Bilgram is a town and a nagar palika parishad in Hardoi district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.[3] It is located 16 miles (26 km) south of the city of Hardoi, on an elevated bluff that once formed the eastern bank of the Ganges.[4] Important industries in Bilgram include ceramics and embroidery.[3]

Bilgram
Town
View of the Bada Tazia and the dargah
View of the Bada Tazia and the dargah
Map of Bilgram CD block
Map of Bilgram CD block
Bilgram is located in Uttar Pradesh
Bilgram
Bilgram
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Bilgram is located in India
Bilgram
Bilgram
Bilgram (India)
Coordinates: 27°11′N 80°02′E / 27.18°N 80.03°E / 27.18; 80.03
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DivisionLucknow
DistrictHardoi
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Council
 • BodyBilgram Municipal Council
 • Municipal ChairpersonAnil Kumar[1][2] (BJP)
 • MLAAshish Kumar Singh (BJP)
Area
 • Total5 km2 (2 sq mi)
Elevation
136 m (446 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total29,768
 • Density6,000/km2 (15,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialHindi, Urdu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationUP-30

As of 2011, Bilgram's population is 29,768, in 4,717 households.[3] It serves as the headquarters of a tehsil and a community development block.[3]

Geography

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It is located at 27°11′N 80°02′E / 27.18°N 80.03°E / 27.18; 80.03,[5] and its average elevation is 136 metres (446 feet). The river Ganga is located between Bilgram and Kannauj.

Climate

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Summers are hot and humid while winters are cold with minor rainfall.

Culture

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Culture of town belongs to the Awadh region. Many people migrated from town after partition of the country. People from Bilgram usually used Bilgrami as title name. Many Bilgrami famous persons are belonged to this town.

History

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According to tradition, Bilgram was founded in the 9th or 10th century by the Raikwar king Raja Sri Ram.[4] He conquered the place from the Thatheras, named it "Srinagar" after himself, and built the fort, temple, and the Sagar tank.[4] The Raikwars then ruled the area until the Muslim conquest, but when or how that happened is unclear.[4] Srinagar was then renamed by the Muslim conquerors Bilgram after a legendary demon Bil. From here the Delhi Sultanate went on to control and dominate Oudh in 1217 under Iltutmish Shams ad-Din ibn al-Kutbi Yalam Khan (1210/1211–1236).

The two officers who conquered the region and Srinagar were the ancestors of talukdars Bilgram existed at least until the end of the 19th century. After it was made capital of a Pargana in the time of Akbar the Great, which was then ruled by Sayyid in 1000 but served with soldiers and included neighbouring Pargana Bang. A local saint killed a demon called Bel and took the name derived Belgram to Bilgram.

In 1881 the town had 11,067 inhabitants. The ancient name of Bilgram is Srinagar, its present name Bilgram was given by some associates of Mahmood Gajnavi. The Battle of Bilgram in 1540 took place between Humayun and Sher Shah Suri. Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun in the Battle of Bilgram.[6]

The Sadaat Bilgram are a group of Sayyid families who inhabit the historic town of Bilgram in Hardoi District. Saadat-e-Bilgram literally means the Sayyid of the town of Bilgram. These Hussaini Sayyids first migrated from Wasit, Iraq in the 13th century.[7] Their ancestor, Syed Mohammad Sughra, a Zaidi Sayyid of Iraq, arrived in India during the rule of Sultan Iltutmish.

In 1217-18 the family conquered and settled in Bilgram.[8] The Sayyid commanded a Muslim army that overcame the Bhars, who were the traditional rulers of the Hardoi region, and was granted an estate centred on the town of Bilgram, where the Sayyid settled down. died in 1247, his tomb was constructed by Syed Mohammad Muhsin son of Syed Mohammad Said in 1738–39.[9]

Sixth in descent from Syed Mohammad Sughra was Syed Abdul Farah of Wasit (from him are descendants of most renowned Sayyid families in Northern India, the Barhah and Bilgram Sayyids; and in Khairabad, Fatehpur Haswa and at many other places branches of the same stem are found.[10]), who was the ancestor of the Saadat-e-Bara, another community of Sayyids.[11]

