Ranchi

For the ship, see SS Ranchi.

Ranchi Ranchi
capital
Population
• Total	946,455 (census 2,001)

Ranchi (Hindi: राँची) is the capital city of the Indian state of Jharkhand. Ranchi was the centre of the Jharkhand movement for a separate state for the tribal regions of South Bihar, northern Orissa, Western West Bengal and the present eastern Chhattisgarh. Jharkhand State was formed on 15 November 2000 by carving out the Bihar divisions of Chota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas.

The name Ranchi comes from "archi" an Oraon/Kurukh word for the farmer's "baton" in use while ploughing. Before that up to 1927, this place (Ranchi) was known as Rachi. The area was an agricultural locality and Doranda ('duran' 'दुरङ' means song/sing & 'da ah' 'दअः' is water - Mundari words), in between Hinoo & Harmoo River was a better known place for its military base and garrison. The present Purani Ranchi was originally known as the village Archi.

Ranchi is a prominent political, commercial, industrial, and educational hub of eastern India.

History

Earlier the name of the district was Lohardaga. The old district had come into existence after the creation of the non-regulation South – West frontier as a result of the Kol rising in 1831-32. The name of the district was changed in 1899 from Lohardaga to Ranchi after the name of a small village now comprised within the headquarters station.

Early History

In ancient times the tract which corresponds to the district of Ranchi and the neighbouring parganas was in the undisturbed possession of Munda and Oraon tribes and was known to Aryans as Jharkhand or the 'forest territory'. The entire tract was presumably beyond the pale of the direct Hindu influence in ancient India. However, Jarasandh, the mighty emperor of Rajgriha in the Mahabharat period might have exercised some kind of loose supervision over the area. Similarly, Mahapadmanand Agrasen of Magadh, who subdued the entire country upto Orrisa, might have gained some control over Jharkhand as well .

Possibly, the area was included in the Magadh Empire during the reign of Ashoka ( 273-232 B.C. ). With the decline of Mauryan power, King Kharavels of Kalinga led on army through Jharkhand and ransacked Rajgriha and Patliputra. Later , Samudra Gupta (335-380 A.D.) must have passed through the area on his expedition to the Deccan.

The Chotanagpur Raj is believed to have been set up in fifth century A.D. after the fall of the imperial Guptas. Phanimukut was elected the first king It is said that he was found by the Side of a tank under the protection of a Nag ( Snake). Hence the dynasty founded by him was named the Nag Dynasty.

Mughal Period

The Chotanagpur plateau was reffered to as Jharkhand by the Muhammedan historians. Throughout the Turko-Afgan period (upto 1526), the area remained virtually free from external influence . It is only with the accession of Akbar to the throne of Delhi in 1556 that Muslims influence penetrated Jharkhand, then known to the Mughals as Kokrah. In 1585, Akbar sent a force under the command of Shahabaz Khan to reduce the Raja of Chotanagpur to the position of a tributary. Kokrah was included in the subah of Bihar, as mentioned in the Ain-I-Akbari.

After the death of Akbar in 1605. The area presumably regained its independence. This necessitated an expedition in 1616 by Ibrahim Khan, Fateh Jang, Governor of Bihar and brother of Queen Noorjahan, Ibrahim Khan defeated and captured Durian Sal, the 46th Raja of Chotanagpur. He was later released by the Emperor and allowed to resume his previous position as an independent Chief. After that the relations between the Moghul Emperors and the Kokra Chiefs continued to be somewhat friendly and peacefully. A stipulated revenue of Rs. 6000/ was regularly paid.

In 1632 Chotanagpur was as Jagir to the Governor at Patna for annual payment of Rs. 1,36,000.00 . During the reign of Muhammed Shah ( 1719 – 1748 ). Sar Balland Khan, the Governor of Bihar , marched against the Raja of Chotanagpur and forced his submission . Another expedition was led by Fakhruddoula , Governor of Bihar in 1731. He came to terms with the Raja of Ramgarh who owed allegiance to the Raja of Chotanagpur. The district seems to have enjoyed almost an unbroken peace from 1624 when Durjan Sal was released till the appearance of the British in 1772.

