HISTORY, ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEGHALAYA, GK 2012

HISTORY, ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT OF MEGHALAYA, GK 2012

Governor : Ranjit Shekhar
 Chief Minister:D. D. Lapang
 Capital:Shillong
 Legislature:Unicameral
 Lok Sabha seats:1
 Judicature:Guwahati High Court
 Languages:Khasi, Garo, English
 Population density:103/sq km
 No. of districts:7
 Main crops:Rice, maize, millet, pulses
 Rivers:Simsang, Manda, Janjiram, Damring
 Minerals:Coal, limestone, clay, sillimanite
 Industries:Steel, cement, handloom, tourism
 Airport:Umroi

PHYSICAL FEATURES
The state of Meghalaya is a region of uplands that has been formed by a detached part of the Deccan Plateau. In the western part of Meghalaya, the Garo Hills rise abruptly from the Brahmaputra valley to about 300 metres. They merge with the Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills. These adjacent highlands together form a single tableland region that is separated by a series of eastward running ridges. A number of rivers and streams flow out of the plateau, to create deep, narrow valleys with steep sides.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
When the British came to Sylhet (now in Bangladesh) in 1765, the Khasis used to go to Pandua on the border of Sylhet to trade in various commodities in exchange for rice, salt and dried fish. In 1824, the Burmese invaded Cachar and reached the border of the Jaintia Hills. This paved the way for a friendship treaty to be signed on 10 March 1824, whereby the Jaintia ruler accepted British protection. After the end of the Burmese invasion, the Khasi chiefs agreed to a British demand for a route through the Khasi and Jaintia Hills that would connect Assam Valley with Surma Valley. In 1862 the Jaintias rose in revolt under U Kiang Nongbah. At the time of independence in 1947, the rulers of the region acceded to India. The region was given special protection in the Indian constitution. It was included within the state of Assam but was granted a substantial amount of autonomy.
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
 1947- the rulers of the region acceded to India
 2nd April 1970 - Became autonomus state with in Assam
 21 January 1972 - attained full-fledged statehood