Gaya district

Last updated
Gaya district
District
Great Buddha Statue, Bodh Gaya 2017.jpg
Great Buddha Statue in Bodh Gaya
Bihar district location map Gaya.svg
Location of Gaya district in Bihar
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Bihar
Division Magadh
Headquarters Gaya
Tehsils 24
Government
 • MP/Saansad.Shri. Vijay Manjhi.(JDU)
 •  Lok Sabha constituencies Gaya
 • MLA/Vidhayak(Gaya Town)(Shri)Dr. Prem Kumar (BJP)
Area
 • Total4,976 km2 (1,921 sq mi)
 • Rank2nd in Bihar
Population
 (2011)
 • Total4,359,700 (as per 2,011 census)
Demographics
 •  Literacy 63.67per cent
 • Sex ratio932
Time zone UTC+05:30 (IST)
PIN Code
823001
Major highways NH 2, NH 82, NH 83
Website gaya.nic.in

Gaya district is one of the thirty-eight districts of the Indian state of Bihar. It was officially established on 3 October 1865. The district has a common boundary with the state of Jharkhand to the south. Gaya city is both the district headquarters and the second-largest city in Bihar.

Contents

History

Gaya finds mention in the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, are stated to have visited Gaya for offering pinda-dana to their father Dasharatha. In the Mahabharata, the place has been identified as Gayapuri. In the Vayu Purana, it is stated that Gaya was the name of a demon (asura) whose body became pious after he performed rigid penance and secured blessings from Vishnu. It was said that the Gayasura's body would continue to be known as Gaya Kshetra.

Gaya has experienced the rise and fall of many dynasties in the Magadha Region. From the 6th century BC to the 18th century AD, about 2300–2400 years, Gaya has been occupying an important place in the cultural history of the region. It opened up with the Shaishunaga dynasty founded by Shishunaga, who exercised power over Patna and Gaya around 600 BC. Bimbisara, fifth in line, who lived and ruled around 519 BC, had projected Gaya to the outer world. The region was influenced by Gautama Buddha and Mahavira during the reign of Bimbisara. After a short spell of Nanda dynasty, Gaya and the entire Magadha region came under the Mauryan rule with Ashoka (272 BC – 232 BC) embracing Buddhism. He visited Gaya and built the first temple at Bodh Gaya to commemorate Prince Gautama's attainment of supreme enlightenment.

The period of Hindu revivalism commenced with the coming of the Guptas during the 4th and 5th century A.D. Samudragupta of Magadha helped to bring Gaya in limelight. It was the headquarters of the Behar district during the Gupta empire.

Gaya then passed on to the Pala Empire with Gopala as the ruler. It is believed that the present temple of Bodh Gaya was built during the reign of Dharmapala, son of Gopala.

Gaya was in the 12th century invaded by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji. The place finally passed on to the British after the battle of Buxar in 1764. Gaya district, along with other parts of the country, won freedom in 1947. Gaya is also the birthplace of eminent [1] nationalist and the first Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Dr. Anugrah Narain Sinha.

Gaya formed a part of the district of Behar and Ramgarh till 1864. It was given the status of independent district in 1865. [2] Subsequently, in May 1981, Magadh Division was created by the Bihar State Government with the districts of Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad and Jehanabad. All these districts were at the level of sub-division when the Gaya district was created in 1865.

Gaya has seen three districts partitioned off from its territory: Aurangabad and Nawada in 1976, [3] and Jehanabad in 1988. [3]

It is currently a part of the Red Corridor. [4]

Geography

Gaya district occupies an area of 4,976 square kilometres (1,921 sq mi), [5] comparatively equivalent to the island of Trinidad. [6]

Headquarters: Gaya
Area:Total 4,976 km2Rural: 4891.48 Urban: 84.52
Temperature: minimum 0.8 (2002 AD) degree C – maximum 49.8 (1996) degree C
Rivers: Falgu

Politics

DistrictNo.ConstituencyNamePartyAllianceRemarks
Gaya 225 Gurua Vinay Yadav RJD MGB
226 Sherghati Manju Agrawal RJD MGB
227 Imamganj Jitan Ram Manjhi HAM(S) NDA
228 Barachatti Jyoti Devi HAM(S) NDA
229 Bodh Gaya Kumar Sarvjeet RJD MGB
230 Gaya Town Prem Kumar BJP NDA
231 Tikari Anil Kumar HAM(S) NDA
232 Belaganj Surendra Prasad Yadav RJD MGB
233 Atri Ajay Kumar Yadav RJD MGB
234 Wazirganj Birendra Singh BJP NDA

