People Of Assam Research Articles

History of Assamese Modern Song: from Birth Cry to Jyotiprasad

The journey of the Assamese modern song starts after the advent of the Baptist missionaries. The prime intention of it was to propagate Christianity among the people of Assam. Music as a medium of propagation was common in the past. The creations of Vaishnava saints of Assam were examples of it. Though the songs could not influence much, they became the root of Assamese modern songs. Rabindra Sangeet influenced the Assamese nobility, and the Assamese language was thought of as not suitable for modern songs. Taking it as a challenge, some Assamese writers like Benudhar Rajkhowa, Satyanath Bora, Lakshiram Baruah, and Kirtinath Bardoloi started writing songs, and the first book of the Assamese song "Geetawali" was published in the year 1888. Assamese modern songs at that time could not detach themselves from Assamese plays. Later, the Assamese modern song, in its infant age, was nurtured by Ambikagiri Raychudhury, Umesh Chandra Chaudhury, Kamalananda Bhattacharya, etc. Later, Jyotiprasad Agarwala shaped Assamese modern songs based on Assamese folk music, Hindustani Classical Music, and Western music. This paper attempts to trace the journey of the Assamese modern song from its origin to the creation of Jyotiprasad Agarwala.

Arsenic contamination of groundwater: Review on arsenic contamination of Assam

Groundwater contamination is a global problem. Although groundwater is considered as safe, high concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater like arsenic (As) can pose potential human health concerns and hazards. Arsenic is a natural chemical element of the earth’s crust and is commonly distributed all over the environment. High concentrations of arsenic (As) in drinking water have been found in several parts of the world. World Health Organization’s provisional guideline value for arsenic in drinking water - 0.01 mg/l (10 μg/l). In Assam, many districts have been reported to be most affected by arsenic contamination of groundwater which is above the permissible level. People in Assam have directly or indirectly consumed the groundwater. This paper emphasizes the overview of the present scenario of intensity of arsenic contamination in groundwater in different districts of Assam. The paper also critically reviews the sources of arsenic contamination and arsenic led human effects.

Genotypic variations of phenological and growth parameters in rapeseed (Brassica rapa, var. Toria)

Rapeseed is a short duration, self-pollinated and long day crop. It is an important and widely used oil seed crops among the people of Assam and North-East India. However, there is still lack of sufficient rapeseed genotypes for the local farmers. Only a few improved genotypes are recommended in the region. To increase the production and productivity, more numbers of improved genotypes have to be identified. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at the Instructional-cum-Research (ICR) Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, during rabi 2021-22 and 2022-23 to study the genotypic variations of phenological and growth parameters in rapeseed genotypes. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications comprising of 22 different genotypes of rapeseed including TS-38 (Check), TS-46, TS-67, TS-36, TS-29, TS-75-1, TS-75-1TL, TS-75-2ME, TS-75-2-MM, TS-76-1, TS-76-2, JT-90-1, Panchali, Bhawani, CG Toria-4, TKM-20-1, TKM-20-2, JT-14-5, PT-2018-09, CG Toria-3, Tapeshwari and PT-303. The crops were grown following the recommended package of practice. All the phenological and growth parameters were taken following the standard methodologies. The result of the experiment indicated significant difference in reaching phenological and growth parameters among the genotypes. The genotype JT-14-5 and TKM-20-2 took the longest duration for 50% flowering and siliqua initiation. However, JT-14-5 and JT-90-1 took the longest duration for physiological maturity. On the other hand, TS-67 and TS-75-1TL took the shortest duration for physiological maturity. The genotype TS-75-2ME showed highest dry weight followed by the genotype TS-38 at harvest. There was gradual increase in Absolute Growth Rate and Crop Growth Rate with the advancement of growth. However, in case of Relative Growth Rate, a decline was noticed in the values from 30-60 DAS to 60 DAS-harvest. The genotype TS-75-2ME and TS-38 were recorded highest yield and highest Crop Growth Rate during 30-60 DAS indicating that the parameter at that particular stage of growth, has positive impact on seed yield.

