Ganjam district is a district in the Indian state of Odisha. Ganjam's total area is 8,206 km² (3,168 mi²).
The district headquarters is Chhatrapur. Ganjam is divided into three sub-divisions Chhatrapur, Berhampur, and Bhanjanagar. The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908 lists Ganjam, along with the Thanjavur and South Canara districts, as the three districts of the Madras Presidency where Brahmins were most numerous.
As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Odisha (out of 30).
History
Ganjam was a part of ancient Dakshina Kalinga. The Mauryan emperor Ashoka inscribed his message at Jaugada near the banks of the Rushikulya, in the present-day Ganjam district. Scholars thus conclude that a significant part of Ganjam was under the rule of Ashoka. There are multiple theories regarding the name 'Ganjam'. During the 7th century, the region was known as Kangoda or Kongoda. Some scholars believe the word evolved from this ancient name while others suggest the name of the region likely derives from the Persian word "Ganj", meaning 'granary' or 'market' thus signifying the importance of historical ports and being the respective center of trade and commerce.
Ganjam district is one of the oldest administrative units of Odisha. It was part of Madras presidency during British rule.
Administrative setup
The 23 Tahasils in Ganjam district under three sub-divisions are listed in the following table.
The 22 Blocks in Ganjam district under three sub-divisions are listed in the following table.
There are 39 Police Stations under the two Police Districts in Ganjam Administrative district are listed in the following table.
An important contributor to the local economy is production of extracts from Ganjam Kewda Rooh, which are used in perfumery.
Since Ganjam is a coastal district, it is well equipped with Port facilities. Port at Gopalpur and nearby industries cater economic activities of the district and Odisha state.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Ganjam district has a population of 3,529,031, roughly equal to the nation of Lithuania or the US state of Connecticut. This gives it a ranking of 83rd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 430 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,100/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 11.37%. Ganjam has a sex ratio of 983 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 71.88%. 21.76% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 19.50% and 3.37% of the population respectively.
At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 91.29% of the population in the district spoke Odia, 7.17% Telugu, 0.44% Kui and 0.42% Sora as their first language.
Politics
Vidhan Sabha constituencies
The following is the Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Ganjam and the elected members of the area
Lok Sabha constituencies
Since 2008, Ganjam district is represented in Berhampur (Lok Sabha constituency) and Aska (Lok Sabha constituency).
Berhampur seat earlier Ganjam (Lok Sabha constituency) exist in 1952 and 1957 general elections as two seat constituency and Chatarpur (Lok Sabha constituency) exist in 1962, 1967 and 1971 general elections and later Berhanpur seat exist since 1977 general elections.
Aska seat exist since 1977 general elections and earlier as Bhanjanagar (Lok Sabha constituency) seat in 1962, 1967 and 1971 general elections
People from Ganjam district
Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja, Greatest Poet
Kabisurjya Baladeb Rath, Poet
Bharat Ratna V.V. Giri, former President of India (4th)
P. V. Narasimha Rao, former Prime Minister of India, elected as a member of parliament from Bramhapur constituency
Kalinga Vira Biju Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha and former Union Cabinet minister of India
Naveen Patnaik : The current & 14th Chief Minister of Odisha, is also MLA(Member of Legislative Assembly) from Hinjilicut, Ganjam District, Odisha
Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, 1st Prime Minister of Odisha, regarded as architect of an Independent united Odisha State. He was a king of Eastern Ganga Dynasty (Paralakhemundi Branch of Gajapati district but previously it was a part of Ganjam District)
Bishwanath Das, 2nd Prime Minister of Odisha former Governor of Uttar Pradesh and former Chief Minister of Odisha.
Binayak Acharya, former Chief Minister of Odisha
Padma Shri Kota Harinarayana, scientist, former Programme Director and Chief Designer of India's Light Combat Aircraft Tejas programme and former Vice chancellor of University of Hyderabad
Padma Shri Sanjukta Panigrahi, Most famous Odissi dancer
Padma Bhushan Waheeda Rehman, regarded as all time greatest actress of Indian cinema and dancer started her career at Ganjam Kala Parishad, Berhampur
Siddhanta Mahapatra, most famous & successful actor and two times member of parliament from Bramhapur constituency
Celina Jaitly, actress and model, studied at Khallikote Autonomous College (Now Khallikote University)
Pandit Ramarao patro, great Odissi musician, compose, Bina player, vocalist
Lisa Mishra, singer
Sulagna Panigrahi, actress
K Ravi Kumar, won gold in weightlifting at 2010 Commonwealth Games and also participated in 2012 London Olympics
Padma Shri P. V. S. Rao, Computer scientist
Justice B. Jagannadha Das, former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court
Justice Lingaraj Panigrahi, former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and former Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly
Somanath Rath, former Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly
Biswanath Pattnaik was a legendary veteran Gandhian, Sarvodaya and Bhoodan leader
Arun K. Pati, quantum physicist
W. V. V. B. Ramalingam, mathematics teacher and freedom fighter
Thapi Dharma Rao, journalist, writer
Chandra Sekhar Sahu, member of parliament of Bramhapur constituency and former union Rural Development minister
Ram Krushna Patnaik, Former cabinet Finance minister of Odisha and former Member of legislative of Odisha. He was one of the founding member of Biju Janata Dal (BJD)
Smt. A. Laxmibai, first Woman Deputy Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly
Sashi Bhusan Rath, Social reformer & Politician
Raja Harihar Mardaraj, Former king of Khallikote and freedom fighter
Nikhilanand panigrahy, writer
Aneppu Parasuramdas Patro: Justice Party leader and Education Minister in the Raja of Panagal Government
Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka, poet & composer of Odissi music
Padma Shri Krishna Mohan Pathi, orthopedic surgeon
Harihar Panda, freedom fighter
G. S. Melkote, freedom fighter and parliamentarian
Goparaju Ramachandra Rao, Atheist, Freedom Fighter, Social Activist, Social Reformer
Raja Bahadur Ramachandra Mardaraj Deo, king and freedom fighter
Sanskaraka Shribastha panda, freedom fighter
Laxmi Narayan Pattnaik, freedom fighter
Chakara Bisoyi, freedom fighter
Padma shri Bhagaban Sahu, folk dancer and choreographer
Soubhagya Kumar Misra, Sahitya Akademi Award winner for his writing
Gouri Kumar Brahma, Academician, literary critic, orator and writer
Dr. Dinanath Pathy, Indian painter, author and art historian
References
External links
Official website
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ganjam" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 452. This offers a detailed history of the district, albeit from a British imperial point of view.