Jharkhand


Jharkhand
Map of India with Jharkhand highlighted.
Capital
• Coordinates		 Ranchi
• 23.42° N 85.33° E
Largest city Ranchi
Population (2001)
• Density		 26,909,428 ( 13th)
• 274/km²
Area
• Districts		 79,700 km² ( 15th)
• 22
Time zone IST ( UTC +5:30)
Establishment
• Governor
• Chief Minister
• Legislature (seats)		 2000- 11-15
• Syed Sibtey Razi ( list)
• Arjun Munda ( list)
• Unicameral (81)
Official language(s) Hindi
Website www.jharkhand.gov.in
Abbreviation (ISO) IN-JH

Seal of Jharkhand

Jharkhand (झारखंड in Devanagari) is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar state on 15 November 2000. Jharhkand is bordered by the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east.

The industrial city of Ranchi is its capital. The other major cities (all highly industrialised cities of eastern India), are Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Giridih, and Dhanbad.

Jharkhand is also popularly known as Vananchal. The word Vananchal is derived from combination of two Hindi words: Vana meaning "forests", and anchal meaning "area" – thus the word "Vananchal" denotes a land mass covered with forests.

Jharkhand is known for its mineral wealth and forestry products together with excellent human resources.

History

The demand for a separate Jharkhand state can be traced back to the early 1900s, when Jaipal Singh, the Oxford Captain of the Gold Medal winning Indian Hockey team for the 1928 Olympics, suggested the idea of a separate state consisting of the southern districts of Bihar. The idea did not become a reality, however, until August 2nd, 2000, when the Parliament of India passed the Bihar Reorganization Bill to create the state of Jharkhand, carving 18 districts out of Bihar to form Jharkhand state on 15th November, 2000. It became the 28th state of India.

However, according to some historians there was already a distinct geo-political, cultural position accorded to Jharkhand even before the period of Magadha Empire. According to a legend, Raja Jai Singh Deo of Orissa was accepted as the ruler of Jharkhand by its people in the 13th century.The Singh Deo's of Orissa have been very instrumental in the early history of Jharkhand. The local tribal heads had developed into barbaric dictators who could govern the province neither fairly nor justly. Consequently, the people of this state approached the more powerful rulers of Jharkhand's neighbouring states who were perceived to have a more fair and just governance. This became the turning point in the history of the region wherein rulers from Orissa moved in with their armies and created states that were governed for the benefit of the people and involved their participation, thus ending the barbarism that had marked the region for centuries. The good tribal rulers continued to thrive and were known as the Munda Raja and exist to this day. (These are regions which are still semi- autonomous, the degree of this depending on the size of each specific Munda Raja's domain.) Later, during the Mughal Empire period, the Jharkhand area was known as Kukara. After the year 1765, it came under the control of the British Empire and became formally known under its present title, "Jharkhand" - the Land of "Jungles" (forests) and "Jharis" (bushes). Actually, it would be more accurately described as a land riddled with rolling hillocks, covered with evergreen forests, and criss-crossed by innumerable fresh water springs. In some places you can find those rushing streams and waterways dropping away into majestic white water falls, that thunder down onto cool smooth rock, and perfectly rounded little pools, reminding you of some magical place found only on postcards. The sunsets here are more beautiful, the scenery and greenery more picturesque, and really it is a shame that hiking here isn't more popular, because Jharkhand is a natural gem. Located on Chhota Nagpur Plateau and Santhal Parganas, the land unfolds before the mind's eye like a haven where you can savour the simplicity, and elegance of nature to the hilt.

