Samastipur district

History

As per district Gazetteers, Darbhanga, pages 33 to 34 Darbhanga under the Oinwar dynasty (1325-1525 AD), After a temporary period of instability, Darbhanga came under the control of the Oinwaras, also known as the Kameshwara Thakur or Sugauna Dynasty. These Hindu Chiefs were left undisturbed by the Muslim conquerors, who has by now conquered the whole of Mithila and whose exploits are indicated. The Oinwara Dynasty is noted for their encouragement of leaning and fine arts and their court served as the centre of Sanskrit belle's letters and philosophy. Among the prominent scholars of age were Gadadhara, Sankara, Vachaspati Mishra, Vidyapati, Amartakara and Amiykara. Kameshwara, the founder of dynasty, was resident of village Oini, near Pusa Road, in the District of Darbhanga. When Hazi Ilyas of Bengal divided Torhut into two parts, the Oinwara Raja shifted his Capital to Sugauna near Madhubani. The southern part of the district was under Hazi Ilyas and the northern part under the Oinwaras. The modern subdivision of Samastipur (originally Shamsuddinpur) was founded by Hazi Shamsuddin Ilyas of West Bengal.

Samastipur became a district in 1972 when it was split from Darbhanga district.

Geography

Samastipur district occupies an area of 2,904 square kilometres (1,121 sq mi), comparatively equivalent to Indonesia's Muna Island. Samastipur is bounded on the north by the Bagmati River which separates it from Darbhanga district. On the west it is bordered by Vaishali and some part of Muzaffarpur district, on the south by the Ganges, while on its east it has Begusarai and some part of Khagaria district. The district headquarters is located at Samastipur.

Rivers

Samastipur is traversed by a number of rivers including Budhi Gandak, Baya, Kosi, Kamla, Kareh and Jhamwari and Balan, which are both the offshoots of Burhi Gandak. The Ganges also skirts the district on the south.

Divisions

Samastipur district comprises the following Sub-Divisions:

Samastipur sub-division comprises eight blocks: Samastipur, Tajpur, Morwa, Khanpur, Sarairanjan, Pusa, Warisnagar, Kalyanpur.

Rosera sub-division comprises 6 blocks: Rosera, Hasanpur, Bithan, Shivaji Nagar, Singhiya, Bibhutipur.

Dalsinghsarai sub-division comprises 3 blocks: Dalsinghsarai, Ujiarpur, Vidyapati Nagar

Patori sub-division comprises 3 blocks: Patori, Mohanpur and Mohiuddin Nagar.

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Samastipur one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Industries

Samastipur also holds Railway sub divi of East Central Railway. There are several small industries which includes Sugar Mill, Paper Mill, Jute Mill and Railway Factory.

The sugar mill and paper mill are closed. One of the major sugar mills in Hasanpur road block is still running smoothly and fulfill the desire of its local people.

Agriculture

Samastipur is rich in agriculture, because of its fertile plain. Tobacco, maize, rice and wheat are the main crops. Leechi and mango fruits are grown in abundance. Chandchour village produces vegetables and Manika, Nirpur village grows tobacco, There is a jute mill in Samsastipur at Muktapur Village. This is very famous jute mill, employing around 5000 people. Shekhopur is one of the best agricultural villages and it also has famous temple, Bhagwatisthan at Manipur. Samastipur has many a sugar mills which make it a prominent player in state's sugar production.

Samastipur is major producer of potatoes. There are more than 20 cold storages in the district, all storing potatoes and total capacity is 650000 quintles.

Samastipur has also in race of consuming fertilizers.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Samastipur district has a population of 4,254,782, roughly equal to the Republic of the Congo or the US state of Kentucky. This gives it a ranking of 45th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 1,465 inhabitants per square kilometre (3,790/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 25.33%. Samastipur has a sex ratio of 909 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 64.21%.

Culture

Culture of Samastipur is simple, beautiful and secular. It has an old tradition of folk songs and folk famous Mithila paintings, sung and done during festival and important social occasions like marriage and birth ceremonies. Several folk dance form also practiced as Kathghorwa nach, natua nach dom domin and jhijhia. Famous Sama Chakeva and Dom kach is also practiced as a culture in this area. Bhat dal and aaloo chokha is the happiest meal for every being & dhoti kurta for man & sari and salwar kurti for women is regular dress to wear.

Temples

Thaneshwar Temple is a very famous temple of Lord Shiva, and is situated at the heart of the city. Other new temples are also popping up. There are numerous other temples as well. A very famous temple Khudneshwar Sthan is also there situated in the village Morwa (Mohanpur)

Durga temple in Kessopatti is one of the oldest temple. Every year on the eve of Durga Puja pilgrims come for worship. Vidyapati Baleshwar Sthan (Shiva Temple) is one of the famous temple at Vidyapatinagar. Vidyapatinagar is known as the Nirvana sthali of the great Saint & Poet Vidyapati. Dekari, in Dalsinghsarai subdivision, is the place where Vidyapati took his last breath.

Mannipur Bhagwati Sthan is one of the very oldest and lively durga temple in Mannipur, Bhagwati Sthan. People come in numbers to pray Goddess durga everyday from far off places. This place makes realise your dream, takes away your sin. It is said that it is more than 200 years old temple and Panditji is a very learned Brahmin in samastipur.

Khudneshwar Siva Temple located 16 km from Samastipur near Morwa block is unique example of Hindu-Muslim unity. Inside the temple within a distance of about 3 meters there is Majar of Khudno Bibi along with Shiva Linga.(The History Khudno Bibi founder of Shiva Linga) Temple is under renovation by local society members. During Mahasivratri festival religious crowd from all corners of district are visiting this place for the prayer.famous kali temple in samastipur district situated in hrail village in mohiuddinnagar block.just besides of babu nathuni singh house.

Maa Bhagwati temple bhirha rosra samastipur, this temple in this area of the most famous.

Notable personalities

There are many important noted people from this district in India as well as abroad. Samastipur district has produced several nationally as well as internationally recognized scientists and famous leaders, including freedom fighters and political leaders, who have occupied ministerial posts in the Government of India have been recognized.

■Dr Shahab Ahmad Quazmi, is a notable doctor in eastern Europe, originates from pusa village samastipur currently working as a project coordinator at MSF(doctors without borders) Greece. His ancestral roots comes from village Chakjado. His grand father Mr Akhtar Ahmad was a notable English teacher during British rule in India. He has two brothers namely Mustujab Ahmad and Seemab Ahmad and a sister Mahe Talat. His father name is Mr Athar Ahmad. Dr. Quazmi got excellency during combatting immigrants crisis at Kos Island, Greece. He is currently working on writing his maiden novel.

Education

The district has good education facilities. It has some reputed institutions such as A.N.D. College, Shahpur Patory, Samastipur College, BRB College, RNAR College. St. Kabir College. S M R C K college. Dr. LKVD College, BBN College. The district also boasts of a very reputed Central Agricultural college in Pusa, well known as Dr.Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University Pusa and a proposal of Government medical college by Government of India under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.