Diocese of Dumka

Bishop Julius Marandi
C/o Bishop's House
Bhagalpur Road, Dudhani,
Dumka- 814 101, Jharkhand, India

Phone: 06434 222 415, Mobile: 9431156012
Fax :+91 6434 223377
Email: bspdumka@yahoo.co.in

Bishop Julius Marandi was born on Aug. 7, 1954, in Bandia village, in the diocese of Bhagalpur. He was ordained a priest on Sept. 12, 1983, and was appointed bishop of Dumka on July 14, 1997, by Pope John Paul II. His ordination was on Oct. 7, 1997.

Previous Ordinaries:

• Bishop Stephen M. Tiru (1986-1995)

• Archbishop Telesphore Placidus Cardinal Toppo (1978-1984)

• Bishop Leo Tigga, S.J. † (1962-1978)

• Father Adam Grossi, P.M.E. † (1952-1962)

In a land area of 14,356 square kilometers, the diocesan territory covers Sahibganj, Pakur, Jamtara, Deoghar (excluding Deoghar, Mohanpur and Sarawan blocks) and Rampurhat sub-divion in Birbhum district in West Bengal.

Population

In 2016, there are 4,332,000 people in the diocesan territory and 163,100 of them are Catholics. Ethnic groups are Santhals, Bengalis, Paharias, Oraons, Muslims, and Hindus.

Language

Languages used in the diocesan territory are Hindi, Bengali, Paharia, and Oraon.

Political

India is a Sovereign, Secular, Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary form of Government. India follows a parliamentary form of democracy and the government is federal in structure. In the Indian political system, the President is the constitutional head of the executive of the Union of India. The real executive power is with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. 

Jharkhand follows a unicameral system of government i.e. it has only one house - the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) consisting of 82 members, out of whom one is nominated from the Anglo-Indian Community and 81 are elected members. 

There are four Vidhan Sabha seats in Dumka Diocesan territorial area namely, Dumka, Jama, Jamtara, and Sarath. Out of the four Jharkhand Assembly Constituencies, no Catholic member is elected from the Diocese.

Jharkhand has 14 seats in the Lok Sabha - the Lower House of Parliament. Dumka is one of the Parliamentary Constituencies which fall under the Diocesan territory which is currently occupied by Shri Shibu Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Not a single Catholic candidate has ever contested for Lok Sabha seats from the Diocese. 

The state is headed by a Governor, who is appointed by the President of India. However, the real executive power rests with the Chief Minister and the Cabinet. At present Sri Arjun Munda is the Chief Minister. The political party or the coalition of political parties having a majority in the Legislative Assembly forms the Government. The main political parties are Jharkhand Vananchal Congress, Marxist Coordination Committee, and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. 

The administrative head of the State is called Chief Secretary, under whose jurisdiction a hierarchy of officials drawn from the Indian Administrative Service/State Civil Service

Transportation

Road and railway are common in the diocesan territory.

Economy

The annual percapita income in the diocesan territory is Rs.23, 361 ($515) as of February 2011. 

Major industries are steel, sericulture, and tourism.

Telecommunication

Mobile phones are common in the diocesan territory. Radio station in the territory is All India Radio, Ranchi.

Education

Literacy rate in the area is 82 percent among men and 72 percent among women.

Culture

The state has ebullient festivals like Sarhul, Sohrai, Karma, Christmas, Id, Holi and Dushahra.  Tribal communities have their unique festivals. Folk music and dances are part and parcel of the tribal culture. People sing and dance in open places according to seasons.