British Period

The Diwani of Bengal , Bihar and Orrisa was granted by Emperor Shah Alam-II to the East India Company in 1765. This Diwani included Chotanagpur as a part of Bihar. The internecing quarrels and depredations of the Raja of Gidhaur,the Raja of Ramgarh and the rival claim between Gopal Rai and Chitrajit Rai for the Kingdom of Palamu led the British take an active interest in the area. In 1771 captain Camac attacked Palamu and put Chitrajit Rai as the Raja. The history of Ranchi for sometime thereafter is interlinked with the history of Palamu, Hazaribagh and Singhbhum.

During the operations of Captain Camac against the Raja of Palamu, Dhupnath Shahi , Raja of Chotanagpur rendered useful service to British. He acknowledged the authority of the company and offered to pay an annual tribute of Rs. 12000 instead of Rs. 6000 fixed under the Muslim rule. However, arrears in payment resulted in an expedition against him in 1773, as a result of which an agreement was reached stipulating enhanced payment of Rs. 15000 per year. The Raja was allowed to retain his hold on the internal administration.

Captain Camac was succeeded in 1780 by Chapman, civilian administrator of Chotanagpur. The so-called conquered provinces, were formed into a district under the name of the Ramgarh Hill Tract in 1780 which lasted till 1863. The district of Ranchi was not directly included in this unit but was added under the designation of Tributory Mahal of Chotanagpur. Chapman was at the same time the Judge and the Magistrate and Collector of the district. There was an Adivasi insurrection at Tamar in 1789 which could be quelled only by the use of force. Sporadic disturbances continued for six years more.

Disputes between the Raja and his brothers led to further disturbance in 1807-1808. A force was sent under Major Roughsedge. The Diwan of the Raja who was primarily responsible for the trouble was apprehended and jailed. The Raja paid up arrears of revenue and settled disputes with his brothers. Six police thanas were also set up in 1809, marking the beginning of end of the feudal authority of the Raja. This also marked the induction of non-tribal revenue collecting agents who later oppressed the aboriginal tenants.

The discontent among the tribal population evidenced in the earlier insurrections, found an outlet in the Kol insurrections of 1831-32. The immediate cause for it was the humiliation caused to Mundas by the Sikh and Muslims Thikadars (intermediaries) in revenue collection.. The Mundas got together in Laukha village near Tamar and plundered and destroyed many villages held in farm by Sikh and Muslim Thikadars. They were overpowered by the forces led by captain Wilkinson in 1832.

Ranchi has attracted many Christian missions which have contributed much to the growth of education in the district. The earliest Christian missionaries reached the district in 1845 and the first conversions of the tribal population to Christianity took place in 1850.

1857 Movement

The 7th and 8th Native companies of the Ramgarh Battalion stationed at Hazaribagh rose in revolt on the 30th July. When news of this reached Col. Dalton (who was then the Commissioner of Ranchi), he sent Lt. Graham with two companies of the Ramgarh Light Infantry, thirty horseman and two guns to disarm the regiment at Hazaribagh. Meanwhile, the insurgents at Hazaribagh Started marching to Ranchi by the road via Badam. Getting news of this, the infantry with Lt.Graham also rose against British authority and lcommenced their return journey to Ranchi. Lt. Graham proceeded to Hazaribagh with the cavalry which remained loyal to him and reached there on the 2nd August. The deserters from Lt. Graham’s contigent returned to the army station at Doranda and successfully exhorted the Sepoys there to rise against British authority .In view of this, Col.Dalton left Ranchi for Hazaribagh. The insurgent troops at Doranda burnt the offices and Courts of the district office and some bungalows and set free the prisoners in jail. They expected the insurgents from Hazaribagh to join them but when the latter did not reach Doranda, they set out in the third week of September to join Babu Kuer Singh in Shahabad. They were attacked and defeated on the 2nd October, 1857 at Chatra under a British force commanded by Major English. Meanwhile, Col. Dalton returned to Ranchi on 22nd September with a contingent of force. The courts were reopened and peace and order restored.

