Tilokpur

Tilokpur
village
Tilokpur Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 27°35′N 79°28′E / 27.58°N 79.46°E / 27.58; 79.46Coordinates: 27°35′N 79°28′E / 27.58°N 79.46°E / 27.58; 79.46
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District	Shahjahanpur
Elevation	152 m (499 ft)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Tilokpur (Hindi: तिलोकपुर) is a village in the Shahjahanpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, situated near Sharda Canal^[1] that passes through Katra, Kant and Kurriya Kalan.

The village is medium-sized with 168 dwelling units and a population of nearly 1036 people.^[2]

Banwari Lal, by caste a Kayastha, an Indian revolutionary and an Approver in the historical Kakori conspiracy case of 1925, hailed from this village. Later, he settled in the nearby village of Keshawpur, where he lived until his death.

History

The village Tilokpur is situated about 9 kilometers to the south of Tilhar and is named after Trilok Chandra, a Bachhil Rajput. As per the Shahjahanpur Gazeteer, the name Tilhar was also derived from the bachhil Rajput Trilok Chandra.^[3] Trilok Chandra also built a fort in Tilhar. The ruins of this fort can be seen in Dataganj mohalla of Tilhar. There were three big gates to the fort and two of the three gates still exist. The city of Shahjahanpur was established by Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan, (sons of Shri Dariya Khan) who were the commanders in the army of Mugal Emperor Jahangeer.

Demographics

Although this village is very old, many residents moved and settled in other parts of the country due to communal conflicts. In the past, this village, apparently had orchards with rare plant species and people lived in harmony. However, today it is all but abandoned.

The Hindu communities who is still reside here are Thakurs, Brahmins, Yadavs, Lohars, Barhais, Dhobis, Dahanuks Nats and Kahars. Amongst Muslim community some families of Manihars, Julahas and Faqirs are here.

Another community of Kshatriya Sunars who were the oldest residents of this village have left. In the same way Kayasthas have also gone from here. Some families of Gadariyas are left here. This is all due to the lac of education.

Main occupation of their livelihood is farming. Some Sikhs have also settled here but they do not merge with the local residents. They only live with their family and cattles in the Jhalas.

Sunars

The Sunars of this village had also the same story that they were the descendants of one of two Rajput brothers, who were saved as boys by a Saraswat Brahman from the wrath of Parashurama when he was destroying the Kshatriyas. The descendants of the other brother were the Khatris. This is the same story as is told by the Khatris of their own origin, but they do not acknowledge the connection with Sunars, nor can the Sunars allege that Saraswat Brahmans eat with them as they do with Khatris.

Owing to their association with the sacred metal gold, and the fact that they generally live in towns or large villages, and many of their members are well-to-do, the Sunars occupy a fairly high position, ranking equal with, or above the cultivating castes.^[4]

Religious Practices

The sacred fig trees of Tilokpur draw both Sadhus (ascetics), who meditate beneath the trees, and Hindus who do pradakshina (circumambulation) around the tree as a form of worship. Usually seven pradakshinas are done around the tree in the morning time chanting "Vriksha Rajaya Namah", meaning "salutation to the king of trees."

Outside the boundary of this village a Peepal tree, whom the local people call Brahmadev, stands. Here mela is organised on the day of Buddha Purnima every year. This sacred tree is said to be about 1000 years old. It has the main stem of about 10 feet in diameter, upon which the natural images of the Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh are clearly visible.

The Brijbasi Nuts – a landless community in Shahjahanpur district – are mainly musicians and dancers. At social functions, they are required to perform for their patrons, who tend to belong to the locally dominant castes.^[5] They come here every year and perform dances with music to entertain the God tree Brahmdev and the people on Buddha Purnima.

References