Muzaffarpur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  ?Muzaffarpur
Bihar • India
Coordinates: 26°04′N 85°27′E / 26.07, 85.45
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation		 3,172 km² (1,225 sq mi)
• 60 m (197 ft)
District(s) Muzaffarpur district
Population
• Density		 3,73,456 (2001)
• 929 /km² (2,406 /sq mi)
Mayor Vimla Devi Tulsyan
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• UN/LOCODE
• Vehicle
• 842001, 842002
• +0621
• INBOM
• BR06
Website: www.muzaffarpur.nic.in

Coordinates: 26°04′N 85°27′E / 26.07, 85.45


Muzaffarpur pronunciation (help·info) is a city, and a municipal corporation in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is headquarters of the district.

The city of Muzaffarpur, famous for Litchis (a fruit found only in a few locations in the world), is a vibrant city of North Bihar. It is situated on the banks of a Himalayan glacier-fed perennial river Burhi/Budhi (Old Female) Gandak. It has won international encomiums for its delicious Shahi Leechi and China Leechi.

Mahatma Gandhi came first to Muzaffarpur in 1918 on his way to Motihari to redress grievances of the Champaran farmers .In his book The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Vol 1, he has written how he passed some delightful days at Ramna. In 1902, Poet Rabindra Nath Tagore was accorded the first civic reception by the citizens of Muzaffarpur and this is the first town in India which had a unique priviege of doing so. In 1908, the first bomb outrage a sign of militant Nationalism, occurred at Muzaffarpur and Khudi Ram Bose offered his life at the altar of the Indian Independence.

Muzaffarpur is India's Gateway to Nepal and China and even now the trade of cloth and grains is brisk between Kathmandu and Muzaffarpur.

The most remarkable thing in the Lichchhavi Republic was their high regard for personal liberty and the care that no innocent should be punished . The key to the success of the Lichchhavi Republic was their democratic way of life which was enshrined in their "Seven non-injuring way" or "Satta Aparihanidhamma".


Contents

[edit] Geography

Muzaffarpur is located at 26.12° N 85.4° E[1]. It has an average elevation of 47 meters (154 feet). Purbi Champaran and Sitamarhi districts on North, on the South Vaishali and Saran districts, on the East Darbhanga and Samastipur districts and on the West Saran and Gopalganj districts surround Muzaffarpur.

Mark Twain , while visiting this town has written in his book -"Following the Equator ",Ch LVII [[1]]that ...a great region which was an endless garden miles of the beautiful flower from whose juice comes the opium,and at Muzaffarpore we were in the midst of the indigo culture;....Muzaffarpur now is a rapidly growing city. The growth in the last decade has been phenomenal. Thousands of villagers migrated to this town from nearby villages in the rapid urbanization in post-independence India. This place is an ideal example of religious tolerance between the majority Hindu community and minority Muslim community.

The downtown areas of Muzaffarpur are known as Kalyani Chowk and Saraiyagunj. Both areas are densely populated with small shops selling a plethora of goods and services, with colourful settings and buzzing with large crowds. Motijheel is the main shopping area. Chakkar Maidan is a place where there is small settlement of the Indian Army and nearby are Church-run famous school like Prabhat Tara.

Muzaffarpur possesses ancient temples like Baba Garib Nath(Shiva Temple) [2], Chaturbhuj Sthan, Raj Rajeswar Devi Kali(Durga), Temple of Raj Darbhanga and Kalibari, the Kali temple . There are also several large and small places of worship of other religious communities like the Sikhs (Gurudwara at Ramna), Rama Krishna Ashram ( in Bela - mithan pura ) Muslims (Badi masjid at Company Bagh), Buddhists, Jains, Christians, etc.

[edit] History

Main article: Muzaffarpur district

Muzaffarpur district, ‘The Land Of Leechi’ was created in 1875 for the sake of administrative convenience by splitting up the earlier district of Tirhut. The present district of Muzaffarpur came to its existence in the 18th century and named after Muzaffar Khan, an Amil (Revenue Officer) under British Dynasty.

It is, of course impossible to trace back the history of this region to its earliest origins, but we can trace back its stream of strong heritage a very long way through the ancient Indian epic Ramayan, which still bears a significant role in Indian civilization. To initiate with the Legend, Rajarshi Janak was ruling Videha, the mythological name of this entire region including eastern Nepal and northern Bihar. Sitamarhi, a place in this region, bears a value of sacred Hindu belief where, Seeta (other name Vaidehi: The Princes of Videha) sprang to life out of an earthen pot while Rajarshi Janak was tilling the land.

