Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : 66
Sex Ratio Rank : 197
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : D
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : NA
Literacy Ratio : 507 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
Deogarh is a drought prone area. People solely depend
on agriculture and forest for their livelihood. Forests are getting
depleted. We face the problem of food scarcity. Hunger, starvation
are major issue which we are battling with.
The maternal mortality rate (MMR) rates are high.
Literacy rate is very low. Only 23% of women are literate.
The quality of primary education is poor.
The roads are not maintained well. During rains it causes lot of
problems.
Government should provide us with good facilities and services.
Good development schemes should be implemented.
Brief About Deoghar District
History of Deoghar District
The district of Deoghar, a part of Jharkhand state, was created
on 01.06.1983. Before this, Deoghar was a sub-division of Santhal
Pargana district. The district head quarter is located in Deoghar
town.
Santhal Pargana District was created in 1885 after partition
of Bhagalpur and Birbhum. An important reason behind the creation
of Santhal Pargana was Santhal Mutiny in 1854-55. According to
Allahabad Treaty signed with Sah Alam II in A.D. 1765, the Area
of Santhal Pargana, Hazaribag District, Munger District and Bhagalpur
District were known as Tarai Jungle. After excavation in this
area, stone weapons and the statue of Soldier with helmet made
of celt were found. This clearly indicates human beings had started
living here since stone age. This Celt has been found in Malay
Peninsula and Chhotanagpur Area. Man and Munda were among the
primitives of this area. These people might have come from Burma
via Assam and had started living in Santhal Pargana. A little
information about this area has been obtained from the seventh
Century A.D. Chinese Traveller Huen Tsang, who had a mention about
this district. Huen Tsang visited India in A.D. 645. He has mentioned
about Tailiyagarhi Fort in his Travellogue. He has written that
Lofty Brick and Stone Tower were built beside Ganges. Cuningham,
in his Ancient Indian Geography (1871) has stated that this might
have been the House of Buddhists and this was beside the river
Ganges. This is not at all surprising that the area of Santhal
Pargana has remained a very important place from Religious point
of view. Bhavishyat Puran which was written in 15th to 16th Century
AD, has a mention of the Temple of Lord Baidyanath in Deoghar.
Medieval Period
The History of the Santhal Pargana is found from 13th Century
A.D. From that time Tailiyagarhi had become an entrance door for
muslim soldiers. They used to travel to & fro from Bengal
to Taliyagarhi. During the rule of Slave Dynasty in Delhi, Ityarudeen
Bin Bukhtiar Khiljee had visited Assam and Bengal enroute Tailiyagarhi,
Son of Laxman, the King of Cooch Bihar fled from Cooch Bihar and
came to Deoghar in the year 1201 A.D. and established his capital
here.
British Period
After the defeat of Nawab Sirajudaula of Bengal in Battle of Palssy
in the year 1757, the British rule came into existence. After
this battle, the British reigned over Bengal. Deoghar (Santhal
Pargana) was under Bengal at that time. Thus the rule of British
started in this area. Tribal people of this area were freedom
minded. They were not tolerant to any aggressor of their Motherland.
The British were against any restrictions upon these tribal people.
But these tribals were too much against British. In 1819, the
British wanted to announce Santhal Pargana as its Territory. This
hilly area belonged to these tribal. They wanted to take welfare
measures for these tribal people so that the Tribals would not
go against them. For this, the British demarcated the area and
gave it a Persian name Daminico (Area between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal)
.The meaning of Daminico is Hilly Skirt. Mr. Potent was made Deputy
Collector of this area is the year A.D. 1837. Santhal Mutiny.
The root cause of the Santhal Mutiny was to get rid of deteriorating
economical condition. The first fire was ignited in Littipara.
Kinaram Bhagat was a prime Businessman of Amarpada and he was
a bad moneylender. When Vijay Manjhi was arrested and sent to
Bhagalpur jail, the dispute increased since he died in Jail without
a hearing of his case. His son Singram led the protest and he
was hanged in Barhait Bazaar after a simple hearing. The Santhals
were very sad and angry over this incident and the rebellion started,
whose main victims were money lenders and landlords. The British
took this mutiny as a challenge. To crush the Santhals, the British
engaged its soldiers. But the Santhals courageously defended against
them. The first battle against the British was held at Payalpur
in Bhagalpur on 16th July 1855. The Santhals bravely faced the
guns of the British. But instead of suppression, the rebellion
spread to other areas like Deoghar, Dumka, Godda, Sahibganj, Hazaribag,
Birbhum and Bankura Districts of Bengal. The British tried to
arrest the Santhals to save the Dikus (meaning outsiders), because
the Santhals considered the Dikus as their enemies. The British
deployed large numbers of soldiers in these areas. Lots of cruelties
were meted upon the Santhals. Marshal Law was declared in 1855.
The British were able to suppress this mutiny. The Santhals showed
exemplary courage in fighting against the British, despite being
beaten and harassed . The British knew it well that if they want
to rule in the area they have to agree to the main demands of
the Santhals and accord them the dignity due to them. Therefore,
in the year 1855 A.D., according to act 37, the District of Santhal
Pargana was created after the name of the tribals. Efforts were
made to fulfill their demands. They were given their motherland
so that they feel secured. First war of Independence 1857 The
effects of the first war of Independence fell in Santhal Pargana.
There was a rebellion in the 5th Irregular Cavallary of Army in
Rohini. Adjutant Sir Sermon Lesslie of the Regiment was murdered
in June 1857. In this mutiny Commandant Major McDonald and Dr.
Grant were injured. On 16th July at Joradih Rohini, Amanat Ali,
Salamat Ali and Seikh Haroon were hanged from a tree for taking
part in the Mutiny. It spread to the 5th Battalion of Bhagalpur.
They came to Rohini and joined the Mutiny. They marched to Bounsi
where 32 Motive infantry was existing. But from some source their
movement was disclosed to the British Officers. This was a big
jolt to the efforts of the mutineers. Thereafter there was no
further escalation of the trouble in Santhal Pargana.
The Freedom Struggle
Deoghar District did not remain untouched in anyway from the wave
of patriotism. It contributed significantly to the freedom struggle.
The Indian National Congress announced protest against Simon Commission
and called for its boycott. Its effect was felt all over India.
Even the Jungles and Hills of Deoghar did not remain untouched.
People of Deoghar participated in the Salt Satyagraha and the
Civil Disobedience Movement. There was a boycott of foreign liquor
and cloths. The Quit India movement of 1942 brought color to the
struggle in Deoghar. On 11th August 1942, a procession was taken
out and a strike was observed in Deoghar.
Natural Divisions
Deoghar district is spread over an area of 2479 sq km (2,45,156
Hectare). The landscape of Deoghar is high, low, hilly and damp.
28% of the land is very fertile and cultivable. Cultivation is
primarily rain-fed. The crop harvest is generally quite good.
Rivers
Ajay and More are two important rivers of this district. More
is also called Mayurakshi. This river has emerged from Tiur Hill.
This river goes through the heartland of the Dumka District and
flows towards South-East. The River Ajay originates from Munger
District. This river irrigates Northern and Eastern parts of Deoghar
District and meets Bhagirathi river at Murshidabad (in West Bengal).
A Barrage has been built over this River. During rainy season
these rivers often get flooded. During summer, narrow strip of
water flows through masses of sand. Rivulets like Dadhwa, Patro,
Jayanti and Kendua merge with Ajay at different places.
