Medininagar
Daltonganj or Medininagar, is a city municipal corporation in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the headquarters of Palamu division and Palamu district, as well as the subdivision and block of the same name. The city is situated on the banks of the North Koel River.[1] It is one of the towns of state with historic significance.
Medininagar Daltonganj | |
|---|---|
Metropolitan City | |
  Medininagar Location of Medininagar in Jharkhand | |
| Coordinates: 24.03°N 84.07°E | |
| Country |  |
| State | Jharkhand |
| Division | Palamu |
| District | Palamu |
| Established | 1880 |
| Named for | Maharaja Medini Ray |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Medininagar Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Aruna Shankar BJP |
| • Deputy Mayor | Mangal Singh BJP |
| • MLA | Alok Chaurasia BJP |
| • MP | Vishnu Dayal Ram BJP |
| Area | |
| • Total | 150 km2 (60 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 215 m (705 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 1,20,325 |
| • Rank | 10th in Jharkhand |
| • Density | 800/km2 (2,100/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, Urdu |
| • Regional | Nagpuri |
| Time zone | UTC5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 822101 |
| telephone | 06562 |
| Vehicle registration | JH-03 |
| Literacy | 87.29% |
| Website | www |
Origin of name
The city was named Daltonganj during the British Raj after Colonel Edward Tuite Dalton (1815–1880), an anthropologist and the commissioner of Chota Nagpur in 1861.[2] The name of city was changed after the formation of Medininagar Municipal Corporation in April 2018 and was named after Raja Medini Ray of Chero dynasty.
History
Palamu traces its history from neolithic and chalcolithic era and axe, utensils and furnaces of the Harappan period are found at the confluence of Son and North Koel river in Kabra-Kala mound.[3] Asur people have been one of the oldest inhabitants and developed civilization around the region.[4] Other tribes, e.g- Baiga, Ho, Chero, Kol, Kharwar and many others lived here and ruled since centuries.
Later, Palamu was ruled by Nagvanshis of Chotanagpur since 5th century. Many of its kings ruled the region until Mughals invaded Palamu region. Later, Khayaravala dynasty also ruled the region from 11th-12th century from Rohtasgarh (now Sasaram, Bihar) and then Rakshel Dynasty captured the region and ruled from Surguja State (Chattisgarh). Then, Chero dynasty ruled this region for a long period around the 14-15th century, AD.
In 1589, Man Singh I, the Mughal governor assumed the charge of Bihar Province and marched against Cheros. He subjugated Cheros and took them as prisoners and overthrown them into forests. But after the death of Emperor Akbar, the Cheros regained the power and started ruling the region. Palamu region was then ruled by most powerful Chero ruler, Medini Ray. He also built Palamu Fort, Shahpur Fort and Bishrampur Fort. In 1719, during the reign of Muhammad Shah, Sarbuland Khan was appointed as the Subedar of Bihar Province who again overthrown Chero ruler, Raja Yadunath Shah and made him he flee from Palamu the established his new capital at Palkot. Later in 1740, Hidayat Ali Khan was nominated as Jagirdar of Japla (at Palamu) and Cheros assisted him in an invasion against Ramgarh Raj.
In 1771, East India Company asked Cheros to surrender and marched towards Palamu after neglect from kings, Raja Chitrajit Rai and Jainath Singh. Later, Captain Camac marched to Palamu, fought war and Palamu fort was surrendered.
Palamu witnessed the Kol rebellion in 1832 and Cheros and the Kharwars also rose against the administration, and non-tribal Hindus and Muslims. It was a reaction to unfair treatment brought on by the systems of land tenure and administration that had been introduced by British powers in the area.
In, Indian Rebellion of 1857, two Kharwar tribals of Bhogta clan, Nilamber and Pitamber fought against British and organised Palamu against them and also had a great impact of activism of Birsa Munda in 1895 against British and Christian missionaries.