Examining citizenship regimes in Assam through a structural and cultural violence lens.

In this paper, we examine citizenship crisis in the Northeast Indian state of Assam through the lenses of structural and cultural violence. In 2019, close to two million people in Assam were disenfranchised by updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The vast majority of those disenfranchised are Miya people who have been subjected to legacies of persecution and violence since the early 19th century during British colonial rule. We map the contours of the citizenship crisis by centering the struggles of Miya communities who are most deeply impacted by violent citizenship regimes. Using a structural and cultural violence lens, we elucidate the linkages between colonial histories, (post)colonial policies, and institutional practices on the one hand and Miya people's everyday struggles on the other. Across these analyses, we demonstrate how current citizenship regimes operate as a form of state-sanctioned violence against Miya people. The implications of these analyses for rethinking contemporary notions of citizenship and belonging for community-engaged scholarship are discussed.

Incidence of Clinostomum complanatum (Trematoda: Clinostomidae) in Trichogaster fasciata (Actinopterygii: Osphronemidae), the first report from Deepor Beel, Assam, India

Fish constitute a major component of diet for the people of northeastern India and one of the main food items for most people in Assam. But fishes are facing serious risks due to parasitic infestations which deteriorate the food value and also leads to fish mortality. The present study aims to investigate the occurrence of helminth parasites in some selected fishes of the species Mystus tengara, Channa punctata, and Trichogaster fasciata collected from Deepor Beel, Guwahati, Assam. Trematode parasite species have been recorded from Trichogaster fasciata. The recovered trematode is Clinostomum complanatum belonging to the family Clinostomatidae. The present study incorporates the morphological, morphometric, and scanning electron microscopy studies of the prevailing parasite. This study is the first report on the occurrence of helminth parasites in the edible freshwater fishes collected from Deepor Beel.

Evaluation of In Vivo Wound Healing Potential of Schima wallichii (Korth.) Choisy

The process of delayed wound-healing and unhealed wounds can cause serious problems to the patients. In this context it is revealed that the scientists are looking for herbal treatment of wounds, as the remedy is known for having less or minimum undesired effects. Schima wallichii is a lesser known traditional medicinal plant used by certain section of people in Assam, India as a healing agent; however, record on scientific validation of its wound-healing potential is not available. Therefore, an in vivo study was undertaken to evaluate the wound-healing efficacy of the leaves of the plant using excision wound model in Swiss albino mice. The animals were divided into three groups after creating the wounds, namely control, positive control and treated groups. On application of methanolic crude extract of the leaves of Schima wallichii, it was observed that the epithelialization period was lesser and the rate of closure of wounds was faster in the extract treated group when compared with the control group indicating that the application of the extract has accelerated the healing process in the extract treated group. The concentration of protein, Schima wallichii deoxyribonucleic acid and hydroxyproline were also found to be augmented in the treated group than the control suggesting faster rate of healing as deoxyribonucleic acid and protein content in the healing tissues serve as indicator of protein synthesis and cellular proliferation. The above results were supported by the histological and ultra-structural observations as scanning electron microscopy revealed smoother surface topography, H and E staining revealed thicker epithelial layer in the treated animals. Van Gieson′s staining showed higher level of collagen in the extract treated group validating biochemical observation where higher concentration of hydroxyproline was found in treated group compared to the control. Thus, going by the results obtained in the study it can be concluded that the leaves of the plant possess wound-healing potential.

POTTERY IS A TRADITIONAL ART FORM OF THE BARAK VALLEY IN ASSAM, INDIA: A STUDY

Assam and Northeast, and Barak Valley, are known for their potteries, which are versatile and integral to their lifestyles and economies. My study was mainly based on historical background of pottery making in Barak Valley, in which people of Assam are credited with creating distinctive pottery products with distinctive styles. With an analysis and comparative appraisal of pottery making in Barak valley, as done by local people, I intend to evaluate pottery making in those districts. Throughout the Barak Valley, pottery manufacturing has become an integral part of the local culture. If we date back to history, we discover that Pottery forms tremendous tradition from Vedic, Indus Valley Civilization and one of man's earliest inventions. People utilized it when the civilization began. It created by combining grass with grass and interlocking leaves with the minimal equipment. Some facts may be stated from the manners of the commencing age of human civilization. It is thought that the people before civilization living in the forest used to utilize a cane in different manners to meet their necessities.

