Chhatwan is a village in Keotiranway Tehsil,

Darbhanga District Darbhanga district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar state in eastern India, and Darbhanga city is the administrative headquarters of this district and 5th largest city of Bihar as well. Darbhanga district is a part of Darbhanga D ...

Bihar Bihar (; ) is a state in eastern India. It is the 2nd largest state by population in 2019, 12th largest by area of , and 14th largest by GDP in 2021. Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Be ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Chhatwan has its

panchayat The Panchayat raj is a political system, originating from the Indian subcontinent, found mainly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is the oldest system of local government in the Indian subcontinent, and historical ment ...

which is registered as the name of

Gram Panchayat Gram Panchayat () is a basic village-governing institute in Indian villages. It is a democratic structure at the grass-roots level in India. It is a political institute, acting as cabinet of the village. The Gram Sabha work as the general bod ...

Raj Chhatwan. Chhatwan Panchayat is divided into 14 wards.

History

Chhatwan was established during the time of

Akbar Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...

by Zamiruddin Sardar son of Manour Ali ancient

Zamindar A zamindar ( Hindustani: Devanagari: , ; Persian: , ) in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semiautonomous ruler of a province. The term itself came into use during the reign of Mughals and later the British had begun using it as a ...

of this village. The name of the village was inspired by the Alstonia scholars (Chhatwan) of the terrace. There was a garden of Alstonia scholaris tree, one of the Translators in Akabari Darbar. After the establishment of New

Raj Darbhanga The Darbhanga Raj, also known as Raj Darbhanga and the Khandwala dynasty, was a Maithil Brahmins dynasty and the rulers of territories, not all contiguous, that were part of the Mithila region, now divided between India and Nepal. The rulers ...

, several expansions took place to develop the taxation system in the

Mithila (region) Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothill ...

. Raj Darbhanga had 4,495 villages in 18 circles in Bihar and Bengal and employed over 7,500 officers to manage the estate at that time. According to an article in the

Dainik Jagran ''Dainik Jagran'' ( Hi:दैनिक जागरन , , ) is an Indian Hindi language daily newspaper. It was ranked 5th in the world and 2nd in India by circulation in 2016. In 2019 Quarter 4, according to Indian Readership Survey, Daini ...

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

came after a gruesome crisis in 1934. He was accompanied by

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat— * * * * and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...

, Jamnalal Bajaj,

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Rajendra Prasad (3 December 1884 – 28 February 1963) was an Indian politician, lawyer, Indian independence activist, journalist & scholar who served as the first president of Republic of India from 1950 to 1962. He joined the Indian Nationa ...

J. B. Kripalani Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani (11 November 1888 – 19 March 1982), popularly known as Acharya Kripalani, was an Indian politician, noted particularly for holding the presidency of the Indian National Congress during the transfer of power in 1 ...

, etc. They were dismayed by the devastation caused by the

earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...

, however, the people of

Mithilanchal Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal is a geographical and cultural region of the Indian subcontinent bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki River in the west and by the foothill ...

refused to accept the relief given by the

British government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...

and the

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...

. He told the people that it is not a crime to seek help in times of calamity. The earthquake victims started the relay on their call. They went to the Chhatwan village in Keoti Block to know the misery of earthquake victims. There was a meeting with the Chhatwan villager at

Devi Lal Chaudhary Devi Lal (born Devi Dayal; 25 September 1915 – 6 April 2001) was an Indian statesman who served as 6th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 1989 to 1991 in the governments of V. P. Singh and Chandra Shekhar. Also popularly known as ...

Pokhar, which is today known as Gandhi Chowk Chhatwan.

Geography

Chhatwan is a large village located in Keotiranway, Darbhanga district, Bihar. Nearby towns and villages include Loam (3.2 km), Raiyam Factory (5 km), Muria (5.4 km) and Keoti (7.8 km),

Darbhanga Darbhanga is the fifth-largest city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Bihar situated centrally in Mithila region. Darbhanga is the headquarters of the Darbhanga district and the Darbhanga division. It was the seat of the erstw ...

(16 km), Madhubani (13 km) and Pandaul (9.8 km). The Madhubani Road crosses through the village, which is also near

National Highway 27 Route 27, or Highway 27, may refer to: Australia * Burke Developmental Road (Queensland) * Zeehan Highway (Tasmania) Canada * Alberta Highway 27 * British Columbia Highway 27 * Manitoba Highway 27 * Prince Edward Island Route 27 * Saskatchewan ...

(5.9 km), a main east–west corridor. The Nearest Railway Station is Tarsrai Station; 6.4 km away.

