Dang district, India: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| name                           = Dang district
| name               = Dang district
| native_name                    = Dandakaranya
| other_name        = Dandakaranya
| native_name_lang                =
| nickname           =  
| other_name                      =
| settlement_type   = [[List of districts of Gujarat|District]] of [[Gujarat]]
| nickname                       =  
| coordinates       = {{Coord|region:IN-GJ|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| settlement_type                 = [[List of districts of Gujarat|District]] of [[Gujarat]]
| image_skyline     = Saputara Hill Station, 2006-10-25.jpg
| coordinates                     = {{coord|20.7588|N|73.6886|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:IN|display=title}}
| image_alt         =  
| image_skyline                   = Saputara view from table top.jpg
| image_caption     = Lakes near [[Saputara]]
| image_alt                       =  
| mapframe = yes
| image_caption                   = View of river near [[Saputara]]
| mapframe-point = none
| image_map                      = Dang in Gujarat (India).svg
| map_caption       =  
| map_caption                     = Location of Dang district in Gujarat
| latd               =  
| latd                           =  
| latm               =  
| latm                           =  
| lats               =  
| lats                           =  
| latNS             =  
| latNS                           =  
| longd             =  
| longd                           =  
| longm             =  
| longm                           =  
| longs             =  
| longs                           =  
| longEW             =  
| longEW                         =  
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type               = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_name               = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type1               = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Gujarat]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Gujarat]]
| established_title = <!-- Established -->
| established_title               = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   =  
| established_date               =  
| founder           =  
| founder                         =  
| named_for         =  
| named_for                       =  
| seat_type         = Headquarters
| seat_type                       = Headquarters
| seat               = [[Ahwa]]
| seat                           = [[Ahwa]]
| government_type   =  
| government_type                 =  
| governing_body     =  
| governing_body                 =  
| leader_title       = District Collectorate
| leader_title                   = District Collectorate
| leader_name       =  
| leader_name                     =  
| unit_pref         = Metric
| unit_pref                       = Metric
| area_footnotes     =  
| area_footnotes                 =  
| area_rank         =  
| area_rank                       =  
| area_total_km2     = 1,764
| area_total_km2                 = 1,764
| elevation_footnotes =  
| elevation_footnotes             =  
| elevation_m       =  
| elevation_m                     =  
| population_total   = 228,291
| population_total               = 228,291
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_as_of               = 2011
| population_rank   =  
| population_rank                 =  
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_km2         = auto
| population_demonym =  
| population_demonym             =  
| population_footnotes =  
| population_footnotes           =  
| demographics_type1 = [[Languages]]
| demographics_type1             = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_title1           = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics1_info1             = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
| demographics1_title2 = Spoken
| demographics1_title2           = Spoken
| demographics1_info2 = [[Khandeshi language|Khandeshi]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Bhili language|Bhili]], [[Dhanki language|Dangi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Hindi]]
| demographics1_info2             = [[Khandeshi language|Khandeshi]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Bhili language|Bhili]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Hindi]]
| timezone1         = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| timezone1                       = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1       = +5:30
| utc_offset1                     = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code_type               = <!-- [[Postal Index Number|PIN]] -->
| postal_code       =  
| postal_code                     =  
| registration_plate = GJ-30
| registration_plate             =  
| website           = {{URL|dangs.nic.in}}
| website                         = {{URL|dangs.nic.in}}
| footnotes         =  
| footnotes                       =  
| official_name     =
| official_name                   =  
| map_caption1      = Location of Dang district in Gujarat
}}
}}
 