The recorded history of the district dates back to the rise of the Vrijjan Republic. The center of political power also shifted from Mithila to Vaishali. The Vrijjan Republic was a confederation of eight clans of which the Licchavis were the most powerful and influential. Even the powerful kingdom of Magadh had to conclude matrimonial alliances in 519 B.C. with the neighboring estates of the Licchavis. Ajatshatru invaded Vaishali and extended his sway over Tirhut. It was at this time that Patliputra (the modern Patna) was founded at the village Patali on the banks of the sacred river Ganga and Ajatshatru built an invincible fortress to keep vigil over the Licchavis on the other side of the river. Ambarati, 40 Kms from Muzaffarpur is believed to be the village home of Amrapali, the famous Royal court dancer of Vaishali.

From the visit of the Hieuen Tsang’s till the rise of the Pala dynasty, Muzaffarpur was under the control of Maharaja Harsha Vardhan, a powerful sovereign of North India. After 647 A.D. The district passed on to the local chiefs. In the 8th century A.D. the Pala kings continued to have their hold over Tirhut until 1019 A.D. Chedi kings of Central India also exercised their influence over Tirhut till they were replaced by the rulers of the Sena dynasty towards the close of the 11the century.

Between 1211 & 1226, Ghais-u-ddin Iwaz, the ruler of Bengal, was the first Muslim invader of Tirhut. He, however, could not succeed in conquering the kingdom but extorted tributes. It was in 1323 that Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq established his control over the district.

The history of Muzaffarpur will remain incomplete without a reference to the Simraon dynasty (in the north-east part of Champaran) and its founder Nanyupa Deva who extended his power over the whole of Mithila and Nepal. During the regime of Harasimha Deva, the last king of the dynasty, Tughlaq Shah invaded Tirhut in 1323 and gained control over the territory. Tughlaq Shah handed over the management of Tirhut to Kameshwar Thakur. Thus, the sovereign power of Tirhut passed from the Hindu chiefs to the Muslims but the Hindu chief continued to enjoy complete autonomy uninterruptedly.

Towards the close of the 14th century the whole of North Bihar including Tirhut passed on to the kings of Jaunpur and remained under their control for nearly a century until Sikandar Lodi of Delhi defeated the king of Jaunpur. Meanwhile, Hussain Shah, the Nawab of Bengal had become so powerful that he exercised his control over large tracts including Tirhut. The emperor of Delhi advanced against Hussain Shah in 1499 and got control over Tirhut after defeating its Raja. The power of the Nawabs of Bengal began to wane and with the decline and fall of Mahood Shah, north Bihar including Tirhut formed a part of the mighty Mughal Empire. Though Muzaffarpur with the entire north Bihar had been annexed yet the petty powerful chieftains continued to exercise effective control over this area till the days of Daud Khan, the Nawab of Bengal. Daud Khan had his stronghold at Patna and Hajipur and after his fall a separate Subah of Bihar was constituted under the Mughal dynasty and Tirhut formed a part of it.

The victory of East India Company in 1764 at the battle of Buxar gave them control over whole of Bihar and they succeeded in subduing the entire district. The success of the insurgent at Delhi in 1857 caused grave concern to the English inhabitants in this district and revolutionary fervor began to permeate the entire district. Muzaffarpur played its role and was the site of the famous bomb case of 1908. The young Bengali revolutionary, Khudi Ram Bose, a boy of barely 18 years was hanged for throwing the bomb at the carriage of Pringle Kennedy who was actually mistaken for Kingsford, the District Judge of Muzaffarpur. After independence, a memorial to this young revolutionary patriot was constructed at Muzaffarpur, which still stands. The political awakening in the country after the First World War stimulated nationalist movement in Muzaffarpur district also. The visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Muzaffarpur district in December 1920 and again in January 1927 had tremendous political effect in arousing the latent feelings of the people and the district continued to play a prominent role in the country’s struggle for freedom. Muzaffarpur also played a critical role in the Khadi revolution. Many prominent native freedom fighters of Muzaffarpur including Laxmi Narayan were pivotal in Indian independence struggle and spread of Khadi in India.

Muzaffarpur played a very significant role in the history of North-Eastern India. The peculiarity of Muzaffarpur in Indian civilization arises out of its position on the frontier line between two most vibrant spiritual influences and most significantly, to this day, it is a meeting place of Hindu and Islamic culture and thoughts. All sorts of modified institutions, representing mutual assimilation, rise along the boarder line. It has undoubtedly been this highly diversified element within her boundaries that has so often made Muzaffarpur the birthplace of towering geniuses.