Main Events after 1857

The infiltration of the British in the political horizon of Chotanagpur also synchronized with a great socio-economic revolution. Agrarian discontent against the imposition of begari (forced labour) and illegal enhancement of rent by the intermediaries resulted in the Sardari agitation , so called due to the instigation and leadership provided by the Sardars. By 1887 the movement had grown and many Mundas and Oraon cultivators refused to pay rent to the landlords. The Sardari agitation (or Larai as it was called ) was at its height in 1895 when a socio-religious leader named Birsa Munda appeared on the scene. The importance of his role in the social history of Ranchi is borne out by the appllation of Birsa Bhagwan given to him.

The movement led by Birsa Munda was half agrarian and half religious, it had a direct connection with agrarian unrest and also appeared to have been influenced by Christian ideas. Birsa Munda was an apostate from Christianity. His teaching was partly spiritual, partly revolutionary. He proclaimed that the land belonged to the people who had reclaimed it from forests, and therefore, no rent should be paid for it. He asserted that he was the Messiah and claimed divine powers of healing.

Birsa’s crusade brought about an armed rising of the deluded peasantry which was quickly suppressed. Birsa died in the jail in 1900.

A regious movement among the Oraons was initiated by Jatra Oraon of Bishunpur police station in 1914. The Tana Bhagat movement , as it was called , also had its genesis in agrarian issues and particularly the economic disparity between Christian converts and the traditional or sansari Oraons. The non-Cooperation movement launched by Jatra Oraon and his associates soon spread even to Palamu and Hazaribagh.

The district played an important role in the national freedom movement. Under the guidance of Ganesh Chandra Ghosh Ranchi became an important center of work for the follower’s of Revolutionary party. Ranchi was the venue of a meeting between Mahatma Gandhi and Sir Edward Albert Gait, Lieutenant Governor of Bihar and Orrisa on 4th June and again on 22nd Sept.1917 in the context of the Champaran Indigo planters repressive measures against the raiyats of that district. The Champaran agrarian law subsequently passed under the name of Bihar and Orrisa Act-I of 1918.

The non-Cooperation movement in Ranchi district followed the pattern as elsewhere in India. The movement caught the imagination of the people particularly the Tana Bhagats and a large number of them attended the Gaya session of the congress in December 1922 which was presided over by Deshbandhu Chittranjan Das. These Tana Bhagats returned home deeply impressed with the message of freedom Movement. Barefooted they used to trek over long distances with congress flags in their hands and they carried the message to the masses in the interior. They attended the meetings organized by the non-cooperation workers.

On 5th October, 1926, a khadi exhibition was opened at Ranchi in presence of Sri Rajendra Prasad in the local Arya Samaj Hall. The Tana Bhagats also attended it. This was a part of the constructive programme launched by Mahatma Gandhi after he had suspended the non-cooperation Movement in 1922. The Simon Commission was boy-cotted in 1927. On 4th Aprill, 1930, Tarun Singh (Youth league) of Ranchi organized a meeting in the local municipal park which was attended by a large number of students from different educational institutions. The leaders appealed to them to join the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The Salt Satyagrah which was launched at the behest of Mahatma Gandhi, received great response in Ranchi District . In the wake of the quit India Revolution of 1942 the arrest of national leaders led to strikes , processions, demonstrations and also disruption of the lines of communications. The district took an active part in the Subsequent events which led to country’s indepedence in 1947.

Geography

Ranchi is located at 23.35°N 85.33°E / 23.35; 85.33. The total area covered by Ranchi - Municipal Area is about 141 square kilometers and the average elevation of the city is 661 m above MSL.

Geographically, Ranchi is located on southern part of the Chota Nagpur plateau which forms the eastern edge of the Deccan plateau system. The area surrounding Ranchi has been endowed with natural attractions and it is referred to as the “City of Waterfalls”. The most popular waterfalls are Dasham, Hundru, Jonha Falls, Hirni and Panchghat, which are all active perennially.

