Saharsa district: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|District in Bihar, India}}
{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Saharsa}}
{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Saharsa}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name                  = Saharsa district
| name                  = Saharsa district
| settlement_type        = [[List of districts of Bihar|District of Bihar]]  
| settlement_type        = [[List of districts of Bihar|District]] of [[Bihar]]  
| total_type            = Total
| total_type            = Total
| native_name            =  
| native_name            =  
| image_skyline          = A Distributary of Kosi River near Saharsa Town.jpg
| image_skyline          = Chandika Sthan Temple near Saharsa Town.jpg
| image_caption          = Distributary of the [[Kosi River|Kosi]] near [[Saharsa]]
| image_caption          = Chandika Sthan Temple near [[Saharsa]]
| image_map              = Bihar district location map Saharsa.svg
| image_map              = Bihar district location map Saharsa.svg
| map_caption            = Location of Saharsa district in Bihar
| map_caption            = Location of Saharsa district in Bihar
Line 15: Line 16:
| subdivision_name      = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_name      = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1      = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1      = [[Bihar]]
| subdivision_name1      = {{flagicon image|Bihar Government Banner.png}} [[Bihar]]
| subdivision_type2     = [[Administrative divisions of Bihar|Division]]
| subdivision_type3     = [[Administrative divisions of Bihar|Division]]
| subdivision_name2     = [[Kosi division|Kosi]]
| subdivision_name3     = [[Kosi division|Kosi]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of regions of India|Region]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]
| established_title      = Established
| established_title      = Established
| established_date      =  
| established_date      = 1 April 1954
| seat_type              = Headquarters
| seat_type              = Headquarters
| seat                  = [[Saharsa]]
| seat                  = [[Saharsa]]
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| leader_name            =  
| leader_name            =  
| leader_title1          = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_title1          = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name1          = [[Saharsa (Lok Sabha constituency)|Saharsa]]
| leader_name1          = [[Madhepura Lok Sabha constituency|Madhepura]]
| leader_title2          = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_title2          = [[Vidhan Sabha|Vidhan Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name2          = [[Sonbarsha, Saharsa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Sonbarsha]], [[Saharsa (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Saharsa]], [[Simri Bakhtiarpur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Simri Bakhtiarpur]], [[Mahishi (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Mahishi]]
| leader_name2          = [[Sonbarsha, Saharsa Assembly constituency|Sonbarsha]], [[Saharsa Assembly constituency|Saharsa]], [[Simri Bakhtiarpur Assembly constituency|Simri Bakhtiarpur]], [[Mahishi Assembly constituency|Mahishi]]
| timezone1              = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| timezone1              = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1            = +05:30
| utc_offset1            = +05:30
| registration_plate    =  
| registration_plate    =  
| blank_name_sec1        = [[Roads in India|Major highways]]
| blank_name_sec1        = [[Roads in India|Major highways]]
| blank_info_sec1        = [[National Highway 107 (India)|NH 107]]
| blank_info_sec1        = [[National Highway 231 (India)|NH 231]] and [[National Highway 327 (India)|NH 327]]
| blank_name_sec2        =  
| blank_name_sec2        =  
| blank_info_sec2        =  
| blank_info_sec2        =  
Line 53: Line 56:
}}
}}


'''Saharsa''' is one of the thirty-eight [[districts of Bihar]], India. [[Saharsa]] city is the administrative headquarters of this district. Saharsa district is a part of the [[Kosi Division]] and it became a district on 1 April 1954 and has subsequently become smaller with other districts being carved from it, most notably [[Madhepura district|Madhepura]] in 1981.
'''Saharsa district''' is one of the thirty-eight [[districts of Bihar]], India. [[Saharsa]] city is the administrative headquarters of this district. Saharsa district is a part of the [[Kosi Division]] and it became a district on 1 April 1954 and has subsequently become smaller with other districts being carved from it, most notably [[Madhepura district|Madhepura]] in 1981.


