District Profile

history HISTORY

The Portuguese occupied Dadra and Nagar Haveli between 1783 and 1785 and ruled it till its liberation in 1954. The regime was marked by rapacity and corruption on the part of Government and its officials, exploitation of the local Tribal Population by a handful Sahukars (money lenders) and total indifference to the welfare of the people. About 170 years of Portuguese rule was brought to an end on 2 August 1954 by the volunteers of Goa parties acting in close cooperation with the local inhabitants. After its liberation, the administration of the territory was carried on by an Administrator with an Advisor to advise him on all administrative matters and soon steps were taken to associate the local people in the administration by the creation of Varistha Panchayat and Group Panchayat.

On 12^th June 1961, the Varistha Panchayat unanimously passed a resolution for integration with the Indian Union. On 11.08.1961, the territory became nationally united by the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Act 1961 (No.35 of 1961) passed by the Parliament. Consequently, the free Dadra & Nagar Haveli Administration was succeeded by a formal statutory Administration headed by an Administrator, Dadra and Nagar Haveli comprising of 72 villages and one town Statutory and 5 Census Town from a single district and single taluka as Union Territory. The union territory was merged with the neighbouring union territory of Daman and Diu to form the new union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu on January 26, 2020. The territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli then became one of the three districts of the new union territory, as the Dadra and Nagar Haveli District.

ABOUT DISTRICT

Dadra Nagar Haveli, endowed with nature’s munificence, it’s a land of spell-binding beauty. Green forests, winding rivers, unimaginable waterfronts, gentle gurgle of streams, distant dotting mountain ranges, a gorgeous kaleidoscope of flora and fauna. Owing to its serenity and quaint sylvan surroundings, this district is a heaven for those who hunt around for a tranquil holiday.

In order to keep the English at bay and to enlist their support against the Mughals, the Marathas made friends with the Portuguese and signed a treaty in 1779. According to this historic treaty of friendship, the Maratha-Peshwa agreed that the Portuguese will be allowed to collect revenue from Dadra and Nagar Haveli which consisted of 72 villages, then known as parganas in compensation for their loss of a warship called “Santanaâ” which had earlier been captured by the Marathas but not surrendered to the Portuguese in spite of their many entreaties. These territories were earlier ruled by the Koli chiefs who were defeated by the Hindu kings of Jawhar and Ramnagar. The Marathas conquered and annexed these territories to their kingdom.

The area of Dadra Nagar Haveli spread over 491.00 sq.kms landlocked between Gujarat in North and Maharashtra in South was liberated from Portuguese Rulers by people themselves on 2nd August 1954.The union territory was merged with the neighbouring union territory of Daman and Diu to form the new union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu on January 26, 2020. The territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli then became one of the three districts of the new union territory, as the Dadra and Nagar Haveli District.

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LAND, PEOPLE & CULTURE :

The Dadra & Nagar Haveli is located on the western side of the foothills of Western Ghats and has undulating terrain 41.63% of the total geographical area is covered with forests and thus offers it a look of woodland. The major river Daman Ganga and its tributaries criss-cross the Dadra Nagar Haveli and drain into the Arabian Sea at Daman. The District has a population of 343709 as per the 2011 census. The major tribes are Varlies, Kokana, Dhodia and Dublas. The tribal have their distinct culture of their own consisting of curious rituals and colourful folk-lore. No occasion in tribal life is complete, be it a marriage or harvest without a folk dance. The major dances are Tarpa, Dhol, Bhavada and Gherria. The performers of these foot-tapping dances are equally good in other arts and art forms and are almost independent for most of their daily requirements.

About

CLIMATE :

Being near the coast, all but the sparsely inhabited easternmost parts of the District have a typical north Indian Ocean maritime climate. The summers are hot and become in their later part more humid with temperatures sometimes reaching as high as 42 °C.

The monsoon starts in the month of June and extends until September. The rainfall is brought by South West monsoon winds. The annual rainfall is of 200–250 cm. Winters starts in the month of October and extends until February. The temperature during winter ranges from 14 °C to 30 °C.

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POPULATION:

According to the 2011 census Dadra Nagar Haveli has a population of 343,709. It has a population density of 700 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,810/sq mi). Dadra Nagar Haveli has a sex ratio of 774 females for every 1,000 males, and a literacy rate of 76.2%.

This area of 491 sq.kms is the homeland of more than one lakh people of various tribes. It has seen many rulers, ranging from the mighty Marathas to the fiery Portuguese. Yet, the essence of tribal life, its richness and variety, its art, myth, song and folklore, have all remained unchanged.