| Voice of Shimla : Vishal
Bhatwe

Education is one of the major concerns of the district. Schools
with proper infrastructure should be constructed and mainly local
tutor/teacher should be appointed for teaching and admin purposes.
The literacy rate of SC/ST population in the district is also very
low. Awareness among them on education and health should be inculcated.
Shimla District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 5131.0 Km2
Population in Shimla (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 8,13,384
Male : 4,24,486
Female : 3,88,898
Under 6 population
Total : 80778
Male : 42018
Female : 38760
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 14675
In seeing : 7201
In speech : 1343
In hearing : 1615
In movement : 3189
Mental : 1327
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 144
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 -2006)
Disability : 467 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 64 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD

Brief About Shimla District
History
Shimla District lies between the longitude 77o-0"
and 78o-19" east and latitude 30o-45" and
31o-44" north. It is bounded by Mandi and Kullu in the
north, Kinnaur in the east, the state of Uttaranchal in the
south, Sirmaur, district in the west. The elevation of the district
ranges from 300 to 6000 metres. The topology of the district
is rugged and tough. Shimla district derives its name from Shimla
town which was once a small village. Shimla district in its present
form came into existence from 1st Sept,1972 on the reorganisation
of the districts of the state.
History of Shimla goes back to the period of Anglo-Gurkha
war in the beginning of 19th century. In 1804 the Gurkhas
, who had suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Sikhs at
the battle of Kangra, a hill fortress about sixty miles from Shimla,
where according to some accounts they lost thousand of men in the
fight and many others from disease, commenced to ravage the states
and hills surrounding Shimla. Gurkhas built many forts around Shimla.
One of these strongholds, the Jagatgarh fortress, was the
origin of the modern Jutogh, the well known military cantonment
adjoining Shimla. By 1808 the invaders had conquered all the
fortified posts between the Jamuna and Satluj, and from their capital
Arki began their ruthless rule over the neighbouring hill
states, untill at length the people in their wretchedness appealed
to the British for help. A small British force under Major General
'Sir David Ochterlony' was despatched to liberate
the hill men from Gurkhas. Majority of hill chiefs responded to
the call and joined the British forces. The rivals were engaged
in the toughest battle at 3750 ft high Ramgarh fort at Nalagarh.
A decisive battle took place near the fort at Malaon in which superior
guns of the British overpowered the enemy. The battle of Malaon
on 15th May 1815 ended the dream of the Gurkhas, to rule over this
part of the land for any longer. After few days, an official declaration
was made according to which all Chieftains who had joined British
in expelling the Gurkhas were restored with their land under the
British protection. The maharaja of Patiala who has also rendered
invaluable services to the British was rewarded with land in the
neighbourhood of the area now comprising Shimla. After the defeat
of Gurkhas they were forced to sign the 'Treaty
of Sanjauli' . The company retained the strategic forts of Sabathu,
Kotgarh, Ramgarh and Sandoch.
Present day Shimla District comprises of 19 erstwhile
hill states mainly Balson, Bushahr, Bhaji and Koti, Darkoti, Tharoch
& Dhadi,Kumharsain, Khaneti & Delath, Dhami, Jubbal , Keothal,
Rawingarh, Ratesh, Sangri.
Bushahr was one of the oldest of the hill states
after Kashmir in the Western Himalayas. According to one legend
.the Bushahr dynasty was founded by 'Pradhuman', the son of Lord Krishna. In order to
marry the daughter of Banasur, the local chief of shonitpur(Sarahan),
Pradhuman is said to have come to that place and after the death
of Banasur in an encounter with him, he became the chief of Bushar
and Kinnaur regions, since Banasur has no son. According to C.F.Kennedy
, Bushar was founded by Danbar Singh an immigrant Rajput from Deccan
in 1412 A.D. In 1914 Britishers recognised Padam
Singh as legitimate heir and was crowned Raja of Rampur Bushahr.
Ultimately in March, 1948 Rampur Bushahr became part and parcel
of province of Himachal Pradesh.
Jubbal one of the Shimla Hill States with an area
of 288 Sq miles was originally tributary to Sirmaur, but after Gurkha
war, it became independent. Raja Karam Chand was the founder of
the Jubbal State. Jubbal merged with the Indian Union after independence
and became a part of Himachal Pradesh on 15th April, 1948. at the
time of merger 'Dig Vijay Singh ' was the ruler of the state.
Shimla District in its present
form came into existence from 1st September 1972 on the reorganisation
of the districts of the state. After the reorganisation , the
erstwhile Mahasu district lost its entity and its major portion
was merged with Shimla. Shimla district derives its name from
Shimla town, the district headquarters and now state capital of
Himachal Pradesh
Shimla, was the Summer capital of
India under British rule . Presently, it is the state capital of
Himachal Pradesh, with its population around 1.6 lacs (Shimla
town only). Shimla has seen many important historical events such
as the famous Shimla Pact between India & Pakistan which
was signed here. The place is also famous for
its natural beauty, architectural buildings, wooden crafts and apples.
|