The Subarnarekha river and its tributaries constitute the local river system. Dams in Kanke, Rukka and Hatia have been built over these channels to cater to the water requirements of the local population.

Ranchi has a hilly topography and its combination with dense tropical forests ensures that it enjoys a comparatively moderate climate compared to the rest of the state.

Climate

Ranchi
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     23     22 9     30     26 13     27     31 18     32     36 22     55     37 24     199     34 24     346     29 23     329     29 22     282     29 22     89     28 17     8.7     26 12     6.1     22 9 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.9     72 48     1.2     78 55     1     88 64     1.2     96 71     2.1     99 74     7.8     92 75     14     84 73     13     83 72     11     84 71     3.5     83 62     0.3     78 54     0.2     72 49 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Ranchi has a sub-tropical climate. Temperature ranges from maximum 37 to 20°C during summer, and minimum 22 to 3°C during winter. The annual rainfall is about 1530 mm. From June to September the rainfall level is about 1,100 mm.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Ranchi had a population of 846,454. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ranchi has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%. In Ranchi, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. The city witnessed a sudden surge in population after the declaration of the new state of Jharkhand in 2000. Owing to the rising employment opportunities and opening of numerous regional and state level offices, banks, and marketing companies, the city witnessed the influx of migrants. Ranchi has always enjoyed a cosmopolitan environment and still entails a mix of people from different regions of the country.

Education

Primary and Secondary Schools

Ranchi is a hub for Primary and secondary schools. The major schools include Jawahar Vidya Mandir, DPS,St. Xaviers, St. Thomas,St. Francis Harmu, DAV Hehal, DAV Kalpil Dev. Ranchi is reputed to be a centre of education, and it also attracts students from the neighbouring cities, towns as well as the States. Most of the government-run schools in Ranchi are affiliated to Jharkhand Academic Council, while most of the private schools are affiliated to ICSE and/or CBSE boards. A number of Christian Schools are convents or are run by the Jesuit missionaries of the Roman Catholic, Gossner, Evangelical, and Lutheran Churches and the Churches of North India.

Higher Education

Most of the colleges and institutions of higher education of Ranchi are under the jurisdiction of Ranchi University. There are also Agicultural and Veterinary Colleges, which are part of the Birsa Agricultural University located at Kanke.

St. Xavier's College, Yogoda Satsang College, Marwari Boys' College, Birla Institute of Technology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Central Institute of Psychiatry, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology,Gossner College and Doranda College are other major local institutions.

A new Indian Institute of Management at Ranchi has been proposed recently. As of now, the Jharkhand government has already allotted 214 acres of land for construction of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Kanke thus paving the way for country's premier B-School in the state. The decision to allot land for IIM was taken after the Union government decided to set up a B-School in Jharkhand in 2008. The Centre has also agreed to provide financial support of Rs 250 crore for the institute, which will become functional by 2010.

Transportation and commuting

Road

Ranchi has road connectivity with 2 National Highways (NH-23 & 33) crossing it and NH-75 originating here. Recently to May 2009 the state government with the support of NHDC has constituted a plan to expand the road connectivity of different district headquarters to this capital city with 4-lane highways of international standards.

One peculiarity of this capital city is that there is no local bus services. For commuting one can hire a cycle rickshaw, auto rickshaw, or taxi.

The State Bus Terminus near the Ranch Railway station has direct buses available for traveling to Bokaro Steel City, Jamshedpur, Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Alipurduar, Siliguri, Kolkata, or Rourkela. The State Bus Terminus is located near the Ranchi Railway station; and Khad Garaha and Ratu Road, both private bus agencies, have similar options.

