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| {{About|the proposed state in Nepal|the ancient region|History of Mithila|the proposed state in India|Mithila (India)}} | |||
| {{refimprove|date=May 2012}} | |||
| {{Infobox settlement | |||
| <!-- Basic info --> | |||
| | name = Mithila | |||
| | native_name = मिथिला/মিথিলা | |||
| | settlement_type = South eastern region of Nepal | |||
| | timezone = ] | |||
| | utc_offset = +5:45 | |||
| | image_skyline = Mithila_region_of_Nepal.png | |||
| | imagesize = 300px | |||
| | subdivision_type = Country | |||
| | subdivision_name = {{flag|Nepal}} | |||
| | subdivision_type1 = Historical region | |||
| | subdivision_name1 = Mithila | |||
| | subdivision_type2 = Linguistic Division | |||
| | subdivision_name2 = ] | |||
| | subdivision_type3 = Capital City | |||
| | subdivision_name3 = ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Mithila''' (] मिथिला ] মিথিলা ), or the eastern ], is a region in southeastern ]. The name also refers to the ancient kingdom of ], which extended from the foot of the ] in the north to Nepal's border with India in the south. In general terms, it is the Maithili-speaking region of Nepal. Mithila was split between ] and Nepal in 1816, after the ] and the ] King of Nepal signed the ].<ref name="HinduismToday">Bansh, Hari and Jha, Jayanti (January–March 2005). . Accessed May 5, 2012.</ref> | |||
| In January 2012, the State Reorganization Commission of Nepal proposed to divide Nepal into 11 states, one of which would be Mithila.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> | |||
| ==Geography<ref>{{cite book|last=Federalism dialogues|first=series-3|title=Mithila|year=2011|publisher=CCD-2011|location=Kathmandu|pages=iii|url=http://www.ccd.org.np/new/publications/03_MBKM_English.pdf}}</ref> == | |||
| The region is surrounded by: | |||
| * The foot of the ] to the North. | |||
| * The international border with India to the South. | |||
| * The ] of India to the West. | |||
| * The ] and ] of India to the east. | |||
| The region contains a total of 948 VDCs (Village Development Committees), including 14 municipalities. The province will cover about 14,058.7 km<sup>2</sup>. of Nepal’s total area of 1,47,181 km<sup>2</sup>. with an estimated 6.65 million inhabitants, it is by far the most populous of the new proposed provinces.<ref>.{{cite book|last=Center for constitutional dialogue|first=Series 3|title=Mithila-Bhojpur-Koch-Madhes|year=2011|publisher=CCD-2011|location=Kathmandu|pages=14|url=http://www.ccd.org.np/new/publications/03_MBKM_English.pdf}}</ref> | |||
| ==Transport== | |||
| ===Roadways=== | |||
| ] lies 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the Mahendra Highway. Hindu mythology identifies Janakpurdham as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Mithila.<ref name=reed>{{cite book|url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lcbUIOTcE18C&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=Mahendra+Highway+Nepalganj&source=bl&ots=T5S7zIzVRd&sig=ZDxdXVuHGjwwoeEOWAi-56Y4VMk&hl=en&ei=W7b0S-GzIcy0rAfU4vC4Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Mahendra%20Highway%20Nepalganj&f=false|title=The rough guide to Nepal| work = Nepalganj p. 361, Mahendranagar p. 374, Janakpur p. 388, Kankarbhitta p. 400, Itahar p. 442 | first= | last=David Reed, James McConnachie | publisher = Google book |accessdate = 2010-05-18}}</ref> At its eastern end this road joins an Indian highway that connects to ] and ].<ref name=woodhatch>{{cite book|url = http://books.google.co.in/books?id=E2MxdOkoyCQC&pg=PA450&lpg=PA450&dq=Mahendra+Highway&source=bl&ots=ssPTZPBdBV&sig=U9UoIaXxny1jUOlmofHJQYnQox0&hl=en&ei=n3P0S-2ABoytrAfY_KitDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBzgK#v=onepage&q=Mahendra%20Highway&f=false | title =Nepal handbook | work =Western Nepal p. 29, Junctions p. 44, Length p. 238, Overview p. 373, Nepalganj p. 394 -398, Terai east of Sapt Kosi p. 401, Janakpur p. 436, Eastern Nepal p. 450, | first=Tom | last=Woodhatch | publisher = Google books |accessdate = 2012-05-09}}</ref> At its western end it enters the Indian state of ].<ref name=reed>{{cite book|url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lcbUIOTcE18C&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=Mahendra+Highway+Nepalganj&source=bl&ots=T5S7zIzVRd&sig=ZDxdXVuHGjwwoeEOWAi-56Y4VMk&hl=en&ei=W7b0S-GzIcy0rAfU4vC4Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Mahendra%20Highway%20Nepalganj&f=false | title = The rough guide to Nepal | work = Nepalganj p. 361, Mahendranagar p. 374, Janakpur p. 388, Kankarbhitta p. 400, Itahar p. 442 | first= | last=David Reed, James McConnachie | publisher = Google book |accessdate = 2012-05-09}}</ref> The Mahendra Highway is the longest in the country, at {{Convert|1,000|km}}.