'''Dang district''' is a district in the southeastern part of the state of [[Gujarat]]. The administrative headquarters of the district are located in [[Ahwa]]. Dang has an [[area]] of 1,764&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and a [[population]] of 228,291 (as of 2011).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm |title=Census GIS India |access-date=2009-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703215108/http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm |archive-date=2007-07-03 }}</ref> As of 2011, it is the least populous of Gujarat's [[Districts of Gujarat|33]] districts.<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web |title=District Census Hand Book – Dangs |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/414/download/1304/DH_2011_2422_PART_A_DCHB_THE_DANGS.pdf |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> As per the Planning Commission, Dang is one of the most economically distressed districts out of 640 districts in India.<ref>[http://groundreport.com/Governance-in-Gujarat-Under-Modi-A-Critique/ "Governance in Gujarat Under Modi - A Critique"]</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=In Gujarat's Dangs District, Tribals Are Left With No Option but to Migrate For Survival |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/in-gujarats-dang-district-tribals-are-left-with-no-option-but-to-migrate-for-survival-2089741.html |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=News18 |date=5 April 2019 |language=en}}</ref>  94% of the population belongs to one of the scheduled tribes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dangs.gujarat.gov.in/about-dang|title=About Dang}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/prakashjm45/goa/eastindian.html|title=Konkanian Origin of the 'East Indians'}}</ref> The five Kings of Dangs are the only hereditary royals in India whose titles are currently recognized by the government owing to an agreement between the [[Government of India|East India Company]] and the Dang kings in 1842.<ref name="history1" /><ref name="kings">{{Cite web|title=DNA India {{!}} Latest News, Live Breaking News on India, Politics, World, Business, Sports, Bollywood|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/|access-date=2021-12-28|website=DNA India|language=en}}</ref>
'''Dang''' is a district in the state of [[Gujarat]] in [[India]]. The administrative headquarters of the district are located in [[Ahwa]]. Dang has an [[area]] of 1,764&nbsp;km² and a [[population]] of 228,291 (as of 2011).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5Qeg4fOlH?url=http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm |archive-date=2007-07-27 }}</ref> As of 2011, it is the least populous district of Gujarat (out of [[Districts of Gujarat|33]]).<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web | url = http://www.census2011.co.in/district.php | title = District Census 2011 | access-date = 2011-09-30 | year = 2011 | publisher = Census2011.co.in}}</ref> As per the Planning Commission, Dang is one of the most economically distressed district out of 640 districts in India.<ref>[http://groundreport.com/Governance-in-Gujarat-Under-Modi-A-Critique/ "Governance in Gujarat Under Modi - A Critique"]</ref> 94% of the population belongs to one of the scheduled tribes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dangs.gujarat.gov.in/about-dang|title=About Dang}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/prakashjm45/goa/eastindian.html|title=Konkanian Origin of the 'East Indians'}}</ref> The five Kings of Dangs are the only hereditary royals in India whose titles are currently recognized by the government owing to an agreement made during the British Raj in 1842.<ref name="history1" /><ref name="kings" />


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
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==Kings of Dang==
==Kings of Dang==
[[File:Surat Agency with all princely states with labels British India 1880-1933.svg|thumb|The Dangs (''orange'') within [[Surat Agency]], British India|350px]]
[[File:Surat Agency with all princely states with labels British India 1880-1933.svg|thumb|The Dangs (''orange'') within [[Surat Agency]], India|350px|left]]
{{see also|Surat Agency}}
{{see also|Surat Agency}}
The five Royal [[Bhil]] Kings of Dangs are currently the only hereditary rulers in India.<ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/kings-of-the-dang/article19132643.ece Kings of the Dang]</ref>


Before Independence several wars were fought between the five tribal kings of Dang and the [[British Raj]]. According to the history of Dang, the biggest war to took place at 'Lashkaria Amba', in when the kings of all the five states joined together to protect Dang from British rule.<ref name=history1>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Dangs-darbar-gets-off-to-royal-start/articleshow/4239572.cms Dangs darbar gets off to royal start]</ref> The British were beaten and agreed to a compromise.<ref name=history1/>
Before Independence several wars were fought between the five tribal kings of Dang and the [[East India Company|Company]]. According to the history of Dang, the biggest war to took place at 'Lashkaria Amba', in when the kings of all the five states joined to protect Dang from the British.<ref name="history1">{{Cite web|last=Mehta|first=Yagnesh Bharat|title=Dangs darbar gets off to royal start|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/dangs-darbar-gets-off-to-royal-start/articleshow/4239572.cms|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-28|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816034709/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Dangs-darbar-gets-off-to-royal-start/articleshow/4239572.cms |archive-date=2018-08-16 }}</ref> The British were beaten and agreed to a compromise.<ref name=history1/>


