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Durg
—  town  —
Durg
Coordinates: 21°11′N 81°17′E / 21.19°N 81.28°E / 21.19; 81.28Coordinates: 21°11′N 81°17′E / 21.19°N 81.28°E / 21.19; 81.28
Country	India
State	Chhattisgarh
Government
• Mayor	Dr. Shiv Kumar Tamer
Area
• Total	137 km2 (53 sq mi)
Elevation	290 m (950 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	2,810,436
• Density	145/km2 (380/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Urdu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code	0788
Sex ratio	982 ♂/♀

Durg is a city located in Chhattisgarh state, Central India. It is located just east of the Seonath River (Shivnath River) and is part of the Durg-Bhilai urban agglomeration. The city is an agricultural market and is heavily engaged in milling rice and pigeon peas. Durg gained importance as an industrial centre after the establishment of a large steel plant at Bhilai. Industries include brass working and bell-metal working, oil pressing, mining, and weaving. It is the headquarters of Durg District, the third largest district of Chattisgarh.

Geography[link]

Forest Cover is 9.01% i.e. 730 square kilometers.

Durg District is a populous District of Chhattisgarh. It occupies the southwestern part of the Chhattisgarh plain and possesses belts of hilly country in the south, southwest and northwest, bestowed with mineral resources and forests. The National Highway No. 6 (Mumbai - Nagpur - Calcutta) is the major highway of the district and the train route is the main line of the South Eastern Railway midway between Mumbai-Calcutta. Nearest airport from the District Headquarter Durg is at Raipur about 60 km.

Geographical Informations are as followed:-

Latitude & Longitude: Between- 20°23' and 22°02' N & 80°46' and 81°58 E

• Height above mean sea level: 317.00 M
• Geographical Area: 8537 km²
• Forest Area: 764.46 km² (8.95% of Geographical Area)

Physiography[link]

The District occupies the southwestern part of the Upper Sheonath-Mahanadi valley and the bordering hills in the south and southwest. Physiographically, the District can be divided into two divisions, viz. the C.G. plain and the Southern plateau. The Chhattisgarh plain occupies the largest area in the District.

Rivers[link]

The general slope of the district comes under Mahanadi river slope and is towards the north and north east and locally in some places towards east. The main rivers of Mahanadi are Sheonath, Kharun, Tandula, Kharkhara and Aamner. Sheonath is the main river of the district which originates from Panabaras Hill (625 M) and flows towards north-east. This river is the main tributary of Mahanadi River. The total length of the Sheonath river is 345 km. The length of Sheonath river in Durg district is 120 km. The main tributary of Sheonath river is Tandula river. This river originates from hills situated in the north of Bhanupratappur (District- Kanker). After covering a distance of 34 km this river joins Sukhanala. This river joins Sheonath river in the south-west of Durg at a distance of approximately 13 km. The total length of this river is 96.6 km. A dam is constructed during the period 1905 to 1921 at the joining point of Sukhanala and Tandula river.

Kharun river originates from Petechua in the south-east of the district and after flowing 80 km joins Sheonath river near Somnath in the north. Sheonath river flows nearer to the western border of the district whereas river Kharun forms the eastern border of the district. The length of Kharun river is 120 km. The area around Kharun river is very fertile.

Kharkhara river originates from hills situated in Dalli Rajahara in the south-west of the District. This river joins Sheonath river after covering a distance of 90 km towards north-east. To fulfill the water requirement of Bhilai Steel Plant and Industry, in 1965-66, Kharkhara Dam was constructed. This is situated at Village Petechua at Balod Tehsil.

Climate[link]

Durg generally has a dry tropical weather which is moderate but on a warmer side in summer season. The peak temperatures are usually reached in May/June and can be as high as 45C. The onset of monsoon is usually from July and the season extends up to September, with monsoon peaking during July and August. Maximum, Average & Minimum Rain fall Of District Durg are 1477.2 mm, 1071.16 mm and 781.5 mm per year respectively.

History[link]

In ancient times Durg was part of 'Dakshina' or 'Southern Kosala'. In the epic 'Ramayana', King Dasharatha Of Uttara Kosala married Kosalaya, the princess of Dakshnia Kosala. The Chinese traveller Huien Tsang visited Southern Kosala in the 4th Century A.D. He mentions that he found an Asokan tope in the Capital city. It is therefore apparent that the District was included in Ashoka's Empire. Álso in the 5th century AD, we get an authentic reference to this tract, in the famous Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudra Gupta. He claims that two kingdom Kosala and Mahakantara, succumbed to his southern expedition.

