The History of Howly | Howly, Assam
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The History of Howly | HowlyTown
HOWLY · BARPETA · ASSAM

The History
of Howly.

A journey through centuries of history, culture, education and community life in Howly, Assam.

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HOWLY THROUGH THE AGES

From the arrival of Srimanta Sankardev in the 16th century to the development of modern Howly.

THE RAAJ HOWLY LANDSCAPE

A landscape
of another time.

01
1546 — 1679

Early & Medieval Howly

1546
Arrival of Srimanta Sankardev at Barpeta.
1547
Construction of the Gohai Kamal Ali through Bijaynagar.
1553
King Naranarayan established a sub-capital at Ghilanagar.
1555
Srimanta Sankardev visited Ghilanagar and Howly and met King Naranarayan.
1575
Birth of Padmapriya, daughter of Gopal Ata, regarded as Assam's first female poet.
1581
Raghu Rai constructed the Ghila-Bijaypur Fort.
1611
Gopal Ata passed away at Kaljhar, Howly.
1659
Ghila-Bijaypur came under complete Ahom control.
1679
Namatighat Satra was established by Mukunda Dev.
THE CHANDIBARUA ERA

Before modern
Howly, there was
a royal landscape.

The history of Howly is intertwined with the political and cultural landscape of the region, including the legacy of King Chandibarua and the historic settlements around Howly.

CHANDIBARUA

A forgotten
landscape.

02
1823 — 1897

British Era & Transformation

1823
The capital of King Chandibarua was destroyed during the third Burmese invasion.
1826
The Treaty of Yandaboo brought the Barpeta region under British rule.
1834
Elevated land in Howly was selected for a Sub-Divisional Headquarters.
1840
A Dak Bungalow was built at Halapakuri, Howly.
1841
A bridge was constructed over the Chaulkhowa River.
1897
The great earthquake transformed the geography of Assam and migration toward Howly began.
03
1900 — 1947

The Birth of Modern Howly

1900

Howly Market

The beginning of the Howly market marked an important stage in the town's growth.

1910

Education

The first primary school was established in Howly by Moinaram Pandit and Gayaram Nath Pandit.

1925

Moiramara Opera

Howly's first drama troupe emerged, strengthening the town's cultural life.

1927

A Defining Year

Barpeta Road railway station was established, the first public Durga Puja was celebrated at Howly Middle Market, and Howly M.V. School was founded.

1928

Ras Utsav

Ras Utsav was initiated in Howly.

1939

Howly High School

The establishment of Howly High School marked another important step in education.

1940

Sport

Howly hosted its first organized football tournament.

1943

Gandhi at Howly

Mahatma Gandhi participated in a freedom movement rally held at Howly.

04
1947 — 1993

Education, Culture & Community

1949
Howly Basic Training Centre was established.
1954
Chandibarua Smriti Bhawan was constructed.
1958
Monomoti Puthivoral library and Howly Girls' High School were established.
1960
Sankara Adhyayan Chakra was founded.
1966
Howly Branch of Sahitya Sabha and B.H. College were established.
1970
Howly's first mobile theatre group, Sankara Sangam Natya Gosthi, was formed.
1974
Howly Town Committee was established and Bindu magazine was published.
1977
Electricity supply began in Howly.
1980
Ramdhenu was founded as a society for literature, culture and sports.
1987
Local weekly newspaper Amar Desh was published.
1993
The magazine Launching was published.
MANOMATI

Memory becomes
history.

HOWLY · BARPETA · ASSAM

HOWLY

A town shaped by centuries of spiritual heritage, political change, education, culture and community life.

Historical Timeline by Ashim Das

Exploring and preserving the history, culture and heritage of Howly, Assam.

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