Bhagalpur
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| ?Bhagalpur Bihar • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| District(s) | Bhagalpur |
| Population • Sex ratio |
350,133 (2001) • 865 |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 812 0xx • +(+91)0641 • BR 10 XXXX |
Bhagalpur is a city and municipal corporation in Bihar state in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhagalpur District. Bhagalpur is acclaimed the world over for its silk products and it is known in India as the "Silk City". Bhagalpur is the distorted form of Bhagdatpuram as it was called during the apex of Ang Kingdom and has been the seat of power of the same.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga river. Situated 220km east of Patna, the state capital of Bihar, and 410km north west of Calcutta. The city is referred as one of the biggest trade centers in eastern India by the Chinese travellers Huen Sang and Fahiyan. The city had a big harbour on the Ganges River at place called Champanagar (another name for Bhagalpur), now called Champanala, which flows on the western boundary of present city near Nathnagar. During an archaeological excavation, many boats, navigators and currencies of middle and Far East have been found at the same place. Bhagalpur is well connected by rail and road. the airport at Bhagalpur was functional till 1980's but from then it is still waiting for its rejuvenation.
The city is famous worldwide for its silk production. The silk industry in this city is hundreds of years old and a whole clan exists that has been producing silk for generations. There is a Silk Institute and Agricultural college here, as well as a University, and Engineering, Medical and Homeopath colleges.
The gangetic plains are very fertile and the main crops include rice, wheat, maize, barley, and oilseeds. The economy of Bhagalpur is dependent mainly on agriculture and silk.
[edit] History
Early civilizations have fostered along the fertile coasts of the river Ganges. Bhagalpur has often been referred to as Bhagaddat-Puram in ancient Sanskrit literature such as the Ramanaya, Mahabharatha and Panchtantra. "Vish-hari Puja" or the worship of the snake queen traces its roots to hundreds of years and is still celebrated every year with thousands of believers and snake charmers offering milk to the Nag(the snake King) and Nageen (The snake Queen).
References to Bhagalpur can be found in Indian epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata where Bhagalpur has been described as the kingdom of Anga. Ancient cave sculptures of Emperor Ashoka's regime (274 BC-232 BC) are found in the neighbourhood and at Sultangunj, 20 km west of Bhagalpur, a temple of the Gupta period (320-500) still exists. The tomb of Suja, brother of Moghul emperor Aurangzeb, in the heart of the town is reminiscent of the city's association with the Mughal period.
Ruins of ancient Vikramshila University are located 44 km east of Bhagalpur. It was the medieval centre to the conservation and propagation of Buddhist education, established by King Dharampal of Bengal (783-820) at the end of the 8th century.
Bhagalpur formed a part of the ancient Sanskrit kingdom of Anga. In later times it was included in the powerful Hindu kingdom of Magadha or Behar, and in the 7th century A.D. it was an independent state, with the city of Champa for its capital. It afterwards formed a part of the Mahommedan kingdom of Gaur, and was subsequently subjugated by Akbar, who declared it to be a part of the Delhi empire. Bhagalpur passed to the East India Company by the grant of the emperor Shah Alam in 1765. [1]
sambhaw from bhagalpur
[edit] Mythological Significance
The city has been the centre of trade and commerce and one of the most influential in "Aryavarta" or India of that time and was concurrent to Patliputra or Patna. Bhagdatpuram finds its mention in the Vedas and Ramayana as well. It is supposed to be the kingdom of Daanvir Karna "the son of Kunti from God Sun" and was called Ang Pradesh. The word Bhagalpur literally means 'City of good luck.'
Mandar Hill, situated 52 km south from Bhagalpur, is believed to have been used as Churner during Samudra-Manthan by God and Danav according to Hindu mythology.
[edit] Demography
As of 2001 India census,[1] Bhagalpur had a population of 340,349. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Bhagalpur has an average literacy rate of 68%, with 70% of the males and 62% of the females literate. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. Bhagalpur is one of the leading education centre of Bihar.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Culture
[edit] Language
The popular language spoken in Bhagalpur is Angika, which is reported to be spoken by 50 million persons world wide. Among others Hindi and English are the main languages. Nearly 30% of the population speaks English, out of which 50% are quite fluent.
[edit] Media
Dainik Jagran & Hindustan, Hindi Daily is published from Bhagalpur.
ANGVANI The First Online Newspaper of Bhagalpur [2] was launched on 15th August 2007. The web portal is determined to cater the curiosity of thousands of Bhagalpurites spread across the world about the latest happenings in their Silk city. The online paper carries only significant news report that are in the interest of the Bhagalpurites.
