Aurangabad district, Bihar

Aurangabad district occupies an area of 3,389 square kilometres (1,309 sq mi),^[6] comparatively equivalent to Russia's Vaygach Island.^[7] Aurangabad town is the administrative headquarters of this district. Aurangabad district is a part of Magadh division.

Aurangabad became a fully-fledged district when it was split from the Gaya district in 1972. Aurangabad celebrates its formation day on every 26 January .^[8]

In 2006, the Indian government named Aurangabad one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).^[9] It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF). Cultivation of Strawberry have significantly contributed to the economy of the farmers of the district. Many farmers from the south and south-west blocks e.g. Amba, Nabinagar Block are growing straberries and are gaining good profits.

The Famous GI tag holder Magahi Paan is also grown by the Chaurasia community of some villages from Deo block.^[9]

Source:^[10]

Since the first Indian general elections in 1952, the Aurangabad Lok Sabha Constituency, which forms a part of Aurangabad district has elected Member of Parliament from Rajput caste only. Other family clans represented in Aurangabad include the Mauryans, Guptas and the Gahadavalas (locally spelt “Gadhwal, Gaharwal in Bihar”).

In ancient times, Aurangabad was located in the Mahajanapada kingdom of Magadh (1200 – 322 BCE). The ancient rulers of the town included Bimbisara (late 5th century BCE), Ajatashatru (early 4th century BCE), Chandragupta Maurya (321 – 298 BCE) and Ashoka (268 – 232 BCE).

During the rule of Sher Shah Suri (1486 – 1545 CE), Aurangabad became strategically important as part of the Rohtas Sirkar(district). After the death of Sher Shah Suri Aurangabad fell under the rule of Akbar. The Afghan upsurge in the area was suppressed by Todar Mal. Some elements of Afghan architecture remain.

After the downfall of the Mughal Empire, Aurangabad was ruled by the zamindars. the wealthy landowners, including those of Deo, Kutumba, Mali, Pawai, Chandragarh, and Siris. The zamindars resisted British rule. For example, Fateh Narayan Singh of Deo, descendent of Shakti Singh, supported Kunwar Singh against the British.

In 1865, Bihar District was separated from Patna District. Aurangabad was made a subdivision of Bihar district. Stement was the first subdivisional officer of Aurangabad subdivision. The first Member of Parliament from the district was the former Chief Minister of Unified Bihar, Satyendra Narayan Singh (Chhote Saheb).

On 26 January 1973, Aurangabad district, Bihar was created (government notification number 07/11-2071-72 dated 19 January 1973). K. A. H. Subramanyam was the first district magistrate and Surjit Kumar Saha was the sub-divisional officer. This district has remained a hotbed of Dalit assertion as a part of Naxalite-Maoist insurgency. It has also witnessed caste wars between the Rajput landlords and Dalits, the latter were led in this struggle by the peasant castes like Koeri and Yadav.^[11]

According to the 2011 census Aurangabad district, Bihar has a population of 2,540,073,^[14] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait^[15] or the US state of Nevada.^[16] This gives it a ranking of 172nd in India (out of a total of 640).^[14] The district has a population density of 760 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,000/sq mi).^[14]

At the time of the 2011 census, 69.69% of the population spoke Magahi, 24.68% Hindi and 5.17% Urdu as their first language.^[17]

Aurangabad one of the important districts of South Bihar, is bounded on the north by Arwal district, on the south by Palamu district of Jharkhand, on the East by Gaya district and on the west by Sone River beyond which lies Rohtas district. The people of this district mainly speak Magahi and have largely taken up agriculture and other related activities as their occupation. The Grand Trunk Road(NH-19) passes through the district and provides easy transport facility to Kolkata in the east and Delhi in the west. The district headquarters is at Aurangabad, about 170 kms from Patna, the state capital.

District Magistrate is posted in the district who is the top most official of Revenue and civil administration. He often belongs to I.A.S. cadre. District Magistrate conducts development and welfare works in the district. ADM and other officers are posted in order to help D.M.

The Superintendent of Police, Aurangabad is the head of the district police administration. The Deputy Superintendent of Police are posted to assist the police superintendent who are either from the Indian Police Service or the Bihar Police Service. In each subdivision of the district, the Deputy Superintendent of Police are posted who keep control on police administration.

Judicial Administration: The Judges and magistrates are posted at district and sub-division who administer and deliver justice of different kinds. The district judiciary is part of Indian judicial system as envisaged in Indian Constitution and independent of district administration.

The district has been divided into two subdivisions, which are headed by sub-divisional officers either from I.A.S. or B.P.S.C. cadre. S.D.Os. are under direct authority of D.M.

1. Aurangabad
2. Daudnagar

These Subdivisions are divided in 11 development blocks where B.D.Os. are posted who undertake development and welfare projects. Aurangabad district has 1884 villages.^[18]

Source:^[21]

• Deo Surya Mandir
• Deo Fort
• Umga Sun Temple
• Biodiversity Park, Deo in Aurangabad district ^[23]

• Barun, India town in Aurangabad District
• Daudnagar, A major town of Aurangabad district
• Deo, town in Aurangabad district
• Surkhi, a village in Aurangabad district
• Uphara, a village in Aurangabad district