BJP engaged in 'savarna' mobilisation

The spectre of former JD(U) leader and Bihar CM Jagannath Mishra is haunting NDA, specially BJP, in the Mithila region. Aware of the possible subversive or negative impact of the quitting of JD(U) by Mishra, the state BJP has engaged itself in active mobilisation of the "savarna samaj (upper caste sections)" in the region in favour of NDA.

The region accounts for three parliamentary constituencies -- Darbhanga, Madhubani and Jhanjharpur. While BJP is contesting Madhubani and Darbhanga seats, the Jhanjharpur seat has gone to JD(U). Incidentally, Mishra, in the past, has contested the Jhanjharpur seat, though unsuccessfully. Yet, the damage that he could cause is very much on the radar of NDA, specially BJP. It has been assumed that the adverse impact of the move of Mishra on NDA would be immediate. The poll would be held in the second phase.

Mishra had aired his concerns on the devastations wrought by the Kosi floods in the five districts, and had also queered the pitch for CM Nitish Kumar. Later, he quit JD(U), while his son Nitish Mishra, a JD(U) aspirant for the Jhanjharpur seat, resigned from the council of ministers. Senior Mishra cosied up to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, and also announced to support any candidate who could strengthen secular and democratic traditions.

BJP, in effect, has taken to damage control exercise. In less than a week, two of its state leaders -- former state president Tara Kant Jha and the party's state spokesman Vinod Narayan Jha -- have aired their concerns on the region to influence the voting behaviour of the people, specially the upper caste sections. While Tara Kant Jha, among other things, recently pointed to the contribution of NDA in securing recognition for Maithili language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Vinod Narayan Jha, after a week long tour of the region, reiterated it on Saturday.

He dubbed Mishra as "swayambhu neta (self-proclaimed leader)". Due to his new association with Lalu and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan, he also called Mishra Lalu's "guru" and "chaaraa ghotaale ka humsafar", and put him as "naya humsafar" of Ram Vilas Paswan! He, finally, lambasted Mishra for claiming that the honeymoon of Brahmins (Maithil) with NDA in the Mithila region was over, and also blasted UPA.

"Not only the Brahmin community of the region, but all other sections are solidly behind NDA," Vinod Narayan said, adding: "Brahmins, in particular, constitute the intelligentsia. They have always longed for development and law and order, which the state NDA government has given in the last three and half years. This section is positively oriented towards NDA." link

Madhubani District of Bihar

The district of Madhubani was carved out of the old Darbhanga district in the year 1972 as a result of reorganisation of the districts in the State. This was formerly the northern subdivision of Darbhanga district. It consists of 21 Development Blocks. Bounded on the north by a hill region of Nepal and extending to the border of its parent district Darbhanga in the south, Sitamarhi in the west and Supaul in the east, Madhubani fairly represents the centre of the territory once known as Mithila and the district has maintained a distinct individuality of its own.This is the centre of Mithila, a region where the main language is Maithili.

History of Madhubani

Practically there are no prehistoric sites in the district though remains of the earliest aboriginal population can be seen in some parts of the district. Hunter in his "Statistical Accounts" has referred to the existence of the people, known as the Tharus in the erstwhile old subdivision of Madhubani. The Bhars are also believed to have belonged to some aboriginal race though nothing positive about them is known from any reliable source. The Bihar settlements in the north-eastern part of the district indicate that they possibly wielded some power in the remote part. From the work of Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterji entitled 'Kiratajanakirti' it appears that Kiratas also inhabited the district for a considerable period. The Mahabharata also throws light on the Kirata culture. Prior to the Aryanisation of this land the area seems to have been under the aboriginal population and Shiva worship was predominant. The association of the family of Janaka with the worship of lord Shiva is an indication of the fact that though they formed the vanguard of Aryan culture they had to compromise with the local religious belief, dominated by the Shaivas. The kingdom of Videha included a greater portion of the district. In course of time it was ruled by a successive line of kings known as Janakas.

If tradition is to be relied upon, the Pandavas during their exile stayed in some portion of the present district and Pandaul (block headquarters) is associated with them. Janakpur, capital of Videha is situated at a short distance to the north-west of the district in the Nepalese territory and tradition points to the village of Phulhar in the north- east corner of the Benipatti thana as the flower- garden where the kings' priests used to gather flowers for worship and identifies its temple with that of Devi Girija, which was worshipped by Sita before her marriage with Ram. Legends and traditions associate this district with a number of sages and master- minds of ancient times. Village Kakraul is associated with Kapil, Ahiari with Ahilya wife of Gautama, Bisaul with Vishwamitra and Jagban with Yajnavalkya (ascribed to the great sage of Mithila).

Bimbisar, the founder of the Magadhan imperial power aspired for imperial power and the ambition ran in the veins of his son, Ajat Shatru as well. Ajat Shatru subdued the Lichchhavis and conquered the whole of North Bihar. He brought Mithila under the control of the Magadhan empire. The history of the Lichchhavis comes down unbroken to the days of the imperial Guptas. The Lichchhavis founded a kingdom in Nepal and even the earliest royal house of Tibet owed its origin to the Lichchhavis of Vaishali. The migration of Lichchhavis to Nepal and Tibet marks a great event in the history of North Bihar and the district of Madhubani being at the core of the region must have played a dominant part in this great trek as the route to Nepal lay through this district.

