VILLAGE SURVEY

MISHING VILLAGE , MAJULI ISLAND:

ANALYSIS:

REFERENCE 1. Reception Committee (1999), ‘Majuli’

2. Mills, A.J.M. (1853), Account of Assam, p. 1.

1.Geographical Location of Majuli:

The enchanted Majuli in the heart of the Brahmaputra is located in northern part of
Jorhat district of upper Assam. It is a sub-division of Jorhat district. Geographically it is
located between 26045/ North to 27022/ North latitudes and 93039/ East to 94035/ East
longitudes. Its four boundaries are natural barriers represented by the river Brahmaputra and
Kherkatia – Lohit channel5.
To the north of Majuli lies Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji districts and Jorhat subdivision.
Sivasagar district lies to the east. To the south there lies Golaghat district and
Mangaldoi, Darrang districts lye to the west.

2. Shape and Size of Majuli:

The geographical shape of Majuli is like “Myrobalan.” Majuli is not only a subdivision
but was also regarded as the largest and the oldest inhabited river island in the world.
The total geographical area of Majuli was 1325 Sq km in 1941. But due to heavy and
recurring flood and erosion it reduces to 640 sq km in 2008 (based on the satellite survey).
Majuli came into existence due to southern migration of the Brahmaputra, adjoining the
lower course of the Burhi Dihing. Actually, this sub-division is situated between two distinct
channels of the Louhitya. The eastern and western parts of northern side of the channels are
known as the Kharkatia and the Lohit channel respectively. The southern channel of the
Lohitya is known as the Brahmaputra.

3. Relief Features of Majuli:

The relief of the Majuli sub-division is a flat level alluvial and active flood plain. The
whole area is free from hills and isolated hillocks. The general slope of physiography of
Majuli decreases from north-east to south-west. Majuli is characterized by diverse features
such as the old and the new depositional plain, the active flood plain and the char lands or
chapari areas and the wet lands. The whole region extends from Ujani Majuli in the north to
the last point of Ahatguri mouza in the west. Based on relief features, the Majuli plain can be
divided into the following four macro physiographic units.

4. Drainage System of Majuli

Majuli is under the humid sub tropical monsoon climate, geographical location, plain
topography and seasonal variation of temperature influence the climate of the Sub-division.
Besides these, the local factors such as rivers, wetlands (beels), abundant unclassified
vegetation, char-chapori, unpolluted environment etc have rendered its climate, somewhat
different from that of the other parts of the Brahmaputra valley.
Considering the elements of the atmosphere such as temperature, pressure, rainfall,
clouds, fog, humidity conditions in their temporal distribution, the weather conditions of
Majuli in a year can be divided into the following four seasons.

6. Soils of Majuli

The soils in Majuli sub-division are broadly alluvial in character. In fringes of Majuli
or surrounding the Sub-division (river bank side) new alluvial soils are common. Particularly
in the middle part of Majuli, there are limited areas with lateritic soils. The new alluvial soils
are subjected to annual floods and renewal. They are suitable for cultivation of rice, jute,
pulses, mustard, potato and different kind of vegetables.They are rich in available phosphate,
potash and exchangeable calcium. In texture they are useful sandy, silt or clay loam.
The old alluvial soils are found above the annual flood level. These soils are more
acidic and are usually deficient in available phosphate with low to medium proportion of
potash. These are also suitable for sugarcane, fruits, rice and vegetables but not for pulses and
mustard.

7. Natural Vegetation:

Majuli is rich in various types of natural vegetation. Climatic, physiographic and soil
conditions of Majuli Sub-division have provided favorable conditions for luxuriant growth of
natural vegetation.
In Majuli there is no any reserved forest, but the whole Sub-division is sufficiently
covered by natural forests and vegetation including settlement area except paddy fields. The
water borne species of flora in the wetlands of the Sub-division help to keep Majuli
evergreen.
The common plants of forests of Majuli are Amari (Amoora Wallichi), Bonsom
(Phoebe Goalparensia), Nahar (Messua Fearea), Ajar (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Sonaru
(Cassia fistule), Koroi (albizzia procera), Simalu (Bombax malabaricum), Jack fruit
(Atrocarpus integrifolia) Silikha, Bhomora, Owtenga, Jalphai, Mango, Uriam, Kanchan
(Baguhinia purpurea), Polash (Butea monosperma).
Four types of flora viz. phytoplanktons, herbs, shrubs and trees are common in
Majuli. A good number of planktonic species are available in wetlands or marshylands
locally known as “beel” which are the important resources of Majuli.
Meteka (Water hyacinth), Kalmou (Water lettuce), pati-doi, tora, gugule etc are some
wetland prone species of Majuli.
Diversity of herbaceous species is very high in Majuli. It includes grass, sedges,
legumes, non legumes and terrestrial and many aquatic Pteridophytes as well. The numbers
of aquatic weeds are abundant in the Sub-division. More than 200 species of herbs are seen to
be available in Majuli like kher, khagori, kohnua, nol etc.

8. Faunastic Composition

Zoo-planktons, insects, amphibians, reptiles, aves, mammals and fishes are generally
found everywhere. The beels (wetlands) of Majuli are full of zoo planktons which are good
food for fresh water fishes. Insect population is very much unique in Majuli. Hundreds of
aquatic as well as terrestrial insects are found to be present in the Majuli Sub-division which
has not been investigated.
A fairly good number of vertebrates and invertebrates are living in Majuli. It is
suitable habitat for amphibians, reptiles and aves. There are atleast 10 different types of turtle
available in Majuli of which some are endangered. About 50 species of fishes are available in
Majuli. Specially, migratory birds are conspicuous features of Majuli. Migration of different
types of exotic birds starts in Majuli from early part of winter. ‘Natures Beckon’ a voluntary
agency recorded 94 species of birds inhabitation on the Majuli Sub-division in a very brief
survey. It is worth mentioning that the said agency identified 4 of them to be globally
endangered and total bird species would be more than 150. Among mammals, the only
aquatic (fresh water) mammals, Platamista Gangetica (locally known as Sihu) are found in
the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers, but this endangered species are rarely seen except during
floods (Biswa and Phukan – 1986). The people catch Dolphin for extracting oil which has
907 medicinal values and it is also used for catching fishes