Mokama
Mokama
मोकामा Mokameh | |
|---|---|
city | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Bihar |
| Region | Magadh |
| District | Patna |
| Elevation | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 96,441 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, Magadhi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 803302 |
| Telephone code | 916132 |
| Sex ratio | 1000/892 ♂/♀ |
| Literacy | 96.00% |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Munger |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Mokameh(183) |
| Climate | ETh (Köppen) |
| Precipitation | 1,000 millimetres (39 in) |
| Website | patna |
Mokama is a city and a municipality in Patna district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is located 90 KM east of Patna and is on the rail route connecting Kolkata and New Delhi via Patna. It is said that Mokama (मोकामा) was on the route of the armies moving along the river Ganges during the Mughal or British periods. It was their place of resting or Mukam (मुकाम) which means destination in Hindustani. So the name Mokama came into being over the years.
Geography
Mokama is situated on the southern banks of the Ganges. The landscape here is absolutely plain. Here the land strip along the north of Ganges is called Diara which submerges in Ganges during monsoons, On the south of Mokameh is the "Tal" region which also gets submerged with the backwaters of the Ganges during the monsoons. Under Mokamah constituency Vill Maranchi consists of the elite, and is domainated by bhumihars, an upper caste of Bihar.
Some of the important localities in Mokama municipality are Sakarwar Tola, Moldiar Tola, Dheorani Tola, Kowabhong and Chintamanichak,Sahwegpur, Shikharichak, Panchmahala,Tatwa Toli,Dr. Toli,Farsi Muhalla,Indira Nagar,Bhagwan Pur, Modan Gachi, Chandvari, Chatarpura,Modan Tola, Kachra MUhalla, & Aunta Gram. Various temple at the localities are Parshuram Sthan, Bari Durga Sthan, Chhoti Durga Sthan etc. C.R.P.F. Group Centre is located at the bank of the Ganges and R.P.F. Training Centre functions along with the boundaries of Group Centre Mokamaghat.
Economy
Not surprisingly, the main occupation is agriculture. Traveling through the city, one can hardly see anything, other than crop fields. Main crops are, Lentils, Chickpea, mustard and vegetables. Papaya is also grown here. However, major portion of the Diara and Tal lands remain submerged for 3 months, giving an impression of sea. Mokameh, once was developing as a market and a trading place. But it has suffered because of rise of local criminals and huge haftas demanded by them. Mokama boasts of factories of McDowell's and Bata Shoes, along with Bharat Wagon and Engineering.
Transport
Mokama is connected to all the major cities of India by rail and road. Mokama is the junction point of NH 82 and NH 31. Rajendra Setu located near Mokama connects it to North Bihar. During the tenure of MLA anant singhthe development of roads has taken place. Mokama Junction is the railway station of the region owned by Indian Railways.
Demographics
As of 2010[update] India census,[1] Mokama had a population of 96,441. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Mokama has a literacy rate of 96%, higher than the national average of 69.5%: male literacy is 99%, and female literacy is 93%. In Mokama, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.AUNTA is the most developed village of Mokama block. This is only village in mokama which is known as Adarsh Gram (model village) and the well known educated ward of mokama is Chintamanichak and AUNTA.Many high-ranked officers belonged to this block.Although the history of mokama also starts from Chintamanichak.There is a book written on the evolution of this town by Bachha babu and Prof Niranjan kumar of Chintamanichak. There are so many industries in Aunta. There is a CRPF Base group centre at Mokamaghat as well as a RPF training centre also.
People and Culture
Most people speak Magadhi here, a dialect called Magahi locally. However, it changes considerably across a couple of Kilometres. Families are very traditional, and often large. However, as people are getting education, they are becoming liberal. Marriages are generally arranged and they involve a large sum of dowry, although illegal. Bride and groom meet only after marriage. Caste system is ingrained in the social fabric of the place in the same way as it exists in other parts of Bihar. Consequently caste based politics plays an important role in the life of the people here. The continuously diminishing infrastructure and unemployment have forced the people to migrate to other parts of India for better opportunities, But the residents of this area is well off then other part of Bihar or North Bihar . The common attire of the people includes dhoti, kurta and gamchha, a large rectangular cotton cloth on their shoulders or tied round heads. Women dress in sarees. The most awaited and widely celebrated festival is Chhath, a festival where people worship the setting and the rising Sun in the month of October/November. About 1.5 km west form mokama station lies a famous pilgrim place named Baba Parsuram Mandir. Sherpur village is a very peaceful & well educated place in Mokama block.
Folklore
A folklore on the romantic love story of Reshma and Chuharmal is based on the real life incident of these two persons from Mokama.[2] It is a rare example of how love may break the rigid barriers of caste that exist in this region. Chuharmal hailed from a family of Dusadh in Anjani village and Reshma was from the good family of that area (That time no Bhumihar community was at Mokama.)[3] As a marriage between the persons belonging to these two castes is not accepted by the society, it is said that this relationship had a very tragic end. This old story has become a part of the folk tale of the region. Many of the facts related to this can still be traced. There is a place of worship named Chuharmalthan,on the outskirts of Mokama, where Chuharmal is being worshipped by the people. A fair is being organised in this area every year in the memory of this legendary figure.[4] Also every year in December a fair is organised in the Nazrath Church compound in the memory of MAA MARIYAM, mother of Jesus Christ.
Role of people in independence
Many freedom fighters belonged to this area. Their role is unforgettable. A SHAHEED GATE is built at the death place of young revolutionary, Prafulla Chaki, and people around here also pay tribute on his death anniversary every year.
References
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Archaeological Survey of India, Reports, Volume 8. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing. 1878. p. 101. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ Badri Narayan (2001). Documenting dissent: contesting fables, contested memories, and dalit political discourse. Indian Institute of Advanced Study. pp. 41, 45. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ Badri Narayan Tiwari (June 2003). Badri Narayan: Folklore of Reshma and Chuharmal. New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies 5. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
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