As per the treaty signed in 1842 the British were allowed to use the forests and their natural products against which they had to pay around 3,000 silver coins to the five kings. Currently the kings receive a monthly political pension by the Government of India, which is the main source of their income. This payment is continued even though all privy purses for the Princely states of India were stopped in 1970 since the agreement was between then monarchy of Dangs and the British.<ref name=history1/><ref name=history2/>
As per the treaty signed in [[1842]] the Company allowed to use the forests and their natural products against which they had to pay around 3,000 silver coins to the five kings. Currently the kings receive a yearly political pension by the Government of India, which is the main source of their income. This payment is continued even though all privy purses for the Princely states of India were stopped in 1970 since the agreement was between then monarchy of Dangs and the [[Government of India]], not [[the Crown]].<ref name=history1/><ref name=history2/>


At the end of each fiscal year during [[Holi]], the kings gather in Ahwa for a traditional royal ceremony, in their richly decorated buggies and bands with tribal dancers, to receive the payment as per the agreement of 1842.<ref name=kings/> In ancient Indian Scriptures Dang is known as Dand Aranyaka, meaning ''Bamboo Forest''.<ref name=history2>{{Cite news| last = Andrabi| first = Jalees| title = Once a year, peasant rulers are given the royal treatment| newspaper = The National| date = 13 March 2009| url = http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090313/FOREIGN/623646488/1103/NEWS| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115001326/http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090313/FOREIGN/623646488/1103/NEWS| url-status = dead| archive-date = 15 January 2013| access-date = 19 April 2010}}</ref> Recently the Dangs Kings have urged the government to protect their depleting forest cover due to [[illegal logging]].<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Dang-tribal-kings-urge-Modi-to-protect-their-jungle/articleshow/5822620.cms Dang tribal kings urge Modi to protect their jungle]</ref>
At the end of each fiscal year during [[Holi]], the kings gather in Ahwa for a traditional royal ceremony, in their richly decorated buggies and bands with tribal dancers, to receive the payment as per the agreement of 1842.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chandra|first=Kavita Kanan|date=2017-06-24|title=Kings of the Dang|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/kings-of-the-dang/article19132643.ece|access-date=2021-12-28|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In ancient Indian Scriptures Dang is known as ''Danda Aranyaka'', meaning 'Bamboo forest'.<ref name="history2">{{Cite news| last = Andrabi| first = Jalees| title = Once a year, peasant rulers are given the royal treatment| newspaper = The National| date = 13 March 2009| url = http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090313/FOREIGN/623646488/1103/NEWS| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115001326/http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090313/FOREIGN/623646488/1103/NEWS| url-status = dead| archive-date = 15 January 2013| access-date = 19 April 2010}}</ref> Recently the Dangs Kings have urged the government to protect their depleting forest cover due to [[illegal logging]].<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Dang-tribal-kings-urge-Modi-to-protect-their-jungle/articleshow/5822620.cms Dang tribal kings urge Modi to protect their jungle]</ref>


The five kingdoms are [[List of current constituent Asian monarchs|Daher-Amala, Linga, Gadhvi, Vasurna and Pimpri]].<ref>{{Cite news| title = Kings hold durbar at Dangs, but at Govt expense| newspaper = Indian Express Newspapers| date = 28 February 1999| url = http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990301/ige01026p.html| access-date = 19 April 2010}}</ref>
The five kingdoms are [[List of current constituent Asian monarchs|Daher-Amala, Linga, Gadhvi, Vasurna and Pimpri]].<ref name="history1" /><ref>{{Cite news| title = Kings hold durbar at Dangs, but at Govt expense| newspaper = Indian Express Newspapers| date = 28 February 1999| url = http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19990301/ige01026p.html| access-date = 19 April 2010}}</ref>