[edit] Climate

The summer is extremely hot and humid (48 deg C,90% Max.) and winters are very cold, averaging around 12 to 15 degrees.

Muzaffarpur is known for it's luscious fruit, the Shahi lichi. From here, it is exported to different parts of country and world. There are a few historical places to visit nearby such as Vaishali (claimed as first-ever Democratic State in the world) and one of the siginificant places (of Buddhism and Jainism - 35 km.).

Outlying Areas: Flood plains in green settings dotted with sweetwater ponds, meandering glacier-fed rivulets and numerous fruit orchards that are ideal for picnics. The city has a water table just 20 ft. below ground level and therefore is green throughout the year.

[edit] Economy

It is world famous for exporting lichi (a fruit).It was also famous for sugar cane and the district has a few sugar mills - now old and dilapidated. It had been the commercial hub of North Bihar and the wholesale centre of all types of mill clothes in famous Marwari community dominated Suta Patti and commodities in "Gola" Market of Saraiyagunj. Commercial hub of the town is Motijheel.

Muzaffarpur is largely an agricultural based economy. The principal agricultural crops are rice, paddy, wheat, jute, maize and oil seeds. Cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, radish, carrot, beat etc. are some of the vegetables grown in the state.Rice is the main crop of the district. It accounts for the major portion of the gross area sown. Maize is the next important crop for the district. Wheat is also grown in some parts of the district. Sugar cane, potato and barley are some of the non-cereal crops grown. The district is famous for mango and lichi, which are exported to other parts of the country & even abroad.

Main livestock of the district includes cows, buffaloes, bulls and bullocks, sheep, goats and pigs. The Animal Husbandly Department of the State Government has established veterinary hospitals, sub-centres, artificial insemination centres, poultry farms and village schemes all over the district, covering majority of villages. Poultry development has received considerable attention in the community development blocks and the rapid increase in the number of poultry is largely attributable to these measures.

Muzaffarpur district is the center of several Industries, big and small. The Prabhat Zarda Factory, Bharat Wagon and Engineering Ltd., Thermal power station at Kanti, IDPL factory, units of Leather Develop­ment Corporation, Muzaffarpur Dairy, a unit of the Bihar State Dairy Corporation are the major industries located in Muzaffarpur town and its periphery. The above industries have generated considerable employment and have also been helpful in establishing a number of small industries including a few cottage industries. The most important item that is manufactured in Muzaffarpur town is railway wagon. Muzaffarpur town is a very important centre for the cloth trade . Sugarcane, potato and barley are some of the non-cereal crops grown. The entire agricultural operations is divided into two crop seasons Kharif and Rabi.

Hotels: There are a few hotels with A.C. and non-A.C. rooms.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census[2], Muzaffarpur city had a population of 305,465. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Muzaffarpur has an average literacy rate of 60%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 62%, and female literacy is 57%. In Muzaffarpur, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

As of 2001,Muzaffarpur district had a population [3]of 3,743,836, out of which 1,941,480 was male population and 1802356 was female population. Male to feamle population ratio for the district was 1000:928. The district has an average literacy rate[4] of 48.15%:male literacy is 60.19%, and female literacy is 35.20%.

Many languages are spoken in Muzaffarpur. The major dialect of the region is Vajjika,-a close mix of Maithili and Bhojpuri. Hindi is the official language. Other dialects from other regions of Bihar spoken are Angika, Bhojpuri, Bengali and Maithili.

[edit] Cuisine

Staple food "Khichdi", the broth of rice and lentils, seasoned with spices, and served with several accompanying items like curd, chutney, pickles, papads, ghee and chokha (boiled mashed potatoes, seasoned with finely cut onions, green chilies) constitutes the lunch on Saturdays.

Muzaffarpur is also known for the sweet delicacies of North Bihar including Khaja, Motichoor ka Ladoo, Kala Jamun, Kesaria Peda and Parwal ki Mithai.

