Silchar

Silchar is the main city of Assam’s Barak Valley and the headquarters of Cachar district. Its modern history begins with British annexation of the Cachar plains in 1832; soon after, Captain Thomas Fisher shifted the district headquarters to the Janiganj–Sadarghat area, and Silchar grew as an administrative town (often dated from 1832–33, with “established” dates like 1838 also cited in civic records). In the colonial period, Cachar was administered with Bengal (1832–1874) and later transferred to the new Assam province, while Silchar developed riverine trade, markets, and a strong plantation economy, becoming known as a tea town.

Silchar also holds a unique sporting legacy: the town is associated with the world’s first polo club, formed in the mid-19th century after British officials observed Manipuri players and institutionalised the game locally.

A defining moment in post-Independence identity was the Barak Valley language movement. On 19 May 1961, police firing at Silchar railway station killed 11 protesters, after which Bengali gained official recognition for the region’s district-level administration.

In civic administration, Silchar’s municipality traces back to the late 19th century and was recently upgraded to a municipal corporation (formalised in 2024–25 reporting), reflecting its expanding urban role.