Dibang Valley district

Not to be confused with the Lower Dibang Valley district.

Dibang Valley district
District of Arunachal Pradesh
Location in Arunachal Pradesh
Location in Arunachal Pradesh
Dibang Valley district with administrative circles and other labels
Dibang Valley district with administrative circles and other labels
Coordinates (Anini): 28°42′N 95°42′E / 28.700°N 95.700°E / 28.700; 95.700
CountryIndia
StateArunachal Pradesh
HeadquartersAnini
Government
 • Deputy CommissionerShri Minga Sherpa, IAS
Area
 • Total
9,129 km2 (3,525 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
8,004[1]
 • Urban
27.55%
Demographics
 • Literacy64.8%[1]
 • Sex ratio808[1]
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Websitedibangvalley.nic.in

Dibang Valley (/dɪˈbæŋ/ dib-ANG) is a district of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh[2] named after the Dibang River[3] or the Talon as the Mishmis call it. It is the least populated district in India and has an area of 9,129 square kilometres (3,525 sq mi).[1]

History

In June 1980, Dibang Valley district was created out of part of Lohit district.[4] On 16 December 2001, Dibang Valley district was bifurcated into Dibang Valley district and Lower Dibang Valley district.[4]

Geography

Rivers in Dibang Valley district
Map
Dibang Valley district in Arunachal Pradesh

The Dibang River originates in the mountains of Arunachal Pradesh and flows through the length of the valley which is named after it. The Dibang has multiple tributaries and only once it debouches into the plains is it called by its name. Some of the major rivers of Dibang Valley District are: Ahui, Emra, Mathun, Dri, Tangon, Ithun, and Ange. The capital of this district, Anini, is the northernmost district capital in Northeast India. This district contains the northernmost point of Northeast India.

Transport

The 2,000-kilometre-long (1,200 mi) proposed Mago-Thingbu to Vijaynagar Arunachal Pradesh Frontier Highway along the McMahon Line,[5][6][7][8] (will intersect with the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor Highway) will pass through this district, alignment map of which can be seen here and here.[9]

Divisions

There is only one Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly constituency in this district- the Anini constituency. It is part of Arunachal East Lok Sabha constituency.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
19613,221—    
19715,297+5.10%
19816,912+2.70%
19917,393+0.68%
20017,272−0.16%
20118,004+0.96%
source:[11]

According to the 2011 census Dibang Valley district has a population of 7,948,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Nauru.[12] This gives it a ranking of 640th in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 0.8 inhabitants per square kilometre (2.1/sq mi) .With this, it is also the most sparsely populated district in India.[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 9.3%.[1] Dibang Valley has a sex ratio of 808 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 64.8%.[1]

The major population of this district consists of Mishmi (Idu).

The Mishmis have a story narrating the first journeys undertaken in course of migration. The story conveys the names and location of the Cheethu-Huluni or the twelve rivers that the Mishmi (Idu) people came over in the region and settled around. The first accounts of the Mishmi (Idus) are found in the narrations given by the neighboring Ahoms. The Mishmis inhabited the deep jungles of what is now the Dibang valley.

Religion

Religion in Dibang Valley district (2011)[13]
Religion Per cent
Donyi Polo
 
 55.01%
Hinduism
 
 39.24%
Christianity
 
 2.79%
Buddhism
 
 1.57%
Islam
 
 1.39%


About 40% of the district's population follows Hinduism.[13] The Mishmi(Idu) people here believes that Rukmini-Chief Consort of Lord Krishna belonged to their tribe.[14] The plays and dances on ‘Rukmini haran’ are common. There is a legend that Lord Krishna asked the Mishmi people to cut their hair as a form of punishment for not allowing him to marry Rukmini. Due to this Idu-Mishmi people are also called "chulikata" (chuli-hair, kata- cut).[15]

Languages

Languages spoken include Idu Mishmi with approximately 25,000 speakers, written in both Latin and Devanagric scripts.

Flora and fauna

The district is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, red goral and Gongshan muntjac occur, while among birds there is the rare Sclater's monal.[16] A flying squirrel new to science was discovered from this district in the 2000s. It has been named as Mishmi giant flying squirrel, Petaurista mishmiensis.[17]

In 1991, Dibang Valley district became home to the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 4,149 km2 (1,601.9 sq mi).[18]

Map

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dibang Valley District Population Census 2011, Arunachal Pradesh literacy sex ratio and density". Census Organization of India. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013.
  2. ^ National Portal of India : Know India : Districts of India. India.gov.in.
  3. ^ History : Lower Dibang Valley. Roing.nic.in (16 December 2001).
  4. ^ a b Law, Gwillim (25 September 2011). "Districts of India". Statoids. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  5. ^ Dipak Kumar Dash. "Top officials to meet to expedite road building along China border". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Narendra Modi government to provide funds for restoration of damaged highways". www.dnaindia.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Indian Government Plans Highway Along Disputed China Border". Ankit Panda. thediplomat.com. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Govt planning road along McMohan line in Arunachal Pradesh: Kiren Rijiju". Live Mint. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  9. ^ "China warns India against paving road in Arunachal". Ajay Banerjee. tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Assembly Constituencies allocation w.r.t District and Parliamentary Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Arunachal Pradesh website. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  11. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  12. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Nauru 9,322 July 2011 est.
  13. ^ a b "2011 Religion Census". Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  14. ^ "A twist in the myth: Rukmini's vague Arunachal connection". Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  15. ^ Roychowdhury, Adrija (29 March 2018). "Fact Check: Did Rukmini come from Arunachal Pradesh? Here is what we know". The Indian Express. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  16. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin(2008) Survey of mammals and birds in Dihang-Dibang biosphere reserve, Arunachal Pradesh. Final report to Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The Rhino Foundation for nature in NE India, Guwahati, India. 70pp.
  17. ^ Choudhury, Anwaruddin (2009).One more new flying squirrel of the genus Petaurista Link, 1795 from Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. The Newsletter and Journal of the RhinoFoundation for nat. in NE India 8: 26–34, plates.
  18. ^ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Arunachal Pradesh". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.