Nalanda district
Nalanda district is one of the thirty-eight districts of the state of Bihar in India. Bihar Sharif is the administrative headquarters of this district. Nalanda is locally also known as 'Kurmistan' due to dominance of Kurmi caste present in the region.[1] The districts contains the ancient Nalanda University, a UNESCO World Heritage site.[2]
Nalanda district | |
---|---|
District of Bihar | |
Ruins of Nalanda Mahavihara | |
![]() Location of Nalanda district in Bihar | |
Country | India |
State | Bihar |
Division | Patna |
Established | 9th November 1972 |
Headquarters | Bihar Sharif |
Government | |
• Lok Sabha constituencies | Nalanda |
Area | |
• Total | 2,367 km2 (914 sq mi) |
• Urban | 112.91 km2 (43.59 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 2,877,653 |
• Density | 1,200/km2 (3,100/sq mi) |
• Urban | 4,57,894 |
Demographics | |
• Literacy | 66.41 (M=77.11; F=54.76) |
• Sex ratio | 921 (2011) |
Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
Major highways | NH 20, NH 33, NH 120, NH 431 |
Website | Bihar Sharif - Nalanda District Administration Twitter |
Geography
Nalanda district occupies an area of 2,355 square kilometres (909 sq mi),[4] comparatively equivalent to Canada's Cornwall Island.[5] The Phalgu, Mohane, Jirayan, and Kumbhari rivers flow through it. The district is a part of Patna Division. Majority of the land in the district is fertile land of Indo Gangetic plane. In the extreme South, there lies the hills of Rajgir. There is also one small hillock in the district headquarters of Bihar Sharif.
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
1901 | 595,009 | — |
1911 | 589,310 | −0.10% |
1921 | 577,663 | −0.20% |
1931 | 676,424 | +1.59% |
1941 | 785,619 | +1.51% |
1951 | 926,189 | +1.66% |
1961 | 1,086,972 | +1.61% |
1971 | 1,304,832 | +1.84% |
1981 | 1,639,922 | +2.31% |
1991 | 1,996,257 | +1.99% |
2001 | 2,370,528 | +1.73% |
2011 | 2,877,653 | +1.96% |
source:[6] |
According to the 2011 census Nalanda district has a population of 2,877,653,[7] roughly equal to the nation of Jamaica[8] or the US state of Kansas.[9] This gives it a ranking of 98th in India (out of a total of 640).[7] The district has a population density of 1,220 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,200/sq mi) .[7] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.18%.[7] Nalanda has a sex ratio of 921 females for every 1000 males,[7] and a literacy rate of 66.41%.[7]
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 93.59% of the population in the district spoke Hindi and 5.69% Urdu as their first language.[10]
Economy
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, with the majority of the population engaged in agriculture. Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, potato, fruits and vegetables are main crops. A newly setup Ordnance Factory, one of the 41 Indian Ordnance Factories has been set up by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India to manufacture artillery shells at Nalanda. Then there is railway coach maintenance plant at Harnaut Block of Nalanda.
Tourism is well developed, with lakhs of people flocking at ruins of Nalanda University, Rajgir and Pawapuri. Rajgir was the first capital of Magadh Empire. Lord Buddha had spent years at this place. Surrounded by five hills, it has got scenic views. Pawapuri, the Nirwana place of Lord Mahavir, is holi place for the Jains.[11][12] In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Nalanda one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[13] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[13]
Divisions
Sub Divisions: 3 - Modern District of Nalanda with HQ Biharsharif was established on 9 November 1972. Earlier it was Biharsharif sub-division of Patna district. Bihar Sharif, Rajgir, Hilsa
Blocks: 20 - Giriyak, Rahui, Ajaypur Noorsarai, Harnaut, Chandi (Nalanda), Islampur (Nalanda), Rajgir, Asthawan, Sarmera, Hilsa, Biharsharif, Ekangarsarai, Bena, Nagarnausa, Karai Parsarai, Silao, Parwalpur, Katrisarai, Bind, Tharthari.
Flora and fauna
In 1978 Nalanda district became home to the Pant Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajgir which has an area of 35.84 km2 (13.8 sq mi).[14]
Status
Nalanda district is fast developing and the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University or UNESCO Nalanda Archaeological Site attracts tourists from all over world driving the local economy.
Notable Personalities from Nalanda District
- Nitish Kumar, Current Chief Minister of Bihar and Former MP from Nalanda
- Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, Member of Rajya Sabha and former IAS Officer
- Kaushalendra Kumar, Current MP of Nalanda
- Nawal Kishore Dhawal, a writer, poet, editor and critic
- Mrityunjay Prabhakar, theatre director and dramatist
- Kalim Ajiz, a Padma Shri receipent and Urdu writer
- Hari Uppal, Founder of Bhartiya Nritya Kala Mandir and a Padma Shri recepent
- Siddheshwar Prasad, former MP and served as Governor of Tripura
- Abhay Kumar, a poet-diplomat
- Sachindra Kumar Verma, A writer
- Pramod Ranjan, Journalist
- L. S. N. Prasad, A Padma Shri and Founding Father of Indian society of Pediatrics
- Syed Saba Karim, Cricketer
- Vikas Kumar, Actor
- Aditya Kumar, Actor
- Maulana Ali Hussain 'Aasim Bihari', Father of the first Pasmanda Movement and a freedom fighter
- Manazir Ahsan Gilani, a writer and Islamic scholar
- Shrawan Kumar, Politician and Minister
- Veer Pratap Singh, Cricketer
- Satyadev Narayan Arya, Politician and Governor of Haryana
- Ganesh Dutt, Administrator, lawyer and Educationalist
- Jabir Husain, politician
- Rudal Rai, Politician
- Syed Mohammed Saeed Raza, Muslim Scholar and Professor
- Usha Sinha, Politician
- Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, Islamic Scholar, writer and Pakistani Historian
- Abdul Qavi Desnavi, Urdu language writer, critic, Bibliographer and linguist.
- Tarkeshwari Sinha, politician
Historical Figures
- Bimbisara, Ruler of Haryanaka Dynasty
- Ajatashatru, Ruler of Haryanaka Dynasty
- Jivaka, Court Physician of Bimbisara
- Mahavira, Jain Tirthankar
- Gautam Buddha, Founder of Buddhism
- Brihadratha, Founder of Barhadratha Dynasty
- Jarasandha,Ruler of Barhadratha Dynasty
- Tirthankar Munisuvrata, Jain Tirthankar
- Udayin, Ruler of Haryanaka dynasty
- Sariputta, One of the Favorite Disciples of Buddha
- Maudgalyayana, One of the favorite disciples of Buddha
- Malik Ibrahim Bayu,Islamic General and Ruler
- Makhdoom Sharfuddin Ahmed Yahya Maneri, a Sufi saint
References
- IANS (27 October 2015). "Caste dominates in Bihar's third round polling". Business Standard India. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
- https://m.timesofindia.com/city/patna/UNESCO-declares-Nalanda-Mahavihara-World-Heritage-Site/articleshow/53229398.cms
- "Districts of India".
- Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) (2010). "States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. pp. 1118–1119. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
Cornwall Island 2,358km2
- Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
- "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011.
Jamaica 2,868,380 July 2011 est
- "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
Kansas 2,853,118
- "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-01-16/india/27829660_1_ordnance-factory-denel-nitish-kumar
- http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/government-and-policy/ofb-nalanda-to-develop-indigenous-artillery-shells/article3342557. ece
- Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Bihar". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.