Tezu
 | This article needs more citations. (July 2022) |
Tezu | |
|---|---|
Town | |
  Tezu Location in Arunachal Pradesh, India  Tezu Tezu (India) | |
| Coordinates: 27°55′N 96°10′E / 27.92°N 96.17°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Arunachal Pradesh |
| District | Lohit |
| Established | 1946 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Democratic |
| • Body | Bharatiya Janata Party ( as per 2024) |
| • Rank | 5th after Aalo, Pasighat, naharlagun, Itanagar |
| Elevation | 185 m (607 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 18,184 |
| • Rank | 5th |
| • Density | 17/km2 (44/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Postal code | 792001 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-AR |
| Vehicle registration | AR-11 |
Tezu is a census town and the headquarters of Lohit district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is the fifth largest town in Arunachal Pradesh and one of its most developed.
Tezu is one of the 60 constituencies of Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh. The current MLA (2024) of Tezu constituency is Mahesh Chai, who defeated NPEP'S Karikho Kri with 2805 votes in the 2024 general election.
The town is known for its plain lands, dense forested areas, riverine and gorging rivers. Due to its close proximity to the hilly areas of Mishmi Hills, The town also serves as the main logistical hub for the transportation of goods and commuter to Anjaw district.
Geography
It has an average elevation of 185 metres (606 feet). It is situated on the bank of River Lohit.
Agriculture
The major agricultural products are mustard, ginger and oranges.
Climate
| Climate data for Tezu (1961–1990, extremes 1969–1992) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 31.8 (89.2) |
30.3 (86.5) |
35.5 (95.9) |
36.1 (97.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
40.0 (104.0) |
38.9 (102.0) |
38.3 (100.9) |
39.7 (103.5) |
40.5 (104.9) |
34.1 (93.4) |
30.1 (86.2) |
40.5 (104.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.2 (73.8) |
23.6 (74.5) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
30.5 (86.9) |
31.9 (89.4) |
31.6 (88.9) |
32.9 (91.2) |
32.1 (89.8) |
31.0 (87.8) |
27.9 (82.2) |
24.8 (76.6) |
28.7 (83.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.7 (58.5) |
16.2 (61.2) |
19.6 (67.3) |
21.8 (71.2) |
25.2 (77.4) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.6 (79.9) |
27.3 (81.1) |
26.4 (79.5) |
25.1 (77.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
16.4 (61.5) |
22.3 (72.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
10.4 (50.7) |
13.9 (57.0) |
16.5 (61.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.5 (74.3) |
22.6 (72.7) |
19.3 (66.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
8.6 (47.5) |
16.8 (62.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.1 (34.0) |
1.2 (34.2) |
7.1 (44.8) |
6.9 (44.4) |
9.9 (49.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
19.3 (66.7) |
18.9 (66.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
3.5 (38.3) |
0.6 (33.1) |
0.6 (33.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 46.3 (1.82) |
76.0 (2.99) |
144.3 (5.68) |
326.0 (12.83) |
290.9 (11.45) |
462.9 (18.22) |
710.7 (27.98) |
429.5 (16.91) |
343.9 (13.54) |
181.5 (7.15) |
20.0 (0.79) |
31.3 (1.23) |
3,063.3 (120.60) |
| Average rainy days | 4.3 | 6.8 | 9.6 | 13.7 | 13.7 | 17.4 | 20.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 6.8 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 124.0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 81 | 80 | 75 | 77 | 78 | 83 | 87 | 84 | 83 | 76 | 73 | 77 | 80 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department | |||||||||||||
Transport
The recently constructed airport at Tezu will be the first civilian airport of Arunachal Pradesh. On Sep 22, 2017 the first successful test flight was conducted. Other nearest airports are at Mohanbari (154 km) and Guwahati (Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport). Tezu is linked with the adjacent state Assam by road. Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Services (APSTS) and other privately owned vehicles provide seamless connectivity to Assam. Most of the vehicles provide connectivity to Tinsukia, Assam. The nearest railway station is at Tinsukia (NTSK) which is linked to major parts of country like Guwahati, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, etc.
227 km Murkongselek-Pasighat-Tezu-Rupai line is being undertaken as a strategic project. As part of this project, a proposal to connect Tezu through broad-gauge line from Murkongselek via Pasighat and extending up to Parshuram Kund was made. A preliminary engineering-traffic survey for this track has been completed, and land is being acquired as of 2020.