Agricultural Transformation in Rural-Urban Migration: An Analysis of the Situation in Assam

The process of urbanisation, particularly the labour migration from rural to urban areas has become one of the significant reasons for agricultural transformation. The migrants to urban areas have played an essential role in the decline of agriculture. As the youth leave the rural places for other destinations, those left behind are expected to contribute to the development of agriculture in particular. Like in other states of India, the agricultural sector plays an important role in the state economy of Assam. But in modern times, the people of Assam do not see agriculture as their career as the agricultural system in Assam is mainly based on traditional farming techniques even in the 21st century, which involves a lot of physical and mental stress to get the value of their hard work. Hence, people move to urban areas to improve their quality of life. The massive rural to urban migration has impacted the agricultural transformation in this region. This paper attempts to provide a qualitative analysis of how rural-urban migration has affected the agricultural transformation, particularly in Assam.

Antifungal Activity of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous People of Assam in India to Treat Onychomycosis

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the antifungal activity of the traditional medicinal plants used by agricultural workers to treat onychomycosis. Of all tested plants, methanol leaf extracts of Croton tiglium possessed antifungal activity against many isolates. Azulene, 9-Hexadecenoic acid, Octadecane, and 3-ethyl-5-(2-ethylbutyl) were the major antifungal compounds identified by GC-MS/MS. Broad ranges of antifungal properties of C. tiglium makes it a potential candidate for the treatment of onychomycosis without health hazard.

A Missionary Inheritance: Tonic Sol-fa in India

Choral singing was embraced by many missionaries as a means of attracting potential converts to Christianity. A principal choral singing method in 19th century Britain, Tonic Sol-fa, was introduced by missionaries and others to the Indian subcontinent where it was used as both a pedagogical method and a music notation system. Building on the inherent musicality of the Mizo people in Assam, a fine choral singing tradition developed. Hymnbooks were published with Mizo words and Tonic Sol-fa notation. Although aspects of Tonic Sol-fa are utilized in some contemporary school music teaching methods, there is now little or no use made of the original Tonic Sol-fa method for community choral singing in Britain. Nevertheless, it is still used in some former British colonies, particularly for congregational hymn singing in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific. Tonic Sol-fa has been, and remains, the mainstay of choral music making in Mizoram and neighboring areas. As such, it is a worthy inheritance from the missionary presence in India during the 19th century.

Changing Electoral Behaviour of Tea Tribes People in Assam: A Study of Mariani Legislative Constituency

The electoral behaviour of people is generally influenced by different socio-political and economic factors. It is more common in a diverse society like India where caste and community plays a significant role in many ways shaping the mindset of the electorates during the time elections. In Assam, these factors found to be more determined in many areas among various communities. The Tea Tribes are one of such communities in the state which has been used as vote banks by political parties since the post-independent period. But gradually this traditional conception of vote bank and trend of community voting has declined as many other factors started determining the electoral behaviour of this community.

Agarwood practice and rural livelihoods in Naharani area of Golaghat District, Assam, North-East India

Agarwood is a highly valuable aromatic plant variety mostly found in the tropical forest. The people of Assam have been practicing Agarwood cultivation and its trade for several decades. In this paper, an attempt has been made to investigate the indigenous knowledge system associated with the agar trade, i.e., detection of agar bearing plants, collection, processing, extraction of oil, and marketing of agarwood and its livelihood opportunities for the rural people. Naharani, a micro area with a few revenue villages located in the Golaghat district of Assam, has been selected for the study. This area is the hub of the Agar trade, and the local people have inherited this tradition from their ancestors. For this study, visit to different household industries, site observation, interviews with the people engaged in agar trade, and household surveys were carried out during 2016 and 2018. A simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of the sample household. Data have been collected from the randomly selected 975 households with a well-structured schedule-cum-questionnaire. Sustainable livelihood framework analysis was done to measure the livelihood assets of the people. It has been found that the agar trade and its associated practices have a significant contribution to the socio-economic condition of the rural people. As agarwood is now rarely found in the wild state, people have used to plant it in their homesteads and also developed plantation sites for its sustainable production. The homestead cultivation of agarwood and its trade alone contributes about 15-60% to the total annual income of the households. Although agarwood cultivation is commercially viable and sustainable, the farmers and traders are currently facing lots of hurdles to properly carry out their business in Assam.

Antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts of Houttuynia cordata and Centella asiatica on some human gut microflora

C. asiatica and H. cordata plants are used as vegetable since time immemorable by the people of Assam. These are also consumed for their medicinal values. Plenty of information on the action of the plants extract on the pathogens are available, but could not retrieve any information on the non-pathogens of human guts. Therefore, an attempt has been made to find action of the extracts on few of the non-pathogens of human guts. The study shows that none of the plant extracts inhibit Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus mesentricus, and Lactobacillus sp, whereas a minimum inhibition were recorded in case of pathogens Escherchia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella dysenteriae.

WITHDRAWN: Agricultural production in Assam during the medieval period (13th −18th Century)

The people of Assam were primarily dependent on agriculture for their sustenance. The agriculture was basic to the whole economy in the medieval time is evident from the varieties of crops raised and from the names of different categories of land under cultivation. In Assam, Ahom kings granted numerous lands to different sections of people for cultivation. The agricultural implements used in Assam were simple that included plough drawn usually by a pair of bullock, hoe, yoke, sickle, a bamboo harrow, clod, breaker and rake. This paper tries to study the above mentioned parameters of agricultural production of medieval Assam. The source materials have been utilised various kinds of primary sources such as epigraphically records, coins, inscriptions, literary sources, travellers account as well as secondary works .

Traditional Knowledge and Method of Various Rice Preparations in Assam

Food habit reflects the culture of a society. Food habit of a society depends on different matters like geographical location, climate, environment, religion, taste etc. Assam which is a north-eastern state of India is rich in paddy cultivation. Rice is staple food of Assam and people of Assam used to prepare various rice preparations like jalpan , various rice cakes, rice beer etc. from ancient times. These preparations are part and parcel of Assamese traditional food culture. Traditional knowledge and method is still applied in preparing all these preparations. Besides these preparations have social and cultural value also. This paper is about traditional knowledge and methods of preparing various rice preparations in Assam

Status of Assamese Language among the Non- Assamese Speaking People of Assam: An Analysis with Special Reference to Dibrugarh Town

Status of Assamese Language among the Non- Assamese Speaking People of Assam: An Analysis with Special Reference to Dibrugarh Town

Analysis of the Implementation of the NRC with Respect to Statelessness in Assam

On 31st August 2019, the final version of the National Register of Citizens was published. It was meant to be a seamless solution to the so-called ‘immigration problem’ that the people of Assam have been facing for the last few decades. The demand for such a Register, therefore, dates back to the Assam Agitation. An undoubtedly sizable task, it has now drawn criticism on several grounds. The most common criticism being that it has successfully rendered 1.9 million people in Assam stateless. A stateless person is one who belongs to no particular ‘nation’ or ‘state’. This is an issue that requires urgent attention as it has resulted in the violation of human rights and deprivation of basic resources. This research paper attempts to examine whether the Register has successfully addressed the aforementioned problem. In order to do so, the researcher has examined the procedural aspects of drafting the Register and its subsequent implementation. Further, the paper explores the after effects of the implementation of such a Register, while attempting to arrive at solutions to resolve the various issues created via such an implementation.