Saharsa is located in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]], one of the earliest centers of Brahminical civilization in India.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPWPT6Fr9QEC&q=saharsa+mithila&pg=PA12|title=Rural Tension in India|pages=12|isbn=9788171414161|last1=Mishra|first1=Anil Kant|year=1998}}</ref> Saharsa is considered as the heart of whole Mithila region. it is the place which gave birth to Many Legends. legends like [[Maṇḍana Miśra|Mandana Misra]], [[Laxminath Gosain (Babajee)|Laxminath Gosain]], Ubhai Bharti, etc. The region of Bangaon and Mahisi is considered one of the most civil servants producing area of the Nation.  Mandan Mishra<ref name="youtube.com">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLdUesiPSb0</ref> whose conversation with the [[Adi Shankara|Shankaracharya]] was considered one of the most intellectual conversations in the world was done in Mahismati village,<ref name="youtube.com"/> nowadays Mahisi village of saharsa district.<ref name="youtube.com"/> During the journey of " Dharm vijay" Yatra of Sankaracharya, he visited Mahisi village of Saharsa district of Bihar which was then called Mahishmati Village and the point is, after winning in all discussions in all over the nation, He lost the Sastrartha there. So, it is said that it is the most educationally fertile land in the state.
Saharsa is located in the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]], one of the earliest centers of Brahminical civilization in India.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPWPT6Fr9QEC&q=saharsa+mithila&pg=PA12|title=Rural Tension in India|pages=12|isbn=9788171414161|last1=Mishra|first1=Anil Kant|year=1998}}</ref> Saharsa is considered as the heart of whole Mithila region. it is the place which gave birth to legends such as like [[Maṇḍana Miśra|Mandana Misra]], [[Laxminath Gosain (Babajee)|Laxminath Gosain]], [[Ubhay Bharati|Ubhai Bharti]], etc.
 
The beauty of the Geographical privileges, historical and Cultural heritages proposes itself as the capital of [[Mithila (proposed Indian state)|Proposed Mithila State]].<ref>[[Mithila (region)]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=March 2019}}Most of the people in saharsa district speaks Maithili ( 85%) along with Angika ( 7%) and Hindi ( 8%). People of all communities residing here or belonging from here follow [[Mithila culture|maithil culture]]. Around 52% population of the saharsa district is [[Maithil Brahmin]] consisting mainly of surnames [[Jha (surname)|Jha]], [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] and Misar ([[Mishra]])


==History==
==History==
[[File:Ancient Vishhara temple of Saharasa.jpg|thumb|Ancient Vishhara Temple located in Saharasa district.]]
Saharsa is part of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]].<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&pg=PA27 |title = Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|isbn = 9788175330344|last1 = Jha|first1 = Makhan|year = 1997}}</ref> Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by [[Indo-Aryan peoples]] who established the [[Mithila Kingdom]] (also called Kingdom of the Videhas).<ref>[[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143</ref>
Saharsa is part of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]].<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A0i94Z5C8HMC&pg=PA27 |title = Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective|isbn = 9788175330344|last1 = Jha|first1 = Makhan|year = 1997}}</ref> Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by [[Indo-Aryan peoples]] who established the [[Mithila Kingdom]] (also called Kingdom of the Videhas).<ref>[[Michael Witzel]] (1989), ''Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes'' ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143</ref>
During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called [[Janaka]]s.<ref>{{cite book |author=Witzel, M. |author-link=Michael Witzel |year=1989 |chapter=Tracing the Vedic dialects |title=Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes |location=Paris |editor1-last=Caillat |editor1-first=C. |pages=141–143 |publisher=Fondation Hugot}}</ref>
During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called [[Janaka]]s.<ref>{{cite book |author=Witzel, M. |author-link=Michael Witzel |year=1989 |chapter=Tracing the Vedic dialects |title=Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes |location=Paris |editor1-last=Caillat |editor1-first=C. |pages=141–143 |publisher=Fondation Hugot}}</ref> The Videha Kingdom was later incorporated into the [[Vajjika League]], which had its capital in the city of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], which is also in Mithila.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hemchandra, R. |year=1972 |title=Political History of Ancient India |location=Calcutta |publisher=University of Calcutta}}</ref>
The Videha Kingdom was later incorporated into the [[Vajji]] confederacy, which had its capital in the city of [[Vaishali (ancient city)|Vaishali]], which is also in Mithila.<ref>{{cite book |author=Hemchandra, R. |year=1972 |title=Political History of Ancient India |location=Calcutta |publisher=University of Calcutta}}</ref>


