North Cachar Research Articles

<i>Galeola altissima</i> (BL.) Reichb. F. First Report of its Occurrence in India, from North Cachar Hills, Assam

No Abstract.

Diagenesis, Provenance, Tectonic Setting and Palaeoclimate of the Eocene Kopili Sandstone, Assam, India: A Petrographic Study

Abstract The Eocene Kopili Sandstone outcropping in the North Cachar Hills (NCHs) of Assam, India, was petrographically studied to unravel its diagenetic features, provenance, tectonic setting and palaeoclimate conditions. The modal analysis of the Kopili Sandstone reveals that the detrital mineralogy is dominated by quartz (48.78 to 83.70 %), with variable amounts of rock fragments (0.37 to 7.35 %), feldspar (0.37 to 8.33 %), micas (0.36 to 7.84 %) and subordinate amount of heavy minerals. The matrix and cement content varies from 9.88 to 21.50 % and 1.12 to 19.41 % respectively. The Kopili Sandstone is classified as quartz arenite to sub lithic arenite. Compaction, cementation, dissolution and replacement are the observed diagenetic processes in the studied sandstones. Diagenetic transformations are manifested in the fractured detrital grains, overgrowth of quartz, corrosion of grain boundaries of quartz, modification of grain boundaries, and silica and iron oxide cement precipitation in the interstices of the framework grains. The provenance is of granite-gneissic rock terrain. The detritus in the depositional basin is derived predominantly from craton interior with minor input from recycled orogen. The study discerns humid palaeoclimate conditions for the Kopili Sandstone.

Sixth Schedule in Assam: An Overview

Sixth schedule of Indian constitution is an integral part of Indian polity and a very important topic in current political domain. Assam is one of the tribal-dominated hill areas in the northeastern region, and this constitution is the only one of its kind to protect the cultural identities, habits, economic and political interests of the people who live there. The sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution lists four different councils: the regional council, the district council, the independent council, and the territorial council. That being said, Assam has three councils: two independent councils, one local council, and the state government. The North Cachar Hill area Council and the Mikir Hill District Council were both created after 1951. They are both in the Cachar area. It is mentioning here that the provision of six schedule has been reviewed time to time as per demand of different indigenous groups for autonomy. The sixth schedule of Indian constitution have both positive and negative affects. In this Article, it is tried to focus on some major problems as well as grievances of the deprived peoples of these living in the sixth schedule areas in Assam. Suggestions have also been provided to redress those problems and grievances.

Petrography and stable isotope geochemistry of Middle Eocene Garampani limestone (Assam), India: implications for the depositional environment and diagenesis

Petrography and stable isotopic (carbon and oxygen) studies of the Middle Eocene Garampani limestone from Jamunagar limestone quarry of the Umrangso area, North Cachar Assam, were carried out to determine the environment of deposition and the level of diagenesis to improve our understanding of the climate at the time of its formation. The major petrographic types documented here include wackestone, packstone, and grainstone which fall into the type I and II categories of the triangular classification scheme indicating formation in a short-lived, high-energy environment that was dissipating at the time of deposition. The samples have a distinct signature that includes extensive diagenesis with varying intensities of compaction, recrystallization, pressure solution, and neomorphism. In occurrences of stratigraphically significant foraminiferal assemblages and palynofossils, the Garampani Limestone is assigned Middle Eocene age. Most of the samples produced positive δ13C ‰ ranging from 1.64 to 0.76 ‰ (PDB) and correlated with a transgressive phase. The negative δ18O values range from −6.25 to −4.67 ‰ (PDB) suggesting that the Middle Eocene was generally characterized by a warmer climate.