The subjugation and colonization of Jharkhand region by the British East India Company resulted in spontaneous resistance from the local people. Almost one hundred years before India’s First War of Independence ( 1857), adivasis of Jharkhand were already beginning what would become a series of repeated revolts against the British colonial rule:

  • 1772- 1780 Paharia revolt
  • 1780- 1785 Tilka Manjhi led the tribal revolt and managed to injure the British army Chief. In 1785, Tilka Manjhi was hanged to death in Bhagalpur
  • 1795- 1800 Tamar revolt
  • 1795- 1800 Munda revolt under the leadership of Vishnu Manaki
  • 1800- 1802 Munda revolt under the stewardship of Dukhan Manaki of Tamar
  • 1819- 1820 Munda revolt in Palamu under the leadership of Bhukan Singh
  • 1832- 1833 Khewar revolt under the leadership of Bhagirath, Dubai Gosai and Patel Singh
  • 1833- 1834 Bhumji revolt under the leadership of Ganga Narain of Birbhum
  • 1855 Santhals waged war against the permanent settlement of Lord Cornwallis
  • 1855- 1860 During late 1850s Sidhu had accumulated about ten thousands Santhal to run parallel government against British rule. The basic purpose was to collect taxes by making his own laws. British Government had announced an award of Rs. ten thousand to arrest Sidhu and his brother Kanhu
  • 1856- 1857 Martyr Sahid Lal, Vishwanath Shahdeo, Sheikh Bhikhari, Ganpatrai and Budhu Veer led a movement against the British Government during India’s First War of Independence, 1857, also called Sepoy Mutiny
  • 1874 Kherwar Movement shot into fame under the leadership of Bhagirathi Manjhi
  • 1895- 1900 Movement against the British raj led by Birsa Munda (born 15th November, 1875). Birsa Munda was captured by British forces and declared dead on 9th June, 1900 in Ranchi Jail, due to Cholera, according to records of the British colonial government.

All above cited uprisings againt the British Raj and resistance of 18th and 19th centuries in the Indian state Jharkhand were quelled by the British through massive deployment of troops across the region.

In 1914 the Tana Bhagat resistance movement started, which gained the participation of more than 26,000 adivasis, and eventually merged with satyagraha and Mahatma Gandhi's [civil disobedience]] movement.

Geography and climate

Most of the state lies on the Chota Nagpur Plateau, which is the source of the Koel, Damodar, Brahmani, Kharkai, and Subarnarekha rivers, whose upper watersheds lie within Jharkhand. Much of the state is still covered by forest. Forest preserves support populations of tigers and Indian elephants.

Soil content of Jharkhand state mainly consist of soil formed from disintegration of rocks and stones, and soil composition is further divided into:

  1. Red soil, found mostly in the Damodar valley, and Rajmahal area
  2. Micacious soil (containing particles of mica), found in Koderma, Jhumeritilaiya, Barkagaon, and areas around the Mandar hill
  3. Sandy soil, generally found in Hazaribagh and Dhanbad
  4. Black soil, found in Rajmahal area
  5. Laterite soil, found in western part of Ranchi, Palamu, and parts of Santhal Parganas and Singhbhum

Flora and fauna

Jharkhand has a rich variety of flora and fauna. The National Parks and the Zoological Gardens located in the state of Jharkhand present a panorama of this variety.

Betla National Park (Palamu), 25 km from Daltonganj covers an area of about 250 square kilometres. The national park has a large variety of wild life like tigers, elephants, bisons locally called gaurs, sambhars, hundreds of wild boar and 15 to 20 feet long python, herds of spotted deer ( cheetals), rabbits and foxes. The mammalian fauna to be seen at Betla National Park also include langurs, rhesus, blue bull and wild boars. The lesser mammals are the porcupine, hare, wild cats, honey badgers, jackals, Malabar giant squirrel, mongoose, wolf, antelope, etc. In 1974, the park was declared Project Tiger Reserve.

Part of the reason for the variety and diversity of flora and fauna found in Jharkhand state may be accredited to the Project Tiger Reserve of Palamu, which is abode to hundreds of species of flora and fauna [1], as indicated within brackets: mammal (39), Snakes (8), Lizards (4), Fish (6), Insects (21), Birds (170), seed bearing Plants and Tress (97) , Shrubs and Herbs (46), Climbers, Parasites and semi-Parasites (25), and Grasses and Bamboo (17).

The Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary, with scenic beauties, 135 km from Ranchi, is set in an ecosystem very similar to Betla National Park of Palamu.

One Zoological Garden is also located about 16 km from Ranchi, and a number of mammalian fauna have been collected there for visitors.

Demographics

Jharkhand has a population of 26.90 million, consisting of 13.86 million males and 13.04 million females. The sex ratio is 941 females to 1000 males. The population consists of 28% tribals, 12% Scheduled Castes and 60% others. There are 274 persons for each square kilometer of land. However, the population density varies considerably from as low as 148 per square kilometer in Gumla district to as high as 1167 per square kilometer in Dhanbad district.

Jharkhand has remained a home to a number of tribal communities since time immemorial. Infact, in some of the districts of Jharkhand, the tribal population predominates, the non tribal one. Jharkhand has 32 primitive tribal groups.These are the Asur, Baiga, Banjara, Bathudi, Bedia, Binjhia, Birhor, Birjia, Chero, Chick-Baraik, Gond, Gorait, Ho, Karmali, Kharwar, Khond, Kisan, Kora, Korwa, Lohra, Mahli, Mal-Paharia, Munda, Oraon, Parhaiya, Santal, Sauria-Paharia, Savar, Bhumij, Kol and Kanwar.

The geographical area now comprising Jharkhand was previously part of Bihar. The area has witnessed migration of people from the adjoining areas of Bihar and West Bengal for last several decades. Industrial and mining centres like Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Ranchi have attracted people from all parts of India.

Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the three religions that came in through emigrants. The Tribal comunities of Jharkhand have their own spiritual beliefs commonly called Sarna. During the colonization process the tribal religious beliefs were looked down upon as pagan and inferior. Really, this was only an attempt to subordinate the tribes, and so now that religous freedom is more commonly recognized throughout not only India but the world at large, this religon of Sarna is becoming a growing phenomena.

Economy

Jharkhand is a rich state of poor people but it is rich state of talented people also and the success time is not very fare of Jharkhand . It has concentration of some of country’s highly industrialized cities like Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Dhanbad, and has several firsts in India, including:

  • First Iron & steel factory at Jamshedpur
  • Largest fertilizer factory of its time in India (since shut down) at Sindri
  • Biggest explosives factory at Gomia
  • First methane gas well
    On the other hand, it has several towns and innumerable villages with sub-standard civic amenities. Urbanization ratio is only 22.25% and the per capita annual income is only US$ 90!

Jharkhand also has immense mineral resources: minerals ranging from (ranking in the country within bracket) from iron ore (1st), coal (3rd), copper ore (1st), mica (1st), bauxite (3rd), Manganese, limestone, china clay, fire clay, graphite (8th), kainite (1st), chromite (2nd), asbestos (1st), thorium (3rd), yemenite (2nd), sillimanite, uranium (Jaduguda mines, Narwa Pahar) (1st) and even gold (Rakha mines) (6th) and silver and several other minerals. Large deposits of coal and iron ore support concentration of industry, in centers like Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Ranchi.

Government and politics

The state is headed by a Governor, who is appointed by the President of India. However, the real executive power rests with the Chief Minister and the cabinet. The political party or the coalition of political parties having majority in the Legislative Assembly forms the Government.

The administrative head of the State is called Chief Secretary, under whose jurisdiction a hierarchy of officials drawn from the Indian Administrative Service / State Civil Services function.

The judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice and Jharkhand has a separate High Court, located in Ranchi.