However, the first specific reference with regard to the word "Durg" comes around the 8th century A.D. through two stone inscriptions; which were found in Durg and later deposited in the Raipur Museum. The First inscription mentions the name of a king Shiva Deva. The 2nd inscription associates the name of Sivapura (the capital of Shivadeva) with that of Shiva Durga, indicating thereby that during Shivadeva's reign the town and the fort were separate. The present name "Durg" is evidently a contraction of the old shivadurga, which he built. The river on whose banks stands the present town is also called "Shiva River". With the coming of the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri in A.D. 1182, Durg came under their kingdom. From then on it remained under the Kalachuries, till 1742 A. D. when the Marathas deposed them.

In 1877, after the Marathas lost the IIIrd Anglo- Maratha War, the tract of Chhattisgarh passed into British hands. Caption Edmonds was the First British Officer posted in Chhattisgarh as Collector and Magistrate to carry on the administration. For the purpose of Administration Durg was attached to Bhandara District (now in Maharashtra) but in 1857 it was separated and made into a tehsil of Raipur district to which it remained attached till 1906.

In 1906 Durg was created as a separate district. The Collectorate building was built in the year 1907. Interestingly, cement was not used in the construction of the collectorate building, instead a mixture of limestone, gum, sand and fruit pulp was used as the binding agent. Today even though 100 years have gone by, the collectorate building stands strong as it might have been built yesterday. Soon after, 350 acres (140 ha) of land from Kasaridih Village, was acquired by the government to build official residences. It is on this land that we find today's Civil Lines, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Stadium, Chaupati, Company Garden, New Bus Stand, Polytecnic College and the Law College. The First Collector Of Durg was Shri S. M. Chitnabees. It is in his memory that the road from Kucheri to the Railway Station has been named "Chitnabees Road". During the freedom struggle, Durg was a hot bed of nationalist activities. Almost all the prominent leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Jawahalal Nehru and Dr. Rajendra Prasad visited Durg during the freedom struggle. Freedom fighters like Shri Ram Prasad Deshmukh & his son Shri Laxman Singh Deshmukh from village Khamtarai (Distt. Durg) participated in struggle for freedom & sent to jail many times by Britishers.

Teejan Bai is an exponent of Pandavani

Later on in mid nineties Shri Ramchandra Deshmukh played an important role to bring Chhattisgarh on cultural map of India. He directed plays like Chadaini Gonda, Dewar Dera & Kari.

Demographics[link]

As of 2001 India census,^[1] Durg had a population of 231,182. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Durg has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79% and, female literacy is 65%. In Durg, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

In the 2011 census Durg-Bhilainagar Urban Agglomeration had a population of 1,064,077.^[2] Durg-Bhilainagar Urban Agglomeration includes: Durg (M Corp.), Bhilai Nagar (M Corp.), Dumar dih (part) (OG), Bhilai Charoda (M), Jamul (M), Kumhari (M), and Utai (NP).^[3]

Durg Municipal Corporation had a total population of 268,679 in 2011, out of which 136,537 were males and 132,142 were females. Durg had a below six years population of 29,165. Durg had an effective literacy rate (7+ population) of 87.94 per cent and a sex ratio of 968. ^[4]

Culture[link]

The people of Durg also have a great tendency towards adopting new trends and life styles. Durg thus is multicultural for people from all over India have come and settled in this region.

The people of this region are very fond of colors. The dresses they wear are very colorful. Women wear sarees with Kardhani. In rural areas women wear mala made of one rupee coins. Though this has gone out of trend these days. The people of this region are also known for creating humour out of language. Comical plays are very popular and are worth watching.

Durg is rich in its cultural heritage. Durg has its own dance styles, cuisine, music. Pandwani the musical narration of the epic Mahabharata, "Raut Nacha" (performed basically by Yadav caste, this folk dance has bagged many awards at state level) and the Panthi and Soowa dance styles.

Places to see[link]

Hindi Bhawan is a famous ancient building that is now converted into a nagar nigam office.

Durg District Court building is a old building with a British architecture.

Jain Temples of Nagpura are very famous for their grand construction and carvings. A naturopathy centre also runs in nagpura where patients come from different parts of country for naturopathy treatment.

Chandi Mandir is located in the heart of Durg city as a famous pilgrim spot. Chandi mata is worshipped by all caste and relegions of Durg and nearby places.

Notable people[link]

Rawalmal Jain Mani, Creator of Nagpura Teerth and temples, Veteran Journalist, winner of multiple awards.

Ujjwal Patni, International trainer, author and motivational speaker, Guinness world record achiever.

