Ghazipur

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?Ghazipur Uttar Pradesh • India
Ghazipur
Coordinates: 25°35′N 83°34′E / 25.58, 83.57
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 62 m (203 ft)
District(s)	Ghazipur
Population	95,243 (2001)

Coordinates: 25°35′N 83°34′E / 25.58, 83.57 Ghazipur is a city and a municipal board in Ghazipur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Ghazipur District. It was founded by Sayyeid Masood "Ghazi", during the Tughlaq dynasty. Its ancient name was Gadhipur which was changed to Ghazipur about 1330, reputedly in honour of Ghazi Malik, a Muslim ruler.

Ghazipur is famous for its opium factory. It's also home to handloom weaving and a perfume industry. The town is an important agricultural market. Lord Cornwallis, governor-general of British India, died in Ghazipur and is buried there. The town is very close to the UP-Bihar border. The local language at the place is Bhojpuri. Ghazipur borders the important religious city of Varanasi and is situated about 70 km East of Varanasi.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Industrial Condition
5 Places
6 Famous Personalities
7 References

[edit] History

Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the Vedic era and it was a place for ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the Ramayana period. Maharshi Yamdgini, the father of Maharshi Parsuram is said to have resided here. The famous rishi Gautams and Chayavan were given teaching and sermon here in ancient period. Lord Buddha gave his first sermon in Sarnath, which is not far from the here. The Aurihar region of Ghazipur became the main centre of teachings of Lord Buddha. Many stupas and pillars are the main evidence of that period. Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited this area and has described this place as Chanchu "Kingdom of the Lord of battles."

Ghazipur was an important region in the medieval period from the Sultanate era to the Mughal period. During the Tughlaq era, Zuna Khan alias Muhammed bin Tughlaq established the city of Jaunpur as the capital under which Ghazipur was ruled. In the regime of Zuna Khan, Sayyed Masood Ghazi established this town, by defeating Raja Mandhata, an ancestor of the brave King Prithvi Raj Chauhan. In the Lodhi period Naseer Khan Nuhani was the administrator of this place. This area was the main center when Babur took over this place and Maseer Khan Nuhani was its administrator. During the reign of Akbar, Afghan Ali Kuli Khan was made the administrator of this place and he established the town of Zamania (A major block of Ghazipur). After the death of Aurangjeb this area was taken over by Zamindar Mansa Ram. Thereafter this place came under the suzerainty of the Benaras State and Raja Balwant singh, son of Mansa Ram, was made the king of Ghazipur.

The town came to prominence when Jonathan Dunken, a resident of Benares established a judicial court here in 1787. The region fell under the British Rule after Warren Hastings captured it during a battle. Lord Cornwallis who is famous for the introduction of land reforms in British India came to this place and accidentally died here. In his memory a very beautiful tomb which attracts the tourists is also present here.

Ghazipur is fortunate enough that the first scientific society of India was established here in 1862 by Sir Syyed Ahmad Khan for propagating modern Western knowledge of science, technology and industry. It was a departure from the past in the sense that education made a paradigm shift from traditional humanisties and related disciplines to the new field of science and agriculture which ultimately paved the necessary background for the establishment of present Technical Education and Research Institute (TERI), a post-graduate college, in the city.

The area is home to many well known freedom fighters. The hero of first war of independence (which is also referred as Sepoy Mutiny) Mangal Pandey belonged to this area (now part of Ballia). The famous Nilha Sahib revolt is also associated with this place where the farmers revolted against the British and set fire to several indigo godowns. This place has played a significant role in the Indian National movement. During the Home Rule movement and the Quit India movement people of Ghazipur took part courageously and fearlessly. During Quit India movement, a group of freedom fighters under the leadership of Dr. Shiv Pujan Rai hoisted the Tricolour at Muhammdabad tehsil.

[edit] Geography

Ghazipur is located at 25.58° N 83.57° E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 62 metres (203 feet).The city of Ghazipur is located in the middle Ganges valley of North India, in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left is bank of the Ganges river. It is the headquarters of the Ghazipur district. The city nearly streches parallel to the river Ganges. Its neighbouring cities are Varanasi,Jaunpur,Ballia, Mau, Chandauli and Azamgarh. Initially Ballia and Mau were part of Ghazipur district but latter were made separate districts. Being located in the plains of Ganges the soil is alluvial type and is fertile because of low level floods continually replenish the soil. This makes agriculture the most important profession of the people. The town is predominantly agrarian and so is the economy. The district is divided into five major sub parts Jamania, Dildarnagar, Muhamdabad, Saidpur and jakhania.

Ghazipur has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with intervening monsoon seasons. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February. The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in the summers, and 5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters.[17] The average annual rainfall is 1110 mm (44 in).[18]. Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summers.

