Araria

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Araria
City
India Bihar location map.svg
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Araria
Location in Bihar, India
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Red pog.svg
Araria
Araria (India)
Coordinates: 26°09′N87°31′E / 26.15°N 87.52°E / 26.15; 87.52
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Bihar
Region Mithila
District Araria
Government
 • Type Municipal Council
 • BodyAraria Municipal Council
 •  District Magistrate Shrimati Inayat Khan (IAS)
Elevation
47 m (154 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total79,021
Languages
 • Official Hindi, [1] Maithili
 • Additional official Urdu [1]
 • Regional Language Maithili
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
8543xx (Araria) [2]
Vehicle registration BR-38
Lok Sabha constituency Araria
Vidhan Sabha constituency Araria
Website https://araria.nic.in

Araria is a city and a municipality that is the headquarters of Araria district in the Indian state of Bihar. Araria is situated in the northern part of Bihar.

Contents

Etymology

During the British Raj the area was under the administration of a British district collector and municipal commissioner, Alexander John Forbes (1807-1890) of 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'. [3]

History

Araria is a part of the Mithila region. [4] Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by Indo-Aryan peoples who established the Mithila Kingdom (also called Kingdom of the Videhas). [5]

During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Kingdom of the Videhas became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Kingdom of the Videhas were called Jankas. [6] The Mithila Kingdom was later incorporated into the Vajjika League, which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila. [7]

Demographics

Araria is primarily a rural district; 93% of the total population lives in rural areas (713 villages). Only two out of nine tehsils have an urban population that is concentrated in Forbesganj and Araria(Census 2001).

In 2008 survey findings, Araria lagged behind the all India average in seven out of eight indicators and also lagged behind the all India level in terms of two more health-related indicators. Most of the villages lack some basic infrastructure: 92 percent are without any medical facilities; 20 percent of the villages lack formal facilities of education of any type; 597 out of 713 villages are without electricity; and 50 percent of the villages are without all-weather road connectivity. The overall work participation rate is 40.3 percent, which is much less in the case of the female population. Agriculture laborers dominate the labor force (64.7% of the total) which is almost double the national average.

Religions in Araria Town (2011)
ReligionPercent
Hinduism
 
59.05%
Islam
 
40.11%
Others
 
0.83%

There is a substantial concentration of minority (mainly Muslims) population. Against the state average of 20.52%, Muslims constitute 49.4 percent of the total rural populations, but their percentages are 77.5% in Jokihat, 62.70% in Araria, and 46.8% in Palasi subdivisions. The number of minority groups - Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Jains - are less in comparison. The rural literacy rate is 33.2 percent, much below the state and national averages. The worst is the female literacy rate, i.e. 20.4%. In other words, only one out of five women are literate. Even sex ratio, i.e., 917 is less than state and all India level.

Kulhayya people majorly live in this region.[ citation needed ]

Geography

Araria is located at 26°09′N87°31′E / 26.15°N 87.52°E / 26.15; 87.52 . [8] It has an average elevation of 47 metres (154 feet). Araria is situated at the northern part of Purnia and Madhepura in Bihar. Borders of Araria are surrounded by Nepal on the northern side, Kishanganj on the eastern side and Supaul on the south-west side. The district came into existence by the division of Purnia district on Makar Sankranti day of 1990. The district touches the Indo-Nepal international border also this area is close to three countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Hence, the district is important in terms of security. Jogbani is the last point of Araria and after that, Morang district of Nepal starts.

Kosi river used to pass through Araria, although it has changed its path long ago. [9] The other important river of Araria is Panaar. Agriculture has flourished along the banks of this river, although it becomes catastrophic during the rainy season because of floods. A canal also passes through Araria. In clean weather Kangchenjunga range of mountains can be seen from here (especially after rain). [10]

Wildlife

Araria is the natural habitat of the Gangetic Dolphins. In the local rivers of Araria, Gangetic dolphins ( South Asian river dolphins ) are found. [11]

Culture

Durga Puja mela is one of the biggest festival celebrations at a different place in Araria. Many notable other festivals are celebrated like Chhat pooja, Diwali, Durga Puja, Janmashtami etc. Hindus and Muslim are living friendly environment and celebrating each festival.

