Beltola

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Beltola (Assamese: বেলতলা) is a prime residential area in the southern part of Guwahati, Assam. It is an adjoining area of the Dispur Capital Complex, the capital of Assam. The area has seen rapid growth since the 1980s and its southern periphery is today extended up to the National Highway-37 (NH-37) in the extreme south of the city.

Beltola Bozaar / Beltola Bazar in the central part of Beltola is a traditional bi-weekly fruits and vegetables market with historic importance. The market has been continuing since historic past and is an important traditional trading point between the people from the Khasi hills (Meghalaya) and the local people. It is a rich market with various types of local food products.

Previously, Beltola was also the seat for a small protectorate of Ahom Kingdom, principally assisting administration of the Borphukan and in maintaining relations with the communities of Khasi Hills. The Rani or the Queen of Beltola is a popular historic figure in the locality.

Beltola was in the news when on 24 November 2007 an Adivasi rally turned violent leading to arson and clashes.[1][2] This led to further trouble in the rest of state.Situation leading to the violence in Beltola are unclear and may be manipulated.Third party involvement also cannot be denied.

Overtime Beltola[3] has expanded as a residential area come commercial and educational hub with Beltola College as the institute offering graduate courses in Arts and Science. A sub-centre of the All Assam Students Union known as Beltola Students Union and is active in various activities.

Busy scene in Beltola market
Weekly Beltola Market
Beltola Road

Notes

The Beltola market opens two times a week from the morning till late in the evening.

Beltola has a long history. It was, until about half a century ago, the hub of a small kingdom, the kingdom of Beltola. Close to the site of the famous "Beltola-haat", where small local vendors sell their agricultural produce and other goods of small-scale manufacturing twice a week, lived the royal family of the Beltola kings. Within living memory, there was a royal mansion/palace with the royal gardens. The Beltola-haat has been almost monumental for the inhabitants of greater Guwahati in that it has always been known to everyone here that the items that cannot be found in any other market in Guwahati, are likely to be sold here. Being located at a point convenient of access for vendors who came on foot and animal-transport from far-off places like present-day Meghalaya, this market retained its distinctive, indigenous character till about a decade ago before the high-rise apartment complexes were built. Even today this character is not entirely lost.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Commission's report on Beltola violence submitted". Outlook India. PTI. Feb 26, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2012. 
  2. ↑ The Assam Tribune Largescale violence in city, curfew in Beltola, November 25, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Pincode / Post Office Locator Tool". Retrieved June 12, 2012. 
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