Places of Indian Rebellion of 1857(23)

Lucknow   is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh.  This metro city is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District andLucknow Division.  Lucknow has always been known as a multicultural city and flourished as a cultural and artistic capital of North India in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Today it continues as an important centre of commerce, aerospace, finance pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, music and poetry.  Lucknow ranked 6th among all the cities in India for fastest job-creation. It is the largest city of Uttar Pradesh and second largest metro of North and Central India after Delhi.

Lucknow elevation is 123.45 m above sea level. It is situated on 26.30 and 27.10 North latitude and 80.30 and 81.13 East longitude. Lucknow covers an area of 310.1 km². It is surrounded on the eastern side by District Barabanki, on the western side by district Unnao, on the southern side by Raebareli and on the northern side by Sitapur and Hardoi districts. The city is on the northwestern shore of Gomti river, which flows through it. Lucknow is accessible from every part of India through air, rail and road. It is directly connected with New Delhi, Patna, Calcutta,Mumbai, Varanasi, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and other major cities by Amausi airport. The Union Cabinet approved granting of international airport status to Lucknow. The Lucknow airport is suitable for all-weather operations and can provide parking facility up to 14 aircraft. At present, Air India, Jetlite, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet are operating domestic flights from and to Lucknow.

As the seat of the government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow is the site of Vidhan Sabha, the High Court and numerous government departments and agencies.  Lucknow has several educational and research organizations like IIM Lucknow, Central Drug Research Institute, Industrial Technology Research Centre, Central Food Technological Research Institute, National Botanical Research Institute, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and King George Medical College.  It is the location of many social and cultural institutions of national significance, such as the Kathak, Khayal, Nawabs and Classical music.  It is the birthplace of British pop star Sir Cliff Richard and resident city of Subrata Roy, the founder and chairman of the Sahara India Pariwar.

Hindi is the city's official language. However, the most prominent language spoken in Lucknow is the Hindi-Urdu language. The city's design was heavily influenced by the several emperors and incorporates significant areas of natural imperial that have earned Lucknow the title of the "city of nawabs". It is also known as the Golden City of India, Shiraz-i-Hind and the Constantinople of the East. Lucknow's society is very famous for its etiquette and traditions to attain a rare degree of sophistication. Be it the cultural charm or the monumental one, all are well conserved here to make Lucknow "The city of many splendours".

Etymology

The ancient history of Lucknow is mired in mysteries and folk sayings. It is popularly believed that Lucknow (लखनऊ) derives its name from Lakshman (लक्ष्मण) (also known as Lakhan (लखन)), younger brother of Lord Rama, greatest son of Suryawanshi kshatriya clan of India. Rama ordered his younger brother Lakshmana to establish a town near at the present site of Lakshman Tila. The present Lakshman Teela (लक्ष्मण टीला) in Lucknow is believed to be the site of ancient city of Lakhanpur built by Lakshman. 

History

Since 1350 AD Lucknow and parts of the Awadh region were ruled by the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Nawabs of Awadh, East India Company and the British Raj. Lucknow was one of the major centres of Indian rebellion of 1857, participated actively in India's Independence movement, and emerged as an important city of North India. Until 1719, subah of Awadh was a province of the Mughal Empire administered by a Governor appointed by the Emperor. Saadat Khan also called Burhan-ul-Mulk a Persian adventurer was appointed the Nazim of Awadh in 1722 and he established his court in Faizabad near Lucknow.

Many independent kingdoms, such as Awadh, were established when the Mughal empire disintegrated. Awadh’s capital, Lucknow rose to prominence when Asaf-ud-Daula, the fourth nawab, shifted his court here from Faizabad in 1775. The city was North India’s cultural capital, and its nawabs, best remembered for their refined and extravagnt lifestyles, were patrons of the arts. Under them music and dance flourished, and many monuments were erected.Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, and the Rumi Darwaza are notable examples. One of the more lasting contributions by the Nawabs is the syncretic composite culture that has come to be known as the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb.

Awadh, known as the granary of India, was important strategically for the control of the fertile plain between the Ganges and the Yamunarivers known as the Doab. It was a wealthy kingdom, able to maintain its independence against threats from the Marathas, the British and the Afghans. The third Nawab, Abe Shuja-ud-Daula, fell out with the British after aiding the fugitive Nawab of Bengal Mir Qasim. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the East India Company, which forced him to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. The British appointed a resident in 1773 and over time gained control of more territory and authority in the state. They were, however, disinclined to capture Awadh outright and be brought face to face with the Marathas and the remnants of the Mughal Empire.

In 1798, the fifth Nawab Wazir Ali Khan alienated both his people and the British, and was forced to abdicate. The British then helpedSaadat Ali Khan to the throne. Saadat Ali Khan was a puppet king, who in the treaty of 1801 ceded half of Awadh to the British East India Company and also agreed to disband his troops in favour of a hugely expensive, British-run army. This treaty effectively made the state of Awadh a vassal to the British East India Company, though it nationally continued to be part of the Mughal Empire in name until 1819.