Recent research on the stone jars of Northeast India: Evidence from East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya

The stone jar sites of Northeast India have been a subject of great interest since their first discovery in 1929 by James Philip Mills and John Henry Hutton in North Cachar Hills, Assam. In Southeast Asia, they were first reported by McCarthy (1900) in Laos and subsequently by the French archaeologist Madeleine Colani in 1935, who reported them in great numbers and speculated about their connections to Assam within a wider salt trade network. The present paper focuses on the stone jar sites from an unreported region of Northeast India along the Saipung Sub-division in East Jaintia Hills in the state of Meghalaya. The stone jars from the sites form the extreme westerly extension of the stone jar culture reported from Northeast India. The results of preliminary fieldwork undertaken in February 2020 across the Saipung reserved forest of Meghalaya led to the discovery and documentation of eight previously unreported sites. A small-scale excavation of four jars in the East Jaintia Hills have helped to provide key insights on the mortuary practices of the people who made and used these stone jars. Material evidences from the excavation clearly suggest that the stone jars are visible relics which were erected on top of a pit where the post-cremated cultural materials of the dead are buried. Such significant findings bear relevance to the further understanding of stone jar sites within the broader context of Northeast India and Southeast Asia.

Weathering and Source Rock Characteristics of the Upper Disang Sedimentary Rock of the Indo-Myanmar Ranges, NE India

The Eocene Disang Group occupies a vast area of Manipur and extends in parts of Tista and Tirap valley in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland Hills, and small portions of North Cachar Hills (Assam) and continues up to Chin Ranges of Myanmar Ranges. The Disang Group is characterized by a group of monotonous sequences of dark grey to black splintery shales and has intercalation of siltstones and light to brownish grey, fine- to medium-grained sandstones of especially in the upper horizons, occasionally giving rise to rhythmic character. ICV vs. CIA, K2O/Na2O vs. Fe2O3+MgO and TiO2 vs. Al2O3 diagrams reveal that sediments from the Tista and Tirap river valleys in Arunachal Pradesh and towards the central portion of the Naga Hills in Nagaland are more weathered and recycled than sediments from the study area (most of Imphal valley or Manipur valley in Manipur). The sediments for the study area were dominantly derived from the unweathered rising Indo-Myanmar Ranges. The pre-Himalayan rocks might have been supplied sediments for the Disang Group. Sediments were also possibly derived from the uplifted fold thrust belt of Myanmar’s landmass comprising of igneous and metamorphic basement complex with older sedimentary sequences with minor contributions of detritus from Mishmi Hills region lying to the NE of the Arunachal Pradesh. The Disang sediments were deposited in different sedimentary environments from tidal flat to nearshore lagoon and neritic shallow marine environment and different in composition might have been related to variation in source rock for these sediments which was deposited in the Indo-Myanmar basin formed by rifting and crustal stretching on the continental margin of the Myanmar landmass.

Enabling our libraries for continuation of services during pandemic like situation

Purpose: A tiny virus can be a threat to the entire World it could not be believed ever before, but the COVID -19 has given a clear message that we should prepare for the pandemic like situations to the coming days. Library is the most reliable source of information which should remain uninterrupted to provide “right information to the right user, at the right time”. To continue the library services we need to re think our entire system and enabling our library accessible and ready for providing services following alternative ways and Standard Operating Protocols (SOP) set by the international bodies. Methodology: The present study is a descriptive research using Goggle Survey to collect primary data from the respondent. The study population is the whole population of degree colleges of Barak Valley including North Cachar districts of Assam. Findings: 59% libraries took necessary step to subscribe e-resources, 18.2% are going to install disinfected machines, 59.1% suggested to provide adequate fund for necessary preparation to fight with Covid like situation in future. Originality: This is an original research works conducted using Goggle Survey by the researcher in the degree colleges at Barak Valley, Assam.

Income, Vulnerability and Empowerment of Women Street Vendors in Haflong Town of Assam

Street vending constitutes an important segment of urban labour market for a temporary source of subsistence self employment in India since time immemorial. The benefit of street vending is that, employment can be created without adequate government intervention except some regulatory mechanism like municipal board or parking fee etc. But, the income generated from such employment cannot be sustainable in most of the hilly areas of North Eastern States (NES) as it can provide only a bare minimum amount of income especially in the lower circuit of urban informal sector. In addition, women in such employment are really vulnerable when they are mostly engaged in vegetable vending like occupations in small hill towns. The present study seeks to understand the income and employment pattern of women engaged in vegetable vending in Haflong town of Assam. Haflong town is located in erstwhile North Cachar Hills (presently Dima Hasao district) of Assam. The survey has been conducted with pre tested schedule among thirty women vegetable vendors in the town to understand the income, vulnerability and empowerment pattern of the sample respondents. It is found that vulnerability and livelihood situation of the sample women vegetable sellers are not in a decent condition. By using basic statistical tools, from the discussion, it can be deduced that there is urgent need for facilitating access to suitable and adequate space, institutional credit, social security and skills to the urban vegetable women vendors.

