Giridih
Encyclopedia
Giridih is headquarters of the Giridih district
of Jharkhand
state, India
. The literal meaning of Giridih is the land of hills & hillocks - giri, a Hindi
word, means hills and dih, another word of the local dialect
, indicates upland. Before 1972 Giridih was part of Hazaribagh
district.
Giridih is a centre of the prestigious Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)
. Giridih is also one of the six Data Processing Centres of Data Processing Division (DPD) of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
.
The climate of Giridih is generally dry. It is pleasant during winter season between October and March. Summer season starting April, is generally hot, with May being hottest when temperature rises up to 47C. Many a times high temperature is accompanied by high humidity levels, specially during June when premonsoon rain falls. It rains maximum during July and August, and rainy season continues up to mid October.
, Giridih had a population of 98,569. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Giridih has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 63%. In Giridih, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
On the southern side of Giridih, in Beniadih, are the coal mines of Central Coalfields Limited
, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
(a Navratna and the world's largest coal miner). It is the largest industry in the Giridih district and major contributor to the economy of the town. Central Coalfields Limited itself is a Miniratna.
The Data Processing Center of Data Processing Division (DPD) of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
provides complete IT solution from sample selection, software development to processing and tabulation of data canvassed through various socio-economic surveys of National Sample Survey Organisation.
With the formation of new state of Jharkhand and governments' initiative, a lot of small scale industries have came up in Giridih. They all are basically related to metals, the majority of them being SPonge Iron (DRI) Units, Induction Furnaces & Rolling Mills like Lal's, Mongia,Bharat Alloys, Atibir,Sri Ram Steels,Bhardwaj,Salasar,Allied, Shivam Group and Gaurishanker Electrocastings.
The major colleges in this town include -
Apart from these institutions of higher education, Giridih has some very good schools:
Giridih District
Giridih district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state, India, and Giridih is the administrative headquarters of this district. As of 2011 it is the third most populous district of Jharkhand , after Ranchi and Dhanbad.-History:...
of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
state, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The literal meaning of Giridih is the land of hills & hillocks - giri, a Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
word, means hills and dih, another word of the local dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
, indicates upland. Before 1972 Giridih was part of Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh
Hazaribagh is a city and a municipality in Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is the divisional headquarters of North Chotanagpur division. It is famous as a health resort and for Hazaribagh National Park ....
district.
Giridih is a centre of the prestigious Indian Statistical Institute (ISI)
Indian Statistical Institute
Indian Statistical Institute is a public research institute and university in Kolkata's northern outskirt of Baranagar, India founded by Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in 1931...
. Giridih is also one of the six Data Processing Centres of Data Processing Division (DPD) of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
National Sample Survey Organisation
The National Sample Survey Organisation or NSSO, now National Sample Survey Office is an organization in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of the Government of India...
.
Location and Climate
Giridih is located at 24.18°N 86.3°E. It has an average elevation of 289 metres (948 feet).The climate of Giridih is generally dry. It is pleasant during winter season between October and March. Summer season starting April, is generally hot, with May being hottest when temperature rises up to 47C. Many a times high temperature is accompanied by high humidity levels, specially during June when premonsoon rain falls. It rains maximum during July and August, and rainy season continues up to mid October.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Giridih had a population of 98,569. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Giridih has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 63%. In Giridih, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Economy
This town used to bustle with economic activity in the period from 60s to 80's when the mineral mica processing and export community reaped tremendous gains through exports to the USSR. Since the decline of the USSR however and its split into twelve CIS countries, the industry has slowly declined and is currently ailing.On the southern side of Giridih, in Beniadih, are the coal mines of Central Coalfields Limited
Central Coalfields Limited
Central Coalfields Limited is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited , an undertaking of the Government of India. CCL manages the nationalized coal mines of the Coal Mines Authority, Central division...
, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited
Coal India Limited is an Indian state-controlled coal company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the world's largest coal miner with revenue exceeding 60,245 Crore . It was formerly owned entirely by the Union Government of India, under the administrative control of the Ministry of...
(a Navratna and the world's largest coal miner). It is the largest industry in the Giridih district and major contributor to the economy of the town. Central Coalfields Limited itself is a Miniratna.
The Data Processing Center of Data Processing Division (DPD) of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
National Sample Survey Organisation
The National Sample Survey Organisation or NSSO, now National Sample Survey Office is an organization in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of the Government of India...
provides complete IT solution from sample selection, software development to processing and tabulation of data canvassed through various socio-economic surveys of National Sample Survey Organisation.
With the formation of new state of Jharkhand and governments' initiative, a lot of small scale industries have came up in Giridih. They all are basically related to metals, the majority of them being SPonge Iron (DRI) Units, Induction Furnaces & Rolling Mills like Lal's, Mongia,Bharat Alloys, Atibir,Sri Ram Steels,Bhardwaj,Salasar,Allied, Shivam Group and Gaurishanker Electrocastings.