The newly constructed Lohit Bridge (2.9 KM) over the Lohit River at Alobarighat has also eased the connectivity of Tezu and other nearby towns with Assam. This bridge has helped Tezu in getting directly connected to Guwahati through bus service.
The strategic 2 lane Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Setu or Dhola-Sadiya bridge (9.15 KM) on Brahmaputra, which has reduced travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by four hours, has been operational since May 26, 2017. It is very crucial for defence purposes and is the longest river bridge in India.
Demographics
As per 2011 Indian census, Tezu had a population of 49.776 of which 26.365 are males while 23.441 are females . Tezu has an average literacy rate of 83.98%, higher than the state average of 65.38% and national average of 74.04%. Male literacy rate is around 88.29%, and female literacy rate is 78.94%. The female sex ratio is 866 against state average of 938. Moreover, child sex ratio in Tezu is around 968 compared to the state average of 972.
.jpg)
Hindus consists around 75.57% of the total population while Muslim, Christian and Sikh consists 7.43%, 8.24% and 0.29% respectively. Buddhism is around 5.41% and other religions are 2.91% of the total population.
Languages
According to Census 2011, Bengali is Spoken by 3,373 people, Nepali at 3,371 people, Bhojpuri by 2,197 people, Hindi at 1,884, Mismi by 1,790 people and Assamese at 1,561.
Tibetan diaspora
Tezu also has a sizeable population of Tibetan community of about 1500 mostly residing in a settlement called by local name as Lama Camp, Tibetans settled here since the 1960s after fleeing Chinese persecution in their homeland Tibet, till date they have maintained their own custom and tradition, they have built monasteries, health centres, nursing homes, schools etc. with funds from the government and other sources. Lama Camp is located in Tindolong about 6 km (4 mi) from Tezu Bazaar and has 5 camps each camp represent different regions of Tibet mainly Kham, Kongpo, Tsari and Pemako.
Media and communications
State-owned All India Radio has a local station in Tezu which transmits various programs of mass interest. Also, the local TV channel - Matai Communication broadcasts local news, shows and programs.
Local cultural festivals
The major Mishmi God is Ringyajabmalu and the major Mishmi festival is known as Tamladu puja. It is celebrated each year on 15 February. People from all communities and all walks of life are invited to join in the celebrations. The Holy Parshuram Kund is also nearby and thousands of Hindu pilgrims from all over India, and also from neighbouring countries, come to take a holy dip and wash away the sins of millions of births. This is accompanied with a fair at Tezu and takes place every year during the month of January.
Tamladu, the main festival of the Digaru and Miju Mishmi community is celebrated with much gaiety at Tezu and all over the Lohit district. Other festivals such as Mopin (Adi festival), Sangken (Khamti & Singhpo tribe), Reh (Idu Mishmi festival), and Losar (Monpa festival) are also celebrated.
Other than this, Durga Puja (Dusshera), Kali Puja, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. are also celebrated with much gaiety.
Educational institutions
- Government Higher School, Tezu
- Government Secondary School, Tezu
- Kendriya Vidyalaya, Tezu
- Krick & Boury Memorial School
- Indira Gandhi Government College
- Teacher's Training Institute (B.Ed College)
- Vivekananda Kendriya Vidyalaya, Tezu
- VKV Tafragam, Tezu
- Arun Jyoti school
- Lohit Valley School
- Government secondary school Telluliang
References
- ↑ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Tezu, India". www.fallingrain.com.
- ↑ "Tezu MLA". Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ↑ Dutta Choudhury, S., ed. (1978). Arunachal Pradesh District Gazetteers: Lohit District. Shillong: Gazetteers Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. pp. 105–112.
Detailing the cropping patterns and agrarian economy of Tezu circle and the Lohit plains, noting that alongside staple paddy, cash crops such as mustard oilseeds, ginger, and horticultural orange orchards constitute the primary commercial produce of the area.
- ↑ Directorate of Census Operations, Arunachal Pradesh (2014). District Census Handbook: Lohit – Village and Town Directory (Report). Census of India 2011. Shillong: Government of India. pp. 32–36, 68–72.
Detailing land utilisation, agricultural markets, and chief commercial commodities in Tezu urban and rural assessment circles, highlighting mustard, ginger, and citrus horticulture (oranges) as the principal economic crops.
- ↑ Brahma, B. K. (2003). Agricultural Development in Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. pp. 84–89. ISBN 978-81-7099-906-5.