A ring road circling around the City has been proposed by the government to ease the traffic chaos in the city. The first phase of the work has already started and it covers almost one quarter of the complete RING. (23 km). In the first stage, the state government would undertake the construction work of connecting the state capital’s outskirts — Kathi Tand (near Ratu on Ranchi-Daltonganj highway) and Karma (on Ranchi-Ramgarh road). It would help reduce the pressure of heavy vehicles on the streets of the state capital, as the buses and trucks plying on Ranchi-Daltonganj, Ranchi-Gumla and Ranchi-Ramgarh routes would not enter the city. The state capital’s inhabitants, particularly those residing in the localities dotting the busy Ratu Road and Kanta Toli (Hazaribagh Road), would heave a sigh of relief after the project work starts. Several fatal accidents have taken place in these two areas. In the original specifications, two flyovers were proposed at Kathi Tand (which comes under NH-75 on Ranchi-Daltonganj stretch) and at Karma (NH-33). The state government can undertake the flyover project only after getting clearance from the Union ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The total length of the complete RING road has been proposed to be 85 km.

Rail

Ranchi has witnessed growth in railway connectivity between 2006-9. The annual Railway budgets allocated funds for growth due to demand. Currently Ranchi has frequent connectivity with all major centres in India.

The Railway Stations in the city are the following: Tatisilwai, Namkum, Ranchi Junction, Argora & Hatia

Air

Ranchi has a domestic airport - Birsa Munda Airport (Code: IXR) managed by the Airports Authority of India. The airport terminal is situated in Hinoo approximately 7 km south of the city center. The single runway airport is approximately 10000 feet in length and supports navigation/traffic control systems such as HIRL and PAPI. Airlines include Indian Airlines, JetLite, Kingfisher Red, Air Deccan and MDLR Airlines. Ranchi is connected with all major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin,Jamshedpur and Chennai via air.

Trade, commerce, and industry

As an important administrative and military base of the eastern India during the British Raj, Ranchi developed as an important centre of trade and commerce, including a traditional base for sericulture and manufacture of shellac. Villages around Ranchi has been described as the 'vegetable bowl' of Jharkhand and truckloads of green vegetables are transported from the city to different parts of Jharkhand, Bihar, as also to Kolkata.

After India gained independence, Ranchi continued to grow and a number of industrial facilities were located in and around the city, and it emerged as an important industrial centre. Along with other two industrial townships of Jamshedpur and Bokaro, it completes the industrial structure of Jharkhand. Techno-industrial facilities of Ranchi include Heavy Engineering Corporation, MECON, CCL, and Shipping Corporation of India

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) founded its research and development center here in 1974 and today it is the largest steel research centre of the country, employing over 350 scientists and addressing the R&D needs of SAIL while also providing diverse scientific services to other organizations on contract basis.

Health care facilities and important hospitals

The city is traditionally the medical centre for the entire region of about 400 km in radius. Many hospitals, both private and public, dot the city.

• The Rajendra Medical College now known as Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, RIMS is the largest of three medical colleges in the state. Neurodiagnostic facilities exist in the Advanced Diagnostic Centre. The Indian corporate hospital chain (Apollo Hospitals Group) runs a private hospital named Abdur Razzaque Ansari Memorial Hospital (ARAM) which is the only super speciality hospital in this area of the country. It was founded in 1996 by the Chotanagpur Regional Handloom Weavers Co-operative Union Ltd and the members of the family of the late Abdur Razzaque Ansari which is on the outskirts of the city.

• Ranchi is famous across India for its psychiatric care centers. Ranchi has some of the largest facilities for mentally-challenged patients at Kanke. There are three major hospitals taking care of patients with psychiatric illnesses.

1. Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke
2. RINPAS, Kanke

Tourist attractions

Temples

Jonha Falls - This is a popular tourist destination situated 40 km from the City.

