Meghalya

Meghalaya is a state in India. The name literally means "Abode of the Clouds", describing the climatic phenomenon that brings torrents of rain to the region. It was declared the 21st state of India on January 21, 1972. The state, approximately 22,429 square km in area, lies between the latitudes 25.10-26.50 N and the longitudes 85.49 0 - 92.52 E. It is bounded by Assam in the north and the east and the plains of Bangladesh in the south and west. The state is divided into three hilly regions - the Garo Hills (Western Meghalaya), the Khasi Hills (Central Meghalaya) and the Jaintia Hills (Eastern Meghalaya), and seven administrative districts: Ri-Bhoi district, East Khasi Hills district, West Khasi Hills district, Jaintia Hills district, Garo Hills district, West Garo Hills district and South Garo Hills district. All of which are predominantly inhabited by the Khasis, Jaintia and Garos. The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong.

History

There is not much information on the history of Meghalaya apart from accounts of the Khasi kingdoms in the chronicles of the neighboring Ahoms and Kacharis. The first written history of the state came into existence only after the British tried to construct a rail line through the area to connect Bengal and Assam. This ultimately led to a treaty with the Khasi principality of Nonkhlaw. However, with the treaty came opposition, which forced the rulers to repudiate the treaty in 1829. This led to direct confrontation between the Khasis and the British, and by the 1830s, the local rulers had submitted to the latter. The tribes continued their practices in seclusion until the rulers of the region acceded to the newly independent country of India. The region was included in the united province of Assam for administrative region, which led to the agitation of the local population. The region was accorded full statehood on January 21, 1972.

The Mizo tribes originally lived in the hills of Burma. The Lushai tribe moved into India and become the dominant tribe in the region that came to be known as the Lushai Hills. Early in the 19th century the Lushai came into conflict with the British. In the year 1895 the territory was annexed to British India. The British encouraged missionary activity among the tribes. As a result the Lushai and some other tribes converted to Christianity.

Languages

The principal languages in Meghalaya are Khasi, Garo and English. However, the state language is English.

Climate

The state of Meghalaya is directly influenced by the southwestern monsoon that originates in the Bay of Bengal. The monsoon begins in May and continues until October. Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills district has one of the heaviest rainfalls in the world with a July average of 959 cm. The climate from November to April is almost dry. Winter begins in December and lasts until February.

Flora and fauna

In Khasi Hills, there are more than 2,000 flowering plants in a radius of ten miles from Cherrapunjee. There are 150 species of ferns and a profusion of mosses, fungi and lichens. More than 250 species of orchids, 25 species of balsams, 20 species of palms, wild species of apples and rhlateau and 150 species of grass are available. In the upper hill regions from 1500 m and above, in the central plateau of Khasi Hills, coniferous vegetations like pines, oaks and ferns are found. The dense jungles in Meghalaya provide a natural habitat for various wildlife - mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Balpakram, in the East Garo Hills is the centre of the wild elephant population. The other wild animals found here include: tigers, bisons, hoolock gibbons, boars, barking deer, sambars, leopards, apes and monkeys. Among reptiles, many kinds of snakes and lizards(both poisonous and non-poisonous) are found here. There are also a wide variety of birds found in the higher altitudes.There are approximately 500 species of butterflies found in Meghalaya, some of them being very rare.