They Are Happy (An Ecosystem Study of Bodo tribe of Assam, India)

They Are Happy (An Ecosystem Study of Bodo tribe of Assam, India)

Forest Fire Trend and Influence of Climate Variability in India: A Geospatial Analysis at National and Local Scale

Abstract Climate change and its severity play an important role in forest fire regime. Analysing the forest fires events becomes a prerequisite for safeguarding the forest from further damage. We have made an assessment of the long-term forest fire events at the district level in India and identified the forest fire hotspot districts. The spatial seasonal (January to June) district wise pattern and forest fire trend were analysed. In the second part of the study area (central part of India), we have evaluated the forest fire events in grid format with respect to the climatic/weather datasets, and the statistical analysis Cramer V coefficient (CVC) was performed to understand its association/relationship with forest fire events. The study revealed that Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts of Assam of India have the highest forest fire percent among all districts equivalent to 3.4 and 3.2% respectively. Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh and Garhchiroli district of Maharashtra of India occupied 3rd and 4th rank with value 3.1 and 3.0% respectively. The grid-based evaluation (local scale) revealed that most of the fire equivalent of 80% was found in the month of March and April. Forest fire frequency of the month of April is spread over 88 % of the grids over the study area. The 11 years average seasonal month-wise (February to June) maximum temperature, wind velocity, relative humidity, and solar radiation were found in the range of (25.9 to 40.6), (1.69 to 2.7), (0.301 to 0.736) and (14.21 to 22.98) respectively. The percentage increase (in the month of March) of maximum temperature, wind velocity, and solar radiation were 36, 39 and 62% respectively, when compared with the preceding month; whereas, a 60% decrease to relative humidity that was observed in the same month is usually the major cause of forest fire events in the month of March onwards. The evaluation of Cramer V coefficient (CVC) values of rainfall, relative humidity, potential evapotranspiration, maximum temperature, wind velocity, and solar radiation were in decreasing order and in the range of 0.778 to 0.293. The highest value of rainfall (0.778) showed its strongest association with the forest fire events. In the month of June, these areas receive adequate rainfall, which leads to an increase in the soil moisture and a reduction in forest fuel burning capacity by absorbing the moisture and it is a strong reason for less forest fire events during this month. Geospatial technology provides an opportunity to evaluate large datasets over various spatial and temporal scales and help in decision making/formulating various policies.

Genetic Differentiation and Flow of Plasmodium falciparum dhfr Gene Sequences Associated with Pyrimethamine Drug Resistance

The present study was conducted in Chirang, North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong district in Assam with an aim to find out the genetic differentiations and flow of Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) gene associated with Pyrimethamine resistance. Therefore, a total of 116 participants were enrolled for the study. Presence of malaria parasites were confirmed by microscopic slide examination method. P. falciparum mono-infection was observed in 69 cases. A 648 base pair portion of Pfdhfr gene containing major single nucleotide polymorphisms were amplified, sequenced, and then analyzed in BioEdit v7.0.9 software, Mega 5 software and DnaSP version v.5.10.01. Three polymorphic sites were observed in the dhfr gene sequences of P. falciparum field isolates in Assam. The value of neutrality test did not show any statistically significant result. The highest level of haplotype diversity (0.38889) was observed in the P. falciparum isolates in Chirang district of Assam. Little to moderate genetic differentiation was observed between the P. falciparum field isolates in Chirang and NC hills. It specifies that the gene flow levels were high enough to counteract the effects of genetic drift.

