Dhanbad

Anchal Dhanbad, Jila Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
Dhanbad city is governed by Municipal Corporation which comes under Dhanbad Metropolitan Region. The Dhanbad city is located in Jharkhand state of India.
As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Dhanbad in 2011 is 1,162,472.
Although Dhanbad city has population of 1,162,472; its urban / metropolitan population is 1,196,214.
Dhanbad is a city in the state of Jharkhand, and is also known as the 'Coal Capital of India'. Dhanbad is the 79th fastest growing city in world.According to the 2001 census, Dhanbad is among the 35 cities of India with a population of more than one million.Among the Rail Divisions of Indian Railway, Dhanbad Rail Division is the second largest in terms of revenue generation.

Dhanbad is famous for coal mining. Tata Steel, BCCL, ECL and IISCO are some of the companies having coal mines in the district. Coal-mining, coal washing, and coke making are the main coal related industries in the city. IISCO (Indian Iron And Steel Company) is now owned by SAIL, while BCCL & Eastern Coalfields Limited are subsidiaries of CIL (Coal India Limited); these two companies are the largest operators of coal mines in Dhanbad, and have open cast mines as well as underground mines, whereas Tata Steel has mostly underground mines. These companies have developed townships for their employees.

Dhanbad has a rich history of growth, urbanisation and migration of people. The early history of the Dhanbad is shrouded in mystery. Details of even later periods are difficult to trace. The present district used to be a part of Manbhum. In the Settlement Report for Manbhum (1928) it was stated that no rock inscriptions, copper plates or old coins were discovered and not a single document of copper plate or palm leaf was found, during the Survey and Settlement operations. The oldest authentic documents produced were all on paper and barely even a hundred years old.Dhanbad was in Manbhum district from 1928 up to 1956. However, on 24 October 1956, Dhanbad was declared a District on the Recommendation of the States Reorganization Commission vide notification 1911. And from 1956 to 14 November 2000 it was under Bihar. At present it is in Jharkhand, after the creation of state on 15 November 2000.

About the history of coal mines, after starting steel plant at Jamshedpur, Tata Steel started coal mines at Dhanbad in 1910.The first lease was granted in 1910 for Bhelatand coal mines, subsequently lease for Jamadoba, Sijua were given in 1918. For Malkera coal mines lease was given in 1931 . Some of these coal mines were closed during World Wars,maximum of these coal mines were owned by Trigunait families & Pandey families, which were later nationalized by the govt. of India for the profit of nation. Among coal washeries Jamadoba coal preparation plant and washery commissioned in 1952, with Chance Cone Process. In 1995-96, Bhelatand coal preparation plant and washery was commissioned. One another mine called the Chasnalla Colliery was under the Tata Group of Mines, after nationalization disaster struck owing to wrong and negligent mining where many lives were lost.

The first Indians to arrive and establish themselves starting from 1895 to 1920 were Kutchi Mistris- Railway Contractors among whom notable were Seth Khora Ramji Chawda, Jetha Lira Jethwa, Narayan Chowra who established Jharia, Fatehpur, Balihari, Jeenagora, Bhagatdih, Govamal Jeevan Chauhan, established Pandubra and Gokuldih, Khimjee Dossa Jethwa, Tisra,Gangji Dossa Jethwa, Katrasgarh, Ramji Gangji Sawaria, Basra, Joyram Gohil, Joyrampur, Dhanji Ratanji Rathod, Dana Premji, Tisra, Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan, Manji Jairam Rathor, Rajapur,Dana Premji Maru, Jharia, Karamsinh Ghela Chawda, Khimji Valji Chauhan, Khengarji Triku, Dhanji Devshi, Ratna Mepa, Jairam Shivjee, Valji Narayan Chauhan, Veera Mavji, Dahya Valji of K.S.Nanji , Ruda Manji, Rai Bahadur D D Thacker, Jharia, Bibhuti Bhusan Bakshi, Rise Area Colliery. Seth Khora Ramji & Brothers were partners in Pure Jharia Colliery with D.D. Thacker. Rai Bahadur D D Thacker also started a Labour's School in Jharia to train labours for coalmines. The life-sketch of Seth Khora Ramji Chawda and Govaml Jivan Chauhan as pioneers in Jharia Coalfileds is mentioned by British Authorities in Encyclopedia of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa. In the lifesketch of Khora Ramji given in Encyclopedia of Bengal, Bihar & Orissa - the British have noted that - "In Jharia Coalfield he was first Indian to seize the opportunity and by his propmpt entry into colliery business, he was able to remove the stigma that would otherwise be levelled against his community as backward class.". While the Gujrati Primary School at Jharia for children was started by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas-Mistri Colliery owners, who felt the need of a Primary School at Jharia. The others were T.K. Khanna, Punjabi, J.K. Agarwalla, Kesabji Pitamber, Haithibhai Patel, Chaturbhai, Kalyanji Mavji. Among the other Kutchis and gujratis and other communities that followed were Nandwana Amritlal Morarjee Worah, K D Worah, Amritalal Ojha, Lala Karamchand Thapar & the Chanchani Family, who made it big in thsese field post world-war-I & II. Amritlal Ojha & Karamchand Thapar later went on to become President of Indian Chamber of Commerce in 1940. When the coal mines were nationalized a major chunk of these coal bearing region from Ranigunj-Paraskole was with the Chanchanis, Worah, Poddars & Mistris of Kutch. Together they controlled more than 250 mines. The Chanchani Group was pioneer in real estate development in Dhanbad. They came up with the Shanti Bhavan Complex at Bank More. These Groups are active in the region doing different businesses and operating Large and Medium sized industries. The Rathor & Chawda Mansion/Market, Gohil Cold Storage were built by Kutchi Mistris.

Mr. Pushottam Khimjee Chauhan, was the freedom fighter from Dhanbad, who unfurled the flag during Quit India Movement in 1942. Later in 1948 and onwards he was twice elected to Legislative Assembly. He was appaulded by Dr. Rajendra Prasad for his exemplory speech to pass Abolition of Zamindari Act. He also represented Government of India in World Labour Conference in Geneva in 1950.

Mr. Ram Narayan Sharma, a freedom fighter and one of the well known former Mp's of Dhanbad was responsible for the growth of Dhanbad in 70's. He was one of the leaders who brought westernized mining techniques to the city. He died 20 years back but his birthday is celebrated every year till date.

Mr.Dhanji Manji Parmar is also one of the freedom fighters who unfurled the flag at Katras jail.