The treaty of 1801 formed an arrangement that was very beneficial to the Company. They were able to use Awadh's vast treasuries, repeatedly digging into them for loans at reduced rates. In addition, the revenues from running Awadh's armed forces brought them useful revenues while it acted as a buffer state. The Nawabs were ceremonial kings, busy with pomp and show but with little influence over matters of state. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the British had grown impatient with the arrangement and wanted direct control of Awadh.

In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border, then annexed the state, which was placed under a chief commissioner – Sir Henry Lawrence. Wajid Ali Shah, the then Nawab, was imprisoned, and then exiled by the Company to Calcutta. In the subsequent Revolt of 1857 his 14-year old son Birjis Qadra son of Begum Hazrat Mahal was crowned ruler, and Sir Henry Lawrence killed in the hostilities. Following the rebellion's defeat, Begum Hazrat Mahal and other rebel leaders obtained asylum in Nepal.

The province of Awadh (anglicised to Oudh) was annexed by the East India Company in 1856 under the Doctrine of Lapse and placed under the control of a chief commissioner. In the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as the First War of Indian Independence and the Indian Mutiny), the garrison based at the Residency in Lucknow was besieged by rebel forces. The famous Siege of Lucknow was relieved first by forces under the command of Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram, followed by a stronger force under Sir Colin Campbell. Today, the ruins of the Residency, and the picturesqueShaheed Smarak offer reminiscences of Lucknow's role in the stirring events of 1857.

Those company troops who were recruited from the state, along with some of the nobility of the state, were major players in the events of 1857. The rebels took control of Awadh, and it took the British 18 months to reconquer the region, months which included the famous Siege of Lucknow. Oudhwas placed back under a chief commissioner, and was governed as a British province. In 1877 the offices of lieutenant-governor of the North-Western Provinces and chief commissioner of Oudh were combined in the same person; and in 1902, when the new name of United Provinces of Agra and Oudhwas introduced, the title of chief commissioner was dropped, though Oudh still retained some marks of its former independence.

The Khilafat Movement had an active base of support in Lucknow, creating a united platform against the British rule. In the Khilafat Movement Maulana Abdul Bari of Firangi Mahal, Lucknow actively participated and cooperated with Mahatama Gandhi and Maulana Mohammad Ali. In 1901, after remaining the capital of Oudh since 1775, Lucknow, with a population of 264,049, was merged in the newly formed United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.  However, it became the provincial capital in 1920 when the seat of government was moved from Allahabad. Upon Indian independence in 1947, Lucknow became the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the erstwhile United Provinces

Geography and climate
Lucknow has a warm humid subtropical climate with cool, dry winters from December to February and dry, hot summers from April to June. The rainy season is from mid-June to mid-September, when Lucknow gets an average rainfall of 896.2 millimetres (35.28 in) from the south-west monsoon winds, and occasionally frontal rainfall will occur in January. In winter the maximum temperature is around 25 °C (77 °F) and the minimum is in the 7 to 9 degrees Celsius range. Fog is quite common from late December to late January. Summers are extremely hot with temperatures rising to the 40 to 45 degree Celsius range, the average highs being in the high 30s.

Situated in the heart of the great Gangetic plain, Lucknow city is surrounded by its rural towns and villages like the orchard town of Malihabad, historicKakori, Mohanlal ganj, Gosainganj, Chinhat, Itaunja. On its eastern side lies Barabanki District, on the western side is Unnao District, on the southern sideRaebareli District, and on the northern side the Sitapur and Hardoi districts. The Gomti River, the chief geographical feature, meanders through the city, dividing it into the Trans-Gomti and Cis-Gomti regions. Lucknow city is located in the seismic zone III. 

Flora and fauna

Lucknow district reports a very low proportion of area under forest. The total area under forest (4.66 percent) is much less as compared to state average which is barely around 7 percent. The forest area is negligible in the district.  Shisham, Dhak, Mahua, Babul, Neem, Peepal, Ashok, Khajur, Mango and Gular trees are grown here.  Different varieties of mangoes speciallyDasheri are grown in Malihabad block of the district and exported to other countries too. The main crops are wheat, paddy, sugarcane, Mustard (plant)|mustard, potatoes, and vegetables such ascauliflower, cabbage, tomato, brinjals are grown here. Similarly sunflowers, roses, and marigold are cultivated on quite a large area of the land. Apart from this many medicinal and herbal plants are also grown here. The City Zoological Garden is making efforts to have chinkaras from the Lucknow zoo.  The Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats have been designated among the world's eighteen 'hotspots' of biodiversity. 

Demographics

An official Census 2011 detail of Lucknow, a district of Uttar Pradesh has been released by Directorate of Census Operations in Uttar Pradesh. Enumeration of key persons was also done by census officials in Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh. As reported in the Census of India 2011Lucknow had population of 4,588,455 of which male and female were 2,407,897 and 2,180,558 respectively. There was change of 25.79 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India 2001, Lucknow District recorded increase of 32.03 percent to its population compared to 1991.  Between 1991 and 2001 the population registered a decadal growth of 32.03 percent which was much less than the 37.14 percent which was registered between 1981 and 1991 decade.  The initial provisional data suggest a density of 1,815 in 2011 compared to 1,443 of 2001. Total area under Lucknow district is of about 2,528 km².  However, the density of population was much above that obtained at the state level (690 persons per km².). The SC population of the state at 21.3 percent to total population is above the state average (21.15 percent).  A very high percentage of the total population (36.37 percent) resides in rural areas which means that barely around 63.3 percent is urban in nature.  These are very high figure as compared to the state as whole, where urban population constitutes around 21 percent only of the total state population.  With regards to Sex Ratio in Lucknow, it stood at 906 per 1000 male compared to 2001 census figure of 888. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate. 

