During the British Raj the area was under the administration of a British district collector and municipal commissioner, Alexander John Forbes (1807–1890) of the East India Company. Forbes had a bungalow at the same location. Consequently, the area was known as 'residential area', also abbreviated as 'R-area'. Over time the name transformed to 'Araria' and the neighbouring subdivision came to be known as 'Forbesganj'.[1][2]
History
The city was given its present name from its British district collector and municipal commissioner, Alexander John Forbes (1807–1869). He was also in the team of Commissioner George Yule of Bhagalpur while fighting the rebels of 73rd native infantry. Forbes founded the Sultanpur estate and a number of indigo factories situated at different places in this district.
After the country's independence the name was changed to Forbesganj. It is said that the British used this place for Indigo farming. Remains of the British premises can be seen at the banks of the famous landlocked water body Sultan Pokhar.[3][4]
Forbesganj has hot and wet summers and cold and dry winters. The city also holds the record of having experienced the coldest ever recorded temperature in Bihar at −2.1°C.[citation needed]
The city is divided into 25 wards for which elections are held every 5 years. The Forbesganj nagar parishad has a population of 50,475 of which 26,524 are males while 23,951 are females as per report released by Census India 2011.
The population of children age of 0–6 is 7512, is 14.88% of the total population of Forbesganj. In Forbesganj the female sex ratio is 903 against the state average of 918. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Forbesganj is around 963 compared to Bihar state average of 935. The literacy rate of Forbesganj is 78.64% higher than state average of 61.80%. In Forbesganj, male literacy is around 82.94% while female literacy rate is 73.83%.
Administration and politics
Forbesganj Municipal Corporation is responsible for maintaining the city's civic infrastructure and carrying out associated administrative duties.
Sub divisional Hospital Forbesganj is located near the Subdivision Office, Forbesganj[10][11]
Economy
In addition to its role as an educational and administrative place, the economy of this small city is fueled by fertilizer production, rice production, building and construction material supply, and other industry.[citation needed]
Makhana is produced in Forbesganj, Makhana packets are prepared and sent by train to other cities.[12]
Culture/Cityscape
The city is well planned with a central road, Sadar Road, which runs through the heart of Forbesganj. Most of the major shops are located on both the sides of this road. Another major road, Hospital Road, connects to the main bus stand; it passes through the other part of the city and joins to the highways.
Forbesganj Junction Railway Station lies on Barauni-Katihar, Saharsa and Purnia sections. There are direct trains available to the major cities (Delhi/Kolkata/Siliguri, etc.) of the country, apart from local trains running between Jogbani and Katihar. The Saharsa-Forbesganj section and Darbhanga-Forbesganj section are functional since March 2024. The train for local connectivity connecting raxaul, danapur, saharsa, darbhanga, muzaffarpur etc. has been started. A new railway line of 17.60km connecting LAXMIPUR- FORBESGANJ to strengthen NORTH EAST connectivity is proposed and undergoing FINAL LOCATION SURVEY at present.
Air
Forbesganj Airport was a functional military airport between 1934 and 1942 (active during World War II) and again during the 1962 war with China. On 10 June 1973 a Royal Nepal Airlines DHC-6 Twin Otter Plane was hijacked en route to Kathmandu from Biratnagar. This airport has now fallen into disrepair and is not operational.
There are several CBSE and State Board schools in this city. Some Senior Secondary schools are Mithila Public School (established in 1989), S.R.S Vidya Mandir, Modern/Premier Academy, Pi World school, Shishu Bharti, Delhi Public School Forbesganj, DAV Public School, Central Public School, Dev Gurukul Primary School and Sisu Mandir, Genius Academy etc.
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