Identifying the ‘Outsider’: An Assessment of Foreigner Tribunals in the Indian State of Assam

The State of Assam in the Union of India has a peculiar history of the movement of people from across India’s international borders into Assam. There is no credible way to arrive at specific numbers. Arrival of people in Assam has become a point that has been abused by those in power to utilise local sentiments regarding the dilution of ‘Assamese culture’. This article briefly discusses the timelines leading up to the preparation of the Assam’s National Register of Citizens that presently excludes approximately 1.9 million residents. The citizenship status of those excluded is to be determined by Foreigners Tribunals (‘FT’) functioning under the Foreigners Act, 1946 — a post-Second World War and pre-Constitution legislation whose validity is also in doubt. This article examines the Foreigners Act, 1946, as well as the constitution and performance of the FTs with reference to the yardsticks of the rule of law and constitutional values. Towards this end, the article analyses the law discernible from the judgments of the Indian Courts as well as some judgments of the Assam High Court and the FTs. It concludes by stating that the framework of adjudication by FTs is not able to keep up with the promise of effective adjudication under the Constitution of India. It calls for an urgent need for academic scrutiny of all aspects of the citizenship verification process in India.

Performance Monitoring of Indigenous Household Groundwater Filter for Iron and Fluoride Removal: A Case Study from Assam, India

Groundwater in the north-eastern part of India contains high levels of iron and fluoride. However, due to lack of piped water supply, the rural people in Assam rely on groundwater for meeting their daily water needs. The groundwater is treated using different types of indigenous household groundwater filter units for removal of iron. IHGF units are fabricated based upon past experiences using layers of sand, gravel and sometimes wooden charcoal enclosed within a hollow reinforced cement concrete ring, tin container and plastic bucket. An attempt has been made to assess the levels of iron and fluoride in the groundwater of Amingaon—a selected rural locality for the study, the effectiveness of an IHGF unit in removal of iron and fluoride from the groundwater and suggestions for improving the service life of the unit. During the field survey in the area, groundwater samples collected from ten locations indicate Fe2+ and F− concentrations in the range of 0.0–11.3 mg/L and 0.1–0.7 mg/L, respectively. Monitoring of an IHGF unit over a period of 170 days indicates almost Fe2+ free water with F− removal of 30–40%. Upon continuous use, filter media of the IHGF unit get clogged leading to lower filtration rate requiring dismantling, cleaning of media and refabrication of the unit every 2–3 months. The batch studies indicate iron removal mechanism as oxidation of Fe2+ in the presence of DO to Fe3+ form. The groundwater devoid of DO is pre-treated by turning nine times from one bucket to the other from a height of approximately 1 m, thereby increasing DO levels close to 6 mg/L. The increased DO converts Fe2+ to Fe3+ which settles out easily within 25 min. The pre-treated and settled groundwater contains residual Fe2+ of 0.5–0.6 mg/L and is then applied to the IHGF unit over a period of 129 days producing almost Fe2+ free water. This helps in increasing the longevity of the service period of the unit as accumulation of Fe3+ reduces significantly due to pre-treatment of the groundwater.

Chemical Analysis of Traditional Food Additive Dokhora Khar Derived from Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Background: Dhokora khar (solid alkali), derived from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is used by the people of Assam as a traditional food additive and as an antacid. It is usually prepared from the aqueous extract of water hyacinth ash. It is very popular in lower Assam particularly in the district of Barpeta and nearby areas. Apart from its use as a food additive in preparing palatable dishes, it is also used for the cure of ailments arising from stomach acidity and indigestion. In rural Assam, this khar finds applications as a natural fertilizer as well as a cleansing agent. Methods: Standard chemical and spectral procedures have been used to confirm the presence of acid and basic radicals. SEM-EDX, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Flame Photometry were used for information on chemical constituents. Results: Standard chemical and spectral procedures have been used to confirm the presence of acid and basic radicals. SEM-EDX, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and Flame Photometry were used for information on chemical constituents. Conclusion: The investigation suggests that dokhora khar consists of a mixture of carbonates, chlorides, sulfates and phosphates of various metals such as K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, etc. Some of these metals such as Fe, Co, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr, etc., are essential nutrients. Hence the results establish that the consumption of this traditional food additive by the natives of Assam provides health benefits.