=== '''Rulers'''<ref name="history1" /><ref name="kings">[http://www.dnaindia.com/india/slideshow-dangs-darbar-kicks-off-at-ahwa-1521007 Dangs Darbar kicks off at Ahwa]</ref> ===
=== Rulers ===
#''Linga'' - Raja Bhawarsinh
#''Linga'' - Raja Bhawarsinh
#''Daher-Amala'' - [[Raja Tapatrao Anandrao|Raja Tapatrao Anandrao Pawar]]  
#''Daher-Amala'' - [[Tapatrao Anandrao Pawar|Raja Tapatrao Anandrao Pawar]]
#''Gadhvi'' - Raja Karan Singh Yashwantrao Pawar  
#''Gadhvi'' - Raja Karan Singh Yashwantrao Pawar  
#''Vasurna'' - Raja Dhanrajsinh Chandrasinh Suryavanshi
#''Vasurna'' - Raja Dhanrajsinh Chandrasinh Suryavanshi
#''Pimpri'' - Raja Trikamrao Sahebrao Pawar
#''Pimpri'' - Raja Trikamrao Sahebrao Pawar
=== Dang States ===
Historically there were 14 Dang states in the region: <ref>"The golden book of India; a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon", https://archive.org/details/goldenbookofindi00lethrich/page/40/mode/2up </ref>
* [[Amala State|Amala]]
* [[Avchar State|Avchar]]
* [[Bilbari State|Bilbari]]
* [[Chinchli Gaded State|Chinchli Gaded]]
* [[Derbhavti State|Derbhavti]]
* [[Gadvi State|Gadvi]]
* [[Jhari Gharkhadi State|Jhari Gharkhadi]]
* [[Kirli State|Kirli]]
* [[Palasvihir State|Palasvihir]]
* [[Pimpladevi State|Pimpladevi]]
* [[Pimpri State|Pimpri]]
* [[Shivbara State|Shivbara]]
* [[Vadhyawan State|Vadhyawan]]
* [[Vasurna State|Vasurna]]


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=18,333|13=1911|14=28,926|15=1921|16=24,142|17=1931|18=33,495|19=1941|20=40,236|21=1951|22=47,282|23=1961|24=71,567|25=1971|26=94,185|27=1981|28=1,13,664|29=1991|30=1,44,091|31=2001|32=1,86,729|33=2011|34=2,28,291|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=right}}According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Dang district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 228,291,<ref name="districtcensus"/> roughly equal to the nation of [[Vanuatu]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Vanuatu 224,564 July 2011 est.
{{historical populations|11=1901|12=18,333|13=1911|14=28,926|15=1921|16=24,142|17=1931|18=33,495|19=1941|20=40,236|21=1951|22=47,282|23=1961|24=71,567|25=1971|26=94,185|27=1981|28=1,13,664|29=1991|30=1,44,091|31=2001|32=1,86,729|33=2011|34=2,28,291|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]</ref>|align=right}}
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 587th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 129 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} .<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.44%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Dang has a [[sex ratio]] of 1007 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 76.8%.<ref name=districtcensus/>
 
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Dang district (2011)<ref name="Religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Population by Religion - Gujarat |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11373/download/14486/DDW24C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|89.16}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Gujarat|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|8.77}}
{{bar percent|[[Gujarati Muslims|Islam]]|green|1.57}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.50}}
|caption=Distribution of religions
}}
 
According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], Dang district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 228,291,<ref name="districtcensus"/> roughly equal to the nation of [[Vanuatu]].<ref name="cia">{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 13, 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Vanuatu 224,564 July 2011 est.
}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 587th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert| 129 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.44%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Dang has a [[sex ratio]] of 1007 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 76.8%. 10.81% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 0.43% and 94.65% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus/>
 
===Language===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Languages in Dang District (2011)
|label1 = [[Dhanki language|Dangi]] |value1 = 59.6 |color1 = aqua
|label2 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] |value2 = 32.5 |color2 = skyblue
|label3 = [[Gamit language|Gamit]] |value3 = 3.18 |color3 = darkturquoise
|label4 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value4 = 1.2 |color4 = red
|label5 = [[Hindi]] |value5 = 1.21 |color5 = orange
|label6 = Other |value6 = 1.54 |color6 = gray
}}
 
