Dima Hasao district (IPA: [ˈdɪmə həˈsaʊ]), is an administrative district in the state of Assam, India. As of 2011, it is the least populous district of Assam.[1] [2]
Dima Hasao district is one of two autonomous hill districts of Assam. The district headquarters Haflong is the only hill station in the state.[3]
"Dima Hasao" means "Dimasa Hills" in the Dimasa language.[4]
From c. 1500, Dima Hasao was part of the Dimasa Kingdom (or Kachar kingdom), with its capital at Maibang and Dimapur.[5][6][7] As per Ahom Buranji, the kingdom stretched from the Kopili river in present-day Nagaon district to the Dhansiri river in present-day Golaghat district. This included parts of Cachar and North Cachar (Dima Hasao), the districts of Hojai, Nagaon, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong of Assam and Dimapur district, in Nagaland.[8][9]
In the colonial period, Khaspur in present-day Cachar district was the administrative centre. However an internal schism led to the division of the old Kachar Kingdom into two parts. The last Dimasa king, Govinda Chandra Hasnusa, assigned Kashi Chandra the hilly tract of Kachar (i.e. the area between Mahur river and the Naga Hills in the south, the Doyang river on the west, the Dhansiri River on the east and Jamuna river in the north.) for administrative purposes. Soon the latter declared his independence over the hilly portion. That led to the treacherous murder of Kashi Chandra by Raja Govinda Chandra Hasnusa.[citation needed] Incensed, the son of Kashi Chandra, Tularam Senapati, incessantly created political turbulence, asserting his sovereignty over hilly portion of Kachar Kingdom. Finally, with British assistance, Tularam succeeded in carving out his own territory from Kachar Kingdom. David Scott, agent to the British Raj in 1829[10] made an arrangement to recognise Tularam as the ruler of hilly tract of Kachar. In 1850, Tularam died and the frequent Angami raids and a grave incident at Semkhor village paved the ground to extend British influence over Tularam's territory. In 1852, his territory was annexed and made part of the Nowgong district of British Assam as a subdivision, with Asalu as its headquarter.[11][Note 1][12][13]
In 1866, this sub-division was abolished and apportioned into three parts among the Cachar, Naga Hills district, and Nowgong district. The present area of the Dima Hasao district was included in the old Cachar district.[14][15] In 1880, this portion was constituted into a sub-division with headquarters at Gunjung under Cachar district.[12] This headquarters was shifted to Haflong in 1895. Since then, Haflong continued to be the headquarters till 1951.[12]
On 17 November 1951, United Mikir and North Cachar Hills District was created with area occupying present-day Dima Hasao district, Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong district.[4][16] On 2 February 1970, the government declared an independent administrative district, viz., North Cachar Hills District with the geographical boundary of autonomous North Cachar Hills district council.[4] The council possesses administrative control over almost all departments of the district except police and Law and Order.[4][17]
The district headquarters are located at Haflong. Dima Hasao district occupies an area of 4,888 square kilometres (1,887 sq mi),[18] It is the second-largest district of Assam after Karbi Anglong.[19][20] Dima Hasao District is surrounded by Karbi Anglong district and Nagaland on the northeast, Manipur on the east, Hojai District to the north, West Karbi Anglong district on the northwest, Meghalaya on the west and Cachar district in the south.[21]
According to the 2011 census, Dima Hasao had a population of 214,102, giving it a ranking of 588th in India (out of a total of 640). The district had a population density of 44 inhabitants per square kilometre (110/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.53%. Dima Hasao had a sex ratio of 931 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 78.99%.[1]
Dima Hasao is one of the three hill districts in Assam with a tribal majority population, the others being Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong.[4] The tribal population in Dima Hasao accounts for about 70.92% of the total population of the district according to the 2011 census, the highest percentage in the state. Scheduled Castes are 2.02%.[19] The major tribal communities inhabiting the district are Dimasa Kachari, Zeme Naga, Hmar, Kuki, Karbi, Khasi, Hrangkhol, Biate and few others.[23][4] Non-tribal communities includes Bengalis, Nepalis, Hindi-speakers and few other communities who have made the district their home.[23]
As per the language data, the largest non-tribal communities are Bengalis (25,264: change of -7.53% from 2001), Nepalis (13,615: +9.76%), Hindi speakers (9,926: +13.83%), Assamese speakers (4,057: -26.32%), Halam(Ranglong)-Kuki/Khelma/Riam (1,940 : +15.41%), Bodo-Kachari (1,604 : -7.82%), Meitei (1,373 : -24.64%), Tripuri (527: -21.11%), and Bishnupriya (401: -14.32%).[23]
As of the 2011 census, 67.07% of the population are Hindus, 29.57% Christians and 2.04% Muslims.[24]
At the time of the 2011 census, 35.72% of the district spoke Dimasa, 11.80% Bengali, 9.65% Zeme, 7.65% Hmar, 6.36% Nepali, 5.11% Kuki, 4.46% Karbi, 3.14% Hindi, 1.93% Khasi, 1.89% Assamese.[23]
Dima Hasao district is an autonomous district with Sixth Schedule status granted by the