond, while Muslims are the majority in Katigora and Sonai.

In Hailakandi district, Hindus are a big group in Katlichara and Lala, but Muslims are the majority in all three areas, though in Katlichara Muslims are the largest group.

In Karimganj district, Hindus are the majority in Patharkandi and Ramkrishna Nagar, while Muslims are the majority in Nilambazar, Badarpur, and Karimganj.

Demography of district headquarters

Statehood demand

See also: Barak state movement

Many groups in the Barak Valley want their own state, separate from Assam. They feel that their area, which mainly speaks Bengali, deserves better schools, hospitals, and more opportunities. They have asked leaders for help in making this happen.

See also: Dimaraji

Some people from the Dimasa Cachari community also want their own state called Dimaraji or Dimaland. This would include parts of several districts in Assam and Nagaland where they live.

Festivals

Durga puja is one of the biggest festivals in Barak Valley. Many people in the area celebrate it with joy and excitement, whether they live in villages or cities. Each year, about 2,500 special celebration spots are set up all over the valley, with many of them in Silchar. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil.

Kali Puja is another important festival in the valley. Around 2,000 celebration spots are created each year for this event. People gather to ask for happiness, health, and peace.

Busu Dima is a special celebration for the Dimasa Kachari tribe in North Cachar Hills and Cachar. It marks the end of the grain harvest and usually happens in January.

Baidima is a tradition of the Dimasa Cachari tribe, also held in January after Busu Dima. It includes a week of traditional dancing and singing. In haflong, people organize cultural events and meetings for this festival.

Charak puja (Pohela Boishakh) is the Bengali new year and a major celebration for the Bengali people in the valley. It is celebrated on April 15 each year.

Eid

Eid is an important festival for the Muslim community, who make up half of the valley's population. Like Durga puja, Eid is celebrated with joy and happiness, especially in the districts of Karimganj and Hailakandi.

Social issues

Bengali Language Movement in Barak Valley

The Barak Valley is mostly home to Bengali-speaking people. In 1961, a law was passed making Assamese the main language of Assam. This upset many Bengali speakers in the Barak Valley. They protested, and after some time, Bengali was also given official status in the region.

Language controversy

In 2021, some people in Silchar blacked out a sign written in Assamese. This led to protests from both Bengali and Assamese groups, causing tension between the two communities.

Immigration of Bengali refugees in Cachar Valley

After the partition of India in 1947, many Bengali people moved to Cachar Valley. Over time, the number of these refugees changed. Some moved away, and others arrived later. Today, most people in the Barak Valley are recognized as Indian citizens.

Barak-Mizoram dispute

Mizoram and Assam have had disagreements about their border for many years. Mizoram wants the border to follow an old rule from 1875, while Assam says it should follow newer boundaries. These disagreements have sometimes led to conflicts.

Communal Tensions

The Barak Valley has seen several conflicts between different groups over the years. These conflicts have often started over small incidents, such as disputes about land or animals, and have sometimes led to injuries.

Economy

Tea is very important for the economy of Barak Valley, and the area has many tea gardens, just like other parts of Assam. There are also oil and natural gas underground that help support the local economy. Several oil refineries have been built in different places in the valley to meet economic needs. Jute is another important crop grown in the region.

The average income per person in Cachar is Rs. 19,551, in Hailakandi it is Rs. 19,055, and in Karimganj it is Rs. 20,093. The Barak Valley as a whole has an average income per person of Rs. 58,699, which is a bit lower than most areas in Assam.

Poverty

The Barak Valley is one of the poorest parts of Assam. Many people there do not have enough money for basic needs like clean water, food, electricity, and proper homes.

In Hailakandi district, about half of the people live in tough conditions. In Cachar district, around 42% face similar challenges, and in Karimganj district, about 46% are also struggling without these important resources.