[edit] Crime and Unrest
[edit] 1980 Bhagalpur blindings
In 1980, Bhagalpur came into news when it was reported that the police blinded 31 suspects awaiting trial[3] (convicted criminals, according to some versions), by pouring acid into their eyes. The incident became infamous as Bhagalpur blindings. The incident was widely debated and discussed in several human rights' conventions. In 2003, a bollywood movie loosely based on the incident and starring Ajay Devgan was released. It was titled Gangaajal (roughly translated as The holy waters of Ganga)[4].
[edit] Bhagalpur riots
Communal disturbances between Hindus and Muslims have been a part of the history of Bhagalpur and riots had occurred in 1924, 1936, 1946 and 1967. However, Bhagalpur became notorious after the riots in October 1989, and the name Bhagalpur riots usually refers to the 1989 riots. According to various accounts, some 1100 [5] to 1891 [6] people were killed, a majority of them muslims. According to some accounts, stoning of a Ram Shila Poojan procession by some muslims triggered the riots. As a fall-out of the riots, the silk-weaving industry suffered a decline [7].
In 2007, fourteen people were convicted of killing muslims on a large scale in 1989.[2]
More details on Bhagalpur riots on this page: http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1983&Itemid=88
[edit] People from Bhagalpur
- Kadambini, daughter of Braja Kishore Bose, headmaster of Bhagalpur School, was one of the first women graduates in the British Empire and the first woman doctor in South Asia.
- Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar and Anup Kumar: These three most famous brothers of Hindi cinema, had spent most of their childhood in Adampur area in core of the city. Ashok Kumar known as the dada muni of Hindi cinema had done the entire schooling at the C.M.S. High school Bhagalpur. The city being their maternal grand parent’s home was a dear to all the three and Dada Muni was a regular to the city till his demise.
- Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyaya is known to have some roots in the city.
- Rabindra Nath Tagore occupied Tillha Kothi close to the University Campus for a considerable period. Parts of the nobel awarded Gitanjali was written in Tilla Kothi.
- Business Magnate Subroto Roy of the famous Sahara Parivar has spent part of his early life in Bhagalpur. He underwent his primary education in Bhagalpur's C.M.S. High school.
- Suchitra Bhattacharya,the acclaimed Indian novelist was born in Bhagalpur(she was born on 10 January 1950 in Bhagalpur).
- Nilesh kumar,the upcoming journalist & poet. he is born in North Bhagalpur( he is born on 24th nov 1982 in Ganeshpur, po Kharik Bazar. he is graduate from tmb university & post graduate from jamia millia islamia (New delhi) university.
[edit] Places of Interest in Bhagalpur
- Jain Mandir [Champanagar]
- Kuppa Ghat [Bank of Ganga river]
- Karna Garh [Nathnagar]
- old postoffice
- Budhaanath shiv temple
- Ravindranath Bhavan(tillaha Kothi)
- Sharatchand's house
- Lajpat Park
- Sandis Compound
- Ghuran Pir
- Ganga Bridge
- Habai Adda
[edit] Hospitality in Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur has quite a few good hotels catering to the needs of all kinds of travellers. The Raj Hans International (3 Star) and Nihar Hotel are some of the oldest and most reputed hotels in the city. Kachahari Chowk (2 kilometres to the east of Bhagalpur Station) is the hub of quality hotels with four of the best hotels in the city being located there. These hotels are Rajhans International, Nihar Hotel, Panchwati and Hotel Bhawna International.
A large number of cheaper and affordable hotels are located near the Bhagalpur station. Hotel Gaylord, Nirmala and many more are located just outside the station. There are a number of "Dharmshalas" in city too. They offer cheap but satisfactory accommodation. These are mostly owned by Marwari Societies.
[edit] List of Major Schools and Colleges
Colleges
[1.Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University[8]
[2.Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College & Hospital[9]
[3.Bhagalpur College of Engineering ]
[4.Sabour Agriculture College]
[5.T.N.B.College]
[6.S.M.College]
[8.Vimal Bibhuti College of Education](http://www.vbcebhagalpur.com)
[10.Mahadev Singh College]
[11.S.D.College]
[12.J.V.College]
[13.Sabour College]
[14.Silk School Of Research & Development]
[15.Bhagalpur Polytech
Schools
[1.Mount Carmel School]
[2.Mount Assisi School]
[3.Saint Joseph's School]
[4.Saint Teresa's School]
[5.C.M.S High School]
[6.Navyug Vidyalaya][10]
[7.Delhi Public School](http://www.dpsbhagalpur.com)
[8.D.A.V. Public School]
[9.Christ Church Girls High School]
[10.Saint Andrew's School]
[11.Zila School]
[12.Saint Paul's School] (http://stpaulsbgp.co.nr/)
[13.T.N.B. Collegiate High School]
[edit] References =
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ Tewary, Amarnath. "Hindus guilty of Muslim deaths", BBC News, 2007-06-18. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