• Rajrappa Mandir About 65 km from Ranchi for the worship of Goddess Kali, known as Chhinnamastika. Also a tourist place; has great picnic spots.
• Pahari Temple - Heart of the city
• Durga Badi - Near Firayalal Chowk at the heart of the city.
• Jagannathpur Temple - Built in the architectural style of Puri temples about 300 years old
• Surya Temple - 38 km from Ranchi on Ranchi-Tata NH Road
• Parasnath or Shikharjee - A major pilgrimage of the Jain's about 200 km from Ranchi in Girdih District.
• Ramakrishna Mission and Ashram, Morabadi
• Dewri Temple - 58 km from Ranchi on Ranchi-Tata NH 33 road
• Doranda Jain Mandir - 4 km from Ranchi
• Rahmat Colony - A predominantly Muslim locality
• Head Quarters of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, founded by Paramahansa Yogananda, situated about 200 metres from Ranchi railway station.

Dhurwa dam 2 km from vidhan sabha

• Buddha Vihar, Chhotanagpur Buddha Society, Nepal House, Doranda Ranchi.

Hirini Falls are One Of the Famous Falls of Ranchi(Jharkhand)

Festivals

Ranchi is home to people of many castes, creeds and sects. All festivals are celebrated with pomp, glory and in harmony. People from nearby as well as far off places visit Ranchi during the holidays.

Parks and resorts

Ranchi is known as being a major city with many waterfalls near it.

• Nakshatra Van - Heart of the city, near Raj Bhawan (Governor's House)

• Aqua World (Machhli Ghar)- Situated just beside Nakshtra Van, near Raj Bhawan.

• Birsa Zoological Park - 14 km from Ranchi

• Night Safari - 14 km from Ranchi

• Deer Park - 16 km from Ranchi on Ranchi-Khunti Road

• Sidhu Kaanhu Park - Heart of the city

• Dr. Zakhir Hussain Park - Heart of the city

• Ranchi Hill/ Rici Buru - Pahari Baba Temple - Heart of the city.

• Tagore hill - Morabadi, 5 km from the center of the city

• Rock Garden - Kanke Road, 4 km from the center of the city

• Fun Castle - Ratu, 7 km from Ranchi

• Crocodile Farm - Ormanjhi, 19 km from Ranchi

• Ranchi Lake - Heart of the city

• Dhurwa Dam

• Jonha Falls - About 35 km from Ranchi

Other than these recognized parks (most of which have entry fee), there are many open playgrounds which are vanishing fast as the government/administration has initiated massive constructions on available government lands.

Media

The city has several newspapers, the most circulated being Prabhat Khabar, Dainik Jagran, and Aaj Daily.

There are also some local news channels delivered through the cable TV network, PBL Nazar, and Jharkhand TV. Besides these local channels, ETV Bihar/Jharkhand and Sahara Samay Bihar/Jharkhand are two regional channels for this state run by Indian news networks.

Besides the AIR (All India Radio) run Vividh Bharti 103.3 FM, radio station, there are private FM Channels as well. Radiomantra 91.9 FM...(life ka mantra) is owned by the Dainik Jagran Media house. Big 92.7 FM which a joint venture by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani and Adlabs, 104.8 Radio Dhoom owned by Prabhat Khabar has recently been launched and the B.A.G group's venture 106.4 FM Radio Dhamaal comprises the Fm channel network in Ranchi.

Sports

Cricket is a popular sport in Ranchi. MS Dhoni, the captain of Indian Test, One Day and T20 Team, was born and brought up in Ranchi. He led the team to win the T-20 cricket world cup 2007. The popularity of cricket in the state has grown by leaps and bounds, after Dhoni was made captain of the Indian Cricket Team.

The city has one of the best field hockey facilities, with a newly constructed arsto turf stadium. Quite a number of players, specially women, from Jharkhand have represented India. Jaipal Singh Munda was the captain of the Indian Hockey team during the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, though he did not lead the team in the final.

- Akash Ghosal, Indian trapeze artist, was born here. He has worked with people such as Theo Dumothier, French trapeze artist and Adam Elkhadem of Egypt.

External links

• Travel guide and more about Ranchi
• Template:Wikitravel
• Official Website for Ranchi Municipal Corporation
• Official Website for Ranchi
• Ranchi's Artists Group - 'CARDS', web page
• Google Group for people connected to Ranchi
• Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra - Leading NGO of Ranchi