Hisar, India
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| Hisar | |
  Hisar
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| State - District(s) |
Haryana - Hisar |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
- 704 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population - Density |
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Hisar (Hindi: हिसार) , previously spelled as Hissar, is a city in the state of Haryana, in northwestern India, and it is also headquarters of Hisar District. Hisar was founded as Hissar-e-Firoza by Firoz Shah Tughlak on the demolished ruins of an existing prosperous Hindu and Jain city of Iksaru.
The city is mainly known for:
- Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University [1], one of Asia's largest agriculture universities
- Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (formerly Guru Jambheshwar University) [2], (NAAC 'A' Grade University)
- Department of Printing Technology, GJU. (Indias first govt. run institute providing Bachelors Degrees in Printing Technology. Also to start Post-Graduate Course in Printing Technology)
- Stainless steel manufacturing plants (Hisar is known as the Stainless Steel City of India and corporate HQ of steel giant Jindal Industries)
- A Liquor Factory of Son in Law of Shri Bhajan Lal (Ex. Chief Minister of Haryana) namely M/s Associated Distilleries Ltd., situated at Delhi Bye Pass, Hisar.
- Having Various Madician Factory at Industrial Sector.
- A Tample of Shri Hanuman situated at Kajla Dham aprox 15 K.M. Stone
- A Dear Park for Children situated at Dhansu Road.
- A Cattle Feding Plant situated at chandigarh Road 5 km Stone.
- Tractor Training Corporation for learning about Tractor technology.
- Auto Market. (Largest automobile repair and spares market in radius of 200 km except New Delhi)
- A permanent military cantonment for a strategically important Tank Division
- Nearby remains of the ancient Agroha town
- Hansi, where famous Hansi bronzes were discovered in 1982.
- HARSAC ] Haryana Remote Sensing Centre, situated inside the agriculture university.
Hisar is located at 29°5’5” north latitude and 75°45’55” east longitude. It is situated one hundred sixty four kilometers northwest of Delhi on National Highway number ten.
The city of Hisar was founded by a Muslim ruler, Firozshah Tughlaq in 1354 A.D. ‘Hisar’ is an Arabic word which means ‘Fort’. The city, which we know today as ‘Hisar’, was originally called ‘Hisar Firoza (also Hisar-e-Firoza) or in other words the ‘Fort of Firoz’. But as the days rolled by, the very word ‘Firoza’ was dropped from its original name.
It was in these lands that the very first evidence of the presence of man was discovered with the excavation of Agroha, Banawali and Kunal. All of these were the pre-Harappan settlements, bringing for us the very first images of prehistoric times. The presence of the pillar in the Hisar fort belonging to the time of Emperor Ashoka (234 BC) was originally from Agroha. The discovery of coins of the Kushan Kings tells tales of ancient India.
The construction work of the city of Hisar was started in the year 1354 A.D. under the personal supervision of Firozshah himself who stayed here for a sufficient time. The boundary wall of Hisar Firoza was built up of stones brought from the hills of Narsai. The fort city was also surrounded by a big ditch dug round the wall. A large and deep tank was constructed inside the fort, and the water used to replenish the ditch. Inside the fort a fine palace, having a complex of different buildings was built. Well laid out gardens added to the beauty of the palace. The initial stage of the city, it was reported, was completed after the incessant work of two and a half years.
The nobles and Amirs were also directed by the Sultan to get the residences built here. The buildings were constructed with lime and burnt bricks. The fort-city had four gates which were subsequently named as the Delhi Gate and Mori Gate to the east, the Nagori Gate to the south and Talaqi Gate to the west. These gates were completely razed in mid-eighties by then chief minister Bansi Lal to widen and modernize the roads.
While constructing the palace, popularly known as ‘Gujari Mahal’ for his beloved, Firozshah also built a new city around it. The Gujari Mahal still stands in its austere majesty. This palace is a complex of different buildings, including the royal residence of the sultan Firozshah, Shahi Darwaza, Diwan-e-Aam, Baradari with three tehkhanas, a hamam, a mosque and a pillar. The style of architecture of the Gujari Mahal is dignified. The palace has beautifully carved stone pillars.
Most of the material used for the constructing the Gujari Mahal complex including the near by mosque is from destroyed Hindu or Jain temples. The elaborate fingurines of dancers with musical instruments carved in stone can still be seen laid in the pillars and walls of the mosque.
In 1408 Hisar felt into the hands of the rebels, but was recovered by the royal army under the Emperor Mahmud Tughlaq in person. In 1411 the tract of Hansi came into the hands of Khizar Khan, and he ascended to the throne of Delhi in 1414 as the first Sultan of the Sayyad Dynasty. In 1420 the fief of Hisar was conferred on Mahmud Hassan as reward for good services. During the feeble dynasty of the Lodhis (1451-1526) Hisar continued to form a part of Haryana, and was granted as a fief to Muhabbat Khan in the reign of Bahlol Lodi (1451-89)
When Babur invaded India in 1524-26, Hisar was an important strategic center of Ibrahim Lodi’s empire. Before the battle of Panipat in 1526, on reaching the Ghaggar, Babur learnt that the troops from Hisar, led by Hamid Khan, were advancing towards him. He then dispatched prince Humayun with an army sufficient to succeed in defeating the enemy. Babur handed over the city of Hisar to Humayun as a reward for his success in his first military expedition. Humayun ruled over India twice first from 1530 to 1540 and again from 1555 to 1556. During his first reign a mosque known as Jama Masjid was built here by Amir Muhammad in 1535.
