Araria

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Araria district.

Araria اراریا अररिया
Town
Araria Location in Bihar, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Bihar
District	Araria
Government
• Type	Bihar Sarkar
• Body	Janta Dal United
Elevation	47 m (154 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	60,594
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Urdu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	854311, 8543XX
Lok Sabha constituency	Araria
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Araria
Website	http://www.araria.bih.nic.in/

Araria is a City and a municipality that is the headquarters of Araria district in the state of Bihar, India. Araria district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state, India, and Araria is the administrative headquarters of this district. This showery district of north-eastern Bihar is one of the most backward districts of Bihar, standing at the bottom of the 90 minority concentration districts.

Forbesganj is a city, comes in the district of Araria in the state of Bihar, India. It has a prestigious past but enshrouded in the midst of uncertainties. Many stories have been widespread about it. Angas are believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the region. They are believed to inhabited in the area west of the river Koshi. During the Mauryan period this area formed the part of the Mauryan Empire and in the later times, the region formed the part of Gupta Dynasty.During the British period, the region came under the control of East India Company. It is said that where Mr. Forbe's Bungalow was located was called “Residential Area” which local people used to call as “R. Area”. Over a period of time, R. Area acquired the pronunciation “Araria” and so the name of this subdivision as “Forbesganj”

Araria is situated at the northern part of Purnia and Medhepura in Bihar. Borders of Araria are surrounded by Nepal in northern side, Kishanganj in eastern side and Supaul at western side. The district came into existence by division of Purnia district on Makar-Sankranti day of 1990. District border is adjacent to border of Nepal, so the district is important in terms of security. Jogbani is the last point of Araria and after that Morang district of Nepal starts. For transportation both train and road media's are available. Araria contains two bus terminals one at '0' mile and second in city. Buses for most of the districts are available and as well as for internal blocks too. Train facility is now in the form of broad gauge track. This track ends one side to the Katihar, which is a big and important junction from where trains to all over India are available, other end of track is Jogbani the last point of Indian rail.

District statistics

Araria is primarily a rural district; 93% of the total population live in the rural areas (713 villages). Only two out of nine tehsils have urban population that is concentrated in Forbesganj and Araria(Census 2001).

In 2008 survey findings, Araria lagged behind the all India average in seven out of eight indicators and also lagged behind the all India level in terms of two more health related indicators. Most of the villages lack some basic infrastructure: 92 percent are without any medical facilities; 20 percent of the villages lack formal facilities of education of any type; 597 out of 713 villages are without electricity; and 50 percent of the villages are without all weather road connectivity. The overall work participation rate is 40.3 percent, which is much less in case of the female population. Agriculture laborers dominate the labor force (64.7% of the total) that is almost double of the national average.

There is a substantial concentration of minority (mainly Muslims) population. Against the state average of 20.52%, Muslims constitutes 49.4 per cent of the total rural populations, but their percentages are 77.5% in Jokihat, 62.70% of Araria, and 46.8% in Palasi subdivisions. The number of minority groups - Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Jains - are negligible. The rural literacy rate is 33.2 percent, much below the state and national averages. The worst is female literacy rate, i.e. 20.4%. In other words, only one out of five women is literate. Even sex ratio, i.e., 917 is less than state and all India level.

Geography

Araria is located at . It has an average elevation of 47 metres (154 feet). Araria is situated at the northern part of Purnia and Madhepura in Bihar. Borders of Araria are surrounded by Nepal in northern side, Kishanganj in eastern side and Supaul at south-west side. The district came into existence by division of Purnia district on Makar Sankranti day of 1990. The district touches the Indo-Nepal international border also this area is very close to three countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Hence, the district is important in terms of security. Jogbani is the last point of Araria and after that, Morang district of Nepal starts. Kosi river used to pass through araria,although it long ago changed its path. Most important river is Panaar. Agriculture has flourished along the banks of this river,although it becomes catastrophic during the rainy season because of floods. A canal also passes through Araria. Being a part of the remote

Description

Araria is connected by bus and rail services. Seemanchal superfast express runs daily between Araria to New Delhi and Kolkata-Jogbani Exp runs between Araria to Kolkata. There has been development in the condition of roadways although certain important roads are still in bad condition. NH 57 runs through the district. It is a four−laned highway, which is also a part of the East−west corridor highway. Health and medical facilities are sparse in this area; residents are forced to go to nearby Purnea district for treatment. Primary schooling in Araria is below average. There are numerous schools, but most of them much below the normal standard due to sheer lack of good and educated teachers,non availability of sports facilities,and other tools of personality development. It also has a town hall situated at the heart of the city, where cultural and political programs are held. The Netaji Subhash stadium is situated in the heart of the city. Many district and state level cricket tournaments are played in it. It is also used for public gatherings like the speech of a politician, etc.

Many All India Mushairas have been organised here and native shairs also recited their poetry. These days many programmes and stage shows are also organised in Araria by different organising groups. 'Rambo Musical Institute' in Araria is to develop the interest of Araria public to the cultural programmes and organises many stage programmes throughout the year. Reza Faizi, a stage artist and presenter, is one of them who has created a nice name in the field.

