Saharanpur
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| ?Saharanpur Uttar Pradesh • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 269 m (883 ft) |
| District(s) | Saharanpur |
| Population | 452,925 (2001) |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 247001 • +0132 • UP-11 |
| Website: saharanpur.nic.in | |
Coordinates: Saharanpur (Hindi: सहारनपुर, Urdu: سہارن پور) is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division. Dating back to the Moghul period, situated close to the borders of Haryana and Uttarakhand states, and surrounded by a very fertile agricultural region famous for plentiful yields in grains and fruits, Saharanpur is now one of the most flourishing cities of Uttar Pradesh. Saharanpur is internationally famous for its wood carving work cottage industry. It is a thriving market of local agricultural produce, including basmati rice and mangoes. A variety of agro-based industrial enterprises - such as textile, sugar, paper and cigarette factories - are located in it.
Contents |
[edit] History of Saharanpur
[edit] Ancient period
The physical features of Saharanpur district have been most conducive to human habitation. Archaeological surveys have provided evidence of the existence of many settlements over the ages. Excavations have been carried out in different parts of the district, such as Ambakheri, Bargaon, Hulas, Bahadarabad, and Naseerpur. On the basis of artifacts discovered during these excavations, human habitation can be traced as far back as 2000 B.C. Traces of the Indus Valley civilization and even earlier have also been found; archaeologically, Ambakheri, Bargaon, Naseerpur and Hulas were centres of Harappan civilisation.
The history of the region can be traced from the days of the Indo-Aryans. In 1834, during the excavation for Eastern Yamuna Canal, Buddhist artefacts were found at Behat, 18 miles away from the city [1]. However, a more exact history, the system of administration of the local kings, and the lifestyle of the people will become known only with further exploration. The name of the place has evolved over the ages.
[edit] Medieval period
During the reign of Shamsu'd-Din Iltutmish (1211-36), the third and greatest ruler of the Slave Dynasty, the region of present Saharanpur became a part of his Delhi Sultanate. At that time, most of this area was covered with forests and the ‘Paondhoi', 'Dhamola' and 'Ganda Nala’ (Kregi Nala) rivers flowed through marshlands. The climate was humid, and hence prone to malaria.
Muhammad bin Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi (1325-1351), undertook a campaign in the northern Doab to crush the Shivalik Kings in 1340. According to local traditions, but not yet corroborated by contemporary literature, he learned of the presence of a Sufi saint on the banks of the Paondhoi river. After visiting the sage, he ordered that henceforth the place would be known as 'Shah-Harunpur', named after the Sufi Saint, Shah Harun Chishti [2] The simple but well-preserved tomb of this saint is situated in the oldest quarter of the city between Mali Gate/Bazar Dinanath and Halwai Hatta.
Akbar was the first Mughal ruler to make Saharanpur an administrative hub. A governor was appointed and it was designated the 'Saharanpur-Sarkar', part of the Delhi province. At that time, Saharanpur was a small village and served as an army cantonment. The nearest settlements were Shekhpura and Malhipur. The Jagir of Saharanpur was granted to Raja Sah Ranveer Singh, who, according to one tradition, founded the present city. Sah Ranveer Singh’s Saharanpur was a walled city, with four gates: the Sarai Gate, the Mali Gate, the Buria Gate, and the Lakhi Gate. The ruins of Sah Ranveer Singh’s fort can still be seen in the Chaudharian locality of Saharanpur. He also built a temple in Muhullah Chaundhariyan[3]. The family of late Shri Jugmandar Das Jain, Special Magistrate First Class claimed to be the descendants of the Sah.
[edit] British period and the rise of nationalism
Saharanpur passed into the expanding British Raj in 1803. When North India revolted against British occupation in 1857, Saharanpur region was part of this uprising, known as the First War of Indian Independence or Indian Rebellion of 1857. Those who went on to found world famous Darul Uloom Deoband participated actively in it, organised the masses outside Delhi and, for a while, were successful in ousting the British from the area of their operations. The centre of their activities was Shamli, a small town in the present Muzaffarnagar District.
After the uprising failed and British retribution followed, social reconstruction started. During this period, the cultural and political history of Muslims began to revolve around Aligarh and Deoband and Maulana Nanautvi and Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, both proponents of legendary reformer Shah Waliullah's ideology for social and political rejuvination, established a school in Deoband in 1867. It found popularity and recognition as the Darul Uloom. Its founders' mission was two fold:
- to raise and spread a team of scholars able to awaken the religious and social consciousness of Muslims through peaceful methods and to make efforts, through them, to educate Muslims in their faith and culture; and
- to bring about a feeling of nationalism and national unity by promoting the concept of Hindu-Muslim unity and a united India.