The another indicator where the district leads ahead of the state is in terms of literacy. Total literacy level is 79.33 percent as compared to 56.3 percent in U.P. as a whole. Average literacy rate of Lucknow in 2011 were 79.33 compared to 68.71 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 84.27 and 73.88 respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 75.98 and 60.47 in Lucknow District. Total literate in Lucknow District were 3,226,214 of which male and female were 1,799,177 and 1,427,037 respectively. However, there has been a marked improvement in the literacy rate in the district as compared to 1991.   Despite the fact that the overall work participation rate in the district (32.24 percent) is higher than the state average (23.7 percent), the work participation rate among females in Lucknow is very low at 5.6 percent which has registered a decline from 1991 status of 5.9 percent.

Economy

 

The economy of Lucknow city was earlier based on the tertiary sector with about majority of the workforce being employed as government servants. Large-scale industrial establishments are low compared to other north Indian state capital like New Delhi. Currently the economy is growing with the contributions from more professionals in the fields of IT, Manufacturing and Processing andMedical/Bio-Technology. Business-promoting institutions viz. CII and EDII have a presence in city. On October 2010, Lucknow ranked 6th among cities in India for fastest job-creation.  The city has steadily grown into a competitive IT centre.

Lucknow has a great potential in handicraft sector and it accounts for 60% of the total exports from the state. The major export items from are marble products, textiles, handicrafts, art pieces, gems and jewellery, textiles, electronics, software, computer, hardware and software, apparel, brass work, silk, leather and leather goods, glass items, art metal, chemicals. The city has promoted public‐private partnerships in big way in sectors such as power, roads, expressways, and education. 

Culture

A small part of Lucknow's society still possesses much etiquette. This sublime cultural richness blends the cultures of two communities living side by side for centuries, sharing similar interests and speaking a common language.

Many of the cultural traits and customs peculiar to Lucknow have become living legends today. The credit for this goes to the secular and syncretic traditions of the Nawabs of Awadh, who took a keen interest in every walk of life, and encouraged the traditions to attain a rare degree of sophistication. The Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad, popularly known as Suleiman Mian, is a living example of all the great traditions of this region and has been written about by authors like V.S. Naipaul, William Dalrymple and many others.

Urdu literature

The City Homed the Great legends of Urdu poetry, especially in Marsiya Nigari like Mir Anees and Mirza Dabeer.

• Marsiya is elegy composed in aspects of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husaain(as) grandson of Prophet Muhammed in Kerbala Iraq in 61ah.
• Mir Anees and Mirza Dabeer composed most of the renowned marsiya in the history of Urdu language and are still being recited during Muharram in various Majalis and other Azadari events.

Lucknow is famous for Azadari because of its history of Shia Kingdom of Nawabs of Oudh who promoted Muharram and its religious events on very high regards. The culture of Urdu poetry is still popular, especially in Muharram and other occasions related with Islamic lunar calendar.

Lucknow hosts the most number of poetic events in India, and poets from various parts of the world come to participate in these events. Some of the famous poets of recent times are

• Kazim Jarwali,
• Sarwar Nawab Sarwar,
• Arif Lucknowi
• Nawab Baqar Ali Khan "Ravish Lakhnavi"
• Nayyar Majidi
• Surror Lucknowi
• Shauq Lucknowi
• Aslam Taaba

• Sharib Kausar Alavi "Sharib Kakorwi"

• People, especially Muslims, of Lucknow are known for their excellent Urdu and their Tehzeeb. Lucknow is famous for its Urdu literature and shayari.

Language and poetry

Lucknow is one of the world's great cities for Muslim culture. Two poets, Mir Anis and Mirza Dabeer, became legendary exponents of a unique genre of Muslim elegiacal poetry called Marsia centred on Imam Husain's supreme sacrifice in the Battle of Karbala which is commemorated during the annual observance of Muharram.

In recent years the use of Urdu has reduced significantly. Day-to-day transactions in the city are typically performed in Hindi or English. Nevertheless, Lucknowites are still known for their polite and polished way of speaking which is noticed by visitors to this city. The great revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, who was hanged by the British at Gorakhpur jail, was largely influenced by the culture of Lucknow and remembered its name in his poetry.  The surrounding towns like Kakori, Daryabad, Tehseel Fatehpur, Barabanki, Rudauli and Malihabad produced many eminent poets and littérateurs of Urdu like Mohsin Kakorvi, Majaz, Khumar Barabankvi and Josh Malihabadi. Recently in 2008 which is the 150th year of 'mutiny' of 1857 a novel has been released which uses 1857 as a backdrop. 'Recalcitrance' is the first English novel by a Lucknowite on the 'mutiny' of 1857.