During Akbar’s reign (1556-1605) Hisar became once more a place of considerable importance. It was made the headquarters of the revenue division known as a sirkar. As some of the Mughal Princes who were attached to Hisar, subsequently became the Emperors, the city of Hisar was then known in the history of India as the Duke of Wellington of the Mughal Era.
The last noteworthy actor in the history of the tract of Hisar before the advent of the British power was George Thomas (1756-1802). He was an independent ruler of the tract of Haryana, including Hisar, from 1797 to 1802. The Jahaz Pul and the Jahaz Kothi situated to the east of the city of Hisar, still remind us of the great Irish adventurer. Thomas used the Jahaz Kothi, which was once a Jain temple and afterwards converted into a mosque, as a residence.
It gained importance in early sixties when the Agriculture University was set up as an extension of the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. Ever since, the government‘s positive policies have played a vital role in the economic development of the city. The industrial policy of the government has attracted large number of entrepreneurs and has resulted into the industrialization in and around the city.
Location and Situation: The city of Hisar is one of the important and fast growing urban centers of Haryana. It has grown to a vital position on the urban map of Haryana. It has risen because of its location, which is such that for any development away from the G.T. Road Hisar draws one's attention.
The city is catering to the needs of not only the population of the district but also to the population of adjoining areas of Rajasthan and Punjab. People from Punjab and Rajasthan come here for medical treatment, for the purchase of good quality seeds, cows, buffaloes, bullocks and sheep etc. and also to get good education.
Climate: Very hot summers and very cold winters. The maximum day temperature during the summer varies between 40 to 48 degrees Celsius. During winter it ranges between 1.5 degrees to 4 degrees Celsius. The winds are strong and frequent from May to July. Normally the southwesterly current of the summer monsoon brings rain during the July to September period. Intermittent dust storms are also common.
Administrative set-up of District Hisar: Hisar continued to be the District Headquarters of the largest district in the state till its reorganization; some parts of it were transferred to Jind in 1966 when Jind was made a new district. Tehsil Bhiwani and Loharu estate were transferred to the Bhiwani District when Bhiwani was carved out in 1974. It was further bifurcated when the Sirsa become a new district, made entirely out of Hisar District. Now Fatehabad has also been carved out of this district.
At present Hisar district consists of four tehsils and three sub-tehsils. The tehsils are Hisar, Hansi, Narnaund and Adampur and the sub-tehsils are Barwala, Uklana and Bass.
Hisar is a divisional headquarters of the Divisional Commissioner and also the headquarters of the Police Range. It is also a battalion Headquarters of B.S.F. 3rd Bn. H.A.P. and commando force. In order to bring all the departments under one roof, a five storied building of District Administrative Complex has been completed and offices shifted in 1980. It adjoins the new Judiciary Complex, which is also made functional. This administrative and judiciary complex is the largest in Haryana, at a district headquarters which may be one of the largest in the country. It has also slowly become a major hub of PT centres in India for managememt coaching.
Government & Political Atmosphere
The pind of Hisar, established in the early 1900's has been operating under a controlled political system of a Panchayar. The Sarpanch currently is Shree Shivankur Sharma Ji also known as Shibu Dada who is the democratically elected head of the village. He, together with other elected Panches (members), constitute the Maha Shib Panchayat. Shree Shivankur Sharma Ji is the focal point of contact between government officers and the village community. Recently, the Panchayat has proven to be highly successful with respect to strategic thinking and issues of sustainable practices. In addition, there have been proposals to give the Maha Shib Panchayat greater judicial powers under Panchayati Raj. Recently the Maha Shib Panchayat created a strategic political governing alliance which has never been heard of before. Shree Shivankur Sharma Ji formed an alliance with Seth Ashutosh Sharma, his brother who is the Sarpanch of the Northern Frontier of the pind of Hisar. This strategic move has led to the formation of what is now called the Maha Sharma Sena. Seth Ashutosh Sharma is highly renowned in the pind and a distinguished member of the Haryanvi Rajma Society. This pind has a bright future under the experience and guidance of both Seth Ashutosh Sharma ji along with his chota bhai Shree Shivankur ji. Seth Ashutosh Sharma is famous for his quote "Kal ho na ho...parson zaroor ho ga" and Shree Shivankur ji, in his speech to the Panchayat stated "Dum Maro Dum... mit gaye gham... bolo subh shaam is Panchayat ka naam" (NDTV News: Jatin Lal Agnihotri, Special Correspondent)
[edit] External links
About Hisar, a recently published book by Prof. M.M.Juneja, a historian with the Jat College, must be seen. It describes the history of Hisar besides descriptive listing of the personalities who shaped the town in the twentieth century. The description about the well known Gujari Mahal must be corrected by consulting a Monograph published on Hisar from England about 1982. The villages of Hisar are very rich in architectural heritage, in fact, peoples' heritage. Most houses or havelis and chopals of the Jat community in big villages of the districts are an architectural beauty and decorated with period wall paintings. An authentic history and photographs from some villages and small towns of the district was collected by Ranbir Singh, a cultural historian of Rohtak.
