According to legends, the royal family of the Kingdom of Dhalbhum ware originally the members of the primitive Bhumij race, who was selected by the other Bhumij chiefs as their feudal ruler.[1] The zamindars later became Hinduised, and adopted the title 'Dhal' or 'Dhabal Deo'. These families kept up a sort of semi-royal state and dignified their heir-apparent and those in immediate succession with title of honor, which denotes precedence. Thus, in the Dhal dynasty of Dhalbhum, the oldest son of the ruling king (Rajah) took the title of Jubraj (Yuvraj), the second that of Hikkim, the third of Bara Thakur, the fourth that of Kuar, the fifth that of Musib and the rest Babu.
The area of the kingdom of Dhalbhum was approximately 1,200-square-mile (3,100 km2). Raja Jaganath constructed the Rankini Mandir at Galudih. But due to some problem, he shifted the Kali temple along with all the associates and other people to Ghatsila and built up a temple of goddess Kali, beside Ghatshila police station which is known as Rankini Mata.
Ghatshila was the administrative capital of Dhalbhum. Ghatshila has several palaces, schools and administrative buildings constructed by the rulers of Dhalbhum zamindari.
Rebellions
After several attempts in 1765, the British invaded the Dhalbhum and Ghatshila areas in 1767. The Raja of Ghatshila resisted along with his countrymen, but was later arrested and his nephew Jagannath Dhal was appointed as the new ruler. In 1767, Jagannath Singh Patar, a zamindar of Dampara (Ghatshila) in Dhalbhum, revolted against the enhanced revenue taxes of the British East India Company. This revolt is well known as Chuar rebellion, the first revolt against British East India Company in Bengal Presidency.[2][3]
Inspired by the Dampara zamindar Jagannath Patar, the Raja declared himself as an independent ruler of Dhalbhum and refused to pay taxes to the British. Captain Morgan was sent to Ghatshila, Raja Jagannath was removed from his throne and made Baikunth Dhal (Nemu Dhal) the king. Unhappy with the decision, Raja Jagannath Dhal revolted. In which the Rajah of Jhargram and Dampara sardar Jagannath Patar, assisted him. The English Company sent Lieutenant Rook and Charles Magan to suppress the rebellion. In 1777, the British re-proclaimed Jagannath Dhal as the king, after which the rebellion was quelled.[4][5]
Cities, towns and locations in East Singhbhum district in Kolhan Division (Locations around Jamshedpur are shown in the Jamshedpur Urban Agglomeration map - see Bagbera Colony page) M: municipality, R: rural/ urban centre, CT: census town, T: tourist centre Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
It is 45 km from Jamshedpur. The town is located on the bank of the Subarnarekha River, and it is situated in a forested area. It contains a railway station on the main line of the South Eastern Railway. Ghatsila was formerly the headquarters of the kingdom of Dhalbhum.
Ghatsila has its diversity with dams, falls, rivers, forest, mountains and valley. The scenes are breathtaking especially at sunset. It has a township as well as a village touch. There are areas where people still do farming for a living; these areas are untouched and unexplored.
The area shown in the map “forms a part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau and is a hilly upland tract”. The main rivers draining the district are the Subarnarekha and the Kharkai.[7] The area lying between Jamshedpur and Ghatshila is the main industrial mining zone. The rest of the district is primarily agricultural. In the district, as of 2011, 56.9% of the population lives in the rural areas and a high 43.1% lives in the urban areas.[8]
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the district. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.
According to the 2011 Census of India, Ghatshila had a total population of 40,624, of which 20,912 (51%) were males and 17,912 (49%) were females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 4,292. The total number of literate persons in Ghatshila was 30,892 (85.03% of the population over 6 years).[10]
As of 2001[update] India census,[11] Ghatshila had a population of 37,850. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ghatshila has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 65%. In Ghatshila, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Religion
Religion in Ghatshila (2011).