Places of Indian Rebellion of 1857(22)

Kanpur   (Hindi: कानपुर,)   spelled Cawnpore before 1948, is one of the largest industrial towns of Uttar Pradesh and also is the administrative headquarters of Kanpur Nagar district, Kanpur Dehat district and Kanpur division.

It is one of the oldest industrial townships of North India.  It has an area of over 300 km² with an approximate population of 3 million inhabitants in its area. It is administratively divided into 6 zones and 110 wards with a ward population range of 19000 to 26000.  It is the 75th largest city in the world. 

Over the past years, the city has developed as an important centre of textile, leather, electronics, chemicals, food processing, automobiles,communication, real estate, information technology, aerospace, engineering and heavy industries. The city has also developed a major infrastructure in recent years. Many Shopping Malls, Multiplexes, Real Estate Townships, Company Offices have been developed.

History

Name origins
Kanpur is believed to have been founded by members of the Chandela dynasty from the state of Sachendi.  The city's name is believed to derive from Kanhiyapur (from the Hindi meaning "town of Kanhaiya"). During the British Raj, this was anglicised to Cawnpore. In old British maps it is also listed as Khanpur.
                    Others believe that the name is derived from Karnapur (meaning "town of Karna", one of the heroes of the Mahabharata). Another theory is that it came from the nearby town of Makanpur, earlier known as Khairabad, where the Sufi saint of the Madariya Sufi order, Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar, settled. 

 Earlier history of the area

Kanpur's development is unclear until the 13th century. Although no reference to Kanpur is found in written documents before this time, the history of two of its suburbs, Jajmau and Bithoor, can be traced back to pre-13th century times. Bithoor is located about 20 km upstream from the city and is approximately 10 km from the IIT Kanpur campus. Jajmau is about 8 km east of the city and is nearly 20 km downstream from the IIT Campus. According to Hindu mythology, just after creating the universe, Lord Brahma performed the Ashvamedha at Bithoor and established a lingam there. Another legendary site at Bithoor is the Valmiki Ashram, where the famous sage Valmiki is supposed to have written the Sanskrit epic, the Ramayana. According to this epic, Queen Seeta, on being exiled by King Ramachandra of Ayodhya, spent her days in seclusion at the ashram bringing up her twin sons, Lava and Kush.

At Jajmau, there are remains of an ancient fort, now surviving as a huge mound. Recent excavations on this mound indicate that the site is very old, perhaps dating back to the Vedic age. Popular legends state that the fort belonged to Yayati, a king of the ancient Chandravanshi race.

At Shivrajpur, 20 km from the Kanpur Central railway station, there is an ancient temple built by Chandel Raja Sati Prasad in memory of his queen. This temple is supposed to have been built in a night and is situated on the banks of the Ganges. This temple is famous for its architectural work and carving designs.

Parihar rulers of Kannauj may have ruled this place for a significant part of history long before the beginning of Mughal era. Some historical accounts suggest Pratihara emperor, Mihir Bhoja, has ruled in Kanpur since nearby Kannuaj was the capital of Parihar. 

Founding of the settlement
In May 1765, Shuja-ud-daula, the Nawab of Awadh, was defeated by the British near Jajmau. From 1773 to 1801, it was part of the Oudh kingdom and then came into the hands of the British. At this time, the British realized the strategic importance of the site of Kanpur. European businessmen had, by this time, started establishing themselves in Kanpur. In order to ensure protection for their lives and property, the European business shifted the `Awadh local forces’ here in 1778. Kanpur passed into British hands under the treaty of 1801 with Nawab Saadat Ali Khan of Awadh.

In 1207 AD, Raja Kanti Deo of Prayag (connected to the throne of Kannauj) established the village Kohna, which later came to be known as Kanpur. Kanpur continued its association with Kannauj during the reigns of Harsha Vardhan, Mihir Bhoja, Jai Chand and early Muslim rulers through the Sur Dynasty. The first mention of Kanpur was made in 1579 during Sher Shah's regime. Up to the first half of the 18th century, Kanpur was an insignificant village.

Kanpur later became one of the most important military stations of British India. It was declared a district on 24 March 1803. South of Parmat were the British infantry lines and the parade grounds. Indian infantry occupied the space from the present Chunniganj to the Christ Church College. The Company Bagh was laid in 1847 and the construction of the Ganges Canal was completed in 1854.

The Kanpur Sangrahalaya/Kanpur Museum housing valuable artifacts from pre-colonial and colonial period, was established in 1999, in a section of KEM Hall, Phool Bagh Maidan.

Indian Rebellion 1857

In the 19th century, Kanpur was an important British garrison with barracks for 7,000 soldiers. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, (known in the United Kingdom as the Indian Mutiny, known in India as the First War of Independence), 900 British were besieged in the fortifications for 22 days by rebels under Nana Sahib Peshwa. They surrendered on the agreement that they would get safe passage to the nearby Satti Chaura Ghat whereupon they would board barges and be allowed to go by river to Allahabad.
Many were killed and the remaining 200 British women and children were brought back to shore and sent to a building called the Bibighar (the ladies' home). After some time, the commanders of the rebels decided to execute their hostages. The rebel soldiers refused to carry out orders, and butchers from the nearby town were brought in to kill the hostages three days before the British entered the city on July 18. The dismembered bodies were thrown into a deep well nearby. The British under General Neill retook the city and committed a series of retaliations against the rebel Sepoys and those unfortunate civilians caught in the area, including women, children and old men. The Kanpur Massacre, as well as similar events elsewhere, were seen by the British as justification for unrestrained vengeance. 