<ref name=reed>{{cite book|url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=lcbUIOTcE18C&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=Mahendra+Highway+Nepalganj&source=bl&ots=T5S7zIzVRd&sig=ZDxdXVuHGjwwoeEOWAi-56Y4VMk&hl=en&ei=W7b0S-GzIcy0rAfU4vC4Cg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Mahendra%20Highway%20Nepalganj&f=false | title = The rough guide to Nepal | work = Nepalganj p. 361, Mahendranagar p. 374, Janakpur p. 388, Kankarbhitta p. 400, Itahar p. 442 | first= | last=David Reed, James McConnachie | publisher = Google book |accessdate = 2010-05-18}}</ref> | |||
| The ] does not cross as much of the Mithila region as the Mahendra Highway, but it is equally important as it connects the region to ], the capital of Nepal, on one side and to the ] on the other side.<ref name="Highways in Nepal"></ref> | |||
| The ] to Hile road connects to the Mahendra Highway at ] and links ] and ]. Hile and ] are gateways of the ] and ].<ref name="Highways in Nepal"/> | |||
| ===Railways=== | |||
| {{Main|Nepal Railways}} | |||
| A few other railway projects are under progress in the region. All these projects are of ].<ref></ref> | |||
| *] (India) to ] (Nepal) | |||
| *] (India) to ] (Nepal) | |||
| *] (India) to ] (Nepal) | |||
| ===Airways=== | |||
| {{Main|Nepal Airlines destinations}} | |||
| Mithila region has 3 airports: | |||
| * ] in Biranagar | |||
| * ] in Janakpur | |||
| * ] in ] close to ]. | |||
| ==Districts: Languages and Population== | |||
| ] | |||
| ] is the most commonly spoken language of the region and the mother tongue of the majority of its population. However, The Interim Constitution of Nepal recognizes only Nepali as the official language of the country.<ref>According to Interim Constitution ] is only the official language (article 5, point 2). Other languages spoken as the mother tongue in Nepal are the national languages (article 5, point 1). According to article 5, point 3, all languages are accepted as official languages at the regional level. Besides, this part of the article is about native names and not about official language. The constitution does not state that Nepal written in Devanagari is the official name. </ref> | |||
| '''District wise distribution of Population and their mother tongues'''<ref name=Name1>{{cite book|last=Series3|first=Federalism Dialogues|title=Mithila-Bhojpur-Koch-Madhesh Province|year=2011|publisher=CCD|location=Kathmandu, Nepal|pages=35|url=http://www.ccd.org.np/new/publications/03_MBKM_English.pdf}}</ref> | |||
| {| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| |- | |||
| ! Sr.no. !! District name<br>(English) !!District name<br>(]) !! District name<br>] !! Language !! Population | |||
| |- | |||
| | 1 || Parsa || পর্সা || पर्सा || ] || 497,219 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 2 || Bara || বারা || बारा || ] || 559,135 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 3 || Rautahat || রৌতাহট || रौताहट || ] || 545,132 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 4 || Sarlahi || সর্লাহী || सर्लाही || ] || 635,701 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 5 || Mahottari || মহোত্তারী || महोत्तरी ||] || 553,481 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 6 || Dhanusa || ধনুসা || धनुषा || ] || 617,364 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 7 || Siraha || সিরাহা || सिराहा || ] || 572,399 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 8 || Saptari || সপ্তারী || सप्तरी ||] || 570,282 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 9 || Sunsari || সুনসারী || सुनसरी || ] || 625,663 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 10 || Morang || মোরঙ্গ || मोरंग || ] || 843,882 | |||
| |- | |||
| | 11 || Jhapa || ঝাপা || झापा || ] || 688,109 | |||
| |} | |||
| ==Culture== | |||
| ===Temples and festivals=== | |||
| ] | |||
| ]] | |||