At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 59.55% of the population in the district spoke [[Dhanki language|Dangi]], 32.53% [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], 3.18% [[Gamit language|Gamit]], 1.99% [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and 1.21% [[Hindi]] as their first language.<ref name="language">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Gujarat |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10212/download/13324/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2700.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>


At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 59.59% of the population in the district spoke [[Dhanki language|Dangi]], 32.55% [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], 3.18% [[Gamit language|Gamit]], 2.00% [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and 1.21% [[Hindi]] as their first language.<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue]</ref>
==Politics==
{{transcluded section|source=15th Gujarat Assembly}} 
{{#section:15th Gujarat Assembly|MLA Header}}
{{#section:15th Gujarat Assembly|Dang district}}
|}


==Economy==
==Economy==
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==Forest==
==Forest==
Dang District has part of a forest that includes [[Purna Wildlife Sanctuary]],<ref name="TrivediSoni2006">{{cite journal |author=Trivedi, P. and Soni, V.C. |year=2006 |title=Significant bird records and local extinctions in Purna and Ratanmahal wildlife sanctuaries, Gujarat, India |journal=Forktail |volume=22 |pages=39–48 |url=http://birdingasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Trivedi-Purna.pdf}}</ref> which is shared between the districts of Dang and [[Tapi district|Tapi]] in Gujarat and [[Nandurbar District]] in [[Maharashtra]],<ref name="GujaratTourismPurna">{{cite web |title=Mahal Eco Campsite |publisher=Gujarat Tourism |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/5/142 |access-date=2017-01-25}}</ref><ref name=Jhala2011>[[Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala|Jhala]], Y. V., Qureshi, Q., Sinha, P. R. (Eds.) (2011). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120120232451/http://www.projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/Tiger_Status_oct_2010.pdf ''Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India, 2010.''] National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. TR 2011/003 pp-302</ref> and [[Vansda National Park]] in [[Navsari District]], which shares a continuous tract of forest with [[Valsad district]].<ref name="TrivediSoni2006"/><ref name="GujaratTourismVansda">{{cite web |title=Vansda National Park |publisher=Gujarat Tourism |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/130 |access-date=2017-01-29}}</ref>{{better source|date=November 2017}}
Dang District has part of a forest that includes [[Purna Wildlife Sanctuary]],<ref name="TrivediSoni2006">{{cite journal |author=Trivedi, P. and Soni, V.C. |year=2006 |title=Significant bird records and local extinctions in Purna and Ratanmahal wildlife sanctuaries, Gujarat, India |journal=Forktail |volume=22 |pages=39–48 |url=http://birdingasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Trivedi-Purna.pdf}}</ref> which is shared between the districts of Dang and [[Tapi district|Tapi]] in Gujarat and [[Nandurbar District]] in [[Maharashtra]],<ref name="GujaratTourismPurna">{{cite web |title=Mahal Eco Campsite |publisher=Gujarat Tourism |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/5/142 |access-date=2017-01-25 |archive-date=2017-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202023424/http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/5/142 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=Jhala2011>[[Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala|Jhala]], Y. V., Qureshi, Q., Sinha, P. R. (Eds.) (2011). [https://web.archive.org/web/20120120232451/http://www.projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/Tiger_Status_oct_2010.pdf ''Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India, 2010.''] National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. TR 2011/003 pp-302</ref> and [[Vansda National Park]] in [[Navsari District]], which shares a continuous tract of forest with [[Valsad district]].<ref name="TrivediSoni2006"/><ref name="GujaratTourismVansda">{{cite web |title=Vansda National Park |publisher=Gujarat Tourism |url=http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/130 |access-date=2017-01-29 |archive-date=2016-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209160910/http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/130 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2017}}