Education
Giridih has many prestigious colleges and schools.The major colleges in this town include -
- Giridih College affiliated to the Vinoba Bhave UniversityVinoba Bhave UniversityThe Vinoba Bhave University is located at Hazaribagh, India and is funded by Government of India. University came into existence on the 17th of September,1992 after bifurcation of Ranchi University as a teaching-cum-affiliating university. Being among one of the premier universities of Jharkhand,...
- Sri Ram Krishna Mahila College affiliated to Vinoba Bhave University.
- Vananchal College affiliated to Vinoba Bhave University.
Apart from these institutions of higher education, Giridih has some very good schools:
- Carmel SchoolCarmel School GiridihCarmel School is a convent private school located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand, India. The school provides hostel for girls. The boys attend the school as day scholars. The students of carmel School are referred to as Carmelites...
A Convent school affiliated to the ICSEIndian Certificate of Secondary EducationThe Indian Certificate of Secondary Education or ICSE examination is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, a private, non-governmental board of school education in India, for class 10, i.e., grade 10...
board, the school provides education from KindergartenKindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
up to an equivalent of the 12th Standard .It is a co-educational institution founded in 1954. The School celebrated Golden JubileeGolden JubileeA Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary.- In Thailand :King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, celebrated his Golden Jubilee on 9 June 1996.- In the Commonwealth Realms :...
on completing its 50th year in 2004. - Carmel Hindi medium SchoolCarmel School GiridihCarmel School is a convent private school located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand, India. The school provides hostel for girls. The boys attend the school as day scholars. The students of carmel School are referred to as Carmelites...
is a neighbouring branch of Carmel SchoolCarmel School GiridihCarmel School is a convent private school located in the Giridih district of Jharkhand, India. The school provides hostel for girls. The boys attend the school as day scholars. The students of carmel School are referred to as Carmelites...
that provides education to students with a hindi curriculum. - Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Badri Narayan Saha Public SchoolDayanand Anglo-Vedic Badri Narayan Saha Public SchoolThe D.A.V. Badri Narayan Saha Public School, also known as BNS DAV, is a Dayanand Anglo-Vedic school located in Giridih, Jharkhand, India.Since its inception, this institution has provided education to its city dwellers. The old building was donated by J K Saha in the memory of his grandfather...
- Affiliated to the CBSE, this school provides co-educational facilities to the children of the community up to XIIth standard. The school has recently moved to a newly built campus. Currently occupying two campuses, BNS DAV has over 4500 students. - Dayanand Anglo Vedic Public School - Central Coalfields Limited - Affiliated to the CBSE, is run jointly by Central Government run CCLCentral Coalfields LimitedCentral Coalfields Limited is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited , an undertaking of the Government of India. CCL manages the nationalized coal mines of the Coal Mines Authority, Central division...
and DAV College Managing Committee. It is the oldest DAV of the town. It is located on the outskirts of the town in Beniadih. - Giridih H. E. School Established in 1885, lies on the Main Road. Though struggling to reclaim its lost glory from its golden days of 70s70s-Significant people:* Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Roman Emperor * Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Roman Emperor...
, this Govt. High School is the oldest educational institution in town. - Jawahar Navodoya VidyalayaJawahar Navodaya VidyalayaJawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya known as JNV are Indian schools for talented children and form a part of the system of gifted education. The objectives of the scheme are to provide good quality modern education to the children predominantly from rural areas, without regard to their family's...
Giridih, is at Gandey, a few kilometers from Giridih. - Makatpur High School Established in 1942, lies in Makatpur a few metres away from Zila Parishad.
- Pachamba High School and Girls' High School, Pachamba
- Sir J. C. Bose Girls High School on the land donated and established by the Great Indian Scientist Sir Jagdish Chandra BoseJagdish Chandra BoseAcharya Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, CSI, CIE, FRS was a Bengali polymath: a physicist, biologist, botanist, archaeologist, as well as an early writer of science fiction...
. - Subhash Public School is one of the boarding schools in Giridih. This school was started by the Late Dr.Param Hans Singh. This school is affiliated to CBSE up 10+2. It is one of the self-financed non-aided schools in Giridih.
- Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir Affiliated to the C.B.S.E. board, this school provides education up to an equivalent of the 10th Standard.
- Zila High School
Nearby places
Giridih has several religious and scenic tourist spots, including the following:- Śrī Sammeta ShikharjiShikharjiShikharji or Śrī Sammed Śikharjī , also known as the Parasnath Hill, located in Giridih district in Jharkhand state, India, is a major Jain pilgrimage destination and is the most sacred place for Jains in the world. According to Jain belief, twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras attained Moksha ...
(श्री सम्मेत शिखरजी), also known as the Parasnath HillsParasnath HillsParasnath Station is on the Asansol-Gaya section of the Grand Chord and serves the town of Isri in Giridih district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. The Pareshnath Hill, located nearby, with a height of is the highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand. The word Parasnath comes from the 23rd...
, with the highest mountain peakMountainImage:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in Jharkhand, 4480 feet above the sea levelSea levelMean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, is a major JainJainismJainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
pilgrimage destination and one of the most sacred places for Jains in the world. According to Jain belief, twenty of the twenty-four Tirthankaras (teachers of the Jains), (including Parshvanath) attained Moksha (Nirvana) from this place.