It has a large subzi mandiVegetable Market) where fresh vegetables can be bought. The local market of the city is known as Vikas market or V market due to its v shape.Payal store and Rajasthan churi centre are some famous shops in V market . It is also famous for cosmetics , electrical appliances, clothes, bicycles, books and other day to day items.

There are three movie theaters, a distant Railway Station, farms, governmental offices, library, many Internet cafes, newly constructed shopping mall near hospital road, sweet shops, street hawkers and cheerful people. The place provides nice views, like that of open grounds, playing grounds, on-water bridges, riverside, long farm-strips, but also of sparse streets, dense housing, and slum settlements.

Delivery of online goods has now been possible like from some three years. Flipkart etc. deliver in Araria post office, mainly due to seeing the place as suitable and efforts by many buyers. Although they only deliver books till this time through speed post.

The District Court is situated near the main market area. The court handles numerous cases everyday. A huge crowd can be seen near the Court campus during working hours.

As the city lacks good government schools, some private schools provide the required education to the students. Those include Araria Public School, Scottish Public School, Career Guide Academy, Girls' Ideal Academy, As-sabeel academy, Oxford Academy, Eastern public school and a few others. Araria Public School is affiliated to C.B.S.E.

Arts and business

The Hindi language writer Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' was born in this district at Aurahi Hingna village where his family still lives. At present a magazine Parti Palar is published there.

The movie Teesri Kasam was shot in villages of Araria. It was Basu Bhattacharya's film, based on Mare Gaye Gulfam written by Phanishwar Nath 'Renu', starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman.

[2] DESI Power projects also in Araria.

Notable people

• Late Dr. surja Nand Sah(1924-1993), Freedom Fighter in araria district.
• Subrata Roy, the chairman of Sahara Group, was born in the Ashram muhhalla of the town
• Abhishek Anshu Ethical Hacker,Shivpuri
• Mohammed Taslimuddin, ex-minister, now MP of Araria LS.
• Phanishwar Nath 'Renu', novelist and story writer.
• Parmanand Rishideo, politician.
• Akhzar Farhan, writer.
• SLP sanjay Kumar, * SLP Sanjay Kumar is a Speech Language Pathologist and Audiologist (Formerly an Alumnus of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing and AIIMS, New Delhi) Now working on awareness of communication disorders globally and its management.He is in private practice in India . His videos both before and after voice therapy are becoming popular globally

Demographics

Total population of Araria is 2,806,200 as per latest provisional figures released by Directorate of Census Operations in Bihar. This shows increase of 30.00 percent in 2011 compared to figures of 2001 census. The initial figures of data shows that male and female were 1,460,878 and 1,345,322 respectively. Araria District of Bihar comprises an area of 2,830 km². As per census 2011, density of Araria District per square km is 992 compared to 763 per km² of 2001.

Sex ratio of girls in Araria district per 1000 boys was recorded 921 i.e. an increase of 8 points from the figure of 2001 census which puts it at 913.

In 2011 census, data of Araria district regarding child under 0-6 age were also collected. There were total 564,131 children under age of 0-6 against 474,181 of 2001 census. Of total 564,131 male and female were 288,728 and 275,403 respectively. Child Sex Ratio as per census 2011 was 954 compared to 963 of census 2001. Children's proportion in total population was around 2.70 percent. This figure was around 2.60 percent as per 2001 census.

In education sector, Araria District is having average literacy rate of 55.10 percent. Male literacy and female literacy were 64.15 and 45.18 percent respectively. In all, there were total 1,235,303 literates compared to 589,679 literates of 2001 census.

Places of religious interest

• A mosque (Jama Masjid), attended by Muslim communities from the nearby region
• The burial ground (kabristan) is situated in the middle of the city in khalilabad muhalla. Khalilabad mosque is also situated at the same place.
• The six-story Kali Mandir temple, popularly known as "Kali Mandir".
• Temple of lord Shiva located at the center of city in the ancient Thakurbari of Araria, known as Shiva Mandir or more commonly as Thakurbari itself.
• The Araria-Madanpur Shiva Mandir.
• Shiva temple in Madanpur.
• Sultan phokher in Forbesganj is important for Hindu and Muslim communities.
• Maata aasawar mandir in Gidwas is very important for Hindu.
• Shiva mandir in Sundernath.
• Newly constructed Masjid cum madarsa at diyaganj.
• vishwa Islamic ijtema was held at araria in 2013 in which 10-15 lakhs were gathered for spiritual and Islamic gains.

Languages

Being a mixed culture of Bihari and Bengali while having more than 50% Muslims, languages in Araria are diverse. Hindi, being the official and formal language is spoken by everyone on purposed unrelated to local streets or houses.Urdu is second official language this is spoken by all communities including Hindus. Thethi is recognized as the local language. Maithili and Bhojpuri are also spoken in residents' homes, while Bengali, Kulhaiya, surjapuri and Shekhra are also spoken.

See also

• Forbesganj
• Purnea
• Katihar
• Raniganj

References

• Ararian district profile