Seraikela-Kharsawan district | |
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District of Jharkhand | |
Location of Seraikela-Kharsawan district in Jharkhand |
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Country | India |
State | Jharkhand |
Administrative division | Kolhan division |
Headquarters | Seraikela |
Government | |
• Lok Sabha constituencies | 1. Ranchi (shared with Ranchi district, 2. Singhbhum (shared with West Singhbhum district and 3. Khunti (shared with Khunti district) |
• Assembly seats | 3 |
Area | |
• Total | 2,724.55 km2 (1,051.95 sq mi) |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,063,458 |
• Density | 390/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
• Urban | 16.30% |
Demographics | |
• Literacy | 68.85 per cent |
• Sex ratio | 958 |
Average annual precipitation | 1350 mm |
Website | Official website |
Seraikela-Kharsawan district or Saraikella and Kharaswan district: formerly the Princely State of Seraikella/Saraikella is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state in eastern India. Seraikela town is the district headquarters of Saraikela Kharsawan district . The district is well known for Seraikela Chhau, one of the three distinctive styles of the chhau dance. This district was carved out from West Singhbhum district in 2001.
Members of the erstwhile royal family of Seraikella, the Singh Deo family (patrons of the Chau dance), divide their time between The Palace, Seraikella-833219; a 300-year-old heritage palace and historical landmark and their residences in Odisha, West Bengal and abroad. The last ruler of the Seraikella princely state was HH Raja Aditya Pratap Singh Deo (son of HH Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh Deo) and notables of the era include his sons Tikayet Sahib Nrupendra Narayan Singh Deo, HH Maharaja Sir Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo (given in adoption to Patna-Bolangir state, former Chief Minister of Odisha), Patayet Sahib Maharaj kumar Bhoopendra Narayan Singh Deo (leading regional politician who supported the popular tribal anti-merger movement with Bihar) and Rajkumar Sudhendra Narayan Singh Deo(Param-Guru of Chau), a Padma Shree awardee.
The Singh Deo royal family remains active in public life(political, cultural and religious)and act as guardians to the Ma Paudi temple located within the Royal residence, host the annual Chau Festival at the Seraikella Royal Palace and retain a hold on the region's real-estate and business. Despite their loss of formal title and privileges, they enjoy public support in the area(comprising the former Seraikella state). Notable members of the royal family who remain active in the public eye include Rajkumar Pratap Aditya Singh Deo, Rajkumar Juga Bhanu Singh Deo, Maharajkumar Jairaj Singh Deo and Rajkumar Rajvikram Singh Deo. The District of Seraikella and Kharsawan was formed on the 1st Day of April, 2001 after being separated from West Singhbhum dist..
The district is currently a part of the Red Corridor.
The district is situated between 22°29'26" and 23°09'34" north latitudes and 85°30'14" and 86°15'24" east longitudes.
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Seraikela Kharsawan one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the 21 districts in Jharkhand currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).