A [[rusty-spotted cat]] was sighted for the time in 1991 in [[Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Chavan, S.A. |author2=Patel, C. D. |author3=Pawar, S. V. |author4=Gogate, N. S. |author5=Pandya, N. P.  |year=1991 |title=Sighting of the rusty-spotted cat ''Felis rubiginosa'' (Geoffroy) in Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary, Gujarat |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |issue=88 |pages=107−108 }}</ref>
A [[rusty-spotted cat]] was sighted for the time in 1991 in [[Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Chavan, S.A. |author2=Patel, C. D. |author3=Pawar, S. V. |author4=Gogate, N. S. |author5=Pandya, N. P.  |year= 1991|title=Sighting of the rusty-spotted cat ''Felis rubiginosa'' (Geoffroy) in Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary, Gujarat |journal=Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society |issue=88 |pages=107−108 }}</ref>


In [[Purna Wildlife Sanctuary|Purna]] and [[Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary]]s, eight bird species are considered [[locally extinct]], including [[Indian grey hornbill]], [[jungle bush quail]], [[red spurfowl]] and [[large woodshrike]].<ref name="TrivediSoni2006"/> Also, [[Bengal tiger]], [[Indian giant squirrel]] and [[gaur]] are reportedly extinct in Gujarat.<ref>Worah, S. (1991). The ecology and management of a fragmented forest in south Gujarat, India: the Dangs.  Ph.D.  thesis,  University  of Poona, Pune, India.</ref>
In [[Purna Wildlife Sanctuary|Purna]] and [[Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary|Ratanmahal]] Wildlife Sanctuaries, eight bird species are considered [[locally extinct]], including [[Indian grey hornbill]], [[jungle bush quail]], [[red spurfowl]] and [[large woodshrike]].<ref name="TrivediSoni2006"/> Also, [[Bengal tiger]], [[Indian giant squirrel]] and [[gaur]] are reportedly extinct in Gujarat.<ref>Worah, S. (1991). The ecology and management of a fragmented forest in south Gujarat, India: the Dangs.  Ph.D.  thesis,  University  of Poona, Pune, India.</ref>


==Talukas==
==Talukas==
Line 111: Line 160:
* [[Ambika River]]
* [[Ambika River]]
* [[Gira River]]
* [[Gira River]]
* Khapri River
* [[Khapri River]]
* Dhodad River
* [[Dhodad River]]


==See also==
==See also==
Line 119: Line 168:
* [[Dang, Iran]]
* [[Dang, Iran]]
* [[Gulf of Khambhat]]
* [[Gulf of Khambhat]]
== Places of interest ==
* Botanic Garden, Waghai - Large Government Ayurvedic Medicinal Garden (Botanical Garden) near Waghai<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waghai Botanical Gardens |url=https://www.gujarattourism.com/south-zone/dang/waghai-botanical-gardens.html |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=gujrattourism |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Gira Falls]] on [[Ambika River]] near Waghai
* Hill stations: [[Saputara]] and [[Don, Dang|Don]]
* Gira Falls on [[Gira River]] at Girmal village
* [[Rupgadh Fort]]
* [[Shabri Dham]] and [[Pampa Sarovar]] at Subir


==References==
==References==
Line 124: Line 181:


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://dangs.nic.in/ Official website]
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150520112658/http://dangdp.gujarat.gov.in/dang/index.htm Dang District Panchayat-Official web]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150520112658/http://dangdp.gujarat.gov.in/dang/index.htm Dang District Panchayat-Official web]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/are-there-tigers-in-gujarat/article22413777.ece Are there tigers in the Dangs?]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/are-there-tigers-in-gujarat/article22413777.ece Are there tigers in the Dangs?]
* {{osmrelation-inline|1952515}}


{{Commons category|Dang district}}
{{Subject bar |book= |portal3=India|commons=yes |commons-search=Category:|n=yes |n-search=Category:|wikt=yes |b=yes |q=yes |s=yes |v=yes |voy=yes |d=yes |d-search=}}


{{Geographic location
{{Geographic location
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|Northwest =  
|Northwest =  
}}
}}
 
{{Dang district, India}}
{{Gujarat}}
{{Gujarat}}


[[Category:Districts of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Districts of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Dang district, India]]
[[Category:Dang district, India]]

