Begusarai district

Begusarai district is an administrative district in the state of Bihar, India. It lies in the north-central part of the state, on the northern bank of the Ganga, and forms part of the Munger division. The town of Begusarai serves as the district headquarters. The district is known for its industrial base around Barauni, its agricultural economy, and its association with several prominent figures in Hindi literature and Indian politics.

Key facts

Geography

Begusarai district is situated on the northern bank of the Ganga, with the river forming much of its southern boundary. The terrain is largely alluvial plain, shaped by the Ganga and its tributaries, and includes wetlands and oxbow lakes formed by shifting river courses. Kanwar Lake (Kabar Taal), located in the district, is one of Asia's large freshwater oxbow lakes and an important habitat for resident and migratory birds. It has been recognised as a Ramsar site.

The district is bordered by Samastipur to the north, Khagaria to the east, Lakhisarai and Munger across the Ganga to the south, and Patna district to the south-west.

Administration

Begusarai is administered as part of the Munger division of Bihar. The district is divided into subdivisions and community development blocks, with further subdivision into panchayats and revenue villages. The district administration is headed by a District Magistrate, while law and order is supervised by a Superintendent of Police. The district sends representatives to the Bihar Legislative Assembly from several constituencies and forms the Begusarai parliamentary constituency for the Lok Sabha.

History

The area now constituting Begusarai district has historically been part of the broader Mithila cultural region. It was carved out as a separate district in 1972, having earlier formed a subdivision of the older Munger district. The town of Begusarai grew as a trading and administrative centre, while Barauni developed in the second half of the 20th century as one of Bihar's principal industrial hubs.

Economy

The economy of Begusarai combines agriculture and heavy industry. Paddy, wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds are the main crops, with dairying and fisheries also significant, particularly in areas around the wetlands.

Barauni, in the district, is home to several major industrial establishments:

• Barauni Refinery, operated by Indian Oil Corporation, one of the older public-sector refineries in eastern India.
• Barauni Thermal Power Station, a coal-fired power plant.
• Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL) Barauni, a fertiliser unit revived on the site of the earlier Barauni fertiliser plant.
• The Barauni Dairy of the cooperative dairy network.

Barauni is also a significant railway junction on the East Central Railway, with connections towards Katihar, Patna, Samastipur and Kiul.

Demographics and culture

Hindi is the principal language of administration and education, while Maithili is widely spoken as the regional mother tongue, reflecting the district's location within the Mithila cultural zone. Major festivals include Chhath, Durga Puja, Holi, Diwali, Eid and the Maithil festival of Sama Chakeva.

Notable people

• Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' (1908–1974), Hindi poet and Jnanpith awardee, born at Simaria in Begusarai district.
• Chandrashekhar Singh, former Chief Minister of Bihar, associated with the district.

Education

The district has a network of government and private schools, degree colleges affiliated to universities in Bihar, and technical and vocational institutes. Colleges in Begusarai town and Barauni serve as the main centres of higher education.

Transport

Begusarai is connected by National Highway 31 (now part of the realigned NH network linking north Bihar with the eastern states) and by state highways to Patna, Samastipur, Khagaria and Munger. The Rajendra Setu and the parallel Munger Ganga Bridge link the district across the Gan