Bettiah

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Bettiah | type = city | latd = 26.8 | longd = 84.5
locator_position = right | state_name = Bihar
district = West Champaran
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 65
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 116,692| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 06254
postal_code = 845438
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio = 53% male : 47% female
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Bettiah is the headquarters of West Champaran district in the state of Bihar, near Indo-Nepal border, 225 Kilometres north-west of Patna. It is located at 26.81°N Latitude and 84.50°E Longitude, 65 metres above Mean Sea Level. Bettiah, pronounced as 'Betiya', derived its name from 'baint' (local name for 'cane'), which was grown here extensively in the past but not now. Its spelling - Bettiah was given by British and it remains so. The most accepted and widely used code for it BTH.

History

Birthplace of famous writer Gopal Singh 'Nepali', Mohandas Gandhi started the Satyagraha movement from Bettiah in 1917. The region surrounding Bettiah was being extensively used for Indigo plantation. Though Indigo cultivation yielded quick benefits to the British Colonizers, a few years of Indigo cultivation would render the subsoil entirely devoid of nutients thereby effectively ruining any further cultivation of any kind . To this date, the adjoining regions which were being used for Indigo cultivation are barren & have only scrub vegetation in stark contrast to the lush greens typical of the highly fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains in which the West Champaran district lies.

Geography

Bettiah is located at coord|26.8|N|84.5|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/34/Bettiah.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Bettiah] ] It has an average elevation of 65 metres (213 feet). Bettiah has hot summers and chilling winters. In summers the temperature goes up to 44 - 46 Degree Celsius while in winters the temperature goes as low as 2 - 5 Degree Celsius. It has heavy annual rainfall of about 200 - 240 cms which often causes floods. Bettiah lies in the alluvial plains of ganga basin. It is located just near Gandak river. The region faces thunders during the change of season (summer to rainy).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Bettiah had a population of 116,692. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bettiah has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 58% of the males and 42% of females literate. 17% of the population is under 6 years of age.

K R high school one of the best schools of the Bihar was established in the year 1927.It was a boys school till 1998.In 1998 co-education is started in this school. Assembly of God Church School is also considered as the best school of Bettiah. Along with these school there are many other schools. There is St .Teresa Girls High school, which is as good school as K R High School. These schools are old. But there is a very young school Saraswati Sishu/Vidya Mandir which is situated in Dr. Hedgewar Nagar which is 5 km east of Bettiah. This school established in Bettiah in 1989 and became a perfect center of education very early. Raj Inter College, Vipin High School, Notordame public school, Naterhart public school, Santresa school are other old (more than 75 yrs) schools of bettiah.

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Vrindavan (6 km from bettiah) is another most premier school in the district. The alumni of this school in a short span of time of 15 years have joined almost each of the top universities/IITs/ medical colleges in India and they may be found in USA, Europe, Singapore, HongKong and many other countries.

As consider the higher education there are two degree colleges ane Maharani Janki Kuwar Colllege and other Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College. A Mahila College is also situated in Bettiah

There is a further planning to convert Maharani Janki Kuwar Hospital (Biggest Hospital in North Bihar) into a Medical college and to establish one each of engineering, management college. You can define bettiah as a place where there are people who want to learn and develop and there are best institutes which are ready to make them learn.

In the soaring rage of marketing, business and industrialization, bettiah and its habitants are competing up with the market. There are few IT companies trying to negotiate with businessmen thereafter bringing Bettiah on the IT map. There are several industries in Bettiah sub-division which comprises small scale industries paper plant, sugar mills, and some other small scale industries. Alone Bettiah Sub-division has an average consumption of more than 30 MW of electricity which the government is currently negotiating with the National Grid. Although 30 MW is not sufficient for a developing town like bettiah but the private industries are struggling to move forward and competete the market.

Due to developming market many banks have come forward to provide with loans and facilities. Lists of bank currently operating in bettiah -"State Bank of India","Canara Bank","Axis Bank","Punjab National Bank","Allahabad Bank", "ICICI Bank", etc. Some banks planning to open are- "ING Vysya", "HDFC" etc.

Bettiah is well connected by roads and railways to all major cities in the surrounding area. Railways provide with cheap transport and trade. Due to the opening of broad gauze and new trains Bettiah have got new way to success and trade. There is a non - operative airport in BETTIAH which was operated in the past during British time. There is planning to renovate it and again open it for domestic flights.

There are several telecom companies providing with many facilities. Few of them are Airtel, BSNL, Realiance, TATA Indicom, Aircel, etc. There are many internet service providers also - Airtel Broadband, SIFY Broadband, BSNL Broadband, Realiance R-Connect. Etc.

When you move towards east from bettiah you pass through a small village name GONAULI. This village is a gift of Mr. Babu Kashi Rai forefather's GOP RAI and his family. Main occupation of villagers is farming and all cast including bhumihars, bramhins, kayast, live their life happily. Even today the development of Gonauli is carried forward by the grandson of Mr Babu Kashi Rai (Mr. R.K.K. RAI) and his family members.

References

See also

* Lauria NandanGarh
* Bagaha