The city is relatively free from air pollution.[citation needed]. Through a combination of water pollution, new constructions of upstream dams, and increase in the local temperature, the water level of the Ganges has recently gone down significantly, and small islands have become visible in the middle of the river.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[2], Ghazipur city had a population of 1,05,243. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ghazipur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%.There are four major postgraduation college in the city. It also has some elegant missionary schools like St.Mary's, St. John's, Lourdes Convent and St. Xavier's. In Ghazipur, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. A larger percentage of the population lives in the rural area.The Municipal Area is small as compared to other cities nearby. It is poorly developed despite being a very important city under British rule. when it was a strategic river port. A military cantonment built by the British now houses a college and a colony for administrative officers and their subordinates. The opium factory located in the city was established by the British and continues to be a major source of opium production in India. It's largest of its kind in the country. It is guarded under high security, and not easily accessible to the general public. The factory has its own residential accomodatoin for the employes, and is situated across the banks of river Ganges. There is also an important office of the narcotics department of Indian government in the city. The airport of Ghazipur was a commanding airport of most of the eastern part of the upper and western part of Bihar in those days, but now it remains vacant and is used when for VIP arrivals to Ghazipur or nearby areas. It is situated on the outer side of the city and is poorly maintained. Ghazipur has sixteen development blocks.The district is divided in 5 tehsils and other 1 is proposed. Ghazipur gives 2 member for Lok Sabha. And 8 seats to UP Vidhan Sabha.The OPIUM factory is largest in Asia. Largest Village of Asia is in GHAZIPUR named as GAHMAR. It is 35 KM from Ghazipur City.

[edit] Industrial Condition

The city has sound agriculture base and reasonably good infrastructure, yet the industrial potential is low. The lack of enterprise and technical knowledge of local people may be the major constraints in industrial growth. Ghazipur has long been famous for the manufacture of perfumes especially rose water and Itr (0tto of roses). A local firm was awarded a medal for the quality of product in British empire exhibition in London in the last century. Now this industry is facing gradual decline due to the shrinkage of cultivation of perfume bearing plants. Sugar industry was important to this region but now there are few factories left. The manufacturing of saltpeter is done in Saidpur. Cloth weaving is centered in Bahariabad. There are 47 registered factory under section 1948.

The manufacture of rice, agriculture goods, furniture, leather, footwear, utensils, steel trunk, almirah, khandsari, candles and handlooms are the main small scale industry of the city. Village and cottage industry include mostly the handicraft handed down from generation to generation like gur making, village oil industry, Leather tanning , pottery etc.

Opium and Alkaloids Works, a Government of India enterprise, specializes in manufacture of excise opium and export opium. It is the largest of its kind in the country.

[edit] Places

[edit] The tomb of Lord Cornwallis

Charles Cornwallis ,1st Marquis Cornwallis was a British military commander and a colonial era governor general. In the United States he is best remembered as the leading British officer in the American Revolutionary war. His 1781 defeat by a combined American-French troop is considered as the end of war. After the defeat he returned to Britain, and in 1789 he was appointed governor general and commander chief in India. He instituted land reforms and reorganised the British army and administration. In 1792 he defeated Tipu Sultan and captured his capital city Srirangapatnum thus paving way for British dominance in South India. He was given the title of Marquis in the same year and returnrd to Britain. His time in India did much to restore his reputation.

He was reappointed governor general of India in 1805, but died on October 5 of the same year, soon after arrival, in the city of Ghazipur. In his memory the British built a large tomb in the city, using stones brought from England. The tomb located in the outer corner of the city near the old British cantonment is well maintained by the Ministry of Tourism. It is the major tourist attraction in the city. Each year a large crowd gathers at the tomb to celebrate new year but rest of the year it remains free of crowds.

[edit] Nehru Stadium

The city of Ghazipur has a single stadium called Nehru stadium, named after India's first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. It is a small, government owned to accommodate both indoor and outdoor games. It also has a gymnasium. The stadium is generally used for various district level sports competitions.

[edit] Ramlila Maidan

Ramlila maidan also popularly know as Lanka maidan is a playground located in the middle of the city. It is walled on all sides with two large gates and is well maintained. It has a small pond inside its boundary. Every year on Vijaydashmi day, Ravana's statue is burned here. Ramaleela is performed here during this period. This ground also serves as the venue for political campaigns during elections and a location for circuses and local exhibitions. When it's not in use otherwise, it serves as a playground.

[edit] Famous Personalities

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can (October 2007).

Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, Reformist, nationalist, labour and religious leader who worked for the poor and the peasant leader of British India.
Abdul Hamid winner of Param Vir Chakra for making the supreme sacrifice in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.
Nazir Husain Eminent film maker and artist
Rahi Masoom Reza, author, poet and noted writer.
Hamid Ansari who is the current vice president of India belongs from Ghazipur.
Moonis Reza Eminent scholar and former Vice Chancellor Delhi University
Pt. Ravi Shanker World famous sitar player
Dr Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari Former president of Indian National Congress, established Muslim national party.
Dr Viveki Rai Poet, author. Well known Bhojpuri writer, reciptent of Yash Bharti award.
Vijay kumar Freedom fighter, major contirbution in field of journalism around 50 yrs and reciptent of Yash Bharti award.
Babu Bhairo Nath Sinha A great barristor of his time and well known poet.
Gauri Shankar Rai Famous Politician and Ex - Member of Parliament.
Ram Surat Rai Rajbhar,technocrate (an IITian) turned fabian socialist and politician.
Late Yunus PervezFamous Hindi and Bhojpuri Film Artist
Bachchan Singh Famous Politician, eminent educationist and Loktantra Rakshak Senani
Baleshwar Rai an 1970 batch IAS officer held lot of senior positions in goverment of india.He has given employment to thousands of people