Though controversy surrounds what exactly happened at the Satti Chaura Ghat, and who fired the first shot, it is known that soon afterwards, the departing British were shot at, by the rebel sepoys, and were either killed or captured. Some of the British officers later claimed that the rebels had placed the boats as high in the mud as possible, on purpose to cause delay. They also claimed that Nana Sahib's camp had previously arranged for the rebels to fire upon and kill all the English. Although the East India Company later accused Nana Sahib of betrayal and murder of innocent people, no evidence has ever been found to prove that Nana Sahib had pre-planned or ordered the massacre. Some historians believe that the Satti Chaura Ghat massacre was the result of confusion, and not of any plan implemented by Nana Sahib and his associates. Lieutenant Mowbray Thomson, one of the four male survivors of the massacre, believed that the rank-and-file sepoys who spoke to him did not know of the killing to come.

Development of industries

The British dismantled the Bibighar and raised a memorial railing and a cross at the site of the well. In 1862, they built a church called All Souls' Cathedral in memory of those killed; renamed the Kanpur Memorial Church. This Church still stands at what was the northeast corner of Wheeler’s entrenchment. The marble gothic screen with the famous `mournful seraph’ was transferred to the churchyard after independence in 1947, and in its place a bust of Tantya Tope installed at Nana Rao Park. The well is now bricked over, but the remains of a circular ridge and 'Boodha Bargad' (Old Banyan Tree) are still there. The "Boodha Bargad" is not there anymore. Only a stone describing the Boodha Bargad is there.

After 1857, it became an important center of the leather and textile industries. The Government Harness and Saddler Factory was started in 1860 to supply the army with leather products, followed by Cooper Allen & Co. in 1880. The first cotton textile mill, the Elgin Mills, was started in 1862 and Muir Mills in 1882, and many others that followed in the next 40 years, such as Victoria Mills and Atherton West & Co. (Atherton Mills), made Cawnpore a major textile producer. The Elgin Mills of Cawnpore was famous for its Drill Khakhi during the early/mid Twentieth Century. The Khaki cloth was famous for its colour and durability. The man behind this was the Dyeing Master Gopal Sadashiv Gogate, who died on 17 December 1942.
The first Indian business house of Cawnpore was the firm NihalChand KishoriLal, which set up a trading facility in 1857. This firm was a leader in oil milling and had many oil mills spread across North India. The NihalChand KishoriLal group (also known as Kejriwal Group) over time diversified into flour milling, tea plantations and steel. They bought the Cawnpore Flour Mills in 1942, which had been established in 1886 by Edward Foy, a Scotsman. The Juggilal Kamlapat Singhania family launched many factories between 1930 and 1970. The Jaipuria family contributed to the patriotic cause, by building the Swadeshi Cotton Mills in response to charges that the foreign rulers were raiding India of its cotton only to sell back textiles to the residents. The first steel re-rolling mill of India was established at Singh Engineering which later became one of the nations largest re-rolling mills. Kanpur was known as the "Manchester of India" during the 20th century. In 1901, with a population of 1,258,868, second only to Allahabad, the district headquarters, Kanpur was the largest trading and manufacturing centre in the United Provinces 

The British India Corporation (BIC) was headquartered here and led the development of many industries.

Kanpur is an important center for India's leather industry and small arms. Kanpur has five Indian Ordnance Factories viz. Field Gun Factory, Ordnance Equipment Factory, Ordnance Parachute Factory, Ordnance Factory Kanpur, Small Arms Factory of the gigantic Ordnance Factories Board which manufactures products of the Indian Armed Forces. 

The British contributed to charitable causes in the city by building the Ursula Horsman Hospital, the Hallet Hospital, Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, by protecting the Allen Forest (now a zoo) and many other efforts. Most of these are now renamed, though a lot of residents still call them by their old names.

Due to the industries, the pollution levels have risen dangerously high. Due to lack of proper planning, the city is equalling Delhi as a victim of congestion and overcrowding. Urban planning has yet to evolve. A recent article in the Time Asia magazine  says it all regarding the pollution in the city.

New industries such as detergent, saddlery, food processing, pan masala (tobacco), tea packaging, plastics and packaging, jewellery manufacturing and exports, leather processing and goods, have developed in the city. The only night lamp factory of Uttar Pradesh is also located in Kanpur. Among them, the Pan Masala industry is the largest employer in the region as well as the largest source of tax for the government. The famous brands -"Pan Bahaar" & "Pan Parag" and many others originated in the city.

City centre

In its city centre, Kanpur or the Mall is situated near Civil Lines area. The area consists of varieties of buildings. It is the major economic centre of Kanpur. The area is of 10 km sq. and has a population of around 200,000. The renovation of city centre is carried under by JNNURM and Kanpur Municipal Corporation. Recently, musical fountains and expending of the Mall Road has taken place. Activities like protecting of old buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries has taken place in the area. The Reserve Bank of India, BSNL, SBI, Standard Chartered Bank, LIC, headquarters, Z SQUARE MALL are situated here. There are varieties of shops, buildings and hotels situated here. The pincode of the area is 208001. The area is also home to Green Park which was one of India's 5 cricket test centres.

