Kokrajhar district

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Kokrajhar.

Kokrajhar district কোকৰাঝাৰ জিলা
District
Map of Kokrajhar district in Assam
Country	India
State	Assam
Headquarters	Kokrajhar
Area
• Total	3,129 km2 (1,208 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	886,999
• Density	280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Website	kokrajhar.gov.in

Kokrajhar district (ˌkɒkrəˈʤɑ: ;Assamese: কোকৰাঝাৰ জিলা) is an administrative district in the state of Assam in north-eastern India. The district headquarters are located at Kokrajhar town. The district occupies an area of 3,169.22 km². As of 2001, the district had a population of 905,764. Hindus 594,168, Muslims 184,441 (20.36%).

Kokrajhar district serves as the gateway to the northeastern region of India. Roads and rails to Seven Sister States pass through this district on their way to other northeast states.

History

Kokrajhar was originally a part the undivided Goalpara district. In 1957, under the administration of Bimala Prasad Chaliha as the Chief Minister of Assam, three sub-divisions were created one of which was Kokrajhar. This sub-division was made into a district on 1 July 1983.

On 29 September 1989 Bongaigaon district was created from parts of Kokrajhar and Goalpara.

Geography

Kokrajhar district occupies an area of 3,129 square kilometres (1,208 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Russia's Waigeo Island. Kokrajhar district is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra river. It forms the gateway to the Seven Sister States. Kokrajhar shares its boundary with Bongaigaon (now known as Chirang), Dhubri, West Bengal, Barpeta and Bhutan.

National protected area

• Manas National Park (Part)

Economy

Agriculture in Kokrajhar district

In 2006 the Indian government named Kokrajhar one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the eleven districts in Assam currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Divisions

There are four Assam Legislative Assembly constituencies in this district: Gossaigaon, Kokrajhar West, Kokrajhar East, and Sidli. All but Gossaigaon are designated for scheduled tribes. All four are in the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency.

Demographics

Religion in Kokrajhar district
Religion			Percent
Hindu			65.60%
Islam			20.36%
Christianity			13.72%
Others			0.32%

Ethnic Groups in Kokrajhar district
Language			Percent
Bodo			32.37%
Bengali			21.06%
Assamese			20.28%
Santhal			16.70%

According to the 2011 census Kokrajhar district has a population of 886,999, roughly equal to the nation of Fiji. This gives it a ranking of 467th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 280 inhabitants per square kilometre (730/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 5.19%. Kokrajhar has a sex ratio of 958 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 66.63%.

The district is multi-ethnic, with no majority ethnic group. Most of the Bodo and Assamese are Hindu, with a small Christian minority. Almost all of the Bengalis are Muslim, while more than 90% of the Santhals are Christian.

Culture

Places of interest

• Onthai Gwlao: Located in Chandrapara near the bank of river Gwrang.
• Mahamaya temple: Located on the border between Kokrajhar and Dhubri.
• Thandwi Bineswar Brahma Memorial Park: Located in Bhatermary on the bank of River Gwrang.
• Daimalu Park: Located in Karigaon.

Flora and fauna

In 1990 Kokrajhar district became home to Manas National Park, which has an area of 500 km² (193.1 sq mi). It shares the park with four other districts.

Popularity

Since Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary of the district is the protected habitat of endangered Golden Langur and Ultapani Reserve forest is the home of more than 300 different species of butterflies so the district has been declared as the land of Butterflies and Golden Langur. Even different species of butterflies are found in different areas also as well as the Golden Langur is also can be found in Ultapani Reserve Forest. Haltugaon Forest Division in partnership with 135 Infantry Battalion (TA) Eco Task Force and 15th Battalion the Dogra Regiment (all India) organized a plantation drive in Ultapani on 29 April 2012 where they planted 40,885 saplings of trees by a team of 100 people within 1 hour and achieved Guinness World Record of Most Trees planted. The motto of the record attempt was 'Plant Trees, Save Lives' and the aim was to save the forests of the region and to increase environmental awareness. After this achievement Kokrajhar town has been declared as the city of Guinness World Record.

Notable personalities

• Bineshwar Brahma, poet and author
• Upendranath Brahma, Bodo leader
• Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary, IPS officer, director general of National Security Guards and Border Security Force, former governor of Meghalaya.
• Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmuthiary, Bodoland politician, nationalist and social activist

See also

• Bodo people
• Bodo culture
• Bodo language
• Bodo Sahitya Sabha
• Bodoland

External links

• Kokrajhar District Administration site