Earlier, the Saharsa district was part of the [[Munger district|Munger]] and [[Bhagalpur district|Bhagalpur]] districts. On 1 April 1954 it was made a district of its own. It was also made headquarters of [[Kosi division]] on 2 October 1972, comprising Saharsa, [[Purnia district|Purnia]] and [[Katihar district]], with its headquarters at Saharsa. Similarly a new Civil Sub-Division Birpur was created on 1 December 1972, consisting of 24 development blocks, including Raghopur, Chhatapur, Basantpur and Nirmali, which were previously under Supaul subdivision of the district. Two new districts, [[Madhepura district|Madhepura]] and [[Supaul district|Supaul]], were formed from Saharsa district on 30 April 1981 and 1991. Saharsa district now consists of two subdivisions, Saharsa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiarpur. The district consists of 10 development blocks and anchals each. From the archaeological evidences, it is proved that it was the major city during [[Gupta Empire|Guptas Period]].
Mandan Mishra whose conversation with the [[Adi Shankara|Shankaracharya]] was considered one of the most intellectual conversations in the world was done in Mahismati village, nowadays Mahisi village. During the Dharma Vijaya yatra of [[Adi Shankara]], He visited Mahisi village (then called Mahishmati) to debate Mandana Misra. After winning in all discussions in all over the nation, He lost the [[Shastrartha|Sastrartha]] there.<ref name="youtube.com">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/qLdUesiPSb0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160910212028/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLdUesiPSb0&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=Bharatvarsh: Episode 4: Watch the glorious story of Adi Shankaracharya |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLdUesiPSb0 |website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
Earlier, the Saharsa district was part of the [[Munger district|Munger]] and [[Bhagalpur district|Bhagalpur]] districts. On 1 April 1954 it was made a district of its own. It was also made headquarters of [[Kosi division]] on 2 October 1972, comprising Saharsa, [[Purnia district|Purnia]] and [[Katihar district]], with its headquarters at Saharsa. Similarly a new Civil Sub-Division Birpur was created on 1 December 1972, consisting of 24 development blocks, including Raghopur, Chhatapur, Basantpur and Nirmali, which were previously under Supaul subdivision of the district. Two new districts, [[Madhepura district|Madhepura]] and [[Supaul district|Supaul]], were formed from Saharsa district on 30 April 1981 and 1991. Saharsa district now consists of two subdivisions, Saharsa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiarpur. The district consists of 10 development blocks and anchals each.


== Geography ==
== Geography ==
Saharsa district occupies an area of {{convert|1687|km2|sqmi}},<ref name='Reference Annual'>{{cite book | last1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], [[Government of India]] | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | pages = 1118–1119 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref>
Saharsa district occupies an area of {{convert|1687|km2|sqmi}},<ref name='Reference Annual'>{{cite book | last1 = Srivastava, Dayawanti et al. (ed.) | title = India 2010: A Reference Annual | chapter = States and Union Territories: Bihar: Government | edition = 54th | publisher = Additional Director General, Publications Division, [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]], [[Government of India]] | year = 2010 | location = New Delhi, India | pages = 1118–1119 | isbn = 978-81-230-1617-7}}</ref>


Saharsa district is surrounded on the west by the river [[Koshi River|Kosi]], an abundance of fish and makhana. Saharsa is famous for its varieties of mangoes and litchis.
Saharsa district is surrounded on the west by the river [[Koshi River|Kosi]], which has an abundance of fish and [[Euryale ferox|Makhana]]. Saharsa is famous for its varieties of mangoes and litchis.


Saharsa district comprises the following Sub-Divisions: Saharasa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiyarpur.
Saharsa district comprises the following Sub-Divisions: Saharasa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiyarpur.
== Politics ==
{{transcluded section|source=18th Bihar Assembly}} 
{{#section:18th Bihar Assembly|MLA Header}}
{{#section:18th Bihar Assembly|Saharsa district}}
|}
== Administration ==
Saharsa consists of 10 blocks arranged in two subdivisions:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subdivision & Blocks {{!}} Saharsa District {{!}} India |url=https://saharsa.nic.in/subdivision-blocks/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Saharsa subdivision ===
* [[Nauhatta]]
* Sattar Kataiya
* [[Mahishi]]
* Kahara
* [[Saur Bazar|Sour Bazar]]
* Patarghat
* Sonbarsa
=== Simri Bakhtiyarpur subdivision ===
* [[Simri Bakhtiyarpur]]
* Salkhua
* Banma Itahri