Biological and serological techniques for detection of Citrus tristeza virus affecting Citrus species of Assam, India

Infection of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in Assam was detected by double antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Field surveys were carried out in 8 citrus growing districts of Assam (Tinsukia, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat and Kamrup). Altogether, 411 samples were collected from three different citrus species, viz., Assam lemon (Citrus limon), Gul nemu (Citrus jambhiri) and Khasi mandarin (Citrus reticulata) to test against CTV. Results of biological indexing showed Kagzi lime (Citrus aurantifolia) to be the better indicator plant (symptom expression 60%) than Assam lemon (symptom expression 30%). The symptom expression on the indicator host was observed from 5th to 9th week after inoculation. The inoculated plants again tested after 9th week using DAS-ELISA assay. The results revealed that percentage of positive plants were 90% in Kagzi lime followed by Assam lemon (80%). This indicated that even the symptomless plants after inoculation give the positive reactions in DAS- ELISA assay. 261 samples were found to be infected using ELISA with polyclonal antisera to CTV. The species Assam lemon (C. limon) were found to be susceptible to CTV with estimated disease incidence up to 76.47% followed by Khasi mandarin (C. reticulata; 61.18%) and Gul nemu (C. jambhiri; 52.03%). Different age groups ( 15 years) of the citrus trees indicated that prevalence of CTV was more in older plants. Key words: ELISA, Citrus tristeza virus (CTV), Assam lemon, Khasi mandarin, Gul nemu.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A FEW CLAYS FROM ASSAM, INDIA

A few clay samples are collected from Karbi Anglong and North Cachar districts in Assam (India), were characterized with respect to moisture content, LOI, CEC, SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , CaO, K 2 O, TiO 2 , P 2 O 5 , Na 2 O, MgO, and various trace elements and rare earth elements. The XRD measurement indicated that the predominant clay mineral present in the clays was kaolinite with some amount of quartz impurities. The IR measurements yielded appropriate frequencies expected for the OH and SiO stretching regions, and OH and SiO bending regions in kaolinite, and the data complemented the conclusions drawn from XRD analysis.

New records of Athyma whitei Tytler, 1940 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae) from northeastern India: a recently reported species from India

Tytler’s Sergeant, Atyma whitei was described by Tytler from Chin Hills, Myanmar in 1940. The taxon was not reported in India untill the record from Phura, Mizoram in November 2012. Recent surveys in northeastern India recorded the species four times in the forest of North Cachar (N.C.) Hills and E. Jaintia Hills. The new sightings are approximately 223km from Chin-type locality. These recent records of the rare insect gives an insight into the distribution range and habitat of the rare taxon in northeast India.

English

The present paper deals with the rediscovery of 12 sacred groves, known as Dikhos, preserved by the Dimasa community of North Cachar Hills district recently renamed as Dima Hasao district of Assam, India. Located strategically, these sacred groves provide several important ecological services to the people of the district. In addition to the sacred groves the plants considered to be sacred by them are also included. Out of the 34 plant species considered to be sacred by the Dimasas, 13 species are related to worshiping, 21 species involved in naming of areas/villages and eight species are associated with the naming of the Clans (Sengphong that is, male clans and Jaddi/Zaluk that is, female clans). However, some of the species/rice landraces have been associated with more than one ways. The Dimasas, also known as Dimasa Kacharies, constitute the largest ethnic group in North Cachar Hills and linguistically belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group.   Key words: Phytoresources, sacred groves, sacred plants, Dimasas, North Cachar Hills, India.

Challenging Colonialism: Historical Background of a Female Zeliangrong Rebel in the Early Twentieth Century

In 1931–32 a military operation (‘Hunt for Prince Charlie’1) was conducted by the 3rd and 4th Assam Rifles, mainly assigned the duty of searching a popular tribal girl who had been working relentlessly for her Zeliangrong community to be freed from colonialism, poverty, confiscation of land and property through a benevolent way of religious-cum-non-violent movement. However, unavoidable conditions transformed her movement into an armed rebellion. The girl was none but Miss Gaidinliu. From 1925 to 1931, her mentor Jadonang and she were working to unite all conglomerate tribes by launching a political-cum-religious movement against the colonial ruler. Untimely Jadonang was arrested and hanged on 29 August 1931; the movement conditionally stopped for a while. To accomplish their dream of freedom, liberty and unity of this community, Miss Gaidinliu had been spreading their political message in North Cachar Hills, Naga Hills and north-western part of Manipur. On the other hand, the British colonial ruler considered her as a seditionist, hallucinated, millenarian and provoker of the Kuki–Naga ethnic issue. The search operation was mainly assigned to J.P. Mills, Deputy Commissioner, Naga Hills and J.C. Higgins, Political Agent, Manipur (classified) assisted by Sub-Divisional Officer Haflong, North Cachar Hills and Sub-Divisional Officer, Tamenglong Sub-division, Manipur. This article tries to draw the British search for her and the atrocities against the Zeliangrong community from a historical perspective.

