Population of Assam: Important Topic for APSC CCE 2024-25

Understanding the dynamics of the population of Assam is critical for acing the APSC CCE…

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Understanding the dynamics of the population of Assam is critical for acing the APSC CCE GS Paper 5. Assam, located in the northeastern part of India, has a rich tapestry of cultural and demographic diversity, making it a pivotal topic for aspirants. 

In this article, we will discuss the key aspects of Assam’s population, including its growth trends, density, literacy rate, and rural-urban distribution. This comprehensive analysis will not only enhance your knowledge but also provide valuable insights for your exam preparation.

Understanding Assam’s Population

Assam Population Map
Assam Population Map as per census 2001

Assam may be called as the epitome of India so far as its population is concerned because it has almost all the ethno-linguistically major groups of people found in the country. The population of Assam is 31.1 million as per the census of 2011 accounting for 2.6% of the country’s total.

The present population of Assam belongs to various ethnolinguistic origins which has been built up through a long period of immigration through pre-historic, historic period.

Firstly, the group of people came in the pre-historic past, they are the Mon-Khmer speaking Austro Asiatic whose descendants are today identified as Khasis and Jayantias.

Secondly, immigrants from Tibet, South China and South East Asia who speak Tibeto Barman languages (mainly belonged from the family of Mongoloids).

Thirdly, came the Indo-Aryans from the West of the Ganga Plain. They brought with them the Vedic culture; they practiced Hindu religion and higher technology of sedentary agriculture. It is these 3 groups of people who lived in the region till the beginning of the 13th century.

From 1205AD, another group of Indo-Aryans professing Islam started settling in this region, they came here as soldiers and craftsman of
invading armies of the Sultans of Delhi and Nawabs of Bengal. The Muslim immigration was followed by Thai of Tai-Ahom people 1228AD under Sukapha who established kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley that lasted till 1826AD.

In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries there came in 5 small groups of Tai people named Khamti, Khamiyang, Aaiton, Phake, Turung who had settled in East Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. After 1826, along with the British there came in some Bengalis who lived in the Barak Valley since long time.

Along with the Britishers, there also came people from North India like Rajasthanis and Nepalis who North India like Rajasthanis and Nepalis who were of tea plantation by the Britishers, the British tea companies brought in thousands of people from Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh to work in the tea gardens as labours. This immigration continued upto 1940.

Another significant stream of migration took place in the 19th century with the coming in of many Kuki Chin people from Upper Myanmar across the border of Mizoram and Manipur, also have now settled in the hill district of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong. Then again from about 1880, there started a migration stream of the landless Muslim peasant of the then east Bengal (now Bangladesh) who settled in the flood plains of Brahmaputra from the Dhubri District to as far as Lakhimpur.

The last and major way of immigration came to Assam after the partition of the country in 1947, where thousands of Hindu refugees having left their home in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) settled in Assam now permanently.

The present population of Assam is essentially made up of the above 11 streams and the wave of illegal immigrants resulting in a mosaic of different socio-cultural pattern. The emerging socio-cultural scene is such that the population of the state now comprises 5 Constitutional communities including 17 SC and 13 ST.

The total population of Assam is 31.1 million as of 2011, census which increased by 18.85% as compared to 2001 census of Assam. The high growth rate in Assam was not due to natural cause. Ever since the British annexed Assam, there occurred immigration of people from Bengal, North India, Nepal, Chotanagpur Plateau, Chhattisgarh etc. Some of them came voluntarily and some of them were persuaded or sponsored (tea garden).

From the last two decades of 19th century there started the immigration from East Pakistan (Bangladesh), landless Muslim Peasants which assumed immense population in the 19th and 20th century).

Reasons for high growth of the Population of Assam

Population Density of Assam
Density of Population of Assam and in India Per Square Kilometer

The flow of these immigrants continues even after the partition. Though it is mentioned that the rapid growth of population in Assam has been outside rather than natural growth, some of the main reason for a high growth of population in Assam are as follows:

  • Immigration
  • It may be noted that the health and hygiene condition has improved since independence following a check on epidemic like cholera,
    small pox, dysentery, Kala azar etc.
  • Social awareness and literacy being low among some groups of people, the family planning measures have not been adopted leading to a higher growth rate among them.
  • The practice of holding marriage of the girls at the age of 12-13 years among some groups of people leads to a greater number of people in the family.
  • In some families the parents in expectation to have a male child may continue to add the number of children until a son is born.
  • In some communities there is a practice of polygamy which leads to a larger family which contributes to rapid population growth.
  • There has been more exhausting enumeration in the recent operation.

The scenario of tribal population in Assam

tribal population in Assam
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Assam is home to numerous indigenous tribal communities, each with its distinct culture, traditions, and languages. These tribes have contributed significantly to the cultural mosaic of Assam.

The Constitution of India categorizes the tribes of Assam into Scheduled Tribes (Hills) and Scheduled Tribes (Plains). Assamese language is used as the lingua franca by almost all the tribes.

There are 15 recognised tribes in the autonomous districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills and 14 recognised tribes in the rest of the state. Of these, the major tribes are Bodo (35%), Mishing (17.52%), Karbi (11.1%), Rabha (7.6%), Sonowal Kachari (6.5%), Lalung (5.2%), Garo (4.2%), and Dimasa (3.2%). The other tribal people in Assam are Deori, Hajong, ThengalKachari, Khasi, Jaintia, Mech, Chakma, Mizo, Hmar, Kuki tribes, Naga tribes, Barmans (in Cachar), Man (Tai speaking), Khampti and Singhpho tribes.

According to the 2001 census, The tribal population is 38,84,371, which is 12.4% of the total population of the state and 94.4% residing in rural areas. They constitute 3.72% of total tribal population of the country. The State has registered 17.4% decadal growth of tribal population in 2001-2011 which is slightly higher than the overall decadal growth for the state.

The overall sex ratio among tribal people is 984, which is marginally less than the national average of 990. The literacy rate among tribal in Assam is 72.1%, which broadly mirrors the overall literacy rate of the state; and is well above the national average. However the gap between the male and female literacy rate (79% & 65% respectively) highlights that tribal women are still lagging behind on educational attainment.

The economic condition of an average tribal household appears to be similar (or slightly better) that that of an ordinary household. In Census 2011, only 18.6% tribal household had reported absence of any durable household assets, which is 5 % lower than that of all social groups.

However access to banking services and grid electricity are considerably lower. Seven districts of Assam have ST population of more than 25%. These districts are Dima Hasao (70.9%), Karbi Anglong (56.3%), Dhemaji (47.4%), Baksa (34.8%), Chirang (37.1%), Udalguri (32.1%) and Kokrajhar (31.4%).

The Chutiya, Koch-Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Adivasis and Tai-Ahom are the six communities demanding the Scheduled Tribes (ST) status. The grant of ST status to these communities will make Assam a tribal-majority State.

Assam is thus a melting point of tribes that have a rich heritage unique customs, rituals, folklore, and craftsmanship over generations. They frequently have their own traditional forms of government, such as village councils or panchayats, which are very important in the decision-making process within the community and the nation.

Read: Biodiversity of Assam

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