Arunachal Pradesh is a state located in the north-eastern region of India. It is bordered in the north by China, in the south by Assam and Nagaland, in the west by Bhutan and in the east by Myanmar. The capital of the state is Itanagar. The word ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ means ‘land of the rising sun’. The state has been recognized as a part of the Indian subcontinent since ancient times and mentions have been found in Hindu literature and poems such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) was the former name of the state. It acquired the status of a union territory in 1972, before which it was a part of Assam. In 1987, Arunachal Pradesh officially became an Indian state. However, the region remains a topic of dispute between China and India.

The political history of Arunachal Pradesh

The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh originally belonged to modern-day Tibet. One of the oldest tribes in the state was known as Monpa. Between 500 BC–600 AD, the Monpa tribe ruled over the whole of modern-day Arunachal Pradesh and also parts of Tibet.

Later, the ruling power shifted to the kingdoms of Bhutan and Tibet. After that, the power was shifted to the kingdom of Sutiya, which conquered different regions of Arunachal and some portions of Myanmar. The Sutiya kingdom ruled until 1858, after which the British annexed India. 

The British government entered into an agreement with the indigenous people of northeastern India in 1912–13 to set up tracts. In the east, the Sadiya frontier tract was set up, the Balipara tract was set up in the west, and the Tirap frontier tract and the Abor and Mishmi hills tract in the south. These tracts together came to be known as the North-East Frontier Agency, which is now known as Arunachal Pradesh. 

The boundary at the north of the territory was known as the McMahon Line which is about 885 km long. The McMahon line has been a point of disagreement between China and India. The name of the boundary was inspired by the name of Sir Henry McMahon. He served as a secretary in the foreign department of British India. He also attended the Simla conference to settle matters between India and Tibet.

Facts about Arunachal Pradesh

• The state is known as the land of the rising sun as it receives the first sunrise in the country. The first rays of the sun fall on the Dong Valley which stands at a height of 1240 metres.

• It is the most linguistically enriched state in the Asian subcontinent. It is home to about 26 tribes and 100 sub-tribes and over 30 languages are spoken here.

• The largest monastery in India, the Tawang Monastery, is situated here.

• The state is known as a paradise for botanists. It is home to nearly 200 different species and a large variety of mammals. The forests in the state are so widespread that they cover approximately 82 percent of the state. About one-third of the forest area is a habitat area and is home to more than five hundred mammal species and thousands of bird species. The state is also known as the orchid state of India since it has the highest concentration of orchid species in the country. 

• The Dhola Sadiya bridge built across the Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh is the longest connecting bridge in India. It connects Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and is 9 km long.

The ancient history of Arunachal Pradesh

Mentions of Arunachal Pradesh have been found in ancient religious texts of India. It has been mentioned in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Kalika Purana. Parshuram Kund, a pilgrimage site for the Hindus, is located in Lohit, Arunachal Pradesh. It is a flowing water reservoir and its water is deemed to be holy. 

The Hindus believe that Lord Parshuram had washed off his sins in these waters after he killed the Kshatriyas. It is also believed that Lord Krishna married Rukmini here and Maharishi Vyasa meditated here. The site is visited by thousands of devotees each year, including people from the neighbouring country of Nepal. 

Conclusion 

Arunachal Pradesh is a state located in the northeastern region of India. During British rule, the state was known as the North-East frontier agency. The state was formerly a union territory and officially became a state in 1987. 

The boundary at the north of the territory was known as the McMahon Line, which is a region of dispute between China and India. The state is known as the “land of the rising sun”. It is home to various indigenous tribes. It is also home to various species of plants and is, therefore, a paradise for botanists. The largest monastery in India and the longest connecting river bridge are also situated here. 

Arunachal Pradesh has been a part of the Indian subcontinent since ancient times as its mentions have been found in various religious texts. The Parshuram Kund, which is a Hindu pilgrimage site, is situated here.