Jharkhand

Jharkhand is a landlocked state located in eastern India.

Being landlocked means it is surrounded by land rather than by an ocean. It shares borders with several Indian states. West Bengal lies to the east, and Odisha is to the south. Chhattisgarh is located to the west. To the north sits Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh is near the northwest.

The state is the 15th largest in India by area. It is also the 14th largest by population. Ranchi serves as the capital city, while Dumka is the sub-capital.

The name Jharkhand provides a clue to its natural landscape. In various Indo-Aryan languages, "Jhar" means forest and "Khand" means land. Therefore, the name translates to "the land of forests."

This identity is reflected in the region's many hills and waterfalls. The state is also a center for religious life. Major holy sites include Baidyanath Dham, Parasnath, Dewri, and Rajrappa. The official language used in the state is Hindi.

Human history in this region stretches back to the Mesolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

Ancient cave paintings from the Meso-chalcolithic period exist in the Isko area of Hazaribagh. These date between 9000 and 5000 BCE. Archaeologists have found stone tools in the Chota Nagpur Plateau from the Neolithic period. During the 2nd millennium BCE, the Copper Hoard Culture emerged as copper tools spread. Later, iron slags and tools were discovered in Singhbhum dating to 1400 BCE. Many empires, such as the Maurya and Gupta, once ruled these lands.

During the Mauryan period, the region consisted of forest states called Atavika states. These states eventually accepted the authority of the Maurya Empire under Ashoka. In the 7th century, the Chinese traveller Xuanzang passed through the area. He identified the kingdom as Karnasuvarna, ruled by Shashanka. In the medieval period, various dynasties governed the land. These included the Nagvanshi, Pala, and Chero rulers. A Buddhist monastery from the 10th-century Pala period was found in Hazaribagh.

An example of ancient architecture is the 9th-century Khakparta Temple.

The modern history of Jharkhand involves significant resistance against British rule. The British East India Company controlled various territories in the 18th century. This led to many spontaneous revolts by local people. The Chuar Rebellion was one of the first major uprisings. In 1855, the Santhal rebellion broke out under brothers Sidhu and Kanhu.

This conflict was caused by the imposition of taxes. Later, the Birsa Munda revolt took place between 1895 and 1900. In 1940, the Indian National Congress held a major session in Ramgarh.

Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru attended this meeting.

Jharkhand is vital to India's economy due to its vast mineral wealth. The state accounts for more than 40% of India's total mineral production.

This resource wealth is often discussed alongside the term "resource curse." This term describes a situation where a place has many resources but faces economic hardship. According to the 2011 census, 39.1% of the population lives below the poverty line. Additionally, 19.6% of children under five years of age are malnourished. The state is primarily rural, with only 24% of people living in cities.

The movement for a separate state was a long political process. In 1928, the Unnati Samaj demanded a tribal state in eastern India. Later, the Jharkhand Party was led by Jaipal Singh Munda. In 1955, they requested a separate state for the tribal areas of South Bihar. This request was rejected due to language differences and economic concerns. Eventually, new groups like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha were formed in 1972. These groups helped push for the distinct identity Jharkhand holds today.