Hinduism (76.66%)
Islam (11.56%)
Sikhism (2.28%)
Christianity (1.62%)
Other religions/Not stated (7.87%)
Hinduism is the dominant religion in Ghatshila, followed by 76.66% of the population. Islam is a significant minority, followed by 11.56% of the population. Other religions with a significant number of adherents include Sikhism (2.28%) and Christianity (1.62%).[12]
According to 2011 census, Bengali was the most spoken language in Ghatshila town with 20,572 speakers followed by Hindi at 9,215, Urdu at 3,085, Santali at 2,602 and Odia at 2,130.[14]
Infrastructure
According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Purbi Singhbhum, Ghatshila covered an area of 15.97 km2 (6.17 sq mi). It has an annual rainfall of 1,030.2 mm (40.56 in). Among the civic amenities, it had 24 km (15 mi) of roads with both closed and open drains, the protected water supply involved hand pump, tap water from treated sources, overhead tank. It had 8,153 domestic electric connections, 116 road lighting points. Among the medical facilities, it had 1 hospital (with 70 beds), 20 dispensaries, 20 health centres, 1 family welfare centre, 1 maternity and child welfare centre, 2 nursing homes, 1 veterinary hospital, 25 medicine shops. Among the educational facilities it had 16 primary schools, 5 middle schools, 4 secondary schools, 3 senior secondary schools, the nearest general degree college at Jamshedpur, 12 km (7.5 mi) away. It had 1 non-formal education centre (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), Among social, cultural and recreational facilities, it had 1 stadium, 1 cinema theatre, 1 auditorium/ community hall, 2 public libraries, 2 reading rooms. An important commodity it produced was copper. It had the branch offices of 3 nationalised banks, 1 private commercial bank, 1 cooperative bank, 1 agricultural credit society.[15]
Economy
HCL copper smelter
Hindustan Copper Limited is located at Moubhandar, a mile away. This is the chief employer or indirect source of income for the people of Ghatshila, Moubhandar, Musabani and nearby villages. Ghatshila is best known for these mines because they are Asia's first copper mines[citation needed] and the world's second deepest mines[citation needed].
Transport
Ghatshila railway station
Ghatshila is connected to most of the important stations in Bihar and Jharkhand through rail and road network. Jamshedpur is at a distance of 45 km (by road) and 37 km (by railroad) west of this town. Most of the trains running from Kharagpur that goes to west towards Jamshedpur, have a stoppage here. Distance between Ghatsila and Kharagpur is about 98 km.
Railway
It is a railway station on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar section of Howrah–Mumbai track, 215 km from Howrah. Notable trains which stop here are Ispat Express (train no. 12781/12782), Kurla–Howrah Express (train no. 18030/18029), Steel Express (train no. 12813/12814). It is well connected to 3 metros in India namely Mumbai (by Bombay Express), Kolkata (many trains starting from 6 o'clock in the morning by Steel Express to midnight at 1.15 by Samleshwari Exp) and New Delhi (by Neelachal Express, Purushottam Express and Utkal Express). There are many local Passenger trains connecting Jamshedpur and Kharagpur with Ghatshila.
Road
It is about 240 km from Kolkata. Those traveling from Kolkata first have to take NH 6 to Baharagora and then take the road to Jamshedpur. Buses plying between Kharagpur and Jamshedpur pass through Ghatshila. Buses plying from Bhubaneswar or Kolkata to Jamshedpur or Ranchi also pass through Ghatshila. By road Jamshedpur is 45 km away. There are many buses connecting Ghatsila to Jamshedpur daily, from morning 6 o'clock to evening 5 o'clock. There are two routes connecting Jamshedpur to Ghatsila, one route through NH33 and another route through Jadugoda.
Education
There are large number of schools and colleges which help a large number of youths to get their primary education in the town itself which has also helped in increasing the literacy rate of Ghatshila to 85.03%. Some of the prominent schools and colleges are listed below.
Schools
Kendriya Vidyalaya Surda,Ghatshila
Irvine Adventist School, Gopalpur
Sant Nandalal Smriti Vidya Mandir
St. Joseph's Convent School at Tumandungri, Musaboni
Shivlal +2 High School, Musaboni
St. Joseph's Convent School (Kashida)
Gyandeep Public School
J.C School at College Road
Saraswati Shishu Vidyamandir
Sri Sri Vidyamandir at Kasidah
Marwadi Hindi High School
St. Paul High School
The Oxford Convent at Dahigora
Loreto Convent Public School
Holy Heart School
Colleges
Ghatsila College
Ghatsila Women's College at Kasidah
Media
Radio Station: 100.1 MHz (Akashvani Ghatshila)[16]
Sports
To enhance the mental and physical wellness sports play a crucial role. There are ample number of sports clubs and grounds distributed over the town. Some of them are enlisted below:
Moubhandar Sports Club - Hindustan Copper Limited Ground at Moubhandar
Golf Ground at Moubhandar
Rajstate Ground at Rajstate
Dakbunglow Ground at Dakbunglow Road
Gandhi Maidan at Harijan basti
Football Ground in Moubhandar
Basuki Singh Cricket Ground
Moubhandar Sports Club organises a cricket tournament every December. The tournament is named after the memory of Late. Basuki Singh. Basuki Singh Memorial cricket tournament is quite famous in Ghatsila.
Bardih Ground in Kashida
Circus Maidan Ground
Festivals
Ghatsila has a very diverse culture and a number of community live here peacefully. Many festivals are celebrated here. Some of the main festivals are:
India
Jharkhand