Latest revision as of 23:05, 1 February 2026

Dang district
Dandakaranya
District of Gujarat
Lakes near Saputara
Lakes near Saputara
Coordinates: Coordinates: Missing latitude
Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function
Country India
StateGujarat
HeadquartersAhwa
Area
 • Total1,764 km2 (681 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total228,291
 • Density130/km2 (340/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialGujarati, Hindi, English
 • SpokenKhandeshi, Gujarati, Bhili, Dangi, Marathi, Hindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationGJ-30
Websitedangs.nic.in

Dang district is a district in the southeastern part of the state of Gujarat. The administrative headquarters of the district are located in Ahwa. Dang has an area of 1,764 km2 and a population of 228,291 (as of 2011).[1] As of 2011, it is the least populous of Gujarat's 33 districts.[2] As per the Planning Commission, Dang is one of the most economically distressed districts out of 640 districts in India.[3][4] 94% of the population belongs to one of the scheduled tribes.[5][6] The five Kings of Dangs are the only hereditary royals in India whose titles are currently recognized by the government owing to an agreement between the East India Company and the Dang kings in 1842.[7][8]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The origin of the name of the Dang is uncertain. In common parlance the word 'dang' means a hilly village. There is another connotation of the word 'dang' which means bamboo (a place of bamboo). The name is also associated with Hindu mythology. It is related to the Dandakaranya of the Ramayana. It is said that during the exile, Rama passed through this area on his way to Nashik.[9]

Kings of Dang[edit | edit source]

The Dangs (orange) within Surat Agency, India
See also: Surat Agency

Before Independence several wars were fought between the five tribal kings of Dang and the Company. According to the history of Dang, the biggest war to took place at 'Lashkaria Amba', in when the kings of all the five states joined to protect Dang from the British.[7] The British were beaten and agreed to a compromise.[7]

As per the treaty signed in 1842 the Company allowed to use the forests and their natural products against which they had to pay around 3,000 silver coins to the five kings. Currently the kings receive a yearly political pension by the Government of India, which is the main source of their income. This payment is continued even though all privy purses for the Princely states of India were stopped in 1970 since the agreement was between then monarchy of Dangs and the Government of India, not the Crown.[7][10]

At the end of each fiscal year during Holi, the kings gather in Ahwa for a traditional royal ceremony, in their richly decorated buggies and bands with tribal dancers, to receive the payment as per the agreement of 1842.[11] In ancient Indian Scriptures Dang is known as Danda Aranyaka, meaning 'Bamboo forest'.[10] Recently the Dangs Kings have urged the government to protect their depleting forest cover due to illegal logging.[12]

The five kingdoms are Daher-Amala, Linga, Gadhvi, Vasurna and Pimpri.[7][13]

Rulers[edit | edit source]

  1. Linga - Raja Bhawarsinh
  2. Daher-Amala - Raja Tapatrao Anandrao Pawar
  3. Gadhvi - Raja Karan Singh Yashwantrao Pawar
  4. Vasurna - Raja Dhanrajsinh Chandrasinh Suryavanshi
  5. Pimpri - Raja Trikamrao Sahebrao Pawar

Dang States[edit | edit source]

Historically there were 14 Dang states in the region: [14]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
190118,333—    
191128,926+4.67%
192124,142−1.79%
193133,495+3.33%
194140,236+1.85%
195147,282+1.63%
196171,567+4.23%
197194,185+2.78%
1981113,664+1.90%
1991144,091+2.40%
2001186,729+2.63%
2011228,291+2.03%
source:[15]
Religions in Dang district (2011)[16]
Hinduism
 
 89.16%
Christianity
 
 8.77%
Islam
 
 1.57%
Other or not stated
 
 0.50%
Distribution of religions

According to the 2011 census, Dang district has a population of 228,291,[2] roughly equal to the nation of Vanuatu.[17] This gives it a ranking of 587th in India (out of a total of 640).[2] The district has a population density of 129 inhabitants per square kilometre (330/sq mi).[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 21.44%.[2] Dang has a sex ratio of 1007 females for every 1000 males,[2] and literacy rate of 76.8%. 10.81% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 0.43% and 94.65% of the population respectively.[2]

Language[edit | edit source]

Languages in Dang District (2011)

