Rangiya (Assamese:[ˈræŋˌgɪə]) is a major city of Lower Assam division located in the Kamrup district of Assam, India.[4] Rangiya is the new headquarters of Kamrup district, and it serves as the Sub-district headquarters of Rangiya Sub-district. One of Rangiya's significant features is its role as the divisional headquarter of the Northeast Frontier Railway, which is one of the major railway zones in India.[5] The Redhorn Division of the Indian Army is located just three kilometers from the city and Additionally, Rangiya holds the distinction of being known as the gateway to the Indo-Bhutan border.
The city is serves as the major international tourist attractions of Bhutan, it is 48.7 kilometres from the city. All tourist are tour Bhutan from the NH127D also called as: Rangiya-Bhutan road connecting to the city to Samdrup Jongkhar,[6] a small town of Bhutan and Gateway of Bhutan. Assam's mainly Lower Assam people's tour Bhutan from Rangiya. The city is located approximately 52 kilometers away from the state headquarter Dispur (Guwahati),[7] which is the capital of Assam and about 39 kilometers from Jalukbari, a prominent area in Guwahati city. Rangiya is also serves as the important transportation hub of Assam.
The Rangiya Junction railway station is the fourth largest railway station in Northeast India.[8] Rangiya's ancient name is "Randiya", Rangiya covers an area of 9.6 square kilometers and is divided into 10 wards where regular elections are conducted every 5 years.[9][10]
The city is also famous for Hindu festival Jhulan Yatra, the festival in Assam is only held in Rangiya.[11] The festival is celebrated in Radha Krishna Temple of the city in the month of July/August.
Etymology
The word "Rangiya" is believed to have been derived from the local term "Randiya". According to local folklore, "Ran" means 'war' and "Diya" means 'to give', indicating that Rangiya was a place where a conflict or battle took place between the Boro people and Bhutanese communities.[12]
History
Rangiya at times acted as the Southern Boundary of Bhutan before the 1865 Duar War
Rangiya served as the Southern Boundary of Bhutan before the 1895 Duar War.
A peasant uprising by the peasants of Rangia against the increased land taxes of the British. The rebellion took place on 10 January There are about 3,000 farmers in front of the Rangia police station with sticks and batons. R.B. Mecabe, the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup, was killed in the attack by the rebels.[14] Then the police opened fire. Officially, no one was killed in the shooting, but legend has it that 17 people were killed.[15]
Rebellion
On 10 January 1894, more than 3,000 rebel peasants arrived at the Rangia police station with sticks and tongs.[16] They tried to forcibly release the Fatekials and attacked the Commissioner. RB McAbee was beaten to death by the crowd.[17] Police opened fire to disperse the crowd. According to official figures, no one was killed in the shooting; However, according to legend, 17 people died. Government forces also died at the hands of the rebels.[18] Government persecution gradually increased. The people were helpless.[19] There was also a decline in the enthusiasm of the people. Mandal Jaltiram Kalita was dismissed from his job for participating in the mutiny. The mutiny leader Kan Goswami was released from Fatek after promising to pay the increased treasury to the tehsildar.
The Historical Context
During the Mughal period, southern Assam, ie Sarkar-Kamrup, was divided into several parganas. After the transfer of the rule of Sarkar-Kamrup from the Mughals to the Ahoms, the system was not changed much except for the division and reduction of a few parganas. In 1826, the Treaty of Yandabu transferred the rule of Assam to the British. In 1833-34, Captain Bagalch, the ruler of Kamrup, introduced the system of land pattans on an annual basis for the first time and reduced the former parganas. These parganas were called mouzas or mahals (Circles). He created an officer called Chowdhury to collect revenue from these parganas and the ranks of Patwari, Thakurya, Kakati and Piyada to assist him.
In the fourth and fifth decades of the nineteenth century, efforts were made to develop Rangia as an administrative and revenue collection centre. He then established a police station here under a daroga. The 1853 report of AJ Moffat Mills stated that there were six police stations in Kamrup at that time. The employees of Rangia police station were as follows: Daroga 1, Mohari 1, Jamadar 1, Kakati 1, Barkandaj 9 and Tekela
In 1870, land settlement rules were prepared and a coherent system of revenue assessment and land pattans was introduced. The posts of various revenue officers like Mouzadar, Mandal etc. were created. Land survey and land classification of Kamrup district also started. It was during this period that a tahsil was formed in Rangia comprising eight mouzas or parganas. He was appointed as the Tahsildar. He was the Tahsildar of Rangia from The parganas under Rangia tehsil are 1) Panduri, 2) Panduri Kheraj, 3) Kaurbaha, 4) Kaurbaha Kheraj, 5) Barigog, 6) East Banbhag, 7) West Banbhag and 8) Dhamadhama. From April 1883, the Government resumed settlement in the main districts of Assam (Assam proper) by dividing new land classes for ten-year leases and increasing rent rates. This is a source of discontent among the farmers of Assam.
In 1861, he banned the cultivation of opium in Assam and imposed taxes on beverages and coconuts. In 1861, a revolt broke out in Phulguri and surrounding areas due to the government's anti-people policies. This is the famous Phulguri Dhewa- the first peasant uprising of Assam against the British.
Krishak Shahid Bhawan
Newly constructed Krishak Shahid Bhawan
In 1942, freedom fighters burnt down the office of the Rangia Tahsildar. In 1994, the people of Rangia celebrated the centenary of the Risemel. In 1996, preparations were started to construct a Krishak Shahid Bhawan and a pillar in memory of the Raijmel on the same land with the funds of the MP fund and the building was inaugurated on 15 December.
