A Vanishing Cultural Heritage: Studying the impact of Flood and River bank erosion in Majuli-island of Assam, India
Sagar UPADHAYA, Dept. of Geography, Central University of Jharkhand, India
Abstract
Historically, the River Brahmaputra has been regarded as the lifeline of Assam, as it flows through the middle of the state, and divide the region into two parts I.e., Upper Assam and Lower Assam, and the alluvial deposits by the river has formed one of the most productive regions of the country. But however this rising part of the region undergo huge flash of the water that often Associated with river, every year, during the monsoon months, the soaring flow of the river and its tributaries result in massive floods and river bank erosion in the valley. Although flooding also has some positive aspect in making the valley rich in agricultural productivity, but the high frequency and intensity of the phenomena along with river bank erosion has disturbed the socio-economic backbone of this region. Majuli, one the largest fresh water river island of the continent and one of the largest inhabited riverine island of the world, it is also the centre of Vaishanite and Assemmese culture, which is the cultural heritage of Assam. This is often said as the cultural hub of the state; however the existence of this particular cultural heritage is under serious threat due to the massive flood and bank line erosion by the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries. The Culture and Area of Majuli on its way of diminishing. Hence the study is focuses on the changing geographies of the Majuli and tries to analyse the impact of flood and river bank erosion in Majuli Island. The paper also seeks to explain the effective measures to protect the island from the further erosion by the River Brahmaputra and its tributed streams.
Mots clés : Cultural Heritage|River Brahmaputra|Majuli, River bank erosion|Flood
A105144SU