Arunachal Pradesh
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Arunachal Pradesh (अरुणाचल प्रदेश) is a northeastern state of India. Formerly called NEFA (North East Frontier Agency), was part of state of Assam until 1987. It was given the statehood status after taking into consideration the security consideration in the east and Sino-Indian tensions.
Most of Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by the neighbouring People's Republic of China, which does not recognise the state itself nor its northern boundary, the McMahon Line. Instead, China calls the area South Tibet (藏南 pinyin: Zàngnán), and puts the area nominally under the jurisdiction of four counties of Tibet Autonomous Region: Cona County, Nang County, Mêdog County, and Zayü County.
History
Traditionally, the disputed Himalayan region of Arunachal Pradesh came under loose control of Tibet, and the remaining parts of the state, especially those bordering Myanmar, came under the control of the Ahom and the Assamese until the annexation of India by the British in 1858.
In 1913-14, the British adventurer, Sir Henry McMahon, implented the 550-mile McMahon Line in Shimla. This was later unapproved by the Chinese government in 1947, saying that the claim was never approved and a map in the Encyclopædia Britannica of 1929 showed the Indo-Chinese border stretching right up to the border of the Assamese plains. Following this dispute, the Chinese troops crossed the McMahon Line on the August 26, 1959, and captured an Indian outpost at Longju, a few miles south of the line. They abandoned this in 1961 but in October 1962 crossed the line once again, this time by force. After striking toward the Tanglha ridge and Tawang, which is near the Bhutan border, the Chinese later extended their attack across the whole frontier. Deep inroads were made at a number of points. However, due to external pressures that developed in the meantime, the Chinese agreed to withdraw back to the McMahon Line and returned Indian prisoners of war in 1963.
Following that, the entire area changed its name from North East Frontier Agency and became part of Assam. Arunachal Pradesh gained statehood in 1987 after taking into consideration the security consideration in the east and Sino-Indian tensions but was not recongnized by China.
Geography
Much of Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the mighty Himalayas, although parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap are not.
Climate
The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with elevation. Areas with very high elevation in the Upper Himalayas near the Tibetan border enjoy an alpine or Tundra climate. Below the Upper Himalayas come the Middle Himalayas, where people experience temperate climate. Fruits like apple, oranges, etc can be planted. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation experience a humid sub-tropical climate, where they experience hot summers and mild winters.
The state receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,000 mm) annually, most of it falling between May and September. The mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine, temperate, and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron, oak, pine, maple, fir, and juniper; sal (Shorea) and teak are the main economic species.
People
Generally, most of the Arunachalis belong to 20 major-collective tribes and 82 tribes, who had a heritage of diverse but rich culture, language and beliefs. Most of them are either of Tibetan or of Thai-Burmese origin.
Religion
About half of the state population follow the Donyi-Polo religion. Another 42% follow Buddhism and Hinduism, with the Christians accouting for the remainder.
Donyi-Polo
The Donyi-Polo faith was formed in order to unify all the Animistic beliefs of the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Followed a little more than half of the population, Donyi-Poloism was formed in the recent years as a result of standing against Christian influences that were seriously hurting the cultural traditions of the people.
The adherents worship an array of nature-related gods and highly complexed rituals, which showed elaborate art forms passed down through many generations.
Buddhism
After Donyi-Polo, Buddhism lay claim to about one-quarter of the state's population. While Tibetan Buddhism is mainly practised by tribes living near the Tibetan border and in the Western part of the state, Theravada Buddhism is practised by tribal groups of Thai-Burmese origin living in Lohit and Changlang.
Theravada Buddhism is followed by the Thai-Burmese Khampti, Singpho, Zekhring and the Chakma refugees living in Lohit, Changlang and Tirap. The Tangsas, on the other hand, practice a blend of Donyi-Polo and Theravada Buddhism. However, with the advent of the rebel NSCN led by the Christian Naga, the local population faces a great danger upon their Buddhist heritage that has been passed down through many generations.
On the other hand, their Tibetan Buddhist counterparts, are relatively safer compared to the Theravada Buddhist counterparts owing to their geographical location. Mainly followed by the Monpa and Sherdukpen populations of Tawang and West Kameng, Buddhism lay claim to be the most widely followed religion in these two districts. Neighbouring tribes like the Miji and the Khowa have also come under Buddhist influence.
Hinduism
Followed by about 15% of the country's population, Hinduism is followed by the Nocte, Miri, Mikir tribes and recent Indian immigrants, although the presence and influence of the Animist Donyi-Polo religion is prevalent among these tribes as well. The Aka, on the other hand, are also influenced by certain aspects of Hindu beliefs as well.
Christianity
Christianity claims to about 8% of the state's population. The coming of modernism, and the close geographical location with the Christian states of Nagaland has led to a sudden rise of the Christian population from less than 1% of the population to approximately 8% of the state's population, although American Christian missionaries claimed that about 30% of the state population adhere to Christianity.
The process of acculturalisation, and death of traditional religions that elaborate rich and unique cultures can be destroyed with the advent of modernism, will benefit the isolated and consertive people of Arunachal Pradesh to the modern Western world.
Economy
Most of its people got its economy from agriculture. Jhum, the local word for shifting cultivation,which was widely practised among the tribal groups has come to be less practiced. The forest-products are the next source of economy. Among the crops grown here are rice, maize, millet, wheat, pulses, sugarcane,ginger and oilseeds. Arunachal is also ideal for horticulture and fruits. They are grown in orchards.
Its major industries are sawmills, plywood (the two trades however have been stopped by the law), rice mills, fruit preservation units and handloom handicrafts.
Politics
The state of Arunachal Pradesh has four political parties, namely:
See also
- Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh
- Districts of Arunachal Pradesh
- List of disputed or occupied territories
- List of political parties in the state
- List of Arunachalis