==Economy==
==Economy==
It is the major producer of best quality of [[Maize|Corn]] and [[Euryale ferox|Makhana]] in India. From Saharsa corn and Makhana are exported abroad country such as [[United States|America]], [[Australia]], [[France]], [[Japan]], [[England]]. Every year 2 lakhs tonnes of corn are exported to different country and similarly Makhana also. The following crops are grown in the region; [[Euryale ferox|Makhana]] (''Euryale ferox'' Salisb), [[rice]], [[mango]]es, [[litchi]], [[bamboo]], [[Mustard oil|mustard]], [[Maize|corn]], [[wheat]] and [[sugarcane]]. [[Teak|Sagwan]] or teak (''Tectona grandis'') trees are now grown on a large scale.
It is the major producer of best quality of [[Maize|Corn]] and [[Euryale ferox|Makhana]] in India. From Saharsa corn and Makhana are exported abroad country such as [[United States|America]], [[France]], [[Japan]], [[England]]. Every year 2 lakhs tonnes of corn are exported to different country and similarly Makhana also. The follgrown in the region; [[Euryale ferox|Makhana]] (''Euryale ferox'' Salisb), [[rice]], [[mango]]es, [[litchi]], [[bamboo]], [[Mustard oil|mustard]], [[Maize|corn]], [[wheat]], [[ber]] and [[sugarcane]]. [[Teak|Sagwan]] or ''Tectona grandis'') trees are now grown on a large scale.


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=3,97,566|13=1911|14=4,09,867|15=1921|16=3,95,756|17=1931|18=4,18,762|19=1941|20=4,22,038|21=1951|22=4,89,307|23=1961|24=5,82,156|25=1971|26=7,21,202|27=1981|28=9,02,008|29=1991|30=11,32,413|31=2001|32=15,08,182|33=2011|34=19,00,661|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{cite web |title=Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/43343/download/47022/10%20A-2%20Bihar.pdf |website=census.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>|align=center}}
{{bar box
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Saharsa District
|title=Religions in Saharsa district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11366/download/14479/DDW10C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|left1=Religion
Line 84: Line 112:
|float=right
|float=right
|bars=
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hindus]]|orange|85.72}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|85.72}}
{{bar percent|[[Muslims]]|green|14.03}}
{{bar percent|[[Bihari Muslims|Islam]]|green|14.03}}
{{bar percent|Not Stated|black|0.16}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.25}}
{{bar percent|Christian|blue|0.07}}
{{bar percent|Sikh|olive|0.01}}
{{bar percent|Jain|brown|0.01}}
{{bar percent|Others|grey|0.00}}
}}
}}
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Saharsa district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 1,900,661,<ref name=districtcensus>{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/district.php | title = District Census 2011 | access-date =30 September 2011 | year = 2011 | publisher = Census2011.co.in}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 247th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 1125 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–2011 was 25.79%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Saharsa has a [[sex ratio]] of 906 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 54.57%. Scheduled Castes make up 15.7% of the population.<ref name=districtcensus/>
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Saharsa district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 1,900,661,<ref name=districtcensus>{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Saharsa |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/306/download/874/DH_2011_1012_PART_A_DCHB_SAHARSA.pdf |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 247th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert|1125|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001–2011 was 25.79%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Saharsa has a [[sex ratio]] of 906 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 54.57%. 8.24% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes make up 16.69% and 0.32% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus/>


At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 68.87% of the population in the district spoke [[Maithili language|Maithili]], 21.15% [[Hindi]] and 9.62% [[Urdu]] as their first language.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue]</ref>
{{Pie chart
 
|caption = Languages of Saharsa district (2011)<ref name="languages"/>
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=3,97,566|13=1911|14=4,09,867|15=1921|16=3,95,756|17=1931|18=4,18,762|19=1941|20=4,22,038|21=1951|22=4,89,307|23=1961|24=5,82,156|25=1971|26=7,21,202|27=1981|28=9,02,008|29=1991|30=11,32,413|31=2001|32=15,08,182|33=2011|34=19,00,661|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=middle}}
|label1 = [[Maithili language|Maithili]] |value1 = 68.87 |color1 = mistyrose
|label2 = [[Hindi]] |value2 = 21.15 |color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 9.62 |color3 = green
|label4 = Others |value4 = 0.36 |color4 = grey
}}
At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 68.87% of the population in the district spoke [[Maithili language|Maithili]], 21.15% [[Hindi]] and 9.62% [[Urdu]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10196/download/13308/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1000.XLSX|website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>


