Araria district

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'.

History

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

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 Janakas. The Mithila Kingdom was later incorporated into the Vajjika League, which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila. The territory of the district became Araria sub-division of the former Purnia district in 1964. Araria district was formed in January 1990 as one of the administrative districts of under Purnia Division.

2017 North Bihar Floods

2017 Floods affected 19 districts of North Bihar causing death of 514 people, in which Araria district accounted for 95 deaths alone. Floods have claimed 215 lives in Araria over 18 years, of which 61 in 2016.

Geography

Araria district occupies an area of 2830 km2.

National Highway 27 runs through the district.

Politics

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Economy

In 2006 the Indian government named Araria one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640)

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Araria district has a population of 2,811,569, roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica or the US state of Utah.{{cite web |access-date=2011-09-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019160532/http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php |archive-date=2013-10-19

Hinduism is the majority religion. Muslims are majority in Araria and Jokihat blocks, and are in near-majority in Palasi block.

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 28.71% Urdu, 25.05% Hindi, 20.57% Maithili, 2.17% Bengali, 2.10% Kulhaiya, 1.91% Surjapuri and 1.05% Santali as their first language. The main language is Maithili, mainly the Thethi and Eastern Maithili dialects, although most people record their language as Hindi or Urdu in the census. There is a presence of Surjapuri speakers in Sikti and Palasi, and Kulhaiya is a major Maithili dialect spoken by the Kulhaiya Muslim community in this district.

Administration

The district is divided into two subdivisions, Forbesganj subdivision and Araria subdivision.

Notable people

• Phanishwar Nath 'Renu', novelist and story writer.
• Family of Mohammed Taslimuddin
  • Mohammed Taslimuddin Former Union Minister of State
  • Mohammed Shahnawaz Alam, Indian politician and MLA
  • Sarfaraz Alam, Indian politician and MLA
• Subrata Roy, chairman of Sahara Group
• Quaiser Khalid IPS, Maharashtra Cadre, Poet, Educationist

References

References

1. (March 2016). "Development of Human Development Index at District Level for EAG States".
2. (27 March 2013). "Telecom racket busted in sleepy Araria district of Bihar". The Times of India.
3. "Bihar assembly elections 2020: BJP eyes winning push from Mithila | Bihar Assembly Elections 2020 Election News - Times of India".
4. [[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143
5. Witzel, M.. (1989). "Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes". Fondation Hugot.
6. Hemchandra, R.. (1972). "Political History of Ancient India". University of Calcutta.
7. "Floods in Bihar not man-made, says minister | Patna News - Times of India".
8. "Flood Situation Improves In Bihar, Number Of Dead At 514".
9. "Floods in Bihar: Flood situation worsens in Bihar, death toll rises to 253 | India News - Times of India".
10. "Bihar floods: 119 dead; bridge collapse caught on camera | Patna News - Times of India".
11. "बिहार : बाढ़ ने लिखी खौफनाक कहानी, अबतक 379 व्यक्तियों की मौत और 1.61 करोड आबादी प्रभावित".
12. "Death toll in Bihar floods mounts to 304; situation grim in UP | India News - Times of India".
13. (September 10, 2017). "Araria to Kishenganj, Bihar's decades-old flood tragedy has a worrying new trend".
14. (2010). "India 2010: A Reference Annual". [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]].
15. Ministry of Panchayati Raj. (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme". National Institute of Rural Development.
16. "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar". [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]].
17. (2011). "District Census Handbook: Araria". [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]].
18. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population".
19. (2011). "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar". [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]].
20. (2011). "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar". [[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]].
21. (September 18, 2017). "Who was Mohammed Taslimuddin, RJD strongman and voice of Seemanchal who died at 74 on Sunday".
22. "Quaiser Khalid - Profile & Biography".