Digboi is situated in the
north-eastern region of India and is famous for the discovery of oil during the
nineteenth century. It is a small town located in Tinsukia district of Assam
and still retains the ambience of the British. The place attracts visitors for
its scenic beauty, spacious bungalows, oldest refinery, National Oil Park, War
Cemetery, Digboi Club and the eighteen holes Golf Course.
According to records, a group
of engineers from Assam Railways and Trading Company were extending the railway
track from Dibrugarh to Ledo in 1882. As there was no habitation around and the
area was covered by dense jungles, elephants were used for doing the work.
Accidently, they noticed that black mud smelling like oil stuck to their feet
and the legs of elephants. The startled men started to explore by tracing the
trail of footprints left behind and they discovered oil oozing on the surface.
It is said that the name of the place became
‘Digboi’ from the words “dig-boy-dig” which the Englishmen used when the
labourers were engaged in the task of digging crude oil. In September 1889, the
first oil well, locally known as ‘Well No. 1’ was dug and in 1899, Assam Oil
Company was formed. In the year 1901, the first refinery in Asia was set up at
Digboi. The oil field produced around seven thousand barrels per day during the
period of Second World War.
At present, Digboi is the Headquarter of Assam
Oil Division of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. The oil town stands with pride
with two features that are unique. First, for having more than a century old
oil producing oilfield and second, for having the oldest operating oil
refinery. The oilfield now houses an oil museum that displays the history of
the town.
[Published in the e-magazine ‘Fried Eye’ on 15 April 2012]
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