Bharuch district

Bharuch (formerly commonly known as Broach) in India, is a district in the southern parts of state of Gujarat with a size and population comparable to that of Greater Boston. Bharuch derives its name from the famous Hindu sage Bhrigu. A historical name for Bharuch is 'Bhrigukachchha'. The mythological Bhrigu Rishi was said to be one of the ten sons of Brahma. There is also a story which indicates that Bhrigu along with his kin asked for temporary access to Bharuch which was said to belong to Lakshmi, since Bharuch is located on the banks of river Narmada also known as Rudra Deha. Chanra Mauli Mahadev is the Hindu Kul Devata of Bhargavs of Bharuch. Bhrigu never left the place and the Ashram of Brighu Rishi is located on the banks of Narmada. The Narmada River outlets into the Gulf of Khambat through its lands and that shipping artery gave inland access to the kingdoms and empires located in the central and northern parts of the sub-continent of India.

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Bharuch.

Bharuch district
District of Gujarat
Top: Golden and Silver bridges over the Narmada in Bharuch
Bottom: Kadia Dungar Caves
Location of Bharuch district in Gujarat
Location of Bharuch district in Gujarat
Coordinates: 20°42′N 72°59′E
Country India
StateGujarat
HeadquartersBharuch
Area
 • Total6,509 km2 (2,513 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total1,551,019
 • Density240/km2 (620/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialGujarati, Hindi, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationGJ-16
Websitebharuch.nic.in

History
Map of Broach or Bharuch district, Bombay Presidency, British India, 1877

The city of Bharuch and its surrounds—today's district—has been settled far back into antiquity and was a major shipping building centre and sea port in the important pre-compass coastal trading routes to points West, perhaps as far back as the days of the Pharaohs, which utilised the regular and predictable Monsoon winds or galleys. Many goods from the Far East (the famed Spice and Silk trade) were trans-shipped there for the annual monsoon winds making it a terminus for several key land-sea trade routes and Bharuch was definitely known to the Greeks, the various Persian Empires and in the Roman Republic and Empire and other Western centres of civilisation right on through the end of the European Middle Ages.

With the advent of the European Age of Discovery, the presence of deep draft sea going shipping it began a long slow decline in importance as it was a bit too far north to be convenient to shipping not confined to keeping within sight of shore.

Divisions

Administratively, it contains the talukas (administrative subdistricts) of Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Hansot, Jambusar, Jhagadia, Amod, and Vagra. It also contains the city of Bharuch.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901321,528—    
1911368,466+1.37%
1921374,101+0.15%
1931423,980+1.26%
1941506,264+1.79%
1951558,930+0.99%
1961684,166+2.04%
1971841,048+2.09%
1981970,172+1.44%
19911,148,252+1.70%
20011,370,656+1.79%
20111,551,019+1.24%
source:[1]
Religions in Bharuch district (2011)[2]
Hinduism
 
 76.61%
Islam
 
 22.15%
Christianity
 
 0.61%
Other or not stated
 
 0.63%
Distribution of religions

According to the 2011 census Bharuch district has a population of 1,551,019,[3] roughly equal to the nation of Gabon[4] or the US state of Hawaii.[5] This gives it a ranking of 321st in India (out of a total of 640).[3] The district has a population density of 238 inhabitants per square kilometre (620/sq mi).[3] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 13.14%.[3] Bharuch has a sex ratio of 924 females for every 1000 males,[3] and a literacy rate of 83.03%. 33.85% of the population lived in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 4.01% and 31.48% of the population respectively.[3]

Languages of Bharuch district (2011)[6]

  Gujarati (90.01%)
  Hindi (6.30%)
  Marathi (1.13%)
  Urdu (0.57%)
  Others (1.99%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 90.02% of the population in the district spoke Gujarati, 6.30% Hindi, 1.13% Marathi. and 0.57% Urdu as their first language.[6]

Politics
District No. Constituency Name Party Remarks
Bharuch District 150Jambusar Devkishordas Swami Bharatiya Janata Party
151Vagra Arunsinh Rana Bharatiya Janata Party
152Jhagadiya (ST) Ritesh Vasava Bharatiya Janata Party
153Bharuch Rameshbhai Mistry Bharatiya Janata Party
154Ankleshwar Ishwarsinh Patel Bharatiya Janata Party

Notable personalities

See also

References
  1. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  2. "Population by Religion - Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  3. "District Census Hand Book – Bharuch" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  4. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Gabon 1,576,665
  5. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Hawaii 1,360,301
  6. "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Gujarat". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  7. "Bhavan's Faith". Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Archived from the original on 21 April 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
  8. "Tribhuvandas Luhar (Sundaram)". Thakkar Numismatic and Art Foundation. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
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