Pasighat
Encyclopedia
Pasighat is the headquarters of East Siang
district
in the India
n state
of Arunachal Pradesh
. Situated at 155 meters, with its scenic splendours Pasighat is Arunachal's oldest town and also the district headquarters of East Siang.
Cognizance of Pasighat emerged due to the Anglo-Abor War that was fought in 1912.
This necessitated the first ever administrative Head Quarter being established here at Pasighat with an Assistant Political Officer posted. In the post-Independent Era, Pasighat is credited with the first Airfield (near Paglek, P.I Line) established in 1946. The 1st Agricultural Institute in Arunachal Pradesh was also established at Pasighat in 1950. Other forms of later infrastructural development includes the famous (1) General Hospital (estb.1954, although some claim it as old as the town itself),
(2) Co-operative society Ltd (1957),
(3) Nurse Training Centre (affiliated to General Hospital),
(4) The first ever College in Arunachal Pradesh Jawaharlal Nehru College (established: 4th July 1964) and also
(5) the first ever All India Radio Station in the State in 1966.
The early proponents for the shifting of capital from Shillong (the then NEFA), underlined Pasighat as the obvious choice under the new preference. One of the strong reasons given by the officials was the above leading relative infrastructural development in the whole of the State. However, because of the then over-crafty chumps and the self crowned top dogs, the privilege was lost with a serious distaste to the present capital Itanagar. Since that catastrophe of 1974, Pasighat has failed to yield its lost tempo of modernization; nevertheless it has embarked as the new intellectual hub of the whole State.
(Supplement: DARUNG KALING)
The only renown development in Pasighat that came after the 1974 catastrophe was in the form of the College of Horticulture and Forestry Central Agriculture University established on 7th March, 2001.
(Supplement: DARUNG KALING)
. Agriculture, Horticulture, and tourism continues to be the main source of economy for the town.
, Pasighat had a population of 21,972. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Pasighat has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Pasighat, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Pasighat is predominantly inhabited by the Adi people
who are known for their colourful Ponung dance and war dance called Taapu. Pasighat is also ideal for adventure sports activities. The Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary is 13 km away and is worth visiting. The archaeological site of Malinithan (100 km) is linked to the legend of Lord Krishna and his wife Rukmini. The dismembered head of Sati (Parvati) is said to have fallen at Akashiganga (100 km according to ancient Hindu myths. This is a highly sacred place for Vaishnavites.
East Siang
East Siang is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India.-History:In 1989 territory was transferred from West Siang district to East Siang. A decade later, in 1999, the district was bifurcated to make Upper Siang district....
district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
. Situated at 155 meters, with its scenic splendours Pasighat is Arunachal's oldest town and also the district headquarters of East Siang.
History
Pasighat was founded in 1911 A.D. by the British as a gateway to administrative convenience of the greater Abor Hills and area north. Primarily it was a settlements of Pasi and Minyong communities who are still living in the villages in and around Pasighat. Year 2011 (January) marked 100 years of its existence and this occasion was celebrated in the DSA ground Pasighat (in February last week) after having extended the function more than half a dozen times, thereby creating a mass public irritation. (Supplement: DARUNG KALING).Cognizance of Pasighat emerged due to the Anglo-Abor War that was fought in 1912.
This necessitated the first ever administrative Head Quarter being established here at Pasighat with an Assistant Political Officer posted. In the post-Independent Era, Pasighat is credited with the first Airfield (near Paglek, P.I Line) established in 1946. The 1st Agricultural Institute in Arunachal Pradesh was also established at Pasighat in 1950. Other forms of later infrastructural development includes the famous (1) General Hospital (estb.1954, although some claim it as old as the town itself),
(2) Co-operative society Ltd (1957),
(3) Nurse Training Centre (affiliated to General Hospital),
(4) The first ever College in Arunachal Pradesh Jawaharlal Nehru College (established: 4th July 1964) and also
(5) the first ever All India Radio Station in the State in 1966.
The early proponents for the shifting of capital from Shillong (the then NEFA), underlined Pasighat as the obvious choice under the new preference. One of the strong reasons given by the officials was the above leading relative infrastructural development in the whole of the State. However, because of the then over-crafty chumps and the self crowned top dogs, the privilege was lost with a serious distaste to the present capital Itanagar. Since that catastrophe of 1974, Pasighat has failed to yield its lost tempo of modernization; nevertheless it has embarked as the new intellectual hub of the whole State.
(Supplement: DARUNG KALING)
The only renown development in Pasighat that came after the 1974 catastrophe was in the form of the College of Horticulture and Forestry Central Agriculture University established on 7th March, 2001.
(Supplement: DARUNG KALING)
Geography
Pasighat is located at 28.07°N 95.33°E. It has an average elevation of 153 metres (501 ft). The area experience tropical humid climate during summer and dry mild winter. The place is known for receiving highest rainfall in a single year. In fact Pasighat and area around it receive heavy rainfall every year during monsoon season starting from May till September. The unique trough like features surrounded by high hills on all three sides make this place ideal for attracting rain bearing cloud which comes in from Assam plain. The rain bearing wind gets obstructed by the hills and brings heavy downpour. Winter is marked by cold dry local seasonal wind which blows throughout the winter. This factor contributes in making this place fog free even in winter. Bhramaputra emerges from the foothills under the name of Dihang or Siang. It enters India as Dihang west of Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh.Flowing southwest, it receives its main left bank tributaries, viz., Dibang and Lohit; thereafter, it is known as the Brahmaputra. Then it races across the Pasighat [north of Assam] heading for the Assam plains as the mighty Brahmaputra.Economy
Agriculture is the main occupation of local people. Rice is the main foodcrop produced in the area. There are several large tea gardens in the vicinity of the town which attracts workers from all over the region. Lumbering was a big sustaining industry till the Supreme Court clamped down on the industry during nineties. There is also a bit of tourism in Pasighat, being the oldest town in Arunachal PradeshArunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
. Agriculture, Horticulture, and tourism continues to be the main source of economy for the town.
Demography
As of 2001 India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Pasighat had a population of 21,972. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Pasighat has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Pasighat, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Pasighat is predominantly inhabited by the Adi people
Adi people
The Adi, or Bangni-Bokar Lhoba people is a major collective tribe living in the Himalayan hills of Arunachal Pradesh, and they are found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions within the districts of East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley. The older term Abor is a deprecated...
who are known for their colourful Ponung dance and war dance called Taapu. Pasighat is also ideal for adventure sports activities. The Daying Ering Wildlife Sanctuary is 13 km away and is worth visiting. The archaeological site of Malinithan (100 km) is linked to the legend of Lord Krishna and his wife Rukmini. The dismembered head of Sati (Parvati) is said to have fallen at Akashiganga (100 km according to ancient Hindu myths. This is a highly sacred place for Vaishnavites.