Assam is a state in Northeast India, located south of the Eastern Himalayas. It lies mainly along the fertile Brahmaputra Valley and the Barak Valley, making it one of the most important states in the region. Covering an area of about 78,438 square kilometres, Assam is the second-largest state in Northeast India by area and the most populous, with over 31 million people according to the 2011 Census. The state shares international borders with Bhutan to the north and Bangladesh to the southwest. It also borders the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and West Bengal. Assam is connected to the rest of India through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, often called the "Chicken's Neck." Its capital is Dispur, while Guwahati is the largest city and the main commercial and cultural center. Dibrugarh serves as the state's second capital.
Assam has a long and fascinating history. Archaeological evidence suggests that people lived in the region as early as the second to first century BCE. Although Assam is mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, much of its early history comes from historical records rather than archaeological discoveries. The region was part of the frontier of the Gupta Empire during the 4th century CE and was later ruled by several dynasties, including the Varman, Mlechchha, and Kamarupa-Pala kingdoms.
In the 13th century, the Ahom Kingdom was established and ruled Assam for nearly 600 years. During this period, the Ahoms successfully defended the region against several Mughal invasions. However, internal conflicts, including the Moamoria Rebellion, and repeated Burmese invasions weakened the kingdom, allowing the British to take control in the 19th century. Under British rule, Assam became famous for its tea plantations, which remain one of the state's most important industries today. Initially, Assam was part of the Bengal Presidency, and in 1912 it became the separate Assam Province. After India gained independence on 15 August 1947, Assam became part of the new nation and was officially recognized as a state of the Republic of India on 26 January 1950.
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