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Gaya one of the country's 250 poorest districts (out of a total of 640). [7] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF). [7]

Divisions

Sub-divisions

Gaya District comprises 4 Sub-divisions and 24 Blocks: [8]

Sub-divisionsBlocks
SadarSadar Gaya
Belaganj
Wazirganj
Manpur
Bodh Gaya
Tankuppa
Fatehpur
Tekari Konch
Tekari
Guraru
Paraiya
Neemchak BhataniKhizarsarai
Atri
Bhatani
Muhra
Sherghati Gurua
Amas
Banke Bazar
Imamganj
Dumaria
Sherghati
Dobhi
Mohanpur
Barachatti

Flora and fauna

In 1976 Gaya district became home to the Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 260 km2 (100.4 sq mi). [9]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901791,096—    
1911829,139+0.47%
1921826,039−0.04%
1931916,408+1.04%
19411,064,854+1.51%
19511,178,093+1.02%
19611,392,472+1.69%
19711,725,583+2.17%
19812,150,406+2.23%
19912,664,803+2.17%
20013,473,428+2.69%
20114,391,418+2.37%
source: [10]
Religions in Gaya district (2011) [11]
ReligionPercent
Hinduism
 
88.27%
Islam
 
11.12%
Other or not stated
 
0.61%

According to the 2011 census Gaya district has a population of 4,391,418, [12] roughly equal to the nation of Moldova [13] or the US state of Kentucky. [14] This gives it a ranking of 42nd in India (out of a total of 640). [12] The district has a population density of 880 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,300/sq mi) . [12] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 26.08%. [12] Gaya has a sex ratio of 932 females for every 1,000 males, [12] and a literacy rate of 66.35%. 13.24% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 30.39% and 0.07% of the population respectively. [12]

Languages in Gaya district (2011) [15]

   Hindi (51.36%)
   Magahi (41.37%)
   Urdu (7.04%)
  Others (0.23%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 51.36% of the population in the district spoke Hindi, 41.37% Magahi and 7.04% Urdu as their first language. [15]

Education

Schools in Gaya are either government run schools or private schools. Schools mainly use Hindi or English as the medium of instruction. The schools are affiliated with the Bihar School Examination Board, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). [16] Under the 10+2+3/4 plan, after completing their secondary education, students typically enroll in a school with a higher secondary facility affiliated with the BSEB, the NIOS or the CBSE. Students usually choose from one of three streams — liberal arts, commerce, or science, though vocational streams are also available. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enroll in general or professional degree programmed.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magadha</span> Empire in ancient India

Magadha also called the Kingdom of Magadha or the Magadha Empire, was a kingdom and empire, and one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, 'Great Kingdoms' of the Second Urbanization, based in southern Bihar in the eastern Ganges Plain, in Ancient India. Magadha was ruled by the Brihadratha dynasty, the Haryanka dynasty, the Shaishunaga dynasty, the Nanda dynasty, the Mauryan dynasty, the Shunga dynasty and the Kanva dynasty. It lost much of it territories after being defeated by the Satavahanas of Deccan in 28 BC and was reduced to a small principality around Pataliputra. Under the Mauryas, Magadha became a pan-Indian empire, covering large swaths of the Indian subcontinent and Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magahi language</span> Indo-Aryan language spoken in India

Magahi, also known as Magadhi, is a Indo-Aryan language spoken in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal states of eastern India, and in the Terai of Nepal. Magadhi Prakrit was the ancestor of Magahi, from which the latter's name derives.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaya (India)</span> City in Bihar, India

Gaya is a city, municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Gaya district and Magadh division of the Indian state of Bihar. Gaya is 116 kilometres (72 mi) south of Patna and is the state's second-largest city, with a population of 470,839. The city is surrounded on three sides by small, rocky hills, with the Phalgu River on its eastern side.