==See also==
== Notable people ==
* [[Mehboob Ali Kaiser (Indian politician)|Mehboob Ali Kaiser]] - Politician and MP from Khagaria
* [[Yusuf Salahuddin (Indian politician MR)|Yusuf Salahuddin]] - Politician and  MLA from Simri Bakhtiarpur MR
* [[A. A. Khan (academic)|A. A. Khan]] - Physicist
* [[Anand Mohan Singh|Anand Singh]] - politician
* [[Abdul Ghafoor (Saharsa politician)|Abdul Ghafoor]] - Politician and former minister
* [[Baldev Mishra]] - Maithili writer
* [[Dinesh Chandra Yadav (Indian politician)|Dinesh Chandra Yadav]] - Politician and  MP
* [[Jamshedpur Gopeshwar]] - Trade union leader and politician
* [[Laxminath Gosain (Babajee)|Laxminath Gosain]] - Yogi and Poet
* [[Maṇḍana Miśra|Mandana Mishra]] - Advaita scholar
* [[Ulka Gupta]] - TV Serial actress
*[[Dilkhush Kumar]] - Indian Entrepreneur


== See also ==
*[[List of villages of Saharsa]]
*[[List of villages of Saharsa]]


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[[Category:Saharsa district| ]]
[[Category:Saharsa district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Bihar]]
[[Category:Districts of Bihar]]
[[Category:Kosi division]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in Bihar]]
[[Category:districts in Kosi Region]]

Latest revision as of 09:15, 8 March 2026


This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Saharsa.
Saharsa district
District of Bihar
Chandika Sthan Temple near Saharsa
Chandika Sthan Temple near Saharsa
Location of Saharsa district in Bihar
Location of Saharsa district in Bihar
Country India
State Bihar
RegionMithila
DivisionKosi
Established1 April 1954
HeadquartersSaharsa
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesMadhepura
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesSonbarsha, Saharsa, Simri Bakhtiarpur, Mahishi
Area
 • Total1,702 km2 (657 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,900,661
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy54.57 per cent
 • Sex ratio906
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Major highwaysNH 231 and NH 327
Websitesaharsa.nic.in

Saharsa district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar, India. Saharsa city is the administrative headquarters of this district. Saharsa district is a part of the Kosi Division and it became a district on 1 April 1954 and has subsequently become smaller with other districts being carved from it, most notably Madhepura in 1981.

Saharsa is located in the Mithila region, one of the earliest centers of Brahminical civilization in India.[1] Saharsa is considered as the heart of whole Mithila region. it is the place which gave birth to legends such as like Mandana Misra, Laxminath Gosain, Ubhai Bharti, etc.

History[edit | edit source]

Ancient Vishhara Temple located in Saharasa district.

Saharsa is part of the Mithila region.[2] Mithila first gained prominence after being settled by Indo-Aryan peoples who established the Mithila Kingdom (also called Kingdom of the Videhas).[3] During the late Vedic period (c. 1100–500 BCE), Videha became one of the major political and cultural centers of South Asia, along with Kuru and Pañcāla. The kings of the Videha Kingdom were called Janakas.[4] The Videha Kingdom was later incorporated into the Vajjika League, which had its capital in the city of Vaishali, which is also in Mithila.[5]

Mandan Mishra whose conversation with the Shankaracharya was considered one of the most intellectual conversations in the world was done in Mahismati village, nowadays Mahisi village. During the Dharma Vijaya yatra of Adi Shankara, He visited Mahisi village (then called Mahishmati) to debate Mandana Misra. After winning in all discussions in all over the nation, He lost the Sastrartha there.[6]

Earlier, the Saharsa district was part of the Munger and Bhagalpur districts. On 1 April 1954 it was made a district of its own. It was also made headquarters of Kosi division on 2 October 1972, comprising Saharsa, Purnia and Katihar district, with its headquarters at Saharsa. Similarly a new Civil Sub-Division Birpur was created on 1 December 1972, consisting of 24 development blocks, including Raghopur, Chhatapur, Basantpur and Nirmali, which were previously under Supaul subdivision of the district. Two new districts, Madhepura and Supaul, were formed from Saharsa district on 30 April 1981 and 1991. Saharsa district now consists of two subdivisions, Saharsa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiarpur. The district consists of 10 development blocks and anchals each.