The school played an important role in revolutionary activities aimed at turning out the British from India. The famous revolutionary, Maulana Mahmudul Hasan, was the first student of the Madrassa and later its senior professor. His student, companion and successor, Moulana Husain Ahmed Madani, was also a famous religious scholar and statesman highly respected by the Indian National Congress.
Muslim scholars in Saharanpur were active supporters of this ideology and went on to establish their own theological seminary along identical lines; it is named as Mazahir-ul-uloom.
In 1901, Saharanpur had a population of 66,254, and soon became a district in Meerut division of the United Province [4].
Today, Saharanpur is well known for its spirit of inter-religious harmony.
[edit] Post-independence period
After India became independent, a sizeable number of people migrating from West Punjab made this city their home, adding to its cultural diversity. This enterprising and hard working group has made its mark not only in business but also in other professions. The city is gradually absorbing them in its milieu.
[edit] Geography
Saharanpur is located at [5]. It has an average elevation of 269 metres (882 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census[6], Saharanpur had a population of 452,925. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Saharanpur has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 60%. In Saharanpur, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Economy
Saharanpur is a flourishing business city: an important regional centre of wholesale and retail trade, particularly in grain, timber and textiles. Its grain market receives the bumper agricultural produce of the region. The timber market traditionally receives supplies from the extensive northern hilly forest regions to support the local wood carving cottage industry and other demands. In the last few decades, the Punjabi Market and Kamboh Katehra market have become famous for their high volume of textile trade. Hosiery has become a significant cottage industry, supplying goods to Ludhiana market, other nearby cities and Uttarakhand’s markets.
Modern show rooms, retail outlets of upper end branded goods and branches of several major banks are located in the up scale Court Road market, near the city’s Civil Court and the Collectorate offices. However, the city does not boast yet of any ultra modern Shopping Malls, catering to the tastes of high-fashion sophisticated buyers.
A fascinating spectacle is the weekly Mangal Bazar (Tuesday Market) that springs up on the long road of popular Nehru Market and around, when the city's shops are closed for the weekly holiday; it is literally an ‘open air mall’ of the poor. Every thinkable item of household needs, tools needed for various trades, simple appliances and their parts are available; the quality and price are aimed at the lower end customers. The crowd that throngs this market has to be seen to be believed.
A multinational cigarette manufacturing company, the Indian Tobacco Company ( ITC Limited ), is located in Saharanpur. Star Paper Mill, Sugar Mill, Hardboard Mill, Textile Mill and Wood-seasoning Mill are other important industrial enterprises located in the city.
[edit] Culture
Culturally, Saharanpur is like any other city of western Uttar Pradesh e.g. in language, dress, food habits, festivals and other traditions and ceremonial functions. Cinemas, hotels and eateries are available for entertainment. Local editions of Hindi and Urdu newspapers are published. Khadiboli, in the form of its literary variants Hindi and Urdu, is the lingua franca in which local Punjabi speakers are also fluent.
[edit] Higher Education
The Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee (IIT Roorkee), one of the Ivy League engineering institutions in India, has a campus at Saharanpur. Engineering Courses in paper technology,Polymer Science and Process engineering are offered at this campus. The campus is located on Paper Mill Road opposite the Star Paper Mills, Saharanpur.
Bharat Tibbiya College, Saharanpur conducts a diploma course in Unani Medicine.
Mazahir-ul-Uloom, Saharanpur, the famous seminary imparts advanced education in Sunni theology, closely follows Darul Uloom, Deoband school and is at par with it in academic ranking. It is located at Arbi Madarsa.
Several colleges, affiliated to Meerut University, are conducting university level courses in a number of arts and science subjects.
However, in relation to the size, population and economic strength of Saharanpur District and in comparison to the educational facilities in neighbouring districts, the city lacks adequate infrastructure for advanced education and research. It is being felt as an anomaly that needs expeditious rectification by establishing a university in the city, with its own engineering college, covering a wide gamut of courses, and medical colleges for allopathy and ayurveda education. These feelings have heightened further since the loss of academically well endowed Roorkee city, due to its separation from Saharanpur district and merger in the newly formed Uttarakhand state in September 2000.