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Patna district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India. Patna, the capital of Bihar, is the district headquarters. The Patna district is a part of Patna division. The Patna district is divided into 6 Sub-divisions (Tehsils) i.e. Patna Sadar, Patna City, Barh, Masaurhi, Danapur and Paliganj.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheikhpura district</span> District in Bihar, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nawada district</span> District of Bihar in India

Nawada district is one of the thirty-eight districts of the Indian state of Bihar. Nawada is its administrative headquarters. The district is the easternmost district of the Magadh division, one of the nine administrative divisions of Bihar. The area of the modern district was historically part of the Magadha, Shunga and Gupta empires. Koderma and Giridih districts of the state of Jharkhand lie on the southern border of the district; it also shares borders with the Gaya, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, and Jamui districts of Bihar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arwal district</span> District of Bihar in India

Arwal district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Arwal town is the administrative headquarters of this district. It was earlier part of Jehanabad district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aurangabad district, Bihar</span> District of Bihar in India

Aurangabad district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jehanabad district</span> District of Bihar in India

Jehanabad district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. Jehanabad town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Jehanabad district is a part of Magadh Division, and is located on the confluence of two small rivers called Dardha and Yamunaiya.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magadh division</span> Division of Bihar in India

Magadh division is an administrative geographical unit of Bihar state of India. Gaya is the administrative headquarters of the division. Currently (2005), the division consists Gaya district, Nawada district, Aurangabad district, Jehanabad district, and Arwal district. The current divisional commissioner is Mayank Warwade, an IAS officer of 2001 batch of Bihar cadre. Magadh is home to the Magahi culture. People speak Magahi language here.

Makhdumpur is a town in the Bihar state of India. It is a major town of Jehanabad district and Patna-Gaya Corridor. The Barabar Hills/Barabar Caves tourist region is 10 KM South-East of Makhdumpur proper city.

Konch is a community development block of Gaya district in Bihar, India. Konch(Konch Village/Konch Panchayat/Konch Thana-Police Station) is a typical village market area slowly taking shape of a sub-urban settlement and centre of small business. Konch has very important temple known as Koncheswar Mahadev belonging to the later Gupta period which now has been taken under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Hinduism is the most followed religion in Bihar, followed by nearly 82.7% of total population as per 2011 Census. Islam is the second-most followed religion which is followed by nearly 16.8% of population. There is also a significant population of Jains and Christians in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajauli</span> Place in Bihar, India

Rajauli is a tehsil, block and subdivision (sub–district) in Nawada district of Magadh division of the Indian state of Bihar. The tehsil of Rajauli is located at a distance of about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Nawada city on National Highway 20 and is situated on the bank of Dhanarjay river. Rajauli, a Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved Assembly Constituency (AC) seat, had a total of 302900 electors during the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. Rajauli subdivision consists of 95 panchayats and 688 revenue villages while Rajauli block consists of 17 panchayats and 169 revenue villages.

Most of the languages of Bihar, the third most populous state of India, belong to the Bihari subgroup of the Indo-Aryan family. Chief among them are Bhojpuri, spoken in the west of the state, Maithili in the north, Magahi in center around capital Patna. Maithili has official recognition under the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The official language of Bihar is Modern Standard Hindi, with Standard Urdu serving as a second official language in 15 districts.

References

  1. ↑ "GAYA Tourist Guide| Tourist places near Gaya, Travel Guide". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-26.
  2. ↑ "Gaya celebrates 154th establishment day". The Times of India .
  3. 1 2 Law, Gwillim (2011-09-25). "Districts of India". Statoids. Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  4. ↑ "83 districts under the Security Related Expenditure Scheme". IntelliBriefs. 2009-12-11. Archived from the original on 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  5. ↑ Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) (2010). "States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. pp. 1118–1119. ISBN   978-81-230-1617-7.{{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  6. ↑ "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 1998-02-18. Archived from the original on 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2011-10-11. Trinidad 5,009km2
  7. 1 2 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011. Gaya has the major industry activity in southern South Bihar
  8. ↑ "Subdivision and Blocks | Gaya | India" . Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  9. ↑ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Bihar". Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar" (PDF). census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  11. ↑ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Census Handbook: Gaya" (PDF). Census of India . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  13. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Moldova 4,314,377 July 2011 est.
  14. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Kentucky 4,339,367
  15. 1 2 "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  16. ↑ "Bihar: Failed in Board exam, now students queue up at NIOS". 2016-06-14. Archived from the original on 2017-11-04. Retrieved 2017-12-29.

24°45′N85°00′E / 24.750°N 85.000°E / 24.750; 85.000

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