  Dangi (59.6%)
  Gujarati (32.5%)
  Gamit (3.18%)
  Marathi (1.2%)
  Hindi (1.21%)
  Other (1.54%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 59.55% of the population in the district spoke Dangi, 32.53% Gujarati, 3.18% Gamit, 1.99% Marathi and 1.21% Hindi as their first language.[18]

Politics[edit | edit source]

This section is transcluded from 15th Gujarat Assembly. (edit | history)
District No. Constituency Name Party Remarks
Dang 173 Dangs (ST) Vijaybhai Patel

Economy[edit | edit source]

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Dang District as an economically distressed district, one of 250 out of a total of 640 districts.[19] It is one of the six districts in Gujarat currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[19]

Forest[edit | edit source]

Dang District has part of a forest that includes Purna Wildlife Sanctuary,[20] which is shared between the districts of Dang and Tapi in Gujarat and Nandurbar District in Maharashtra,[21][22] and Vansda National Park in Navsari District, which shares a continuous tract of forest with Valsad district.[20][23][better source needed]

A rusty-spotted cat was sighted for the time in 1991 in Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary.[24]

In Purna and Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuaries, eight bird species are considered locally extinct, including Indian grey hornbill, jungle bush quail, red spurfowl and large woodshrike.[20] Also, Bengal tiger, Indian giant squirrel and gaur are reportedly extinct in Gujarat.[25]

Talukas[edit | edit source]

  1. Subir
  2. Waghai
  3. Ahwa

Rivers of district[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Places of interest[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Census GIS India". Archived from the original on 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "District Census Hand Book – Dangs" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  3. ↑ "Governance in Gujarat Under Modi - A Critique"
  4. ↑ "In Gujarat's Dangs District, Tribals Are Left With No Option but to Migrate For Survival". News18. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "About Dang".
  6. ↑ "Konkanian Origin of the 'East Indians'".
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Mehta, Yagnesh Bharat. "Dangs darbar gets off to royal start". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  8. ↑ "DNA India | Latest News, Live Breaking News on India, Politics, World, Business, Sports, Bollywood". DNA India. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  9. ↑ G. D. Patel, ed. (1971). Gazetteer of India: Dangs District. Ahmedabad: Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications. pp. 1–2.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Andrabi, Jalees (13 March 2009). "Once a year, peasant rulers are given the royal treatment". The National. Retrieved 19 April 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ Chandra, Kavita Kanan (2017-06-24). "Kings of the Dang". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  12. ↑ Dang tribal kings urge Modi to protect their jungle
  13. ↑ "Kings hold durbar at Dangs, but at Govt expense". Indian Express Newspapers. 28 February 1999. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  14. ↑ "The golden book of India; a genealogical and biographical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon", https://archive.org/details/goldenbookofindi00lethrich/page/40/mode/2up
  15. ↑ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  16. ↑ "Population by Religion - Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  17. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Vanuatu 224,564 July 2011 est.
  18. ↑ "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Trivedi, P. and Soni, V.C. (2006). "Significant bird records and local extinctions in Purna and Ratanmahal wildlife sanctuaries, Gujarat, India" (PDF). Forktail. 22: 39–48.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ "Mahal Eco Campsite". Gujarat Tourism. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  22. ↑ Jhala, Y. V., Qureshi, Q., Sinha, P. R. (Eds.) (2011). Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India, 2010. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. TR 2011/003 pp-302
  23. ↑ "Vansda National Park". Gujarat Tourism. Archived from the original on 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2017-01-29.
  24. ↑ Chavan, S.A.; Patel, C. D.; Pawar, S. V.; Gogate, N. S.; Pandya, N. P. (1991). "Sighting of the rusty-spotted cat Felis rubiginosa (Geoffroy) in Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary, Gujarat". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (88): 107−108.
  25. ↑ Worah, S. (1991). The ecology and management of a fragmented forest in south Gujarat, India: the Dangs. Ph.D. thesis, University of Poona, Pune, India.
  26. ↑ "Waghai Botanical Gardens". gujrattourism. Retrieved 2023-03-17.

External links[edit | edit source]

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