[edit] Government
- Current Member Of Parliament : Qazi Rasheed Masood (Samajwadi Party)
- Current Member Of State Assembly : Raghav Lakhanpal(BJP)
- Current Chairman Of Municipal Corporation :Imran Masood (Samajwadi Party)
- Many times cabinet-minister: Thakur Jagdish Rana (Samajwadi Party)
[edit] Places to visit
In Saharanpur, there are many places to visit. Company Garden, once the preserve of the British East India Company, is a very beautiful botanical garden. The Saharanpur botanical garden is one of the oldest existing gardens in India and dates back to before 1750. Then named Farahat-Bakhsh, it was originally a pleasure ground, set out by a local chief in the 1770s. In 1817, it was acquired by the British East India Company. In 1887, when the Botanical Survey of India was established to reform the country's botanical sciences, Saharanpur became the centre for the survey of the northern Indian flora. Overall, the Garden is seen historically as being second only to the Calcutta Gardens in terms of national significance for its contribution to science and economy. Although under private auspices today, it is full of greenery and has many different kinds of plants and flowers.[7]
Other attractions are Ambedkar Park, founded by Chief Minister Mayawati, and the sprawling wood carvings market, which starts from near Ambala Road and extends up to Chilkana Road, where wonderful examples of the art of this city are displayed, sold and exported all over the world. Gughal Mela, an enjoyable and historic mela of Saharanpur, is organized every year in the month of September. Also notable are the Jain temple of Parshwanath; the Dhamola and Paon Dhoi rivers, which meet and pass under an old Tees Dara Pul (Bridge); and Lala Das ka bada.
[edit] Temples and other religious places
There are some very beautiful and historical temples, mosques and shrines in the city. Some of them are: Patheshwar Temple (Court Road), Jainbagh (Chilkana Road), Bhuteshwar Temple (Bhuteshwar Road), Bagheshwar Temple (Chakrauta Road), Laxmi Narayan Temple (Court Road), Balaji Temple (Badh-tala), Sai Baba Dham (Behat Road), Pataleshwar Temple (Rani Bazar), Jama Masjid, Madarsa Mazahir-ul-Uloom, Nau-gaza Peer shrine, Ojhria Peer shrine (Shah Behlole), Teliyon Ki Masjid (Purani Mandi), Clocktower & mosque (Ghanta-ghar), Shahjahani mosque, Angoori (grapes) mosque, railway station mosque, Tableegh-markaz (Banjaron ka pul, shiraz ka ghar).
[edit] New Townships of Saharanpur
Saharanpur’s older parts are broadly separated from the new ones by the railway track. A long railway over bridge, Kachehri-ka-pul, is a land mark that connects the important hubs in the two parts. But, the city is expanding in all directions. Notable new townships are: Gill Colony, Mission Compound, Suncity,NEHA GARDEN, Suncity Grand,Shanker puri coloney,Paramount Tulip, Royal Palm, Central Park, Chandan Castings, Indraprasth Colony, Jagadish Colony.
These townships are built in contemporary architectural style. Multistoried commercial complexes are coming up. However, there are no high-rise sky scrapers yet.
[edit] Travel and transport
The backbone of in-city public transport is cycle-rickshaw, with auto-rickshaws being available at important hubs. In addition, private buses and taxis are available in the city on rent for special occasions.
However, Saharanpur is well connected to all the major cities by Bus and Train. The city is located on the National Highway NH-73. It is a major junction of Indian Railways; several important trains connecting the farthest ends of India pass through it. The main Railway Station, Saharanpur-Junction, is in the middle of the city and the Tapri Railway Station is on Paper Mill Road. Roadways Bus-stand is located near the Saharanpur Jn Railway Station; buses of UP Govt Roadways and other Govt/Private Sector undertakings are available from here for all nearby towns and major cities like Dehradun, Roorkee, Ambala, Haridwar, Meerut, Moradabad, Lucknow, Agra, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Jaipur at any time. The Saharanpur Airport is at Sarsawa, but it is used by the Indian Air Force.
[edit] Nearby places of interest
- Rajaji National Park, an animal and bird sanctuary in Uttarakhand, is easily approachable by road.
- Mussoorie, a popular hill station, is only a few hours' road journey up hill from the above Park.
- Haridwar, the Hindu holy city, is located very near and can be reached by road or train.
- Shakumbari Devi's bi-annual fairs are very exciting events for the devotees to travel to (Yatra).
- The tomb of famous Sufi-saint Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari, built by Ibrahim Lodhi at Piran Kalyar, on the outskirts of Roorkee city, is reachable by road.
- Darul Uloom of Deoband is not far by road or train.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ History The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 371.
- ^ History The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 369. 1909.
- ^ Madhu Jain, O. C. Handa, and Omacanda Hāṇḍā, Wood Handicraft: A Study of Its Origin and Development in Saharanpur, Indus Publishing (2000), pp. 22-24. ISBN 8173871035]
- ^ Population of Chief Towns The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 1, p. 492. No. 55.
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Saharanpur
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ Saharanpur Botanic Garden