Replica Stoop: situated Near Manikpur 5 km far from Araria district headquarter going towards Forbesganj.

The movie Teesri Kasam was shot in the villages of Araria. It was Basu Bhattacharya's film, based on Mare Gaye Gulfam written by Phanishwar Nath 'Renu', starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman.

Transport

Railway

Araria is accessible to other parts of India by railways via Katihar.

The nearest Railway Station is Araria court & Araria(R S). Araria Court Railway station lies on Katihar-Jogbani Branch Line. There are daily and weekly train available for Jogbani, Purnia, Katihar, Kolkata, Begusarai, Patliputra Junction, Allahabad, Kanpur, Delhi.

Road

Connected with NH57-IN.svg NH 57.

Buses for most of the districts and internal blocks are available from the bus terminal.

Airport

The nearest airport is Purnia Airport, a non-commercial airport. The nearest commercial airport is Bagdogra Airport.

Politics

Araria (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is the assembly constituency representing Araria (community development block). The same constituency also includes Araria Nagar Parishad. [12] Avidur Rahman from Indian National Congress is the MLA elected in the 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.

Araria (Vidhan Sabha constituency) is part of No 9 Araria (Lok Sabha constituency) (SC). [12] Pradeep Kumar Singh, BJP is the MP elected in the 2019 Indian general election. [13]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

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

Kishanganj is a city and district headquarters of Kishanganj district in Purnia division of Bihar state in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katihar</span> City in the state of Bihar (India)

Katihar is a city situated in the eastern part of the state of Bihar in India. It is the regional headquarters of Katihar district. It is one of the important cities of Bihar. It is also a main stop on the Barauni–Guwahati line.

Madhepura is a municipality in Madhepura district in the Indian state of Bihar. It stands at the centre of Kosi ravine, It was called Madhyapura- a place centrally situated which was subsequently transformed as Madhipura into present Madhepura. It is surrounded by Araria and Supaul districts in the north, Khagaria and Bhagalpur districts in the south, Purnia district in the east and Saharsa district in the West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purnia</span> Urban Agglomeration in Bihar, India

Purnia is the fourth largest city of Bihar and is emerging as the largest economic hub in North Bihar. It serves as the administrative headquarters of both Purnia district and Purnia division in the Indian state of Bihar. It is well known for its favourable climate like Darjeeling and has an abundance of resources for human settlements and economic activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saharsa</span> City and municipal corporation in Bihar, India

Saharsa is a city and municipal corporation in the Saharsa District in the eastern part of the state of Bihar, India. It is situated near the eastern banks of the Kosi River. It serves as the administrative headquarters for the Saharsa District and is also the Divisional headquarters of the Kosi Division.

Supaul is a town and a municipality that is headquarters of Supaul district in the Indian state of Bihar. Supaul is the administrative headquarters of this district. There Are 11 block under the Supaul district Supaul, Kishanpur, Saraigarh-Bhaptiyahi, Pipra, Triveniganj, Raghopur, chhatapur, Nirmali, Marauna, Basantpur and pratapganj.

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

Araria district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India. Araria district is a part of Purnia division. The district occupies an area of 2,830 km2 (1,090 sq mi). Araria town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Distance from Nepal border is only about 8 km from Forbesganj head quarter.

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

Purnia District is one of the thirty-eight districts of the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Purnia is the administrative headquarters of this district. The city of Purnia has continued its tradition of hoisting the national flag at 12:07 am on every Independence Day since 1947. Purnia district is a part of Purnia Division. The district extends northwards from the Ganges river.

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

Supaul district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar, India. The town Supaul is the district's administrative headquarters. The district, which was split from the former Saharsa district on 14 March 1991, occupies 2,410 km2 (931 sq mi).

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

Katihar district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in India, and Katihar city is the administrative headquarters of this district. The district is a part of Purnia Division. It is prominently known for its Katihar Junction Railway Station, which is a Category A station on the Barauni–Guwahati line. It has been included in the Aspirational Districts Program of the Government of India since 2018, to improve its socio-economic indicators.