Forest cover

The Barak Valley has about 104 forest villages. In Cachar district, which covers 3,786 km², about 2,222 km² is forest. Hailakandi district, spanning 1,327 km², has around 774 km² of forest. Karimganj district, covering 1,809 km², has approximately 851 km² of forest.

List of districts in Barak Valley

The Barak Valley has three districts. They are:

1. Karimganj which covers 1,809 km² and is the second largest district in the valley.
2. Hailakandi which covers 1,327 km² and is the third largest district in the valley.
3. Cachar which covers 3,786 km² and is the largest district in the valley.

The total area of the Barak Valley is 6,922 km².

Historically, North Cachar Hills was once part of the Barak Valley. If we include that area, the Barak region would be 11,812 km², larger than the nearby state of Tripura, which is 10,491 km².

Wildlife

The Asian elephant no longer lives in most of the Barak Valley. The only wildlife sanctuary in this area is Barail, started by naturalist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury in the early 1980s and officially recognized in 2004.

The valley has thirteen reserve forests: six in Karimganj, five in Cachar, and two in Hailakandi. The Patharia hills reserve forest in Karimganj is home to many animals and could become the Patharia hills wildlife sanctuary. The southern part might also become the Dhaleswari wildlife sanctuary.

Weather

Barak Valley has warm temperatures, ranging from 35° to 40 °C, and it is quite humid. The area receives a lot of rain, with yearly rainfall between 100 and 200 cm. This makes it one of the warmest and most humid places in North East India.

Politics

The Barak Valley has 15 seats in the state’s assembly. In the 2021 election, many people in the valley voted for the BJP, followed by the INC and AIUDF. The BJP got the most votes and won the most seats. In June 2023, the Election Commission of India decided to reduce the number of seats in the Barak Valley from 15 to 13.

Constituencies

Barak Valley has two important seats called Lok Sabha seats. They are Karimganj (Lok Sabha constituency) and Silchar (Lok Sabha constituency).

The area also has fifteen seats in the Assam Legislative Assembly. These seats are Hailakandi, Algapur-Katlicherra, Karimganj South, Karimganj North, Ratabari, Patharkandi, Katigorah, Dholai, Udharbond, Sonai, Silchar, Barkhola, and Lakhipur.

Districts tehsils

Notable people

The Barak Valley has been home to many important people in different fields. Some of them include:

• Karnendu Bhattacharjee — a former member of India’s upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, from the Indian National Congress.
• B. B. Bhattacharya — a former leader of a big university in New Delhi.
• Kalika Prasad Bhattacharya — a well-known singer.
• Radheshyam Biswas — a former member of India’s lower house of Parliament, the Lok Sabha, from the AIUDF.
• Abdul Jalil Choudhury — an Islamic teacher and politician who served in the Assam Legislative Assembly for many years.
• Anwaruddin Choudhury — the first leader of the Barak Valley when it became its own division in 2015–16, known as the Birdman of Assam.
• Moinul Hoque Choudhury — a minister during Indira Gandhi’s time, known for helping industry grow in the Barak Valley.
• Sahidul Alam Choudhury — a former important minister in Assam’s government.
• Pritam Das — a cricketer.
• Aminul Haque Laskar — a former leader in Assam’s government and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
• Santosh Mohan Dev — a former member of Lok Sabha and a minister in India’s government.
• Sushmita Dev — a leader in the All India Trinamool Congress.
• Kripanath Mallah — a member of Lok Sabha from Karimganj.
• Abdul Matlib Mazumdar — a freedom fighter and one of Assam’s first important ministers after independence.
• Gautam Roy — a former minister in Assam.
• Rajdeep Roy — a former member of Lok Sabha from Silchar.
• Debojit Saha — a singer and television host.

Educational institutions

Barak Valley has several schools and colleges where students can learn. Some important ones include Assam University, Barak Valley Engineering College, Cachar College, and National Institute of Technology, Silchar. There are also other colleges such as Karimganj College, Nabinchandra College, and Srikishan Sarda College in the area.