In 1920, 'The Bihar Students’ Conference' was held at Daltonganj under Rev. C.F. Andrews. In 1927, many national leaders participated and visited in it including Mazharul Haque, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Palamu region took active part in Independence movement of India and the Adibasi Mahasabha and Chotanagpur Unnati Samaj also played a key role in demand of separate land for Adivasis, called Jharkhand.
Geography
Medininagar is located at 24.03°N 84.07°E.[5] It has an average elevation of 215 m (705 ft).
The Betla National Park is located about 20 km from the city. This park is known for tigers, and comes under the Palamau Tiger Project. Another picnic spot nearby is Kechki, located about 18 km from Medininagar, at the confluence of the Koel River and the Auranga River. Netarhat, a plateau covered with thick forests, is also situated near Medininagar.
Transport
Daltonganj railway station is a railway station for Medininagar.
Daltonganj is located 1,036 kilometres (644 mi) south east of New Delhi and is accessible by train to Daltonganj Railway station (DTO) from Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Kota, Bhopal Junction, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Varanasi and Gaya. The nearest airport is 165 kilometres (103 mi) away in Ranchi. It has an airport in Chianki, used occasionally by visiting dignitaries.
Daltonganj is well connected with Patna, Ranchi, Raipur, Ambikapur, Kolkata, Durgapur, Varanasi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Delhi, Lucknow, Allahabad, Kota, Kanpur Gaya, etc. by road.
Demographics
As of 2014 India census,[6] Medininagar had a population of 1,20,325. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Medininagar has an average literacy rate of 87.29%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 91.92% and, female literacy is 82.10%. In Medininagar, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Health
The government run and private hospitals in the area include -
- Sadar Hospital, Medininagar
- Palamu Medical College & Hospital, the biggest hospital in the area
- Seva Sadan Hospital
- Shri Narayan Multi-speciality Hospital
- Bhagwati Hospital
Climate
Medininagar has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa).
| Climate data for Medininagar | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 33.6 (92.5) |
36.1 (97.0) |
40.6 (105.1) |
43.5 (110.3) |
47.6 (117.7) |
45.9 (114.6) |
42.1 (107.8) |
40.0 (104.0) |
39.5 (103.1) |
39.8 (103.6) |
36.3 (97.3) |
31.3 (88.3) |
47.6 (117.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 24.7 (76.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
33.5 (92.3) |
38.8 (101.8) |
40.9 (105.6) |
38.5 (101.3) |
33.2 (91.8) |
32.5 (90.5) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.1 (89.8) |
29.2 (84.6) |
25.5 (77.9) |
32.4 (90.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 16.7 (62.1) |
19.4 (66.9) |
24.6 (76.3) |
30.2 (86.4) |
33.1 (91.6) |
32.7 (90.9) |
29.2 (84.6) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
26.1 (79.0) |
21.8 (71.2) |
17.4 (63.3) |
25.7 (78.3) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 8.7 (47.7) |
11.6 (52.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.2 (77.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.0 (75.2) |
20.1 (68.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
19.0 (66.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.2 (36.0) |
1.3 (34.3) |
7.7 (45.9) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
19.9 (67.8) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
18.2 (64.8) |
13.0 (55.4) |
6.8 (44.2) |
1.8 (35.2) |
1.3 (34.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 12 (0.5) |
29 (1.1) |
14 (0.6) |
20 (0.8) |
34 (1.3) |
158 (6.2) |
356 (14.0) |
290 (11.4) |
206 (8.1) |
66 (2.6) |
9 (0.4) |
11 (0.4) |
1,205 (47.4) |
| Average precipitation days | 1.9 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 3.6 | 8.3 | 18.7 | 17.1 | 12.8 | 4.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 75.2 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 65 | 56 | 44 | 37 | 39 | 58 | 78 | 80 | 77 | 69 | 67 | 67 | 61 |
| Source: NOAA (1971-1990)[8] | |||||||||||||
Culture
Major Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian festivals are celebrated in Medininagar. The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Daltonganj. The town has several societies, clubs, and NGOs including Palamau Club, Rotary Club and Rida Foundation.[9]
Satyajit Ray's Bengali film, Aranyer Din Ratri was shot in Palamu and the upcoming Bollywood movie, Nastik starring Arjun Rampal was also shot in Medininagar.[10]
Education
Nilamber-Pitamber University at Medininagar was established in 2009 and serves the Palamu division of Jharkhand.[11][12]
There are many colleges for undergraduate, post graduate & other higher education in and around Medininagar which includes:
- Palamu Medical College[13]
- DAV Institute of Engineering and Technology[14] established by D.A.V College Managing Committee.