Business activitiesCulture

These include Laxman traders, Simran traders, Aone user, shoes, flex industries, Kesarvani, Bajrangbali, deals in handicraft materials,  

Culture
Kanpur was a hotbed of change in the independence and literary movements during the first half of the 20th century. A popular shopping centre is named Navin Market, after the poet Bal Krishna Sharma aka "Navin". Later poets included Gopal Das "Niraj" who wrote songs for Hindi films. Kanpur is also the birthplace of Shyamlal Gupta 'Parshad’, composer of the famous ditty Vijayee Vishwa Tiranga Pyara. The propagation and popularisation of Hindi also owes much to this city, with great Hindu literatteurs such as Acharya Mahavir Parasad Dwivedi, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Pratap Narain Mishra and Acharya Gaya Prasad Shukla `Sanehi’. The Agricultural University is named after the revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad and the Medical College after Ganesh Shanker Vidyarthi; both men spent much time in Kanpur. While Chandrashekhar 'Azad' shot himself when surrounded by a huge posse of British soldiers at Alfred Park, Allahabad, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was killed during the Hindu-Muslim riots of 1931 at Machli Bazar in Kanpur.

Nestling on the banks of the River Ganges, Kanpur stands as one of North India’s major industrial centres with its own historical, religious and commercial importance. Believed to have been founded by king Hindu Singh of the erstwhile state of Sachendi, Kanpur was originally known as "Kanhpur". Historically, Jajmau on the eastern outskirts of present day Kanpur, is regarded as one of the most archaic townships of Kanpur district. Up to the first half of the 18th century, Kanpur continued to survive as an insignificant village. Its fate, however, took a new turn soon after. In May 1765, Shuja-ud-daula, the Nawab Wazir of Awadh, was defeated by the British near Jajmau. It was probably at this time that strategic importance of the site of Kanpur was realised by the British. European businessmen had by this time gradually started establishing themselves in Kanpur. In order to ensure protection to their lives and property, the "Awadh local forces" were shifted here in 1778. Kanpur passed into British hands under the treaty of 1801 with Nawab Saadat Ali Khan of Awadh. This forms a turning point in the history of Kanpur. Soon Kanpur became one of the most important military stations of British India. It was declared a district on 24 March 1803.

About 25 km from Kanpur is Bithoor(Brahmavarta). Legend goes that Sita, the wife of Lord Rama came to live at the ashram of sage Valmiki, after Rama expelled her from Ayodhya. It was here that she gave birth to the twins Lava (Ramayana) and Kusha (Ramayana), and disappeared back into the earth (from where she was born) when confronted by a repentant Rama. Bithoor is also the site of the fort to which Nana Sahib escaped following the British retaking of Kanpur. Today, Bithoor is a tourist spot on the banks of the River Ganges and Kanpur is expanding very fast with new residential complexes sprouting up everywhere. Among festivals Ganga Mela is a unique festival that is celebrated in Kanpur, 5 days after the festival Holi. Colours are thrown and people greet each other before having a dip in the sacred Ganges. Music, dance and poem recitation are organised in the evening. The festival is celebrated in the memories of revolutionaries released by British government who were held prisoners during the 1857 revolution.

Geography

                           The city's coordinates are 26.4670° North and 80.3500° East. The Government of Uttar Pradesh has carved out the new district of Kanpur Dehat from the old Kanpur Rural district. Kanpur, along with Allahabad and Fatehpur, are part of the Lower Doab, which in antiquity was known as the Vatsacountry. It is surrounded by two main rivers of India, the Ganges in the northeast and the Pandu River (Yamuna) in the south. The districts surrounding Kanpur are Hamirpur in the south and Unnao in the north-east. The arid region of Bundelkhand lies just south of Kanpur. Kanpur district along withKanpur Dehat district lie between the fertile Doab region of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. The river Yamuna marks the boundary between the Avadhand Bundelkhand regions. Kanpur City comes under the Indo-Gangetic planes of India. There are facilities of clean drinking water. Water comes from Kanpur City by Ganges Barge and there are various pumping stations for providing water to Farmers for crops. Kanpur is situated on the left side of river Ganges and right side is Shuklaganj which is in Unnao District but is also the part of Kanpur.