| Mithila is known for the ] of Janakpur. This temple, one of the biggest in Nepal, was built in 1898 (1955 in the ]) by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwar of ].<ref name="HT"> by Rastriya Samachar Samiti. The Himalyan Times, April 13. Accessed September 2008</ref> It is also called "Nau Lakha Mandir" after the cost of construction, said to be nine (nau) ]. The oldest temple in Janakpur is Ram Mandir, built by the Nepali soldier ].<ref name="HT"/> Pilgrims also visit the more than 200 ] in the city for ritual baths. The two most important, Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, are located close to the city centre in Janakpur. The Vivah Mandap temple is where ] and Sita are said to have been married. It is situated next to the Janki Mandir.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} | |||
| Major religious celebrations include the Hindu festivals ] and ],<ref name="HT"/> followed by the spectacular ] Puja (sun worship) six days after Deepavali. Both Deepavali and Chhath are celebrated with a carnival atmosphere. | |||
| The festival of ] is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month ] (February/March). Other festivals honor Rama and Sita: | |||
| * ], the birthday of Lord Rama, in March–April (9th Day of Chait month of the ]) | |||
| * Janaki Navami, the birth anniversary Maa Sita in late April or early May (9th Day of Baisakh month of the ]).<ref>http://www.nepalvista.com/travel/janakpur.html</ref> And | |||
| * ] or ] festival re-enacts the wedding of Rama and Sita at the famous Vivah Mandap temple on the fifth day of the waxing moon in November or early December (after Kartik Purnima), where Rama broke the bow of ]. | |||
| Pilgrims stay in one of the city's five good hotels or small guest houses. There are also five fully equipped dharmashalas (cheap lodgings for pilgrims). | |||
| ===Art=== | |||
| Maithili women are known internationally for their ], especially their paintings on pottery, walls and courtyards. | |||
| ] is done with fingers, twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks, using natural dyes and pigments, and is characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns. There are paintings for each occasion and festival such as birth, marriage, ], surya shasti, ], ] (sacred thread ceremony), and ]. | |||
| ===Entertainment=== | |||
| Cinemas in the region show new and old films in ], ] and ] languages. Hollywood films are less popular<!-- than what? -->. Stage shows, concerts and plays are occasionally organized by the local clubs and organizations. Mithila Natyakala Parishad (MINAP), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting Mithila culture, is a prominent promoter of the performing arts.<ref></ref> | |||
| ==History of Mithila== | |||
| ===Ancient History=== | |||
| ] King Sirdhwaj ], 24th king of the Janaka Dynasty, ruled ]. There had been 54 kings in this dynasty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in/muzaffarpur_HISTORY.htm |title=A Brief History of Muzaffarpur |publisher=Muzaffarpur.bih.nic.in |date= |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> ] in Dhanusa District was the capital of Videha kingdom. | |||
| After the end of the Janaka dynasty, Mithila was divided into 8 states and power was decentralized to the local representatives elected by the people. During this period, south-west Mithila was known as the Vajji Republic or the Great Union of Vajji. ] were the most powerful and influential out of the 8 states of the Union. {{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} | |||
| Even the powerful kingdom of ] had to conclude matrimonial alliances in 519 B.C. with the neighboring estates of the Licchavis. Ajatshatru invaded ] and extended his sway over Mithila. It was at this time that ] (the modern Patna) was founded at the village of Patali on the banks of the sacred river ]. Ajatshatru built a strong fortress to keep vigil over the Licchavis on the other side of the river. {{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} Vaishali was a center of religious renaissance. Baso Kund was the birthplace of ], the 24th Jain Tirthankar and a contemporary of Lord ], and attracted visitors.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} | |||
| From the visit of the Hieuen Tsang’s till the rise of the Pala dynasty, Mithila was under the control of King Harsha Vardhan. After 647 A.D., the region passed on to the local chiefs; the Pala kings continued to maintain control of Mithila until 1019 A.D. There was a brief interlude during which Chedi kings of Central India ruled but they were replaced by the Sena dynasty later in the 11th century.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} | |||
| ===Islamic Invasion=== | |||