Ethnic Communities and Non-Traditional Land Uses in the North Cachar Hills of Assam: A Critical Study

Ethnic Communities and Non-Traditional Land Uses in the North Cachar Hills of Assam: A Critical Study

Domestication of some wild edible plants in Barail range of Assam: a case study

Aboriginal societies have their own approaches in managing their resources. Assam is one of the states of Northeast India with both biological and ethnic diversity. Generally aboriginal societies have been living in complete harmony with natural surroundings. They have their own notions, beliefs and way of sustainable utilization and conserving the plant resources. They are the custodians of much useful information regarding plant resources in the form of oral folklore. The present communication deals with 24 little known wild plant species, which have been conserving in the vicinity of the villages through domestication and/or restricted cultivation for their tubers, stems, leaves, inflorescences or fruits by the Dimasa. The Hmar, the Zeme Naga and the Kuki tribes of Barail Range in Dima Hasao (North Cachar Hills) district of Assam. The initiatives of the ethnic groups of the area are very significant from conservation point of view especially of wild plant genetic resources.

Exploring the Diversity of Religion

This article considers the importance of “religion” and “identity” in the process of fieldwork in the North Cachar Hills, Assam, India. The political sensitivities in the region provided a difficult context in which to do fieldwork. This is chiefly because of the various armed insurrections, which have arisen as a consequence of the complicated remnants of British colonialism (1834–1947), and the subsequent post-independence challenge of nation building in India. This article raises important methodological questions concerning fieldwork and the relational grounding of the fieldworker relative to the inside/outside positions. It reflects on these issues by discussing the Heraka, a Zeme Naga religious movement. Their ambiguity and “in-between” character accommodates both the “neo-Hindu” version of a nation or Hindutva (Hinduness) and the larger Naga (primarily Christian) assertion of their own cultural and religious autonomy. The Heraka provides an alternative route into ideas of nationhood, religious belonging and cultural identity.

Adequacy of Crop Residue Biomass as Renewable Energy Source for Tea Drying in Assam: A Spatial Assessment Debendra Chandra Baruah

Assarn is the largest tea producing state with an annual contribution of about 51% of nation's production. Coal, TD 011, and natural gas are used in tea drying as a source of thermal energy. Crop residue biomass is considered as a potential substitute of fossil energy. Availability of sufficient biomass in the vicinity of user location, avoiding costly transportation, is one of the major considerations. The present investigation makes a spatial analysis of paddy crop residue biomass availability vis-A-vis energy demand in tea drying in ten spatial units representing all the dismcts of Assam. Paddy is a major crop in Assarn and grown in all the districts. Energy availability from paddy crop residue biomass was compared with the thermal energy demand for tea drying. Husk fuelled gasification and straw fired combustion technologies were considered with assumed levels of energy conversion efficiencies. The analysis indicated that tea drying in Assam required 12.43 PJ of thermal energy annually. Total annual available bio-energy was estimated as 5.09 PJ and 23.37 PJ from paddy husk and paddy straw, respectively. Overall, bio-energy availability from paddy husk would be sufficient to fulfil only 40.97% of the demand of the state. However, entire thermal energy demand for tea drying in Goalpara, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nagaon and Karbi-Anglong could be fulfilled through husk generated bio-energy in these districts. For the state as a whole as well as in seven spatial units (baring Dibrugarh, Sivasagar and North Cachar), bio-energy available from paddy straw would be adequate to fulfil the thermal energy demand for tea drying. Dibrugarh and Sivasagar were deficient in paddy residue biomass. An index is defined to test the adequacy of crop residue biomass to support energy demand in tea processing as ratio of growing areas of paddy and tea. The districts with ratio more than 3.58 were found to meet the resource adequacy criteria