Climate

 

Kanpur features an atypical version of a humid subtropical climate that resembles the climate of Delhi to some degree. Unlike many other cities with a humid subtropical climate, Kanpur features long and very hot summers, mild and relatively short winters, dust storms and a monsoon season. Kanpur lies in northern plains of India, which witness extremes of temperature. It can drop to a minimum of 0.0°C in the winters while it goes up to 48°C in summers. Kanpur experiences severe fog in December and January, resulting in massive traffic and travel delays. In summer excessive dry heat is accompanied by dust storms and Loo, traits more commonly seen in desert climates. Rains appear between July and September almost at the end of regular monsoon season. Some rainfall is recorded during the harvest season of March–April. These extremes however, give the region an advantage of having three crops of versatile range of products. Best time to visit Kanpur is either October–November or February–March.Snowfall has never occurred in the city. There are some times Hailstones accompanied with rain in the winter season during the month of January but sometimes Hailstorms have also occurred in the months of March and April. In January 2002,the city witnessed a heavy hailstorm which left the city streets white with ice pieces and recently in 2009 when the last hailstorm was recorded. Dust storms are frequent during the months of April–June.These dust storms are sometimes accompanied with light drizzles. Such dusty winds raise the level of particulates in the atmosphere resulting in severe air pollution and increasing health hazards. Sometimes the speed of winds exceeds to more than 100 km/hr in the outer areas of the city. Kanpur City lies on the right bank of the river Ganges, which is elevated very high from the river, which is the reason that the city never floods. Some of the rural outskirts of the city lie on the flood prone areas of the Ganges, and it often floods the villages on its banks during the monsoon season. The Left bank sandy areas on the banks of the Ganges are cultivated to produce summer fruits like Watermelon. The dry and Hot Loo winds help the growth of watermelon which results in its great yield. The average rainfall recorded in the city is 885 mm.

Flora and fauna
The Kanpur zoo is famous for its cages designed to provide a natural habitat for the animals, and has a vast variety of animals. The water supply system of the zoo is a work of art, by an artist and engineer in the Sinchai Department of that time, Murari Sharan Saxena. He was also known for the design of gates of every Dam in whole Uttar Pradesh of that period. The Zoo is a part of a lush green area - The Allen Forest Zoo, Nawabganj.

Kanpur is home to many residential and migratory birds. Most of them can be spotted at Bithoor, IIT Kanpur campus and areas alongside the Ganges Canal. In the IIT campus you can find a large number of peacocks and nilgai. The city has Asia's biggest (area wise) zoological garden. Exotic species of flora are present at the CSA campus also.

Demography
 

As per 2011 census Kanpur urban agglomeration has a population of 2,920,067, out of which males were 1,584,967 and females were 1,335,100. The literacy rate was 83.98 per cent. 

Kanpur is situated on the banks of the river Ganges; the population was 2,551,337 as per the 2001 census. In the last decade, the population rose rapidly. One of the factors for this kind of growth can be a higher number of in-migration to Kanpur City from other areas. Languages spoken in and around Kanpur include Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali and Punjabi. Hinduism is the most prominent religion in the city. There is a considerable number of Muslims mostly residing near Kanpur Central station and areas namely Chaman Ganj, Becon Ganj, Parade,Nai Sarak, Bansmandi,Iftikharabad, Gwaltoli and Idgah colony, KDA colony jajmau,moti nagar. The Sikh community consists of immigrants who were displaced due to the Partition of India in 1947. They have since well established business in the city and reside in areas such as Govind Nagar, Gumti No.5,Jawahar Nagar Ashok Nagar and 80 ft road. There are a small number of Christians also in Kanpur. Christ Church College and Methodist High School reflect British architecture.

The majority of Kanpur's population comprises people from Central and Western Uttar Pradesh. However, Bengalis, Punjabis and Anglo-Indians have also settled in large numbers in areas of Swaroop Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Azad Nagar and Civil Lines. Hindus comprise about 82% and Muslims about 16%. There are also small groups of Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists. As per 2001 census literacy rate of Kanpur is 70.36% (60.25% for females and 71.92% for males). 

Economy
Kanpur has a total GDP (PPP) of 22 billion US$ and it ranks as 9th among top 10 Industrial cities in India followed by Surat.
The only unit of the Indian Institute of Pulse Research (an institute of ICAR) and one of the three units of the National Sugar Institute is situated in Kanpur which reflects the strong agrarian nature of industries here.

Kanpur is one of the biggest producers of textile and leather products and they are exported in bulk. Apart from the leather and textile industries, the fertilizer, chemicals, two wheelers, soaps, pan masala, hosiery and engineering industries are also operating in the city. The private sector has also set up large units such as factories of the JK Industries group, Lohia machines, Duncans, etc.

Kanpur was also infamous to a certain extent for being home to largest tanneries in India and the subsequent pollution they caused thereof. These tanneries were the initial source of industrial base in Kanpur during the colonial period. However owing to poor pollution record, lack of technologies and emergence of other avenues of employment has led to a slow and gradual death to these units.

Kanpur has also begun to find favour among the outsourcing sector as a favoured location with several new startups setting up shop here owing to cheaper costs and a readily available talent pool.

