Formation & History
Jharkhand GK · गठन और इतिहास · 18 facts
Jharkhand was formed on November 15, 2000 — chosen to coincide with the birth anniversary of tribal hero Birsa Munda — as the 28th state of India.
Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar state; the new state comprised 18 districts at inception, which later grew to 24 districts.
Babulal Marandi was the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand (November 2000 – March 2003); he founded the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) party in 2006.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), founded by Shibu Soren in 1972, was the leading political force that spearheaded the demand for a separate Jharkhand state.
Shibu Soren, popularly called 'Guru Ji', was the most prominent face of the Jharkhand movement; he served as Chief Minister three times and as a Union Minister.
The ancient name for the Jharkhand region was 'Van Bengal' (Forest of Bengal) or 'Jharkhand' meaning 'land of forests (jhar)' in Sanskrit.
Chhota Nagpur Plateau forms the core of Jharkhand; it is a mineral-rich ancient plateau that has been inhabited by tribal communities for millennia.
The Santhal Hool (rebellion) of 1855 was led by Sido and Kanhu Murmu against British exploitation and money-lenders; it was the first major tribal uprising in India.
Birsa Munda led the 'Ulgulan' (Great Tumult) revolt of 1899–1900, uniting Munda tribes against British land policies and Christian missionaries.
Birsa Munda, born on November 15, 1875, at Ulihatu, Khunti, was arrested in 1900 and died in Ranchi jail in June 1900 at the age of 25, becoming a martyr-hero.
The demand for a separate Jharkhand state dates back to 1928 when Jaipal Singh Munda raised it; the Jharkhand Party was founded in 1950.
The Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC) was created in 1995 as an interim body before full statehood was achieved in 2000.
Jharkhand tribal communities have a history of resisting outside domination through numerous uprisings, collectively called the 'Mulvasi Movements' (Indigenous People's Movements).
The Kol Revolt (1831–32) was an early uprising by Munda and Ho tribes in the Chhota Nagpur area against outsiders (dikus) encroaching on tribal lands.
Ranchi, the state capital of Jharkhand, was earlier known as 'Ichak' and was developed by the British as an administrative and hill retreat centre.
Dumka is the 'Sub-capital' of Jharkhand and headquarters of the Santhal Parganas division, a region with deep Santhal tribal heritage.
The Chero Revolt (1800) and Tamad Revolt (1789) in the Chota Nagpur region were early instances of tribal resistance against feudal and colonial oppression.
Jharkhand has a Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of about 26–28%, including 32 officially recognized tribal groups, making it one of India's most tribal states.