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Area : 83,743 sq km
Population : 1,097,968
Capital : Itanagar
Principal Languages : Monpa, Miji, Aka, Sherdukpen, Nyishi,
Apatani, Tagin, Hill Miri, Adi, Digaru-Mismi,
Idu-Mishmi, Khamti, Miju-Mishmi, Nocte, Tangsa
and Wancho.
Arunachal
Pradesh, the erstwhile North-East Frontier
Agency shares international boundaries with
Bhutan, Tibet, China and Myanmar to the west,
north-east, north and east respectively, and the
state boundaries with Assam and Nagaland. The
terrain consists of submontane and mountainous
ranges, sloping down to the plains of Assam,
divided into valleys by the rivers Kameng,
Subansiri, Siang, Lohit and Tirap.
There are practically no records
relating to the history of this area, except
some oral literature and a number of historical
ruins found mainly in the foothills. Subsequent
explorations and excavations have identified the
ruins as dating approximately from the early
Christian era. The historical evidence indicates
that not only was the area well known, but the
people living here had close relations with the
rest of the country too.
Modern history of Arunachal Pradesh begins
with the inception of British rule in Assam
after the treaty of Yandaboo, concluded on 24
February 1826.
Before 1962, the area was popularly known as
the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), and was
constitutionally a part of Assam. Because of its
strategic importance, however, it was
administered by the Ministry of External Affairs
until 1965, and subsequently by the Ministry of
Home Affairs, through the Governor of Assam. In
1972, it was constituted as a Union Territory
and renamed Arunachal Pradesh. On 20 February
1987, it became the 24th state of the Indian
Union.
Some
of the important festivals of the State are:
Mopin and Solung of the Adis, Lossar of the
Monpas and Boori-boot of the Hill Miris,
Sherdukpens, Dree of the Apatanis, Si-Donyi of
the Tagins, Reh of the ldu-Mishmis, Nyokum of
the Nishs, etc. Animal sacrifice is a common
ritual in most festivals.
Agriculture is the
mainstay of the people of Arunachal Pradesh, and
had mainly depended on jhum cultivation.
Encouragement is being given to the cultivation
of cash crops like potatoes and horticulture
crops like apples, oranges and
pineapples.
For conservation and explorations of
vast minerals, the Arunachal Pradesh Mineral
Development and Trading Corporation Limited
(APMDTCL) were set up in 1991. Namchik-Namphuk
coal fields are taken up by APMDTCL.
To
provide training to craftsmen in different
trades, there are two Industrial Training
Institutes at Roing and Daporijo.
An area of more than 87,500 hectares
has been irrigated in Arunachal Pradesh. The
installed capacity of the State is about 30,735
MW. Around 2,600 villages have been electrified
out of 3,649 villages in the State.
Roads : Arunachal
Pradesh has 330 km of national highway.
Places of tourist interest are:
Tawang, Dirang, Bomdila, Tipi, Itanagar
Malinithan, Likabali, Pasighat, Along, Tezu,
Miao, Roing, Daporijo Namdapha, Bhismaknagar,
Parashurarn Kund and Khonsa.
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