Vaniyambadi

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Vaniyambadi | type = city | latd = 12.68 | longd = 78.62
locator_position = right | state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Vellore
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 363
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 85,459| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 04174
postal_code = 635751
vehicle_code_range = TN 23
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Vaniyambadi is a town and a municipality, part of the Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It has a sizable Muslim population. The town's population speaks the Urdu language along with Tamil, and leather tanning is a major industry. Agriculture, especially coconut plantations, is the other major source of livelihood. The tanning industry was recently under pressure because of a governmental crackdown on tanneries which did not have effluent treatment facilities and hence caused water pollution; this forced many tanneries to shut down. The town is also famous for its food, including biriyani and various types of sweets, and its popular activities during the Eid festivals.

Name

There is a belief among some that the name Vaniyambadi derives from 'Vani', the name of the Hindu goddess Saraswathi, and 'Padi', "to sing"; folklore suggests that Vani sang on the banks of the river Palar at the request of the Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva. Temples for Sundara Varadaraja Perumal (Vishnu) and Athitheeswarar (Shiva) lie on the either side of the river. However, this etymology needs to be verified; 'Padi' may also mean "group of people living together".

Geography

Vaniyambadi is located at coord|12.68|N|78.62|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/25/Vaniyambadi.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Vaniyambadi] ] . It has an average elevation of 363 metres (1190 feet) and lies on the banks of the Palar river. The Yelagiri and Javadi Hills are to the south of the city.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Vaniyambadi had a population of 85,459. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Vaniyambadi has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 63%. In Vaniyambadi, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Muslims make up a sizable portion of the population. The city also has a Hindu,Christian and Jain population. Muslims here speak Urdu. Majority of the Hindus speak Tamil. Kannada and Telugu are also widely spoken because of the towns proximity to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Transportation

Vaniyambadi is well connected by road and train to Chennai [199 km] , Bangalore [150 km] , Vellore [64 km] and Salem [139 km] . The town lies on the NH 46 of Bangalore-Chennai section which is part of the Golden Quadrilateral Highway Project. A State Highway connects the town to Tirupattur on the Vaniyambai-Salem section. The town also has a railway station in the Chennai-Bangalore and Chennai-Salem sections but few trains stop at the town due to close proximity to the Jolarpet Railway Junction.

Places of interest

The famous Hill station Yelagiri is about 25 km from the town, and Asia's second largest telescope, in the Vainu Bappu Observatory of the Indian Institute of Astrophyiscs at Kavalur Village nearby, is also a major attraction. Several centuries-old temples for Sundara Varadaraja (Azhagu) Perumal and Athitheeswarar are prominent places of worship and the city also has a number of mosques and Dargas.

Educational Institutions

Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society runs many institutions of learning in the city. The society was formed in 1903 and it established its first institution, the Islamiah Boys' Higher Secondary School in 1919. Some of the prominent educational institutions in the town are the following.

Janab . Takdi Badruddin Saheb was was one of among the founders of this educational society which now has become the most respectful and renowed colleges and educational society in the south. Grand son of Janab . Takdi Badruddin saheb , Takdi . Aarif Akthar saheb was elected as the General Secratry of the vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Soceity on june 2008.

* Islamiah Boys' Higher Secondary School
* Islamiah Girls' Higher Secondary School
* [http://www.islamiahcollege.edu.in Islamiah College]
* Islamiah Women's college
* Islamiah Industrial Training Institute
* Khaderia Higher Secondary School
* Al-Huda Matriculation School
* Fathima Matriculation School
* As-Sabeel Primary and Nursary School
* Al-Hilal Nursery and Primary School
* Ar-Rahman Nursery and primary School
* Noorul Huda Primary School
* Arafath School
* Madarsa e Niswan
* Madarsa e Azam
* Madarsa e Nooria
* Naya Madarsa, Rahmathnagar
* Hindu Higher Secondary School
* Priyadarshini Engineering College
* Priyadarshini Polytechnic Institute
* Priyadarshini Industrial Training Institute
* [http://www.marudharjain.org/ Marudhar Kesari Jain College for Women]
* St. Paul's Matriculation and Higher Secondary School
* Concordia Higher Secondary School
* T.V.K.V Secondary School
* Adarsh Matriculation School
* SRM B.Ed. College
* Devi Venkatachalam B.Ed. College
* Vaani Matriculation School
* Sigaram matriculation School
* S.F.S Matriculation School
* Municipal Muslim Girls Middle School, Khaderpet
* Municipal Muslim Girls Middle School, Fort
* Gandhinagar Government Secondary School

ervice organizations / NGOs

* Anjuman-e-Khyr Khah-e-Aam, Muslimpur
* Anjuman-e-Khuddamul Islam, Neelfield
* Anjuman-e-Indadul Muslimeen, Periapet
* Anjuman-e-Rifah-e-Millath, Khaderpet
* Al-Huda Garden Welfare Association, Fort
* [http://fortwelfare.googlepages.com Fort Welfare Association]
* Girls Islamic Organisation (GIO)
* H B Foundation, Oosi Street, Khaderpet
* [http://markazeniswan.googlepages.com Markaz-e-Niswan Trust]
* Neelfield Welfare Association
* Noble Welfare Association
* Shakirabad Welfare Association
* Students Islamic Organisation (SIO)
* Vaniyambadi Netizen's Brigade [V-N-B]
* Vaniyambadi Intetellectuals for Eminence and Welfare of Society (VIEWS)
* Vaniyambadi Railway Users Association
* [http://islamiahcollege.edu.in/VMESociety.htm Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society (VMES)]
* [http://vaniyambadi.net Click here to know more about Vaniyambadi]

Mention in the media

The town is mentioned in the Tamil movie "Kizhinghalkal" with reference to a major train accident which occurred there on 11 February 1981, and involved the Madras-Trivandrum Mail, Yercaud Express and one Goods Train. The accident occurred almost after midnight and caused a loss of nearly 250 lives.

References