| Between 1210 and 1226, Ghais-u-ddin Iwaz, the ruler of ], was the first Muslim invader of Mithila. He, however, could not succeed in conquering the kingdom but extorted tributes. It was in 1323 that ] established his control over Mithila.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}} | |||
| The history of Mithila would remain incomplete without a reference to the Simraon dynasty (in the Western part of Mithila i.e. Champaran) and its founder Nanyupa Deva who extended his power over the whole of Mithila and ]. | |||
| During the regime of Harasimha Deva, the last king of the dynasty, Tughlaq Shah invaded Mithila in 1323 and gained control over the territory. Tughlaq Shah handed over the management of Mithila to Pt. Kameshwar Thakur. Thus, the sovereign power of Mithila passed from the Hindu chiefs to the Muslims but the Hindu chief continued to enjoy complete autonomy.<ref name="tirhutlive1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tirhutlive.in/About_tirhut.php |title=Tirhut – The Land of Maa Sita – About Tirhut |publisher=Tirhutlive.in |date= |accessdate=2012-05-04}}</ref> | |||
| ===Mithila Under the administration of Bengal=== | |||
| By the end of the 14th century, Mithila was controlled entirely bu the kings of ] and remained so for nearly a century until ] of Delhi defeated the king of ]. Meanwhile, Hussain Shah, the ] of ] had expanded his control over greater regions, which now included Mithila. The emperor of ] advanced against Hussain Shah in 1499 and thus gained control of Mithila. The power of the Nawabs of Bengal began to wane and with the decline and fall of Mahood Shah, north Bihar, including Mithila, became part of the ]. Though Mithila had been annexed, the petty chieftains continued to exercise effective control over this area till the days of ], the Nawab of Bengal. Daud Khan had his stronghold at ] and ]; after his fall, a separate Subah of ] was constituted under the ] dynasty, which included Mithila. | |||
| ===British Rule and Sugauli Treaty=== | |||
| In 1816, the British ] signed a treaty with the Gurkhas of Nepal, which ended a two year longAnglo-Nepali war between British India and Nepal. Under this treaty, India conceded part of Mithila to Nepal.<ref name="HinduismToday"/> This region was popularly called Eastern Terai or Mithila in Nepal.<ref>{{cite book|last=Paul R.|first=Brass|title=Language religion and Politics in North India|year=1974|publisher=iUniverse Inc|location=Lincoln, N.E|isbn=0-595-34393-5|pages=55|url=http://books.google.co.in/books?id=SylBHS8IJAUC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=Sugauli+treaty+divided+Mithila&source=bl&ots=HphGQWXnhW&sig=08Mnsw_LTiCuyy2ICqvSPr0IB2c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0RKlT--2No7JrAem8YnvAQ&ved=0CGUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Sugauli%20treaty%20divided%20Mithila&f=false}}</ref> | |||
| Since the 1816 Sugauli Treaty, Nepal controls the smaller northern portion of Mithila, while India holds the larger southern part. | |||
| ==Status of Mithila in Nepal== | |||
| Nepal presently (May, 2012) does not have a permanent constitution. The writing of a new constitution is going on by the Constituent Assembly. The most complex issue before constitution writers is believed to be the formation of Federal States in the country. In 2010 Constituent Assembly of Nepal made a proposal to have 14 states in the country. While in 2012, State reorganization commission made another proposal to have only 11 states (including 1 non-territorial province). | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ===14 State Model by Constituent Assembly=== | |||
| On January 23, 2010, the ] proposed a 14 state model for Nepal in which the Mithila region (under the name Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch-Madhesh) would have been granted statehood. This model was rejected by the SRC in 2012.<ref></ref> | |||
| ===11 State Model by State Reorganization Commission=== | |||
| ] | |||
| A 9 member team, headed by Dr Pariyar, called '''State Reorganization Commission''' or simply '''S.R.C.''' was given the task of constructing a federal model for Nepal. | |||
| On 31 January 2012, the SRC gave its final report to the Government. The report suggested 10 states and 1 non-territorial state; in that report, Mithila (Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch) was also suggested to be made a federal unit.<ref name=autogenerated1> . January 31, 2012. Accessed May 5, 2012.</ref> The yellow colored region on the southeast is Mithila. | |||
