Meghalaya History

With its geographical location at 25.57° N and 91.88° E, Meghalaya is surrounded by the state of Assam in north and the country of Bangladesh in south.It’s Capital and largest city is Shillong. It has 7 districts. The State of Meghalaya was carved out of Assam and established as state on 21 Jan, 1972. Its total area is 22,720 sq km. and its population according to 2011 census is 2.9 million. Official languages of Meghalaya are, English, Garo, Hindi, Khasi and Pnar.

The name Meghalaya, ‘Megha’ means clouds, ‘laya’ means region, about 70% of the state is forest region and wettest region of India, The state of is mountainous, with valleys and highland plateaus. Meghalaya was formed in 1972 by carving out two districts from the state of Assam, Khasi Hills and Garo Hills are high elevated districts of Meghalaya. Meghalaya is a state in northeastern India. Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, and the Garo Hills on 21 January 1972. Meghalaya was previously part of Assam, but on 21 January 1972, the districts of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia hills became the new state of Meghalaya. The population of Meghalaya as of 2016 is estimated to be 3,211,474. The state is bound to the south by the Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh and Sylhet, to the west by the Bangladeshi division of Rangpur, and to the north and east by India’s State of Assam. The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong. During the British rule of India, the British imperial authorities nicknamed it the “Scotland of the East”. English is the official language of Meghalaya. Unlike many Indian states, Meghalaya has historically followed a matrilineal system where the lineage and inheritance are traced through women; the youngest daughter inherits all wealth and she also takes care of her parents.