Located on the banks of the Burhi-Dihing, Nahorkatiya (sometimes spelt as Naharkatia) is a small town

of the Dibrugarh District of Asom (India). It is bounded by Duliajan, Namrup, Jeyopore (Joypur) and the hill
town of Deomali (Khonsa, AP).

At an average elevation of 120m, Nahorkatiya lies between 27°17′N 95°20′E and 27.28°N 95.33°E
longitude-latitudes.

Among the population of 15528, males are 53% and the rest 47% females. With a literacy rate of 78%,
this town is more literate than the average of the nation which is only 60% (app). This population is an amalgam
of people from various communities- Assamese, Bengalis, Biharis, Rajasthanis, Marwaris, Punjabis and also a
descendant tribe of the Buddhist-Mongolians known as TaiPhaakis (Locally known as the Phaakiaals).

An hour of journey by train from New Tinsukia Jn. and one can land at the Nahorkatiya Rly. Station
which is a distance of 28 Kms. Also buses ply daily from Tinsukia, Namrup, Duliajan, Jorhat and Dibrugarh
Town. Now-a-days, also Winger, Magic and Tempo service has been introduced into the town. The only
connected roadway from the Khonsa district of Arunachal Pradesh is to passes through this town.

There are many views of how the town got its name. History speaks that it is related to the beheading of
Prince Nahor, the adopted son of Tai-Ahom King Suecafaa ( titled as Khora Roja). Prince Nahor has many
atrocities with the respected people of the time and so he was entrusted to be killed to Kola Chaodung ( locally
called as Kaalia). Thus resulted his death at a place near the modern day Nahorkatiya Railway Station and
Shaantipaara Colony. Thus, Nahokatiya got its name from Nahor-Katiya which means beheading of Nahor.
Nahorkatiya was also ruled by the Kacharis and the Maans (Burmese). Another view is that there was a large
forest of Nahor trees and people cleared these by cutting the trees and so came the name of Naharkatia. Also it
is believed that the big Railway Line Slipper Factory used Nahor wood for making the wooden slippers.

Sriraam Ata has founded a Neo-Vaishnavite Satra here. This is the first satra of the state where a Nocte
chief Narrotama accepted faith here. Narrotama ruled at the place of present day Narrotam Nagar of Khonsa
District. Now, Narrotam Nagar house a Ramkrishna Mission. Nahorkatiya also has a Ramkrishna Sevashram.

A fort was created at nearby Joypur (now Jeypore) by Ahom General Patalsing Barbarua to block the
Maans (Burmese) from entering the Kingdom. Now there is a big forest in the Joypur area which recently been
awarded the status of a Reserve Forest. Historical places like Tipam and Namruk (now Namrup) surrounds the
town. The oldest oil pool is located here.

There is a big Buddhist Monastery in the village of Naamphaake (locally called as PhaakialGaon). This
monastery has the biggest dome in the country. The handicraft of the women of the village are famous
nationally and internationally. Other villages are Saasoni (GaajPuria), Achabam, Kaliapani. One can find the
simple village life here.

The town is a commercial center for the nearby tea-gardens. The tea-gardens and the markets are the
present day business for the people of the town. The sudden ban on timber-cutting has largely affected the
people of the town. This forced closure of the saw-mills, plywood factories and even the large slipper factory.

When talked about drama, perhaps Nahorkatiya leads in the region. Famous drama groups like the
Nahorkatiya Durgabari Drama Group, Sporters’ Union Club and Pooberoon Naatya Gustee originated from
Nahorkatiya. Some famous dramatists were Sri Bishnu Kumar Dutta (my maternal grandfather by relation), Sri
Devananda Das, Sri Nikhil Ch. Saha, Sri Probod Biswas, Tejendra Lal Banerjee, Sri Nagendra Nath
Bhattashaali, Sri Laxxan Chenglari, Sri Rohen Sonowal, Dr. Mukut Sarmah, Sri Punaa Gogoi, Sri Basanta
Dowerah (1st class 1st from Calcutta University; now a senior officer at ONGC), Sri Kumud Basu, Sri Jogesh
Mazumdar, Sri Kali Sarkar, Srimati Shefali Banerjee. Some of the dramas that were played between 1960-90
are Pocket Maar (Bn), Pocket Maar (Bn), Greehodaah (Bn), Tipu Sultan (Bn), Chaand Raay – Kedar Raay,
Bhog Jora (Bn), Chandragupta (Bn), Hokunir Protishode (As), Dhaatri Paana (As), Buri Baalaar Tirey (Bn),
Shahjahan (Mahendra Gupta script, Bn), Bhorat Milon (Bn). The saddest part is that the only permanent stage,
the and hall had to be handed to be converted into a school. No other stage could be made and dramas started to
be staged only in Durga Puja and Bihu, when the school remain closed. But this couldn’t last long and the
dramas companies were disbanded. A sad death of the drama companies. Only if the government wants it can
still give a rebirth to those drama companies; the youths still has the potential and interest.