There are several other traditional snacks and savouries:

  • Pua', prepared from a mixture of refined wheat flour(maida), milk, ghee (clarified butter), sugar, dry fruits and honey
  • Pittha, steam cooked, made by powdered rice with sttufed ground gram(chana)OR khoya etc.
  • Tilkut, referred to as 'Palala' in Buddhist literature, is made of pounded 'tila' or sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) and jaggery or sugar
  • Chiwra, beaten rice, served with a coat of creamy curd and sugar or jaggery
  • Makhana (a kind of water fruit) is prepared from lotus seeds and is taken puffed or as kheer, prepared with milk and sugar
  • Sattu, powdered baked gram, is a high energy giving food. It is taken mixed with water or with milk. Sometimes, sattu mixed with spices are used to prepare stuffed 'chapattis', locally called as 'makuni roti'.
  • Litti Chokha, A baked round shape, made by wheat flour with stuffed sattu(litti), the combination of smashed boiled potatoes, bringals & tomatoes(chokha).
  • Makuni,a stuffed paratha with sattu (ingredients:sattu, onion,chilli, pickles,mustard oil, salt)
  • Paan, a dessert made out of betel nuts, spices, tobacco, and certain other ingredients, wrapped in a betel leaf and had after a meal.

A variety of non-vegetarian items are also prepared by a section of the population. Fish curries are widely used by a cross section of non-vegetarian population of all social groups. Mughal cuisine are well known and widely relished in Muzaffarpur. Of late, Continental dishes are also catching up fancy.

[edit] Education

Muzaffarpur is the 3rd leading centre of education in Bihar after Patna and Bhagalpur. It has a medical and an engineering college and is seat of one of the oldest universities of Bihar (Bihar University, now known as B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University. L.S.College is one of the oldest college here. The first President of Indian Republic - "Dr Rajendra Prasad" was a teacher in the Greer Bhumihiar Brahman College, Muzaffarpur.

Educational institutions:

  • Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology (1954) - Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology is a premier technical institution of eastern India established in 1954. MIT, Muzaffarpur is under administrative control of department of science and technology and wholly funded by Govt. of Bihar. It is affiliated to B.R.A. Bihar University and offers UG courses in seven streams of engineering with postgraduate specialisation in Machine design and thermal engineering. The institute caters to the research and development activities of the state of Bihar. [[5]]
  • S.K.Medical College (1969)
  • B. R. Ambedkar Bihar University (earlier Bihar University)[ http://www.brabu.net] - Bihar University is a public university located in the north prime of Bihar state in the city of Muzaffarpur in India. Established in 1960, this university has 37 constituent colleges. Distance education courses are also offered. Besides, the university also organizes symposia, seminars and workshops. The university is a premier institution of teaching and learning in the city and offers various full-time and part-time courses ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate and research level. The university also acts as an affiliated link between several colleges and institutes located across the state in providing higher education such as:
  • Langat Singh College (Estd : July 3, 1899) - This the oldest college of Muzaffarpur. Langat Singh College affiliated to the University of Bihar had the likes of Dinkar (a famous Hindi poet), Dr. Rajendra Prasad (the first President of India), and Acharya J. B. Kriplani as its faculty members.
  • L.N.Mishra College of Business Management.
  • M.D.D.M. College - "Mahant Darshan Das Mahila College".
  • R.D.S. College
  • R.M.L College - This college is named after Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia.
  • S.K.J. Law College - This college is named after Shree Shreekrishna singh , the first chief minister of bihar , established in year 1948, is one of the premier law college in state of bihar ,
  • Nitishwar College - This College named after Nitishwar Singh.
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya Muzaffarpur.(Largely Known as Central School in India.It is situated in gannypur locality in Muzafarpur,It was opened for Govt. Employee's sons & daughters. It has branches all over the world very much like embassies.It follows CBSE curriculum. [[6]]
  • Prabhat Tara SchoolChurch run - One of the oldest and most reputed schools having many distinguished alumni in India and abroad. The school has the largest and the most beautiful campus among all the schools in Muzaffarpur.
  • Sunshine Prep/High school - One of the reputed C.B.S.E. affiliated School of Muzaffarpur. It is known for its excellent educational track in the city. Its alumni are highly placed throughout India and abroad.
  • North Point Children's School(a.k.a NPCS)- The first and only I.C.S.E affiliated school in Muzaffarpur. This school has a track record of producing many distinguished alumni. They all are highly placed in India and abroad.
  • S.A.V. School - The first C.B.S.E affiliated school in Muzaffarpur .
  • D.A.V. Public School - Many students of this school are now highly placed in India and abroad.
  • Adarsh vidya Mandir
  • IGNOU Study Centre - 0504
  • Harisabha School
  • St.Mary's School
  • St. Xavier's School
  • Pristine Public School
  • Muzaffarpur Central School
  • North Bihar Central School
  • Harvest moon International School
  • Kushwaha Medicine Corner
  • Adarsh Sahyog Samitee..Founder Dr Narayan bhagat

[edit] External links

acme computers

[edit] References

  1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Muzaffarpur
  2. ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.