Madhubani must have shared in the religious and cultural ferment which so deeply stirred the hearts of the people of the Gangetic Valley in the 6th century B.C. Since the whole of North Bihar was deeply influenced by the teachings of two great reformers (Mahavira and Buddha) it is only natural to infer that the people of Madhubani actively participated in the propagation of these reform movements. According to one theory Mahavira himself was a Vaideha domiciled in the suburb of Vaishali and was the son of a daughter of Mithila. Buddha also visited Mithila thrice and he had a great love for Vaishali. It may be further noted here that Buddha's most devoted disciple, Anand was a Vaidehamuni, a monk of the land of Videhas. Both the Jain and the Buddhist literature contain innumerable references to the district of Madhubani and its neighboring territories. Very little is known about the history of Madhubani from the time of the Kusanas to the rise of the Guptas.

After a temporary period of instability, Madhubani came under the control of the Oinwaras, also known as the Kameshwara Thakura or the Sugauna dynasty. These Hindu chiefs were left undisturbed by the whole of Mithila. When Hajiriyas of Bengal divided Tirhut into two parts, the Oinwar Raja shifted his capital to Sugauna near Madhubani. The district thereafter remained a part of the Mughal Subah. There was no event of great significance during the next century and a half.

The decisive victory of the British in the battle of Buxar in 1764 gave them undisputed sway over the Lower Provinces of Bengal. As a consequence, Madhubani, along with other parts of Bihar, passed under the control of British. The British administrators took steps to establish law and order. Besides the trouble- mongers in Mithila, they had also to deal with the incursions of the Nepalese. The trouble with Nepal culminated in the Indo-Nepalese war. After concluding peace with Nepal, the British administrators had a comparatively quiet time till the 1857 movement.

In 1857, patriotic fervour raged-high in Madhubani district as in many other districts of Bihar. Later the call of the non-co-operation movement also found adequate response in the district of Madhubani and many people volunteered to serve the cause championed by Mahatma Gandhi. Khadi spinning and weaving was adopted as a must for congress workers. A Khadi centre was opened at Madhubani. It gradually expanded its activities. Khadi became very popular and Madhubani soon emerged as a renowned centre of Khadi production. The popularity of Khadi weaving and spinning in the district went a long way in inspiring the people towards the nationalist cause. Madhubani district played an important role in the country's freedom struggle.

Religious, Historical and Archaeological Places

Madhubani has a number of places having tourist interest from religious, historical and archaeological point of view. Some of the prominent places are Andhratharhi, Balirajpur, Mangrauni, Ucchaith, Bhawanipur, Saurath, Satghara, Bisfi etc. Brief Description of Places of Religious, Historical and Archeological Importance in villages and places and tourist interest in the town of the district:

1. Saurath

This is a road side village on Madhubani-Jaynagar road and contains a temple known as Somnath Mahadev. It owes its importance to the annual Sabha held by Maithili Brahmins for negotiating marriages. Many Panjikars who keep the genealogical records of the different families reside here and outside.

2. Kapileswarsthan

A village situated nine kilometers from Madhubani District Head Quarter. The village is noted for its Shiva Temple, also known as Kapileswarsthan. Numerous devotees congregate at the temple every Monday and particularly in the month of Shravan. A large fair is also held on the occasion of Maha Shiva Ratri.

3. Uchaitha

The village in Benipatti block is noted for its temple of Bhagwati on the western bank of river Thumne. According to a legend, the renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidas was blessed by Bhagwati at this place.

4. Bhawanipur

It is a large village situated 5kms from the block headquarter of Pandaul, the village is noted for its temple of Ugaranath and traditional association with famous poet, Vidyapati. As the legend says, Vidyapati was such a great devotee of Lord Shiva that the latter began to serve Vidyapati as his servant named Ugana.

Area

• Madhubani occupies a total of 3501 sq. kms.

• Main Rivers are Kamla , Kareh, Balan, Bhutahi Balan, Gehuan, Supen, Trishula, Jeevachh, Koshi and Adhwara Group.

• High Flood Level is 54.017 m.

• Whole District is under Earthquake Zone 5.

• Total Cropped Area - 218381 Hect.

• Barren /Uncultivable Land - 1456.5 Hect

• Land under Non-agricultural use - 51273.24 Hect

• Cultivable Barren Land - 333.32 Hect

• Permanent Pasture - 1372.71 Hect

• Miscellaneous Trees - 8835.90 Hect

• Cultivable Land - 232724 Hect

• Cropping Intensity - 134.23 %

Rainfall

• Varies between 900mm and 1300 mm.

• Average Rainfall = 1273.2 mm.

Administrative Units

1.	No. of Sub-Divisions	5
2.	No. of Blocks	21
3.	No. of Circles	20
4.	No. of Panchayats	399
5.	No. of Villages	1111
6.	No. of Police Stations	18
7.	No. of Assisting Thana	13
8.	No. of Outposts	5
9.	No. of Town Outposts	4
10.	No. of Jail	2
11.	No. of MP Constituencies	2
12.	No. of MLA Constituencies	11
13.	No. of Zila Parishad Members	56
14.	No. of Panchayat Samiti Members	555
15.	No. of Gram Panchayat Members	5523