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MAJULI’S CRY FOR SURVIVAL
Majuli, the world's largest inhabited river island is located in the central region of the Brahmaputra Basin and lies between latitudes 26045' N to 27010' N and longitudes 93040' E to 94035' E. Flood and erosion are common in this island every year during the monsoon season. The main area of the island at present is approximately 750 sq.km excluding the scattered char (riverine) areas like - Darbar Chapori, Radha Chapori, etc. The past records say that the area of the island was 1246 sq.km. in 1950. According to folk belief the length of the island was 160 km (100 miles) in the 17th century. But this became 80 km due to continuous erosion. The average width of the island also decreased from 18/40 km. in 1950 to 10/19 km. The average height of the island varies between 85 to 95 metres above mean seal level. But the population of Majuli has increased from 35,000 in 1901 to 1,35,378 according to the Census report of 1991. Majuli consists of 3(three) Mouzas -Salmara, Kamalabari and Ahatguri. The projected population of the river island will be approximately 1, 57,400 in 2004, calculating the average increase in the last ten years. The caste-wise population of the island as per census Report, 1991 is:
Scheduled Caste = 19,278
Scheduled Tribe = 57,357
Others = 58,743
The island is Surrounded by the river Subansiri in the north- west, the Kherkatia Suti (a spill channel of Brahmaputra ) in the north-east and the main river Brahmaputra in the south and south-west. The main towns in the vicinity of the island are North-Lakhimpur in the north, Golaghat in the south-west, Sibsagar in the South-east, the island's district headquarter, Jorhat in the south and Dibrugarh in the extreme east. Garamur is the Sub-Divisional headquarter of Majuli Sub-Division.
Majuli represents a colourful rainbow of cultural integration with highest percentage of its population belonging to tribal communities like Mising, Deuri and Kachari. The Koch Rajbongshi also form a thick slice of the population. Majuli is an administrative Sub-Division, functioning with one Revenue circle, three mouzas, two development blocks, one Mahkuma Parishad, two Anchalik Panchayats and twenty Gaon Panchayats without any road link with rest of the country. No one can reach the island without crossing waterways.
As per Report on the erosion of Majuli prepared by Brahmaputra Board, Assam, Guwahati in March 2000, there are four recognized and three non-recognized colleges, five Higher Secondary schools, sixty nine M.E. schools, ninety seven Primary schools, four Veterinary Hospitals, eleven Veterinary Sub-centres, one rural hospital, four State Dispensaries, two mini Health Centres, five Primary Health Centres, one ASTC Bus station, 9 km. State Highway and 257 km. PWD road in the entire Sub-Division. Three Police Stations and three Police Out Posts have also been established in the island.
The island provides a pollution free atmosphere and a healthy green environment for both the inhabitants and the tourists. This beautiful island has been threatened by two major problems: a) Loss of land due to severe erosion and b) Inundation by floods. A large part of the island gets inundated by flood every year causing great misery to the inhabitants. When the water level recedes, erosion starts and removes land masses in plenty.
Majuli, with its sublime and serene atmosphere provided the backdrop for the historic Moni Kanchan Sanjog between Assam's Pioneer Vaishnavite Saint Srimanta Sankardev and his disciple Madhabdev in the 15th century. Ever since that meeting of the great minds and the subsequent establishment of the Sattras that followed, Majuli emerged as the crowning glory of Vaishnavite culture in Assam.
These monasteries, the treasure house of Sattriya culture are home to the nationally recognized Sattriya dance and traditional Bhaona (theatre). There were 65 such monasteries (Sattras), but only 31 of them have so far managed to withstand nature's fury. While the pressure on land has increased tremendously with the population to near about 1.57 lakh, the island's total area has been shrinking from around 1246 sq.km to hardly about 750 sq.km at present due to unabated erosion caused by the river Brahmaputra. About 75,000 inhabitants had to migrate to the North and South banks because their homes and homesteads were lost due to flood and erosion in successive years.
Scheduled Caste = 19,278
Scheduled Tribe = 57,357
Others = 58,743
The island is Surrounded by the river Subansiri in the north- west, the Kherkatia Suti (a spill channel of Brahmaputra ) in the north-east and the main river Brahmaputra in the south and south-west. The main towns in the vicinity of the island are North-Lakhimpur in the north, Golaghat in the south-west, Sibsagar in the South-east, the island's district headquarter, Jorhat in the south and Dibrugarh in the extreme east. Garamur is the Sub-Divisional headquarter of Majuli Sub-Division.
Majuli represents a colourful rainbow of cultural integration with highest percentage of its population belonging to tribal communities like Mising, Deuri and Kachari. The Koch Rajbongshi also form a thick slice of the population. Majuli is an administrative Sub-Division, functioning with one Revenue circle, three mouzas, two development blocks, one Mahkuma Parishad, two Anchalik Panchayats and twenty Gaon Panchayats without any road link with rest of the country. No one can reach the island without crossing waterways.
As per Report on the erosion of Majuli prepared by Brahmaputra Board, Assam, Guwahati in March 2000, there are four recognized and three non-recognized colleges, five Higher Secondary schools, sixty nine M.E. schools, ninety seven Primary schools, four Veterinary Hospitals, eleven Veterinary Sub-centres, one rural hospital, four State Dispensaries, two mini Health Centres, five Primary Health Centres, one ASTC Bus station, 9 km. State Highway and 257 km. PWD road in the entire Sub-Division. Three Police Stations and three Police Out Posts have also been established in the island.
The island provides a pollution free atmosphere and a healthy green environment for both the inhabitants and the tourists. This beautiful island has been threatened by two major problems: a) Loss of land due to severe erosion and b) Inundation by floods. A large part of the island gets inundated by flood every year causing great misery to the inhabitants. When the water level recedes, erosion starts and removes land masses in plenty.
Majuli, with its sublime and serene atmosphere provided the backdrop for the historic Moni Kanchan Sanjog between Assam's Pioneer Vaishnavite Saint Srimanta Sankardev and his disciple Madhabdev in the 15th century. Ever since that meeting of the great minds and the subsequent establishment of the Sattras that followed, Majuli emerged as the crowning glory of Vaishnavite culture in Assam.
These monasteries, the treasure house of Sattriya culture are home to the nationally recognized Sattriya dance and traditional Bhaona (theatre). There were 65 such monasteries (Sattras), but only 31 of them have so far managed to withstand nature's fury. While the pressure on land has increased tremendously with the population to near about 1.57 lakh, the island's total area has been shrinking from around 1246 sq.km to hardly about 750 sq.km at present due to unabated erosion caused by the river Brahmaputra. About 75,000 inhabitants had to migrate to the North and South banks because their homes and homesteads were lost due to flood and erosion in successive years.
