Published Paper Details:

The Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, subjugated by one of the world's most sediment-heavy and hydrologically unstable rivers, is the setting for a unique anthropological and geological phenomenon known as the char-chaporis which is the shifting riverine islands and sandbars. These amphibious landscapes, which make up about 4-5% of Assam's landmass, are home to almost 2.5 million people, most of them are the Bengali speaking Muslim. They have developed a unique riverine culture based on being mentally strong, moving around the chars, and having a close relationship with water and river. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the char areas, transcending the simplistic dichotomy of land and water to investigate the intricate liquid geography that characterizes the region. The study examines the geomorphological formation of the chars by utilizing geological data, historical records, ethnographic insights, and uses primary data which are collected from the selected char villages, while tracing the sediment dynamics that consistently create and erode these islands seasonally. The focus of the study was on the practice of living with water, which includes the indigenous ways of adapting to a constantly changing landscape through architecture like dismantlable housing, raised platform for housing, agriculture (flood-synchronized cropping), and transportation (the boat economy). By analyzing the relationship between the fluvial environment, socio-economic and cultural identity, this study claims that the riverine culture of the Char areas of Assam is not merely a survival mechanism but a profound expression of resilience.