One of the Software Technology Parks of India is also situated in Kanpur in Awadhpuri locality. Central Government has sanctioned Rs. 250 crs to restart Lal Imli Mill in Kanpur . It was closed since last many years. It will again generate employment to 2500/ 3000 persons. It is also home to famous brand Ghadi Detergent powder and cake which is manufactured in Kanpur by Rohit surfactanta P.Ltd.Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said setting up a high-tech city will boost development in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh was heading a meeting to discuss the details of a proposed high-tech industrial city in Kanpur, to be built on the public private partnership model. The industrial city, proposed on 1,132 acres of land in the Trans-Ganga area of Kanpur, will be an enclosed area, UPSIDC top brass said, which will be built along the Ganga. The project, officials said, will also be equipped with underground wiring, cabling, gas and water supply, apart from optical fibre lines, among other amenities. Apart from 28 to 35 floor multi-storeyed buildings, the proposed project, a UPSIDC presentation made to the chief minister said, will also accommodate a 300 acre park. Buildings in the proposed industrial city, the government said, would house a wide variety of industries ranging from IT and IT enabled services, business process outsourcing, financial institutions and hotels, among others. According to the government proposal, the industrial city in Kanpur will also contain an exposition mart for auto companies and the leather and handicraft industries, apart from sewage and effluent treatment plants for residential and industrial buildings, respectively. To be built along the lines of buildings in Chandigarh, residential buildings in the proposed industrial city will be back facing, while the facades will be built in glass. Senior UPSIDC officials also said proposed projects would have provisions for water recycling.

Kanpur has several locational advantages, i.e., location at a vantage point on four national highways, i.e., NH 2, NH-86, NH-91 and NH 25; raw material availability for many industries, viz. leather, food processing, plastics etc., proximity to large markets, availability of skilled manpower due to various institutes located within Kanpur (viz. Indian Institute of Technology, Chandr Shekhar Azad Agricultural University, Central Pulse Research Institute, Leather Institute etc.) and existing traditional industrial base attracting skilled workers to the city.

In Kanpur (MC), the banking services were availed by only 61 percent of the households (Census 2001). About 8 percent of the households did not possess basic assets such as vehicles (bicycles, scooter, moped, car, jeep, etc.), televisions and radios.

Education

Kanpur has been a centre of education as many prominent universities and colleges are situated here. The world renowned institute in the field of science and technology IIT Kanpur, established in 1959, is situated on Grand Trunk Road. Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI) is Kanpur's oldest technical institute situated in Nawabganj. Kanpur also boasts of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Memorial Medical College ( GSVM Medical College ) which is one of the best medical colleges in the country. Chatrapati Shahau Ji Maharaj University formerly Kanpur University offers courses in various departments at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kanpur University, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttar Pradesh Textile Technology Institute, Government Leather Institute formerly known as Government Leather Working School, Indian Institute of Pulses Research, National Sugar Institute, Institute of Productivity & Management, Government Polytechnic, Brahmanand Degree College, vssd Degree College, PPN Degree College, DAV Degree College, Halim Muslim Degree College, BNSD College, Christ Church College are some of the popular educational institutions of Kanpur city. There are more than 70 Agricultural, Degree, Engineering, Management and Medical colleges in Kanpur. Also in the city we have Central India Regional Council of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Apart from these there are various renowned schools (pre-primary to class XII). The oldest running is Methodist High School, Cantt. Kanpur, operating since 1876.

Places of Indian Rebellion of 1857(21)

Kalpi is a city and a municipal board in Jalaun district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is on the right bank of the Yamuna.

History

It is believed that the city was known as Kalak dev ki kalpi in the ancient times, later abbreviated to Kalpi. Kalpi is said to have been founded by King Vasudeva at the end of the 4th century. In 1196 it fell to Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the viceroy of Mohammed Ghori, and during the subsequent Muslim period it played a significant part in the history of central India. During Akbar's reign, Kalpi was a governor's seat and had a mint for copper coinage. Kalpi is also considered by some as the birthplace of Ved Vyas, the author of Mahabharata.

About the middle of the 18th century it passed into the hands of the Marathas. It was captured by the British in 1803, and after 1806 remained in British possession until India's independence in 1947. Kalpi was a part of Bundelkhand Agency, formed in 1811, and also housed its headquarters from 1818 to 1824. During this period the political agent to Governor General of India was appointed and headquartered in Kalpi. TheBritish East India Company made it one of their principal stations for providing "commercial investment". In May 1858 Sir Hugh Rose (Lord Strathnairn) defeated here a force of about 10,000 rebels under the Rani of Jhansi.

Archaeology

Kalpi has many historical as well as archaeological sites. Few of them are enlisted below:

• Kalpi Fort
• Lanka Tower (1885, built by Mathura Prashad Nigam, height 225 feet)
• Chaurasi Gumbad (situated along NH 25 towards Orai, it has 84 door arches) 

Most recently the archaeological department of Uttar Pradesh has discovered a prehistoric site that has been dated back 45,000 years . Excavation work is in progress on this site.  Another place to visit in Kalpi is very beautiful temple of Maharishi Ved Vyasji in birth village of the maharishi 5 km away from Kalpi.

Geography

Kalpi is located  has an average elevation of 112 metres (367 feet).

Location and industry

The old town, which is on the Yamuna river, has the ruin of a fort, and several temples of interest, while in the neighborhood are many ancient tombs. Away from the river to the south-east is a lofty modern town ornamented with representations of the battles of the Ramayana. Kalpi is still a centre of local trade (principally in grain, ghee and cotton) with a station on the railway line from Jhansi to Kanpur, which crosses the Yamuna here.

In late 1970s and early 1980s Kalpi was one of the areas in central India affected by dacoits, and was frequented by the much dreaded Phoolan Devi gang. It has been declared an Industrial belt by the Government of India and is known for the handmade paper produced here.