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

Kishanganj district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Kishanganj town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Kishanganj district is a part of Purnia division (Seemanchal).

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

Kosi division is an administrative geographical unit of Bihar state of India. Saharsa is the administrative headquarters of the division. Currently (2022), the division consists of Saharsa district, Madhepura district, and Supaul district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purnia division</span> Administrative Division in Bihar, India

Purnia division is an administrative geographical unit of Bihar state of India. Purnia is the administrative headquarters of the division. The division consists of Purnia district, Katihar district, Araria district, and Kishanganj district. It was established in 1990. It is also known as Seemanchal. It is a part of the Kosi—Seemanchal subregion of the cultural Mithila region.

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

Forbesganj is a city with municipality in the Araria District in the state of Bihar, India, situated at the border of Nepal.

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

Jogbani is a municipal council area, in Araria District of Bihar state, India. It lies on the Indo-Nepal border with Morang District, Koshi Zone and is a gateway to Biratnagar city. There is a customs checkpoint for goods at the border. Indian and Nepalese nationals cross without restrictions.

Maithils, also known as Maithili people, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group from the Indian subcontinent, who speak the Maithili language as their native language. They inhabit the Mithila region, which comprises Northern and Eastern Bihar and Northeastern Jharkhand in India and some adjoining districts of Nepal constituting Madhesh Province in addition to some terai districts of Bagmati and Koshi Provinces. The Maithil region forms an important part of Hinduism as it is said to be the birthplace of Sita, the wife of Ram and incarnation of Lakshmi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mithila (region)</span> Cultural region in India and Nepal, Asia

Mithila, also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothills of the Himalayas in the north. It comprises certain parts of Bihar and Jharkhand of India and adjoining districts of the Koshi Province, Bagmati Pradesh and Madhesh Province of Nepal. The native language in Mithila is Maithili, and its speakers are referred to as Maithils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purnea University</span> State University in Bihar

Purnea University is a collegiate public state university located in Purnia, Bihar, India. It has jurisdiction over Purnia, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar districts. It was established by an act of State Legislature in 2018. As a collegiate university, its main functions are divided between the academic departments of the university and affiliated colleges.

Raniganj, Bihar is an administrative block in Araria subdivision of Araria district in the Indian state of Bihar. It has a Vidhan Sabha Constituency with same name.

Bhargama is a Community development block and a town in district of Araria, in Mithila region, in Bihar state of India. It is one out of 3 blocks of Forbesganj subdivision. The headquarter of the block is at Bhargama town.

References

  1. 1 2 "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Araria
  3. ↑ Prasad, Bhuvaneshwar; Agrawal, Rajendra (27 March 2013). "Telecom racket busted in sleepy Araria district of Bihar". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Bihar assembly elections 2020: BJP eyes winning push from Mithila | Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Election News - Times of India".
  5. ↑ Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143
  6. ↑ Witzel, M. (1989). "Tracing the Vedic dialects". In Caillat, C. (ed.). Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes. Paris: Fondation Hugot. pp. 141–143.
  7. ↑ Hemchandra, R. (1972). Political History of Ancient India. Calcutta: University of Calcutta.
  8. ↑ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Araria, India". www.fallingrain.com.
  9. ↑ "Bihar to change Kosi's course to save ancient site, says Nitish". www.downtoearth.org.in. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "How clean environment offers Bihar villagers majestic view of snow-capped Himalayan peaks from balconies, rooftops". Bihar Post. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Gangetic dolphins found in Bihar's Mahananda river". www.downtoearth.org.in. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Schedule – XIII of Constituencies Order, 2008 of Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies Order, 2008 of the Election Commission of India" (PDF). Schedule VI Bihar, Part A – Assembly constituencies, Part B – Parliamentary constituencies. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Bihar Lok Sabha Election Results 2019". NDTV.com. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "Who was Mohammed Taslimuddin, RJD strongman and voice of Seemanchal who died at 74 on Sunday". 18 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Subrata Roy: The not-so-beautiful story". Financial Express. 10 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Quaiser Khalid - Profile & Biography".
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