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ABOUT HARYANA
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Haryana (Hindi: हरियाणा, Punjabi: ਹਰਿਆਣਾ) is a
state in India. Historically, it has been a part
of the Kuru region in North India. The name
Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century
AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar (VS
1189-1230). It is bordered by Punjab and
Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan
to the west and south. The river Yamuna defines
its eastern border with Uttarakhand and Uttar
Pradesh. Haryana also surrounds Delhi on three
sides, forming the northern, western and
southern borders of Delhi. Consequently, a large
area of Haryana is included in the National
Capital Region. The capital of the state is
Chandigarh which is administered as a union
territory and is also the capital of Punjab. The
name Haryana means the Abode of God from
Sanskrit Hari (the Hindu God Vishnu) and ayana
(home), although it may also refer to the lush
green landscape of the state (from Sanskrit
harit meaning green).
Haryana was the cradle of the Indus Valley
and Vedic Civilizations, both flourishing on the
banks of the now lost Sarasvati River. Several
decisive battles were fought in the area, which
shaped much of the history of India. These
include the epic battle of Mahabharata at
Kurukshetra (including the recital of the
Bhagavad Gita by Krishna), and the three battles
of Panipat. Haryana was administered as part of
the Punjab province of British India, and was
carved out on linguistic lines as India's 17th
state in 1966. Haryana is now a leading
contributor to the country's production of
foodgrain and milk. Agriculture is the leading
occupation for the residents of the state, the
flat arable land irrigated by submersible pumps
and an extensive canal system. Haryana
contributed heavily to the Green Revolution that
made India self-sufficient in food production in
the 1960s.
Haryana is one of the wealthiest states of
India and has the third highest per capita
income in the country at Rs. 67,891, including
the largest number of rural crorepatis in India.
Haryana is also one of the most economically
developed regions in South Asia and its
agricultural and manufacturing industry has
experienced sustained growth since 1970s.
Haryana is India's largest manufacturer of
passenger cars, two-wheelers, and tractors.
Since 2000, the state has emerged as the largest
recipient of investment per capita in India. The
city of Gurgaon has rapidly emerged as a major
hub for the information technology and
automobile industries. Gurgaon is home to Maruti
Udyog Limited, India's largest automobile
manufacturer, and Hero Honda Limited, the
world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers.
Yamunanagar, Panipat, Panchkula and Faridabad
are also industrial hubs, with the Panipat
Refinery being the second largest refinery in
South Asia. There are also long established
steel, plywood, paper and textile industries in
the state.
Major ethnic group in Haryana is of Jat
people and Yaduvanshi Ahirs. Other ethnic groups
are of Kambojs, Gujjars, Agarwals, Rors,
Brahmins, Rajputs, Punjabis and Sainis. Hindus
are majority in Haryana and are about 90% of the
population, Sikhs 6.2%, Muslims 4.05% and
Christians 0.10%.
RIVERS OF HARYANA
The river Yamuna flows along its eastern
boundary. The ancient Sarasvati River is said to
have flowed from Yamunanagar, but it has now
disappeared.
The river Ghaggar is Haryana's main seasonal
river. The Ghaggar rises in the outer Himalayas,
between the Yamuna and the Sutlej and enters
Haryana near Pinjore, Panchkula district.
Passing through Ambala and Hissar, it reaches
Bikaner in Rajasthan and runs a course of 290
miles before disappearing into the deserts of
Rajasthan.
The Markanda river's ancient name was Aruna.
A seasonal stream like the Ghaggar, it
originates from the lower Sivalik Hills and
enters Haryana near Ambala. During monsoons,
this stream swells into a raging torrent
notorious for its devastating power. The surplus
water is carried on to the Sanisa lake where the
Markanda joins the Sarasvati.
An important tributary is the Tangri. The
Sahibi originates in the Mewat hills near
Jitgarh and Manoharpur in Rajasthan. Gathering
volume from about a hundred tributaries, it
reaches voluminous proportions, forming a broad
stream around Alwar and Patan. On reaching
Rohtak it branches off into two smaller streams,
finally reaching the outskirts of Delhi and
flowing into the Yamuna. There are three other
rivulets in and around the Mewat hills – Indori,
Dohan and Kasavati and they all flow northwards
from the south.
CLIMATE
The climate of Haryana is similar to other
states of India lying in the northern plains. It
is very hot in summer (up to a high of 50 deg
Celsius) and cold in winters (down to a low of 1
deg Celsius). The hottest months are May and
June and the coldest being December and January.
Rainfall is varied, with the Shivalik Hills
region being the wettest and the Aravali Hills
region being the driest. About 80% of the
rainfall occurs in the monsoon season
(July–September) and sometimes causes local
flooding.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Thorny, dry, deciduous forest and thorny shrubs can be
found all over the state. During the monsoon, a
carpet of grass covers the hills. Mulberry,
eucalyptus, pine, kikar, shisham and babul are
some of the trees found here. The species of
fauna found in the state of Haryana include
black buck, nilgai, panther, fox, mongoose,
jackal and wild dog. More than 300 species of
birds are found here.
DEMOGRAPHICS
The population of Haryana, according to the
2001 census, is 21,144,000, with 11,364,000
males and 9,781,000 females. The population
density is 477 people/km2. Haryana, along with
neighboring Punjab, has a skewed sex ratio at
861, with many more men than women. Selective
abortion of female fetuses has a very high
provenance, reflecting a widespread preference
for the male child.
Haryana's majority ethnic groups include
the Jats, Ahirs and Sainis. Other ethnic groups
include the Kambojs, Gujjars, Meenas, Banias,
Brahmins, Rajputs, Rors, Dalits, Meos and
Punjabis.
Hindus are majority in Haryana and are
about 90% of the population, Sikhs 6.2%, Muslims
4.05% (mainly Meos) and Christians 0.10%. Hindus
make up about 18,655,925 of the population,
Sikhs 1,170,662, Muslims 1,222,196, Jains
57,167, Christians 27,185, and Buddhists
7,140.Muslims are mainly in the Mewat district
and Yamunanagar district, while Sikhs are mostly
in the districts adjoining Punjab, Hisar, Sirsa,
Jind, Fatehabad, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ambala,
and Panchkula. Agriculture and related
industries have been the backbone of the local
economy. These days the state is seeing a
massive influx of immigrants from across the
nation, primarily from Bihar, Bengal, Uttrakhand,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. |
