History, peoples and environment of Assam

The first people to settle in Assam were probably members of the Tibetan Bodo people, who reached the banks of the Brahmaputra via the Himalayas. Later, various tribal peoples from South China and Southeast Asia such as the Naga, Mizo, Kachari, Khasi and some others settled in the mountainous regions south and east of the river. It was only relatively recently that Hindus, who today make up the dominant Assamese people, also migrated. 

According to tradition and archaeological evidence, many of today’s Hindu pilgrimage sites were built at early Buddhist power centers of the indigenous peoples. An example of this is the Kamakhya Hindu temple in Guwahati, below which is a much older Buddhist temple. Since the time of the British colonial power, the rights of self-sufficient tribal peoples have been protected, and even today Assam is a multi-ethnic state with around 16 indigenous tribes. The predominantly illegal immigration of refugees from Bangladesh is a growing problem and, in addition to the increase in the already strong population growth, is repeatedly causing xenophobic attacks.

The religious affiliation of the population of Assam is very closely aligned with the tribal affiliation. In Assam, for example, around 50% are Hindu, with an emphasis on Durga, Shiva and Ganesh (Vainshaba). On the river island of Majuli is the seat of the Vaishnava school, founded in the 15th century by the great reformer and saint Shankardeva. The temples are still active today and also give travelers a deep insight into the culture of Hinduism. 

Other religious groups in Assam are the Muslims with around 30% of the faithful, who are mainly found among the immigrants from Bangladesh and Bengal, Sikhs, Christians and – especially in the tribal peoples – animists with their ancestor worship form the group of minority religions. In a few tribes, Buddhism is still the dominant religion, for example in the Tai-Phake villages of Assam, whose inhabitants belong to Hinayana Buddhism and whose history leads to Thailand. The Tai-Phake speak a dialect that is closely related to Thai. The people follow traditional Thai traditions and dress accordingly. One of the oldest active Buddhist temples in Assam is also located here, the Namphake Monastery, which dates back to 1850.

Assam is one of the richest biodiversity zones in the world. The country has numerous tropical rainforests, unique wetlands, bamboo groves and vast grasslands. Many of these areas are protected.

In the monsoon season, the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers (as the upper reaches of the great Meghna river are called) flood large parts of the country, leaving behind energy-rich sediments that fertilize the soil and make it extremely fertile. This is not only good for agriculture, but the original flora is also particularly rich and diverse and home to an above-average number of different animal species.

The pristine wildness of Assam’s nature provides a delightful contrast to the cultivated tea plantations and makes for educational excursions and varied vacation days.

About 80% of Assam’s inhabitants work in agriculture and produce, among other things, the world-famous, strong, tangy tea, which makes up the majority of the state’s export volume. Rice, sugar cane, jute, oilseeds and fruit are also grown and Assamese silk – especially the special type of silk known as “muga”, or “golden silk” – is in demand worldwide. Bamboo and rattan products in the form of furniture and decorations are also of economic importance.

The second major pillar of the Assamese economy, however, is the extraction of crude oil and natural gas as well as the corresponding processing industries such as oil refineries. Coal, limestone and granite are also mined and there is cement production. The population of Assam lives predominantly in rather poor conditions in the countryside, but the literacy rate is still around 75% and therefore slightly above the average for India as a whole.

Bhutan’s main export goods include electricity, which is generated in hydroelectric power plants in the west of the country, while cement, wood products, alcoholic beverages and fruit also contribute to foreign trade income. Another economic sector is tourism, which has experienced slight growth rates in recent years and whose expansion is also based on the principle of sustainability.