This text gives a background of the growth of urban centres in Brahmaputra Valley in the period of post independence.
The Brahmaputra or Assam valley is the most important geomorphological unit of Assam. It is almost a flat featureless alluvial lowland lying on either side of the Brahmaputra river, extending from the base of Bhutan and Arunachal Himalaya in the northeast to the Indo-Bangladesh border in the west. It is about 725 km long, 80 km wide(average) and area is 58315 sq. km. The valley is characterized by distinct alluvial morphological units, predominance of rice fields, tea gardens, oil resources, very low urbanization, lack of quick transportation system and high density of population.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction:
2. Historical Background of the Study area:
3. Pattern of Urban Growth:
Objectives and Themes
This work examines the historical development and current trends of urbanization within the Brahmaputra Valley in the post-independence era, analyzing the demographic, economic, and administrative factors that have shaped the growth of urban centers in this geographically distinct region.
- Evolution of urban centers from colonial administration to post-independence development.
- Geomorphological and socio-economic characteristics of the Brahmaputra Valley.
- The impact of infrastructure, industrialization, and administrative policy on urban expansion.
- Comparative analysis of district-level urban growth based on 2001 census data.
- Challenges associated with rural-urban migration and urban stagnation in the region.
Excerpt from the Book
Historical Background of the Study area:
The urban process is not new. The study of the urbanization in India by its very nature involves a time dimension covering a period of about 5000 years. The first phase of urbanization is associated with the Harappan, Aryan and Dravidian civilization dating back from around 2350 B.C to 600 B.C. during the second phase India witnessed a mixed and subdued form of urbanization under the reign of the Hindu and Muslim rulers. At that period, in Brahmaputra valley of North East India many of the kings and rulers reigned and established their capital for administrative and defensive purposes and at a later stage these were grown as urban centers depending their importance.
The present Assam Valley or Brahmaputra Valley became the center of political activities and civilization of Assam right from the early period. In a sense, the history of the land is the history of the civilization of Brahmaputra valley. The zone as well as the land as a whole was predominantly rural with majority of the people living villages. W.W. Hunter in his A Statistical Account of Assam Vol.I has rightly remarked that the population of the districts of Assam is entirely rural, and the people do not evince any tendency towards urban life. During the British rule in Assam according to the statistics of Assam, 1853 published in the Mills Report on the Province of Assam, there were six Zillah (District) in Assam. The districts had one or two sub divisions, which were the main urban centers on those days. Thus Guwahati in 1836, Barpeta 1841, Mangaldoi 1835, Tezpur 1893, Goalpara 1875, Dhubri 1883, Dibrugarh 1847 was the main urban center. In 1901 there were only 14 urban centers in the Brahmaputra valley.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction:: Defines the criteria for urban areas in the Indian context and outlines the socio-economic factors, such as industrialization and demographic shifts, that drive urbanization.
Historical Background of the Study area:: Traces the evolution of urban centers in the Brahmaputra Valley from ancient times through the colonial period, highlighting the region's predominantly rural nature.
Pattern of Urban Growth:: Analyzes the quantitative trends in urban population growth from 1901 to 2001, examining the roles of administration, infrastructure, and industrial developments like tea and oil in forming new townships.
Keywords
Brahmaputra Valley, Urbanization, Post-Independence, Assam, Urban Centers, Census of India, Rural-Urban Migration, Industrialization, Infrastructure, Demographics, Socio-economic Development, Urban Growth, Administration, Tertiary Sector, Bodoland Territorial Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The work provides an analytical overview of the urbanization process in the Brahmaputra Valley, specifically examining how urban centers have evolved since India's independence.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the historical roots of urbanization, the definition and classification of urban areas in India, the impact of infrastructure and industry on town growth, and current district-level data.
What is the central research question?
The primary aim is to investigate the pace and nature of urban growth in the Brahmaputra Valley, identifying the drivers of this expansion and the factors that contribute to both development and stagnation.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The research relies on historical analysis, geographical context, and statistical data extraction, primarily using Census of India reports and historical colonial administration documents.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines the geomorphology of the valley, the transition of administrative units into urban hubs, the role of transportation and industry (such as tea and oil), and current challenges like infrastructure constraints.
What key terms characterize this research?
Key terms include Brahmaputra Valley, Urbanization, Demographics, Post-Independence, Industrialization, and Socio-economic development.
How did British colonial policy impact urbanization in this region?
Colonial policy focused on minimal administrative expenditure, resulting in limited urban growth where towns were mainly administrative subdivisions or centers for trade and communication, leading to stagnation.
What role does the Kamrup district play in the valley's urbanization?
Kamrup is highlighted as a significant district, exhibiting the highest urban growth rate (35.81%) and serving as the location of the largest urban center in the region, Guwahati.
How does the author categorize the factors that gave birth to new urban centers?
The author identifies various triggers including administrative necessity, the establishment of industries (tea, oil, plywood), transportation hubs (railway/airports), religious tourism, and the creation of educational institutions like IIT.
- Quote paper
- Jyotirmayee Devi (Author), 2007, Growth of Urban Centres in the Brahmaputra Valley in the Post Independent Period, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/352078
