Ranchi is the capital of the Indian state of Jharkhand. Ranchi was the centre of the Jharkhand movement, which called for a separate state for the tribal regions of South Bihar, northern Orissa, western West Bengal and the eastern area of what is present-day Chhattisgarh. The Jharkhand state was formed on 15 November 2000 by carving out the Bihar divisions of Chota Nagpur and Santhal Parganas.
The name Ranchi is derived from the previous name of the Oraon village at the same site, Archi. "Archi" derives from the Oraon word for bamboo grove or stave. According to legend, after an altercation with a spirit, a farmer beat the spirit with his bamboo stave. The spirit shouted archi, archi, archi and vanished. Archi became Rachi, which became Ranchi. Another etymological evidence suggests Ranchi to be derived from 'rici' (Mundari for Black Kite Milvus migrans), as the modern day landmark of Ranchi city, the Pahari Mandir, is also known as Rici Buru - the hill of the kites, and the city originated on the foothills of Rici Buru with the construction of bada talaab by Commissioner Thomas Wilkinson at the same site. The entire administration of SWFA was run from Commissioner's office situated at the foothill of Rici Buru. Linguistically too the neighbouring areas of Ranchi are of Mundari origin. One of the historically significant neighbourhoods of Rachi is Doranda. Doranda lies between the Hinoo (Bhusur) & Harmoo Rivers, where the civil station, treasury, and church established by the British Raj were destroyed by rebel forces during the Sepoy Mutiny.
