Tawang District

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Tawang
Capital Tawang
Area 2,085 sq km
Population 34,705
Population Density 16/km²
Literacy 41.45%
Urbanization n/a

Tawang district is located in north-western Arunachal Pradesh in India. The People's Republic of China claims sovereignty over the area as part of Cuona district in Shannan Prefecture (Tibet Autonomous Region), while India claims it as part of the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Contents

[edit] Geography and Administration

Tawang borders the Line of Actual Control between India and China on disputed Indian-administered territory, as part of Arunachal Pradesh. From China's point of view, it is considered as part of the Cona County of China-administered Tibet Autonomous Region. It also shares another international border with Bhutan, and a district border with West Kameng.

It roughly lies around the latitude 27 º 45’ N and the longitude 90º 15’ E on the Northwest extremity of Arunachal Pradesh. Elevations range between 6,000 to 22,000 feet, and inhabitants are found in lower altitude, where they enjoy a cool temperate climate.

The district is administered by the current MP, Shri Kiren Rijiju. Tawang district is further sub-divided into the Lumla, Jang and Tawang sub-divisions. The district itself has 3 principal monasteries as well.

[edit] People

A sizeable population of 20,000 live in the Tawang town. The dominant ethnic group are the Monpa, who inhabit 162 out of 163 villages. The Tibetan Bhotias are also found in small scattered numbers throughout Tawang, but their main concentration is in the village of Shyo, which houses about 90 Tibetan families. The Takpa, a small tribal group, are found in small, scattered numbers in the West and the North.[1][2][3]. Monpas have expressed their wish to remain part of India following suppression and state regulation of Buddhist culture in Tibet by Chinese communists since 1959, and India being more tolerant as well as the birthplace of Buddhism.

Most of the people, which includes the Monpa, Takpa and the Tibetans, are Tibetan Buddhist by religion. Pre-Buddhist Bön and Shamanist influence is also evident. Festivals that include Losar, Choskar, Torgya and Ajilamu are held annually. The Dungyur is also celebrated in every three years of the Torgya. Both the Dungyur and Torgya festivals are celebrated at the premises of the Tawang Monastery with traditional gaiety and enthusiasm.

[edit] Economy

Most of the tribes depend on agriculture for a living. Owing to its cold weather, farmers breed yak and sheep herds, although in lower altitudes crops are planted as well.

[edit] History

Prior to the construction of the Tawang monastery, Tawang was traditionally inhabited by the Monpa people, who reigned the Mon kingdom that stretches from Tawang right up to Sikkim. The Mon kingdom was later absorbed into the control of neighbouring Bhutan and Tibet.

The Tawang monastery was founded by the Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1681 in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso, and has an interesting legend surrounding its name, which means "Chosen by Horse". The sixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, was born in Tawang. Tawang then came under direct control from Tibet until February 12, 1951, when Major R Khating led Indian Army troops to evict Tibetan administrators, and India annexed the territory [4]. The Tibetans had been very oppressive towards the Monpa under their rule [5].

After India severed Tawang off from Tibet, it was not until 1962 when Chinese troops occupied Tawang during the Sino-Indian War, destroying portions of the monastery. The valiant last stand of Mahavir Chakra awardee Jaswant Singh Rawat took place in Tawang. After the voluntary withdrawal of Chinese troops, Tawang was once again under the control of India.

The Tawang district broke off from the West Kameng district in 1984. Today, Tawang serves as a center for tourist attractions, thanks to the preserved beauty of the Tawang monastery.

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Tawang Monastery

Founded by the Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto in accordance to the wishes of the 5th Dalai Lama, Nagwang Lobsang Gyatso, The Tawang monastery of the Gelugpa sect is the largest Buddhist monastery in India. The name Tawang means Chosen Horse. It is also known in another Tibetan name known as Galden Namgey Lhatse, which means a true name within a celestial paradise in a clear night.

Located at an elevation of 10,000 feet (3,300m) in the district capital, Tawang, it is home to more than 600 Lamas. It has also a houses the Parkhang library. A collection of the 400-year-old Kangyurs which consists of 110 volumes with 400-500 pages in each bundle in addition to invaluable manuscripts. The lamas would get ready on ceremonial occasions for their dances and prayers. Dances and ceremonial celebrations are held in the courtyard, the most important of which is held on the night of Buddha Purnima. Other large collections include the Sutras, Tangym, Sungbhum, old books and other manuscripts, both handwritten and printed, many of them in gold. The collection has a total of 850 bundles.

It also houses a small printing press, which is meant for printing books to literate monks for religious services and their own education. The most fascinaing part is or the assembly hall - a three-storied building housing the temple and the 8.3-m high Golden Buddha.

Unfortunately, Ligdan Khan deposed the sixth Dalai Lama in 1706 and sent an army in 1714 to invade Bhutan from Tawang. During the campaign, they destroyed the Dalai Lama's restored and enlarged monastery at Urgelling as an attempt to obliterate his memorials.

The Tawang monastery is 3 storey high and occupies an area of 140 square metres and houses 65 residential buildings in addition to the library. It is renovated in 1997 by the Dalai Lama.

[edit] Other attractions

In addition to the Tawang monastery, the town has a Handicrafts Center, which was started to promote the small-scale industries for local handicrafts. The center has a fine range of woolen carpets and shawls amongst other things. People may also purchase rather inexpensive but good chubbas and shoes.

Sela, just adjacent to Tawang rises steeply and full of snow for most of the year.

[edit] Gallery

Sela Top

Town with Monastry at background

Tawang town; the famous Tawang monastery can be seen in the background

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ About Tawang
  2. ^ Injustice in India's east
  3. ^ PHED Map
  4. ^ Maxwell, Neville (September 9, 2006). "Settlements and Disputes: China’s Approach to Territorial Issues". Economic and Political Weekly 41 (36): 3876. Retrieved on September 29, 2006.
  5. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1952122,00.html

[edit] External links

[edit] Images


State of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh Topics | History | Politics
Capital Itanagar
Districts Changlang • East Kameng • East Siang • Kurung Kumey • Lohit • Lower Dibang Valley • Lower Subansiri • Papumpare • Tawang • Tirap • Upper Dibang Valley • Upper Subansiri • Upper Siang • West Kameng • West Siang
Major cities Along • Daporijo • Naharlagun • Pasighat • Seppa • Tezu
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