Geography
Aerial view of Rangiya
Rangiya is located at 26°28′N91°38′E / 26.47°N 91.63°E / 26.47; 91.63.[20] It has an average elevation of 39 metres (128 feet). Rangiya covers of area 9.6 square kilometres. The river Baralia flows through the heart of the city. The Rangiya Junction railway station is a major hub connecting Assam with the rest of India. This city is also very well connected by road through the National Highways 27 and 127D. This connectivity and the strategic location of the city in the region has made it an important center in trade and commerce in Western Assam, serving a vast transport land. It is one of the biggest transportation city in Lower Assam.
There are several educational institutes in Rangiya. Some of them are Jawaharlal Nehru Shishu Vidyalaya (Estd. 1964), Modern English School (Estd. 1993), Rangia College (Estd. 1964),[21] Third Eye Computer Education Centre (Estd. 2008), Sankardev Academy Junior college, Pragmetic Academy Junior College, Euclid Group of institutions, Faculty Academy, Symbiosis Academy, Manabendra Sarma Girls College, Rangia Higher Secondary School (Estd. 1936, Rangiya Arabic College, Rangiya Teachers Training College,[22] Rangiya Girls' H.S. School, Rangiya High Madrasa & H.S. School, Arimatta Vidyapith H.S. School, Rangia Hindi High School, Railway High School (Bengali Medium), (Estd.1950), Shankardev Shishu Niketan (Estd. 1987), Ambedkar Lotus English School (Estd. 1984), Fatima Convent School (Estd. 2007), Kendriya Vidyalaya NFR Rangia, SERS Public School,[23] Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Rangiya Law College and Sankaracharya Vidya Niketan, premada sivanath vidyapith, Red Horns Public School (Estd.1988), Rangia Jatiya Vidyalaya Tiniali (Estd.2010). Rangia Basic training center,The level of educational awareness in this area is high.
Administration and governance
Rangiya city
Rangiya Municipal Board is the local body responsible for governing, developing and managing the city. It is divided into 10 municipal wards.[24]
Assam has a total of 126 assembly constituencies, and Rangiya Assembly constituency is one of these 126 segments where voters elect their representative. Bhabesh Kalita is the current MLA of Rangiya Assembly constituency. It also falls under the Darrang–Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency, which elects members to the national-level Lok Sabha, Dilip Saikia is the current MP of Darrang–Udalguri Lok Sabha constituency.[25]
Police
Rangiya is the headquarters of Kamrup district and Kamrup district Police located in Rangiya serves Kamrup district, and Rangiya Sub-divisional Police with Rangia Police serves only Rangiya Sub-District areas and urban areas of Rangiya.[26]
Judiciary
Sub-divisional Judicial Court, Rangiya
The Sub-divisional Judicial Court of Rangiya is the second court of Kamrup district serves areas of Kamrup district and Rangiya Sub-district. The main district judicial court located at Amingaon.[27]
As of 2011[update] India census,[30] Rangiya had a population of 26,389. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Rangiya has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 67%. In Rangiya, 12% of the population is under six years of age.
Healthcare system
Swasti Hospital
There are several private hospitals in Rangiya apart from 2 government hospitals. Some of them are Swasti Hospital (Estd. 2018),[31] Rangia Poly Clinic & Nursing Home, Sparsh Hospital (Estd. 2016).[32]
Landmarks
Entertainment and commerical centres
Delight Gold Cinema
The movie theatre named Delight Gold Cinema is located at Rangiya, Station Road. The Mobile theatres and circuses in every year performed on the historical Rangiya Mrityunjay Shiv Mandir that every years city peoples can enjoy it. The city is also a commercial center with a range of markets and business establishments catering to the needs of the local population and surrounding areas.[33]
Eco Park
Rangiya Eco Park
The Eco Park named as Railway Eco Park located at Rangiya Railway Colony Road, the park had fully Naturally, A large pond is centre of the Park and the sides of the pond is covered by walking zones.[34]
Padum Pukhuri Park
Padum Pukhuri Park
The Padum Pukhuri Park is a Lotus pond and park, and also known as "I Love Rangia" park.[35] It is located at Rangiya Tiniali, Bhutan Road. This park is inaugurated by 13 August 2022 by Bhabesh Kalita, State President BJP, Assam Pradesh and MLA of Rangiya LAC.
Dipteshwari Devalaya
Dipteshwari Devalaya is a most historical temple of Assam located in the Rangiya Dipteshwari area, it is dedicated to lord Durga.[36]
The Climate of the area affects human activities to a great extent. Rangiya has a similar climatic condition with rest of the Brahmaputra valley with hot humid summer and cool dry winter.[42] Mean annual maximum and minimum temperatures of those towns are 36.5 C and 8.1 C respectively. There is sufficient rainfall in summer with an annual average of 1852.20mm and a Ralative Humidity of 75%.
^Siiger, Halfdan (2015). The Bodo of Assam: Revisiting a Classical Study from 1950(PDF). NIAS Press. p. 183. ISBN978-87-7694-160-4. Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 August 2020. As the Bodos could not stand all this, in the long run they made war upon the Bhutanese. They fought in Rangiya. Ron means war, and from that the town has got its name. There the Bodos were defeated by the Bhutanese. As they were defeated by the Bhutanese, the Bodos had to pay land revenue to them.