Geography[edit | edit source]

Saharsa district occupies an area of 1,687 square kilometres (651 sq mi),[7]

Saharsa district is surrounded on the west by the river Kosi, which has an abundance of fish and Makhana. Saharsa is famous for its varieties of mangoes and litchis.

Saharsa district comprises the following Sub-Divisions: Saharasa Sadar and Simri Bakhtiyarpur.

Politics[edit | edit source]

This section is transcluded from 18th Bihar Assembly. (edit | history)
District No. Constituency Name Party Alliance Remarks
Saharsa 74 Sonbarsha (SC) Ratnesh Sada JD(U) NDA
75 Saharsa Indrajeet Prasad Gupta Indian Inclusive Party Mahagathbandhan
76 Simri Bakhtiarpur Sanjay Kumar Singh Lok Janshakti Party NDA
77 Mahishi Gautam Krishna RJD Mahagathbandhan

Administration[edit | edit source]

Saharsa consists of 10 blocks arranged in two subdivisions:[8]

Saharsa subdivision[edit | edit source]

Simri Bakhtiyarpur subdivision[edit | edit source]

Economy[edit | edit source]

It is the major producer of best quality of Corn and Makhana in India. From Saharsa corn and Makhana are exported abroad country such as America, France, Japan, England. Every year 2 lakhs tonnes of corn are exported to different country and similarly Makhana also. The follgrown in the region; Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb), rice, mangoes, litchi, bamboo, mustard, corn, wheat, ber and sugarcane. Sagwan or Tectona grandis) trees are now grown on a large scale.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901397,566—    
1911409,867+0.31%
1921395,756−0.35%
1931418,762+0.57%
1941422,038+0.08%
1951489,307+1.49%
1961582,156+1.75%
1971721,202+2.16%
1981902,008+2.26%
19911,132,413+2.30%
20011,508,182+2.91%
20111,900,661+2.34%
source:[9]
Religions in Saharsa district (2011)[10]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 85.72%
Islam
 
 14.03%
Other or not stated
 
 0.25%

According to the 2011 census Saharsa district has a population of 1,900,661,[11] This gives it a ranking of 247th in India (out of a total of 640).[11] The district has a population density of 1,125 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,910/sq mi).[11] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 25.79%.[11] Saharsa has a sex ratio of 906 females for every 1000 males,[11] and a literacy rate of 54.57%. 8.24% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes make up 16.69% and 0.32% of the population respectively.[11]

Languages of Saharsa district (2011)[12]

  Maithili (68.87%)
  Hindi (21.15%)
  Urdu (9.62%)
  Others (0.36%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 68.87% of the population in the district spoke Maithili, 21.15% Hindi and 9.62% Urdu as their first language.[12]

Notable people[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Mishra, Anil Kant (1998). Rural Tension in India. p. 12. ISBN 9788171414161.
  2. ↑ Jha, Makhan (1997). Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective. ISBN 9788175330344.
  3. ↑ Michael Witzel (1989), Tracing the Vedic dialects in Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes ed. Caillat, Paris, pages 13, 17 116–124, 141–143
  4. ↑ Witzel, M. (1989). "Tracing the Vedic dialects". In Caillat, C. (ed.). Dialectes dans les litteratures Indo-Aryennes. Paris: Fondation Hugot. pp. 141–143.
  5. ↑ Hemchandra, R. (1972). Political History of Ancient India. Calcutta: University of Calcutta.
  6. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Bharatvarsh: Episode 4: Watch the glorious story of Adi Shankaracharya". YouTube.
  7. ↑ 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. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  8. ↑ "Subdivision & Blocks | Saharsa District | India". Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Table A-02 Decadal Variation in Population Since 1901: Bihar" (PDF). census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  10. ↑ "Table C-01 Population by Religion: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 "District Census Handbook: Saharsa" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Bihar". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.

External links[edit | edit source]

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