Tarar, Bhagalpur

Taṛar is a village located in Sonhaula subdivision of Bhagalpur district in Bihar, India. It is situated 12km away from sub-district headquarter Sonhaula (tehsildar office) and 25km away from district headquarter Bhagalpur. As per 2009 stats, Tarar is also a village panchayat.^[1]

The total geographical area of the village is 371 hectares. Taṛar has a total population of 10,641 peoples, out of which male population is 5,725 while female population is 4,916. Literacy rate of Taṛar village is 48.68% out of which 56.91% males and 39.10% females are literate. There are about 2,006 houses in Taṛar village.

Bhagalpur is the nearest city to Taṛar for all major economic activities, which is approximately 25km away.^[2]

The village is located on a land which is slightly higher in altitude than its surroundings, the slope being sharper to the east, the altitude gradually declining for about 5 or 6 kilometres to reach the Gerua river, a tributary to the Ganges. In the west, chaur land is there, which has a lower altitude than the village has. As Gerua flows to the north (to the Ganges, some 6 kilometres away from Taṛar), the land to the north of the village is relatively a low land. Tarar has never evidenced an incidence of flood. There was a Hindi poem titled "Hey Taṛar" (that appeared in the Taṛar High School Magazine in the 1960s) written by Shri Moti Singh (alias Mathilisharan Nehnidhi), who was a teacher in Taṛar High School, which mentioned that the name "Tarar" came from "Tānd", which means an upland. Since an upland was occupied by the people to inhabit, it was named Tāndar wherefrom the name Taṛar came forth (" ... Tānd bhūmi ābād huyi. Tārar iskā nām pad gayā paribhāsā yun yād huyi". It is believed that Taṛar was settled as a village towards the end of the 18th century, just after the introduction of Zamindari system by the British government.

In the early 19th century, Tarar was a small rural settlement comprising approximately 25 households, with an estimated population of around 200 individuals. Land and livestock ownership were primarily concentrated among a limited number of families, including six Rajput, four Brahmin, and three Yadav households.

Alongside these groups, the village was home to families belonging to several occupational and service-based communities. These included Mochi (leather workers and shoemakers), whose women were also known for providing traditional gynaecological and childbirth assistance; Paswan, traditionally serving as watchmen); Teli (oil pressers); Halwai (sweet makers); Kayastha (engaged in clerical, legal, and land-related documentation); Hari ; Vishvakarma caste i.e ( Lohar (blacksmiths); Sunar (goldsmiths); Barhai (carpenters) ); and Nai (barbers). These communities played an essential role in sustaining the village’s socio-economic structure.

Most households owned small parcels of land sufficient for subsistence. Agricultural labour requirements were largely met by workers from neighbouring villages. The Rajput families primarily depended on agriculture, while Brahmin households combined landholding with religious and scholarly occupations. The Yadav families relied on a mix of agriculture and animal husbandry. Members of the Mochi and Dusadh communities also supplemented their livelihoods through agricultural labour. The village economy during this period was predominantly agrarian, centred on land cultivation, agriculture, and animal husbandry.

Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, spanning seven to eight generations, Tarar experienced growth in population as well as the development of basic civic amenities and infrastructure. Educational institutions were established during this period, including a primary school, a girls’ school, and a high school. Postal services were expanded, and a Primary Health Centre was introduced. Irrigation facilities also improved, supporting agricultural activities.

In the early decades of the 20th century, Tarar was connected to Ghogha railway station and the tehsil headquarters at Sonhaula by a kutcha (mud) road. In the mid-1950s, this road was upgraded to a black-topped surface, enabling regular private bus services to Bhagalpur—located approximately 25 kilometres away—and to Sonhaula. These transport improvements enhanced the village’s regional connectivity.

Tarar High School emerged as an important educational institution, catering not only to the village but also to students from surrounding settlements. Until the mid-1970s, it was regarded as one of the prominent secondary schools in the locality. Subsequently, a college was established within the premises of the high school, further expanding access to higher education in the area.

In later decades, however, Tarar experienced a decline in socio-economic indicators. Educational institutions witnessed a reduction in enrolment and attendance, and the quality of educational services reportedly deteriorated. Employment opportunities within the village became limited, leading to increased economic insecurity, particularly among younger residents.

According to the Census of India 2011, Tarar had a population of approximately 10,600, of which about 5,500 individuals were engaged in work-related activities. Of the working population, 19.59 per cent were classified as main workers (employed or earning for more than six months in a year), while 80.41 per cent were marginal workers, engaged in livelihood activities for less than six months annually. Among the main workers, 493 individuals were recorded, including 198 cultivators (owners or co-owners of land) and 356 agricultural labourers.

Taṛar has a total population of 10,641.^[1]

In Taṛar, there are 5,725 males and 4,916 females.^[1][2]

Hinduism is the predominant religion in Tarar.^[3]

Angika is the native language of Tarar village.

• Makarpur
• Dogachchhi
• Tarar (proper)