Administrative districts

The state was formed with 18 districts, which were formerly part of Bihar. Some of these districts were reorganized to form 4 new districts, namely, Latehar, Saraikela Kharsawan, Jamtara and Sahebgunj. Presently, the state has 22 dsitricts Districts of Jharkhand:

Ranchi Lohardaga Gumla district Simdega Palamu Latehar Garhwa West Singhbhum Seraikela Kharsawan East Singhbhum Dumka Jamtara Sahebganj Pakur Godda Hazaribagh Chatra Koderma Giridih Dhanbad Bokaro Deoghar

Language, literature & culture

Jharkhand is home to a number of languages belonging to three major language families. Indo-Aryan languages include Angika,Nagpuri (Sadri) Hindi, Urdu and Bengali. Jharkand is also home to the Munda languages, Kurmali, Korku, Santhali, Mundari, Bhumij, kharia and Ho, and the Dravidian languages Korwa, Oraon and Paharia.

Social infrastructure

Health

On account of salubrious climate, Jharkhand, particularly its capital Ranchi, has been like a health resort. As far back as 1918, facilities were set up for treatment of mentally challenged – Central Institute of Psychiatry [2], Ranchi.

In certain areas of Jharkhand, poverty and consequently under nutrition, has given rise to diseases like tuberculosis (TB). In fact, TB has assumed epidemic proportions in certain areas of the state. For management and treatment of such diseases, organizations like Ramakrishna Mission through Ramakrishna Mission Tuberculosis Sanatorium [3] (set up in 1948), Ranchi, has been doing exemplary work, and supplementing the efforts of the Government and other agencies. Likewise, in the field of treatment of cancer, Tata Memorial Hospital, Jamshedpur, [4] is rendering pioneering work.

Although several public and private health facilities are available in the state, overall infrastructure for dispensing health related services require improvements.

Education

The literacy rate in Jharkhand is only 54.13% (2001) and female literacy rate is still lower at 39.38%.

Jharkhand has a network of government and privately run schools, althogh standard of teaching considerably vary, from place to place, as also from school to school.

After 10 years of schooling, students can join 2 years of Intermediate course (or +2 courses) in Arts, Science and Commerce. This is followed by 3 years of degree courses. A number of non-technical colleges are located in bigger cities as well as in small towns. Some students choose to join 3 years diploma courses offered by Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Jharkhand has 7 Universities: Ranchi University, Ranchi; Sidhhu Kanhu University, Dumka; Binova Bhave University, Hazaribagh; Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi; Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur and Indian School Of Mines( ISM Dhanbad-Deemed University). There are three medical colleges in Jharkhand namely Rajendra Institute Of Medical Sciences(RIMS) at Ranchi, M.G.M. Medical College Jamshedpur and Patliputra Medical College And Hospital(PMCH) at Dhanbad. The famous b-school Xavier Labour Relations Institute(XLRI) is at Jamshedpur. It's PMIR programme is regarded best in the entire Asia-Pacific region. As the institutions of higher studies fall short of state's requirement, many students, after completing schooling in the state, move away to places like New Delhi, Karnataka and several other locations for higher technical and non-technical studies.

Media

Hindi newspapers like the Ranchi Express [5] and the Prabhat Khabar [6] are main newspapaers, published from the state capital, Ranchi and are available in almost all parts of the state. All important Indian newspapers, in Hindi, English and Bengali are also available in bigger cities by the afternoon and with a day’s delay in smaller towns. Most of the national magazines in Hindi, English and Bengali are regularly available in bigger cities and at other places supply may be arranged through newspaper vendors.

All India Radio is the only radio station in Jharkhand and covers the entire state. Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster, is also available in almost all parts of the state. Bigger cities of Jaharkhand is served by all television channels available in India and channels are received through cable. In some interior regions, channels are received via satellite dishes.

Landline telephone connectivity is provided by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL),Tata Teleservices(TATA INDICOM) and Reliance Infocomm and covers almost all parts of the state. Cellular service, covering all major centres of the state, is provided by BSNL ,Reliance Telekom and Airtel( GSM Service) and also by Tata Indicom and Reliance Infocomm(CDMA Service) Internet connectivity is available in most of the district headquarters, but broadband connectivity is not widely available.