Saba Anjum, International hockey player, Captain of Indian hockey team and winner of multiple awards.

Educational Institutes[link]

• JRD Govt Multipurpose Higher Secondary School Durg
• Govt Adarsh Girls Higher Secondary School Durg
• Bhilai Institute of technology Durg
• Kalyan Mahavidyalaya Bhilai Nagar Durg
• Shri Shankaracharya Institute of Technology and Management
• Vishwadeep Vidyalaya Hr. Sec. School
• Govt. VYT Post Graduate College Durg

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official web site of Durg District - http://durg.gov.in/

Sarabjit Singh, also known as Jaljit Singh, is an Indian citizen and convicted terrorist jailed in Pakistan. He was convicted for his involvement in 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. He claims that he is just a poor farmer and victim of mistaken identity, who strayed into Pakistan from his village located on the border.^[1]

He was given death sentence, but his hanging was repeatedly postponed. He is imprisoned in the Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore.

Prosecution Case[link]

On August 24, 2005 Khan{{Who|date=August 2011} who was Khan?, please clarify} said that ‘The alleged Indian agent Manjit Singh confessed his involvement in bomb blasts in Pakistan whose all evidences were presented in court.

According to the record, he was arrested red handed during crossing the border in August 1990 near the Kasur. Nine days later, he was produced before a magistrate , a man wanted for acts of terrorism in Pakistan. Before the magistrate, Manjit confessed to his crime. Also Pakistan says he was working for the Indian intelligence agency RAW when he was arrested in Lahore.Later on he denied it all during trial . He maintained that his name was Sarabjit Singh and that he had often crossed the Kasur border, smuggling alcohol.But his family was saying he didn't cross the border.

Death sentence[link]

He was awarded the death penalty by the Anti-Terrorist Court in 1991, based on evidence,eye witnessed and the original confession he had made before a magistrate. His sentence was upheld by the High Court and later by the Supreme Court. He was likely to be hanged on May 2008. The Supreme Court rejected his mercy petition in March 2006 and upheld the death sentence. President Pervez Musharraf had rejected his mercy petition on March 3.

Arguments from India[link]

Later on he denied it all during trial. He maintained that his name was Sarabjit Singh and that he had often crossed the Kasur border, smuggling alcohol . Manjit Singh’s relatives claim he is a simple farmer who was arrested after he strayed across the Pakistani border from his northern frontier hometown of Bhikiwind in Punjab state while drunk in 1990. His wife Sukh Prit Kaur, a resident of Bhikhiwind village of district Tarantaran, claimed he left to plough his fields near Wagah Border on August 28, 1990, but never returned^{[citation needed]}. She said the family launched a search but could not find any clue to his whereabouts for nine months and finally they received a letter from Manjit informing them that he was caught by Pakistani border forces when he mistakenly crossed the border under the influence of liquor. External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh took up Manjit Singh’s case with Pakistan High Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Khan and urged him to convey Delhi’s hope that Islamabad would treat the matter as a humanitarian issue.

Visit of his family to Pakistan[link]

Later on the Government of Pakistan granted a seven-day visa to Manjit’s family to visit Lahore.

"We are hopeful that the government of Pakistan will release Manjit Singh after reviewing his death sentence and our visit to Pakistan will not prove futile”, Manjit’s wife Sukh Prit Kaur, who was accompanied by his two daughters Swapan Deep and Poonam Kaur, a sister and a paternal uncle, expressed hope at Gurdwara Dera Sahib after her arrival at the city via Wagah on Wednesday.

Student protests[link]

In April 2008, a group of Pakistani students organized a march, seeking withdrawal of all official moves to pardon Sarabjit. They also demanded a boycott of western products and culture and promotion of Islamic teachings.^[2][3]

Key witness retracts statement[link]

Shaukat Salim, a key witness in the case against Sarabjit, was caught on tape retracting his statement on April 26, 2008. Salim's father and other relatives were killed in the attack, and he says that Sarabjit was the one who planted the bomb. But, earlier, he had said that he made the statements implicating Sarabjit under pressure from the Pakistani police. Meanwhile, Sarabjit's lawyer Abdul Rana Hamid told Indian News Channel CNN-IBN that Salim's statements have no value as they were never recorded in court.^[4]

References[link]

• The daily DAWN, March 18, 2008.
• The daily DAWN, March 20, 2008.
• The daily DAWN, April 24, 2008.
• The daily DAWN, August 26, 2005.
• The daily DAWN, August 29, 2005.

External links[link]

• The Sarabjit Case