Demographics

As of 2011, per the Population Census, Chhatwan was home to resident 2339 families, with a total population of 11054, Sex Ratio *Males= 51.92% *Females= 48.08% Chhatwan has its

Panchayat The Panchayat raj is a political system, originating from the Indian subcontinent, found mainly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. It is the oldest system of local government in the Indian subcontinent, and historical ment ...

. Chhatwan village has a lower literacy rate compared to Bihar as a whole. In 2011, the literacy rate of Chhatwan village was 55.77% compared to 61.80% for all Bihar. Male literacy in Chhatwan stands at 63.77%, while the female literacy rate was 47.05%.

Economy

Agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

is the main industry of the village, though development has not been significant. The Jeewach river, flowing through the east of Chhatwan, provides a fertile flood plain that serves as the basis for growing local crops. Mango fruits are grown in abundance, and

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of (often hybrid) tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with ...

is produced before shipping to the Raiyam sugar factory for processing. It is also well known for its many markets as well as Chhatwan Bazaar and small businesses, which include cloth shops, jewelry, general stores, hardware stores, and bike showrooms. The main market of Chhatwan is the Gandhi Chowk, Azad Chowk, Chandni Chowk, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Chowk, Kunwar Chowk & Maulana Mazharul Haque Chowk on the Madhubani Road.

Culture

Chhatwan is a multi-cultural society. Among the Muslim festivals celebrated are

Eid al-Fitr , nickname = Festival of Breaking the Fast, Lesser Eid, Sweet Eid, Sugar Feast , observedby = Muslims , type = Islamic , longtype = Islamic , significance = Commemoration to mark the end of fasting in Ramadan , dat ...

(Eid), Eid al-Adha (Bakraeid) and

Muharram Muḥarram ( ar, ٱلْمُحَرَّم) (fully known as Muharram ul Haram) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month after R ...

. Hindu festivals celebrated include

Chhath Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival historically native to the Indian subcontinent, more specifically, the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,West Bengal, Jharkhand, and the Nepalese provinces of Madhesh and Lumbini. Prayers during Chhath ...

, five days after Deepawali,

Makar Sankranti Makar(a) Sankranti (), also referred to as Uttarayana, Maghi, or simply Sankranti, is a Hindu observance and a festival. Usually falling on the date of January 14 annually, this occasion marks the transition of the Sun from the zodiac of Sag ...

Durga Puja Durga Puja ( bn, দুর্গা পূজা), also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated ...

, and

Diwali Diwali (), Dewali, Divali, or Deepavali ( IAST: ''dīpāvalī''), also known as the Festival of Lights, related to Jain Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, and Bandna, is a religious celebration in Indian religions. It is ...

Education

There are so many resources of education in Chhatwan, Islamic as well as modern education For modern education many governments and private schools are also there. * Prathmik School Chhatwan Harijan * Rajkiya Utkramit Uchcha School Chhatwan Basic * Prathmik School Chhatwan Urdu * Rajkiya Utkramit Madhya School Dhanushi * Prathmik School Patharpatti * Project Prathmik School Fakir Takiya Chhatwan * Red Rose Public School Chhatwan For Islamic education, there are two madrasas Both Madrasa is government Recognised * Madarsa Tul Banat Chhatwan * Madarsa Noorul Islam Chhatwan

Hospital

* Additional Primary Health Center Chhatwan * Veterinary Hospital Chhatwan

Transportation

Roadways

Chhatwan is well connected with another part of village and cities, Tarsarai - Raiyam Road via Chhatwan passes through the village which is connected to

and Tarsarai Station North End, and the South end is connected to

Madhubani District Madhubani district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar, India, and is a part of Darbhanga division. Its administrative headquarters are located in Madhubani. The district has an area of and has a population of 4,487,379 (as of 2011 ...

, Chhatwan - Hajipur Road Connected to the National Highway 527B West End and East End connected to Chhatwan - Pandaul Chhatwan has auto-rickshaw services to nearby village and cities, and bus services to

- Madhubani, via Raiyam sugar factory, Chhatwan -

, via Khirma.

Railways

The nearest railway station is Tarsrai Railway Station (TRS). People who wish to visit Delhi can take a direct train from the Tarsarai railway station. Two express train stops Here : * Sarayu Yamuna Express to

Amritsar Amritsar (), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as ''Ambarsar'', is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. It is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre, located in the Majha r ...

* Shaheed Express to

Many more passengers train stop here.

Airways

Darbhanga Airport is the nearest airport to Chhatwan which is at a distance of 17 km from there.

Climate

Chhatwan has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

''Cwa'').ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/IN/42391.TXT

References

{{reflist
Map of Chhatwan Village in Keotiranway Tehsil, Darbhanga, BiharWeather Chhatwan , Best Time to Visit Chhatwan , Chhatwan Climate Forecast Temperature Snowfall - Holiday Travel Reports
Villages in Darbhanga district