The people of Nahorkatiya are very active in sports, mainly Soccer, Golf, Cricket, Chess, Carrom and
Korean Martial Arts (Taey-Qon-Doh). The field at the Langharjan TE has recently been converted into a
stadium with facilities of both outdoor and indoor games.

The people of Nahorkatiya has always been keen towards social work, sports and culture. Dattaraam
Dass was a great social worker. Dr Tonkeswar Swargari, a retired military surgeon who had his clinic in the
town, gave free medical service to the poor. Ven. Gyanpal, Mahathero of Namphake Buddhist Monastery is
another personality in this regard. Also Sri Birendra Ch. Nandi, was always ready to suffer losses if it helped
somebody else. He always kept giving free medicines to the needy people from his pharmacy, Modern
Pharmacy. Sri Debendra Das represented the state football team. Sri Bishnu Kumar Dutta was a pioneer in
chess in the state. Sri Phatik Gogoi, retired headmaster of Naharkatia Higher Secondary School and Dr Kalyan
Baruah, principal of Naharkatiya College are respected by the people of Nahorkatiya. Sasha Kumar Handique
and Pranoti Phookan are MLAs from Nahorkatia. Both of them had a great name in the field of social work
here. Other people in the field of culture are Sri Madan Sarma (locally known as Beejling sir) and Sri Gadadhar
Thakur.

The aspects of Higher Education in the town are very poor. The Nahorkatiya College is the only degree
college in the town. It offers courses in Arts and Commerce from Dibrugarh University. Recently introduced it
now also offers courses under Krishna Kanta Handique State Open University. Other schools of the town are
Naharkatia Higher Secondary School, St. Mary's School, New High School, R K Jitani Hindi Vidyalaya,
Naharkatia Vidyamandir H.E. School and St. Xaviers High School (recently opened).

Bihu, the state festival of Asom is celebrated during the Bihu season at the Langharjan Field. Many
competions are held during the process. Another big festival is the Durga Puja. It is celebrated in a big manner.
The oldest puja is of the Durgabari at Shaantipaara. Now-a-days, many pujas are done.

Now talking about the conditions prevailing in the present days, Nahorkatiya is sadly going to achieve
nothing more than a poor remark. The bad roads, the present communal clashes, the recent accidents at the
Burhi-Dihing brought a bad name to the town. The roads are in dilapidated condition, but the active organitions
of the town don’t pay an eye to it. Some organizations are upto pulling down shops to widen the roads, but even
don’t pay an eye to the condition of the roads. Sadly, there had been some clashes between the bengali
community and the supporters of the Hodou Axom Jaatiyataabadi Jubo Chaatro Parishad (AAJYCP) over a
matter of frequents collection of donations from the businessmen community. This led to an agitation and even
went up to the level of disrespect to Kala Guru Bishnu Prasad Rabha. The Sara Aasaam Bangaalee Jubo
Chaatro Parishad is another such organization. The All Assam Students’ Union, Nahorkatiya office bearers are
also not taking a praiseworthy part. The land where the office is house belonged to a sweet shop. It was the time
of the Bangladeshi Aandolon (also famous as the Bongali Kheda Aandolon), a college gang would visit the
shop everyday and have food free of cost. As one day the owner objected to it, the gang became violent and
torched the shop with the people inside having no place to escape. At this the workers of the shop sprayed hot
oil at the gang and one of the students died. Though a nearby household helped the owner out of the shop, the
worked were burnt alive. After the incident there were no news of the sweetshop owner and his family and the
land was taken by the AASU, Nahorkatiya and a Swahid Bedi was built there. There were also news about an
union pressing the uniform of the Nahorkatiya College girls to only Mekhela-Chaador forcibly but the demand
was lifted up following a strong opposition from the girls. The girls said that they would wear Salwar, Mekhela-
Chaador and Saree upon their choices and no force put on them. If it were to happen, the girls said, the boys
must also wear Dhooti strictly and no exception made to the rule. The only social organization which is taking
good steps is the Rotary/Rotaract Club of Naharkatia, Rotary International:District 3240, which is one of the
oldest social origination of Nahorkatiya. In the year 2008-09 a new page was added when Rtr. Saurav Bajoria
was appointed as District Rotaract Representative of Rotary International District 3240.

Last but not the least, there is a genuine demand of declaration of a separate district of Asom comprising
of Nahorkatiya, Duliajan, Namrup, etc. from the students’ organization and the political groups. I too think that
this must be done as the last decades’ records show no major progress of the town. There is not a single hospital
in the town till today. Anyone serious must be brought to Dibrugarh or Tinsukia by hiring vans. I remember the
troubles my maternals had to take when suddenly my grandma had a stroke. The 108 service was at a strike, no
ambulances were available and atlast she had to be put on a van and brought to AMCH, Dibrugarh. In a similar
incident a respected person, Mr. Ghose passed on the way because an ambulance couldn’t be found at time.

Nahorkatiya still has a life and if all the organizations take an active part in advancement of the town, it
can still retain its earlier name and fame.

(All the informations put here are based on verbal discussions with the general public of Nahorkatiya)