Sadiya
is one of the few ancient names that still dot the map
of Assam. Situated at the estuary formed by the mighty
Brahmaputra and the Dibang River, Saidya has been a mute
witness to the various events that have shaped the
history of Assam. It was the meeting point of the people
from the hills and the plains from ancient times. Tribes
such as Kacharies, Chutiyas, Khamtis and Ahoms had
occupied the area for at least some time in the past.
Many battles wer won and lost here. 150 years ago the
British had their outposts here, where they would come
by the steamers and boats right from Calcutta. They had
also established a beautiful town at Sadiya with the
purpose of enhancing the prospects of trade with China.
Frs. Krick and Boury, two Catholic missionaries, where
were murdered in the Lohit mountains, passed through
Sadiya on their way to Tibet. At Sadiya, the Baptists
too had a flourishing mission with a School.
The
flourishing town of Sadiya was destroyed by the flood
waters of Dibang river in 1950 as the result of the
earthquake that shook the Lohit mountains of Arunachal
Pradesh. All that now remains of this great town are a
few wild plum trees and thatch grass. Today the landing
place or ghat from where one can take ferries or boats
to go to Dholla on the other side of the river is called
Sadiya Ghat.
Today,
though there is no town called Sadiya, the region is
teeming with people. The area is called Sadiya
sub-division, and its headquarters is called Chapakhowa,
some 17 km from the river. Shantipur, which is only 5 km
from Chapakhowa, is a border town for both Assam and
Arunachal (Lower Dibang Valley).
Sadiya
sub-division contains a river island also to the west of
the the Dibang river. It is surrounded on all sides by
the Brahmaputra and Dotung rivers, making it an island
(30 km long and 5 km broad). There are about 25 villages
with a population of about 15,000 people. It is called
the Dbang Sapori. It is from one of these villages
called Karmi, a certain Sanjay Basumatary, came to meet
Fr.Chacko Kakkanatt at Doomdooma, on 28th
February 1982, occasioning the coming of Catholic faith
to this region.
On 30th
March 1982 Fr. Chacko Kakkanatt visited Dibang Sapori on
his maiden trip that that place. Most of the people of
Dibang Sapori are Mishings though there are Bodos among
them. On 16th September 1982 Bishop Thomas
Menamparampil, Bishop of Dibrugarh, visited Sadiya, to
study the possibility of establishing a centre there.
The people requested the Bishop for a school, and so it
was decided to start a school in Seling village. Seling
was very close to the Paglam ghat. The school was
started on 9th May 1983.
On 3rd
July 1986 the parish of St. Thomas, Sadiya was erected
with Fr. Chacko Kakkanatt as the first Parish Priest. He
started staying in Dibang Sapori from 13th
August 1986. Due to regular floods and lack of
communication, the establishment of the mission was
delayed and finally on 27th June 1987 a plot
was purchased at Shantipur, close to Chapakhowa and Fr.
Paulinus started staying there from 6th
November 1987. Fr. Chacko continued staying in the
Sapori. Fr. Chacko shifted his residence to Shantipur on
7th February 1989. On 8th February
1990 St. Thomas School was opened at Shantipur with Fr.
Joseph Kindo as its first Headmaster. Nirmala Bhavan
Convent (MSMHC) was started in Shantipur on 31st January
1991. A hostel for the boys was blessed on 7th
November by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Karotemprel, the Vicar
General of the diocese. The hostel for the girls is run
by the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians.
The sisters also run a dispensary.
There
are 983 Catholics in Shantipur parish spread over in 33
villages.
Postal
Address
Catholic
Church
Shantipur P.O. 786 157
Sadiya,
Chapakhowa
Dist.
Tinsukia. Assam.
Tel.
03756/244032