- Bhishma Narain Singh Law College[15]
- Ganesh Lal Agrawal College[16]
- Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila Mahavidyalaya[17]
- Janta Shivratri College[18]
- Elite Public B.Ed. College[19]
- Jyoti Prakash Mahila B.Ed. College[20]
- B.N College
The major private schools in Medininagar include:
- M.K. DAV Public School, Chianki[21] (CBSE)
- Sacred Heart School, Chianki (ICSE)
- Heritage International School[22] (CBSE)
- VPM Gyan Niketan School (CBSE)
- Elite Public School (CBSE)
- Rotary Public School (CBSE)
- Bright Land School (CBSE)
- Mata Draupadi Namdhari Guru Gobind Singh Public School (CBSE)
- St. Mariam's School (CBSE)
The major libraries in the town include:
- Central Library
- Marwari Library
- Urdu Library
Places of Interest
- Betla National Park, park hosts a wide variety of wildlife
- Palamu Tiger Reserve, one of the first tiger conservation projects in India.
- Palamu Fort, twin forts of Chero dynasty built by Raja Medini Ray.
- Hussainabad Fort, built by Mughal jagirdar, Hidayat Ali Khan.
- Shahpur Fort, built by Chero ruler
- Bishrampur Fort, built by Chero rulers
- Kala-Kabra mound, Harappan era artefacts[3]
- Bhim Chulha, a 5,000-year-old stove, on which Bhima used to make food during the Pandavas’ ignorance[23]
References
- "Administrative Unit - Palamu". Missing or empty
|url=(help) - "Daltonganj". University of Swansea. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- "Artifacts dating back to Harappan era unearthed in Jharkhand". DNA India. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- जगन्नाथम, Suresh Jagannathan सुरेश (26 May 2016). "Asur – in life and death". Forward Press. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Daltonganj
- "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- "Medininagar Climate Normals 1971-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- "Rotary Club Profile:Daltonganj". Rotary International. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- "Puff penalty for Rampal". The Telegraph.
- "Nilamber Pitamber University acquires ownership rights of 15-acre land | Ranchi News - Times of India".
- "Nilamber-Pitamber University". Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- "Palamu Medical College – Medininagar, Palamu". Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- "DAV IET". www.davietpalamau.org. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- "B.N.S Law College, Jharkhand". Bhishma Narain Singh Law College. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "Ganesh Lal Agrawal College". www.glanpu.org.in. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- "Yodh Singh Namdhari Mahila Mahavidyalaya". www.ysnmnpu.org.in. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- "Janta Shivratri College, Daltonganj, Palamau, Jharkhand". Janta Shivratri College.
- "Elite Public B.Ed. College". Elite Public B.Ed. College.
- "Jyoti Prakash Mahila B.Ed College". Jyoti Prakash Mahila B.Ed College. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- "M.K. DAV Public School". M.K. D.A.V. PUBLIC SCHOOL, DALTONGANJ.
- "Heritage International School". Heritage International School.
- www.dailypioneer.com https://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/ranchi/13383-half-buried-bhim-chulha-gathers-dust-of-neglect.html/. Retrieved 4 May 2020. Missing or empty
|title=(help)