Surveying regional specialization in the eastern foothills, where the fertile plains and alluvial terraces surrounding Tezu support extensive commercial cultivation of oilseeds (mustard), rhizomatous spices (ginger), and sub-tropical citrus fruits.
- ↑ "Station: Tezu Climatological Table 1961–1990" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1961–1990. India Meteorological Department. July 2010. pp. 801–802. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ↑ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ↑ India to construct strategic railway lines along border with China, Hindustan Times, 30 Nov 2016.
- ↑ 2019 target to survey 3 strategic rail lines along China border, Arunachal Observer, January 5, 2019.
- ↑ Bhardwaj, Atul (2017). "Dhola-Sadiya Bridge: Strategic Calculus in the Northeast". Economic and Political Weekly. 52 (23): 12–14.
The 9.15-kilometre Dhola–Sadiya Bridge across the Lohit River, standing as the longest river bridge in India, addresses a longstanding strategic bottleneck in the eastern theater by ensuring rapid, all-weather troop movement, heavy artillery, and battle-tank mobilisation toward forward defensive sectors including Tezu and the Walong border belt.
- ↑ Das, Gurudas; Thomas, C. Joshua (2020). Look East to Act East Policy: Implications for India's Northeast. New Delhi: Routledge. pp. 154–158. ISBN 978-0-367-27944-8.
Infrastructural modernization in eastern Arunachal Pradesh has been anchored by the Dhola-Sadiya river bridge, which serves vital civil and national defense purposes by cutting transit time between upper Assam logistics depots and forward border towns like Tezu.
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ↑ "C-16: Population by mother tongue, Arunachal Pradesh2011". India. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
- ↑ Dutta, Parul, ed. (1978). The Noctes. Shillong: Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. pp. 72–75.
Describing the traditional cosmology and spiritual rituals of the Digaru and Miju Mishmi tribes in Lohit district, where the supreme benevolent deity Ringyajabmalu is invoked during the annual Tamladu puja for community welfare and protection against natural calamities.
- ↑ Chowdhury, J. N. (1990). The Tribal Culture and History of Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Cosmo Publications. pp. 148–152. ISBN 978-81-7020-218-9.
Documenting the principal socio-religious festivals of the Mishmi groups of the Lohit Valley, identifying Tamladu as their chief festival dedicated to the earth deity and ancestral spirits.
- ↑ Pandey, B. B., ed. (1981). Festivals of Subansiri and Lohit Districts. Itanagar: Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. pp. 34–38.
The Tamladu festival of the Taraon (Digaru) Mishmi was formally synchronized to be observed annually on 15 February as a common district and community holiday across Tezu and surrounding administrative circles.
- ↑ Mibang, Tamo; Behera, M. C. (2004). Tribal Religions: Change and Continuity. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. pp. 112–116. ISBN 978-81-7099-940-9.
Contemporary celebrations of Tamladu at the central festival ground in Tezu have transcended clan boundaries to become inter-community gatherings where neighboring ethnic groups, government officials, and non-tribal residents actively participate.
- ↑ Bhattacharjee, J. B. (1993). Religious Developments in North-East India. Shillong: North-East India Council for Social Science Research. pp. 84–89.
Parashuram Kund, situated in the lower reaches of the Lohit River near Tezu, is an ancient sacred tirtha described in the Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra that draws tens of thousands of pilgrims annually from throughout the Indian subcontinent and Nepal to perform ritual ablutions during Makar Sankranti.
- ↑ Elwin, Verrier (1959). India's North-East Frontier in the Nineteenth Century. Bombay: Oxford University Press. pp. 312–316.
Historical accounts of British expeditions recording the perennial flow of pilgrims and ascetic sadhus visiting Brahmakund (Parshuram Kund) on the Lohit river.
- ↑ Directorate of Census Operations, Arunachal Pradesh (2014). District Census Handbook: Lohit – Village and Town Directory (Report). Census of India 2011. Shillong: Government of India. pp. 24–28, 62–66.
Reporting on the annual Parashuram Kund Mela held in the month of January coinciding with Makar Sankranti, which includes an extensive commercial and cultural fair hosted in and around Tezu to cater to visiting pilgrims and tourists.
- ↑ Dutta, S., ed. (2002). Cross-Border Trade to Pilgrimage: Historical Studies on Arunachal Pradesh. New Delhi: Commonwealth Publishers. pp. 95–101. ISBN 978-81-7169-705-2.
Examining the seasonal trade networks and annual fairs organized at Tezu and Sadiya in conjunction with the January Makar Sankranti pilgrimage to Parshuram Kund.