Jonai

The name Jonai is derived from the name of a Chutia princess named Jona who was married off to a Kachari prince named Kansan. As per folklore, the Kachari prince had entered the Chutia kingdom along with 900 men as he had left his kingdom due to some personal issues. The Chutia princess having heard about this encroachment ordered her soldiers to make the prince and his followers captive and to bring them to the royal court in Sadiya. Later, as events turned out, the princess fell in love with the prince and she was married off to him and they settled in Jonai. The other followers too married local women. The Sonowal Kacharis are thought to be descendants of this group of people and recall the queen as Jonadoi Ai.[1]

Jonai is the easternmost sub-division of Dhemaji District, about 554 km from the state capital, Guwahati. It is located at 27.83°N, 95.22°E. Covering a total Geographical area of 1111.81 km², it is bounded by Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Lali & Brahmaputra River in the south, Sipiya river & Sadiya Subdivision of Tinsukia district in the east and Simen River in the west. The headquarters is at 95.160 E and 27.770 N. The Sub-division comprises with one Development Block named by Murkong Selek Tribal Development Block, One Revenue Circle named by Jonai Revenue Circle and 15 Nos. of Gaon Panchayats. According to 2001 census, the population of Jonai is 143,199. Jonai has a literacy rate of 64.9% according to the census 2001. But currently it has literacy rate above the national level.

Jonai is part of Lakhimpur (Lok Sabha constituency).[2] Jonai is a Vidhan Sabha Constituency. It has its own Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) which is a reserved seat for Schedule Tribe quota. Jonai comes under the Mishing Autonomous Council (MAC) area. The most popular political parties are Indian National Congress (INC), Sanmilita Ganasakthi Asom (SGSA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) etc.

Jonai is a small town which lies on the border of Arunachal Pradesh state. It connects to the rest of the country through national highway no 52. It is also the last railway station of the Indian Railways which stretches towards the east. The name of the railway station is Murkong Selek.

Jonai is mostly inhabited by the Mising people, an indigenous community inhabiting in the parts of the Indian states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh who were of Mongoloid origin. They were also known as Miris in the past and still recognized as Miris in the Constitution of India. Miri is the older name and traces back to the ancestor Abotani. Misings are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe by the Indian government under the name 'Miri'. About 65% of inhabitant of Jonai are Mishing community and only 35% belong to other communities according to 2011 Census of India. The literacy rate of Jonai is much higher than the national level. Ali Ai Ligang is a local festival. On that day they prepare a local home made rice beer known as "Apong", available in two varieties i.e. Nogin and Po:Ro. Also they serve their guests with purang apin, pe:red oying and adin ba:nam (roasted pork). On the eve of Ali Ai Ligang the Mishing girls and boys dress in traditional dress. The festival is celebrated by performing dance and singing Mishing Bihu song. Other festivals like Dobur and Porag are mostly celebrated along with the state festival of the indigenous Assamese communities. Agriculture, hand loom weaving and services are the main source of earning among the people here.

A forest reserve named Poba is situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra near 'Tinmile Ghat' and Bogibeel Ghat from where ferry and boat services sail to Dibrugarh. Teenmile Ghat is used as a picnic spot and has view of the Brahmaputra and a part of the Himalayan Range. There are also other picnic spots surrounding Jonai, in the Arunachal Pradesh area. Tourists are accommodated at the 'Circuit House' and the local government tourist lodge. There are shops in the Jonai Bazar area, and - while night life is minimal - there are some 'watering holes' around town.

Jonai is part of Lakhimpur (Lok Sabha constituency). Sitting MP is Pradhan barua Sitting MLA is Mr. Bhubon pegu