Bhagalpur
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| ?Bhagalpur Bihar • India | |
| 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 world over for its Silk products and often addressed 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. 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 city is referred as one of the biggest trade centre in India by the Chinese travellers Huensang 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 next to western boundary of present city near Nathnagar. During the excavation, many boats, navigators and currencies of middle and Far East have been found at the same place, there by adding proof the claims of aforesaid Chinese monks.
Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga river. Situated 220km east of state capital Patna and 410 km north west of Calcutta, it is well connected by rail and road. the airport at Bhagalpur was functional till 1970's but from then it is still waiting for its rejuvenation.
Bhagalpur 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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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[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).
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]
[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%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 70% of the males and 62% of the females literate. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. Bhagalpur also has some of the best schools in the country, which may not be very famous, but provide quality education. Bhagalpur is one of the leading education centre of Bihar. Students of Bhagalpur made a tough record in History being toppers in Board Examination and Producing IAS/IPS in largest number in Country.
[edit] Economy
[edit] Angika: the language of Bhagalpur
Angika [2] is the main language of Bhagalpur. Angika is one of the oldest language of the world, which was known as Aangi during ancient time. Angika is spoken by more than 30 million of Indian and around 50 million population worldwide. Among others Hindi and English are the main languages. Nearly 75% of the population speaks English, out of which 50% are quite fluent. Most of the people here are well educated and friendly in nature.
Angika is the only one of the Bihari languages which can be used in the Google Search Engine; Google-Angika has been available since 2004[citation needed]. The oldest poetry of the Hindi language (e.g., poetries written by Saraha, also known by the name Sarahapa, were written in the Angika language during the 8th century.
[edit] Newspaper of Bhagalpur
Angika Bihar- a twenty four hour electronic TV Channel caters to aspirations of Ang Pradesh. It's a news cum infotainment channel of Bhagalpur.
[edit] www.angvani.com
angvani[3] is the first online newspaper of ancient and historic city of Bhagalpur, popularly known as the Silk City for its years old rich silk business. The First Online Newspaper Of Bhagalpur was launched on 15th August 2007, country's sixtieth independence day with an objective of raising the local issues with prominence at national level.
The website is run by a young journalist, who has worked in several national media organisations. Despite it being a non-commercial venture driven by the professional passion of the owner, angvani[4] has successfully updating news reports from the entire Anga region.
[edit] Bhagalpur in News for other reasons
[edit] 1980 Bhagalpur blindings
In 1980, Bhagalpur came into news when it was reported that the police blinded 31 suspects awaiting trial[5] (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)[6].
[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 [7] to 1891 [8] 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 [9].
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.indianmuslims.info/reports_about_indian_muslims/bhagalpur_riot_1989.html
[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.
[edit] Places of Interest in Bhagalpur
Jain Mandir [Champanagar]
Kuppa Ghat [Bank of Ganga river]
[edit] Hospitality in Bhagalpur
Bhagalpur has a few good hotels catering to the needs of all kinds travellers. The Rajhansh international (3 Star) and Nihar Hotel are among the oldest and most reputed hotels in the silk city. Hotel Athithi Palace at Tilkamanhi is the costliest and only braded hotel with luxurious facilities in the city. Kacharhari chowk (2 Kms 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 Rajhansh International, Nihar Hotel, Panchwati and Hotel Bhawna International. The seven story Panchwati hotel is the latest feather in the hospitality cap of the city and houses the ATM of Axis bank as well.
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 large number of Dharamsala in city as well offering cheap but satisfactory accommodation. These are mostly owned by Marwari Societies.
[edit] Education Center of Excellence
Colleges
[1.Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University[10]
[2.JLN Medical College for M.B.B.S[11]
[3.Bhagalpur Engineering College ]
[4.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 Polytechnic College]
[16.Marwari College of Commerce]
[17.Muslim Minority College]
Schools
[1.C.M.S High School]
[2.Zila School]
[4.St.Joseph School]
[5.Mt. Asisi School]
[6.Mt. Carmel School]
[7.Navyug Vidyalaya][12]
[8.Delhi Public School](http://www.dpsbhagalpur.com)
[9.DAV Public School]
[10.Christ Church Girls High School]
[11.St. Andrews]
[12.Mirjanhat High School]
[13.St. Pauls School ]
[14.T.N.B. Collegiate High School]
[15. Marwari Pathshala]
[16. Muslim Minority School]
[edit] External links
www.angvani.com, First Online Newspaper Of Bhagalpur
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