| ===Districts of Mithila=== | |||
| As per the above two proposals, the state will have 11 districts.<ref name="CA ref">{{cite book|last=Series-3|first=Federalism Dilaogue|title=Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch-Madesh Province|year=2011|publisher=Center for constitutional dialogue (2011)|location=Kathmandu, Nepal|pages=13, 14, 17, 21, 22, 33, 35, 36|url=http://www.ccd.org.np/new/publications/03_MBKM_English.pdf}}</ref> In order from west to east: | |||
| # ] (Western-most district) | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] (Capital City ]) | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] | |||
| # ] (Eastern-most districy) | |||
| ==Nomenclature of Provinces in Nepal== | |||
| ] had been a ] with centralized system of governance. For the first time, Nepal is being transformed into a ]. Naming the federal units is a primary concern. The following factors were considered when determining the province names:<ref>{{cite book|last=Constituent Assembly|first=Restructuring of the State and Distribution of State Power Committee|title=Report on Concept Paper and Preliminary Draft, 2066|year=2066 (Nepali Year)|publisher=Singha Durbar|location=Kathmandu|pages=Page no- NA.# Chapter 5 # Topic no 5.1 - Besis of Name Choice|url=http://ccd.org.np/new/constitution_in_progresss/Concept_Paper_Restructuring_State_GTZ_ENG.pdf}}</ref> | |||
| *Ethnic, communal, lingual, historical background and cultural identity | |||
| *Geographical and natural features | |||
| *Popularity and lack of offensive qualities | |||
| *Names that create a feeling of regional and national unity | |||
| *Names that are related to the identity and ownership of the people of the region | |||
| *Places of distinct reputation may also be used as names. | |||
| Considering the above factors, Mithila is referred as Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch-Madhesh by the ]; while SRC refers it as Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch. Although the name has not yet been finalized, there have been complaints against the name being lengthy, difficult to pronounce and odd.<ref>{{cite book|last=Federalsim Dialogues|first=Series 3|title=Mithila-Bhojpura-Koch-Madhesh|year=2011|publisher=CCD-2011|location=Kathmandu|pages=36 # Anexure III # Topic no 8. Queries raised regarding nomenclature and demarcation of the province|url=http://www.ccd.org.np/new/publications/03_MBKM_English.pdf}}</ref> | |||
| ==Notable people from Mithila region== | |||
| The following are notable residents (past and present) of Mithila (Nepal). | |||
| * Koirala brothers( three prime ministers) from Biratnagar of the eastern Mithila. | |||
| * ] (The first President of Nepal) was born in ] of Mithila region in Nepal. He is the current ] of ]. He was elected in July 2008 and is the country's first President. He previously served as Minister of Health and as General Secretary of the ] party.<ref>]</ref> | |||
| * ] was born in the ] of Mithila region of India but settled in Nepal. He is the current ] of ] and a former ] judge. He refused to take oath in Nepali and was took his oath in Maithili (his mother tongue). | |||
| * ] was born in the ]of Mithila region of Nepal. He is a Nepali politician who was ] of ] from May 25, 2009 until February 6, 2011.<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gD6g0JrxeQ5R-4t1N1bfBE0CSOwQ | title = Nepal parliament elects new PM | publisher = AFP via Google News }}</ref> Nepal announced his resignation as Prime Minister on June 30, 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10464705.stm | work=BBC News | title=Nepal PM quits in live TV address | date=June 30, 2010}}</ref> He was previously the General Secretary of ] for 15 years.<ref>]</ref> | |||
| * ] was born in ] of Mithila region of Nepal but settled in Mumbai, Bharat. He is a ] in commercial ], ], ], ], ], Garhwali, ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] language cinema. Narayan has sung in 32 different languages.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=139917 |title= Destiny’s child |accessdate=2009-01-26 |last= Suhasini |first= Lalitha |coauthors= |date= 2005-07-19 |work= The Indian Express |publisher=}}</ref> He has won three ] and five ]. In 2009, he was awarded the ] by the ]. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 14:20, 17 January 2022
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