- Usri FallsUsri FallsUsri Falls is a waterfall located in Giridih district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is a popular tourist spot.-Falls:The Usri River, a tributary of the Barakar River, flows down a steep gorge. The Usri Falls drop some in three separate streams. It is surrounded by dense forest.The...
: 13 km from town, on the Tundi road, it is one of the most famous picnic spots in Giridih. The Usri river falls a 40 feet steep gorge in three separate streams. The place is surrounded by dense forest of Parasnath Hills. - Khandoli Dam: 10 km from town towards Bengabad, this is a scenic dam, with a beautiful garden and theme park adjoining it. It is a famous spot for adventure water sports and day outing for the people of Giridih and around.
- HariHar Dham: It is a famous Shivlinga temple. A small hamlet about 60 km South-west of Giridih district headquarter under Bagodar Block possesses the largest Shiva Linga of India. Its height is 65 ft. People from all over India come here every year on Shrawan Purnima to worship.
- Langta Baba Samadhi Sthal: This is located in Kharagdiha, about 30 km North West of the town on road towards Jamua. Langta Baba is revered both by the Hindus and the Muslims alike. People offer chadar to his samadhiSamadhiSamadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
as a ritual, and it is believed the wish made here by a true devotee always get fulfilled. - SuryaSuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
Mandir: Close to Kharagdiha, in Mirjaganj, is a famous lotus shaped Sun Temple constructed in the middle of a lake. - Balkhanjo pahad or bodo pahad or Christian hills, a famous picnic spot near aerodrome.
- Dukhiya Mahadev Temple in Udnabad, some 5 k.m from Giridih headquarter, possesses great religious importance. It is situated on the bank of Usri river.
- Kenarinath Dham Mandir, 32 km from Giridih, is a temple famous for its devine virtues.
- Jharkhand Dham, also known as Jharkhandi, is a temple of Lord Shiva. It is situated approximately 55 km from Giridih and 10 km from Rajdhanwar.
- Sona Pahadi in the nearby Beko village, is a temple of lord Hanuman. Its distance is approx. 12 km from Parasnath Railway Station.
- Barganda: A residential locality, situated south of Usri River. A bridge in Barganda connecting the main town to the northern area of town attracts people for walk, as the area is cool and relaxing with abundant trees.
Notable personalities
- Sarasibala BasuSarasibala basuSarasibala Basu belonged to the generation of writers of the Bengali renaissance period. In her short lifespan, she had published more than twenty novels, many short stories and poems, and made a big impact on Bengali literature. An equal quantity of her writings had remained unpublished...
(1886–1929) belonged to the generation of writers of the Bengali renaissance period. In her short lifespan, she had published more than twenty novels, many short stories and poems, and made a big impact on Bengali literature. She spent major part of her life at Giridih.
- Krishna Ballabh Sahay was the elected member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Giridih Constituency for several terms, including the one in which he served as the chief minister of Undivided Bihar during 1963 - 67.
- Babulal MarandiBabulal MarandiBabu Lal Marandi was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He is the founder and national president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha . He is the Member of Parliament from Koderma Lok Sabha constituency. He was the Minister of State, Forests & Environment, Govt...
was born in a remote Kodia Bank village under Tisri block of Giridih district. He was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
- Sir Jagadish Chandra BoseJagdish Chandra BoseAcharya Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, CSI, CIE, FRS was a Bengali polymath: a physicist, biologist, botanist, archaeologist, as well as an early writer of science fiction...
spent his last days in Giridih and the Sir J.C. Bose Girl's High School is named in his honour. He died in Giridih. His then residence is now known as "Vigyan Kendra" run by "Bihar Council of Science and Technology".
- The great literary figure and the Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
also spent some time in Giridih. He wrote his Shivaji Utsav in 1904 while residing in Giridih. The house in which he resided, Dawasika Bhawan, still exists in Giridih.
- The veteran film maker Satyajit RaySatyajit RaySatyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
who is the one of the Oscar recipients from India, spent his childhood in Giridih. He loved his ancestors' scenic beauty place and he sketched his great fictional character (appearing in a series of science fiction books), scientist Professor Shonku as residing in Giridih beside the Usri river.
- The great Saint Langata Baba was born in Giridih district and still his shrine in Kharagdia, Giridih district, where on every purnamasi we celebrate that day as his birthday.
- The late Babu Bajrang Sahay, noted freedom fighter and attorney was born here in 1898.
- Late Sri. Digambar Prasad, noted advocate and social worker. He worked for the upliftment of poor in the nearby villages in Buxidih, and Pachamba.
- Rahat Taslim won Rs 'One Crore' as Prize Money in the popular TV Show Kaun Banega CrorepatiKaun Banega CrorepatiKaun Banega Crorepati is an Indian reality/game show based on the UK game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? which offers a maximum cash prize of £1 million. The show first aired in 2000 and was hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. This was the first appearance of Bachchan on Indian television...
‘2010’ hosted by Mr. Amitabh BachchanAmitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
on Sony TV Channel.