The Bilgrami Sayyid were important power brokers in the southern part of Awadh, and remained an important and influential clan, throughout the Middle Ages. They provided several taluqdar families and were substantial landowners.[12] During the Delhi Sultanate, Shaikh Burhan-ud-Din Bilgrami was the head of the nobles put in charge of the siege of the citadel of Daulatabad against the rebellion of the Bahmanids.[13]

The Bilgrami Sayyids benefitted from the patronage of the Grand Vizier Munim Khan II, who was known for his support of Indian Sayyids and Shaikhzadas. When Ruh-ul-Amin Khan of Bilgram reportedly entered state service with only 60 horsemen and foot soldiers, the Munim Khan II created him a mansab of 6000 and made him his close associate.[14] The Bilgrami Sayyids were later firm supporters of the Barah Sayyids, with whom they shared ancestry, when the latter had risen as de-facto rulers of the Mughal empire after the death of Aurangzeb.[15]

Among the most notable persons of the Bilgram are Allama Azad Bilgrami (1704–1786), Syed Ali Bilgrami(1851–1911), Imad-ul-Mulk Bahadur Syed Hussain Bilgrami(1842–1926), Sursuba of Malwa and Isagarh estate Khan Bhadur Syed Ali Bahadur Bilgrami.

At present time Maulana Abid Bilgrami(India) & Maulana Alay Ahmad Bilgrami(Pakistan) are internationally known names in the field of Islamic studies. There are many civil servants belongs to Bilgram of whom SAT Rizvi, Kamran Rizvi and Dr Mohd Iliyaas Rizvi are some of the important names. Unfortunately, Bilgram has lost the sheen that it once had in the field of scholarship. In this regard famous Urdu poet of Bilgram Huzoor Bilgrami says:

Ab to talchhat zeenat-e-jaam-o-suraahi hai 'huzoor'

Rashk-e-maikhana kabhi tha bilgram apni jagah.

loosely translated as (Now only sediment remained for the pitcher, once bilgram was the envy of the people of tastes)

Bilgram is located on the Billahaur-Katra State Highway

  • Distance from Kannauj-29 km
  • Distance from Hardoi-27 km
  • Distance from Kanpur - 110 km
  • Distance from Lucknow - 110 km
  • Distance From Farrukhabad - 70 km

Around the turn of the 20th century, Bilgram was described as a large town with thriving commerce and several historical monuments.[4] At the time, Bilgram served as a tehsil and pargana headquarters, and it had a munsifi[what language is this?], police station, dispensary, post office, inspection bungalow, and cattle pound, as well as an upper primary school that lay on a site previously occupied by the town's fort.[4] There was also a military encampment on the north side of town.[4]

At that time, Bilgram was a moderately important trading hub, with Hardoi and Madhoganj being its main trading partners.[4] There were several markets in town, including the two old ones called the bari and chhoti bazaars that had been built by the Nazim Hakim Mehndi Ali Khan.[4] To the south of the town lay the Rafaiyatganj market, also built by him, but by that point it had declined significantly.[4] The main reason for its decline was the construction of two new bazaars in town: one by Sarju Parshad, which hosted markets on Sundays and Wednesdays, and the other by Wasi Haidar, taluqdar of Bhogetapur, which held them on Mondays and Thursdays.[4]

Although Bilgram was not a major industrial centre at the time, it was noted for producing "lac-glazed pottery of pleasing design, especially in the shape of amritbans and gharras", which were variously painted green or yellow, or decorated with silver leaf.[4] Other manufactured goods produced in Bilgram included carved doors and lintels, various wooden items (especially sandals), leather shoes, brass inkstands, and paan boxes.[4]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1901 11,190—    
1911 7,509−32.9%
1921 9,112+21.3%
1931 9,424+3.4%
1941 10,292+9.2%
1951 9,565−7.1%
1961 10,936+14.3%
1971 13,106+19.8%
1981 16,239+23.9%
1991 20,738+27.7%
2001 25,292+22.0%
2011 29,768+17.7%
Source: 2011 Census of India[3]

As of 2001 India census,[16] Bilgram had a population of 25,292. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Bilgram has an average literacy rate of 50%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 57% and female literacy of 42%. 18% of the population was under 6 years of age.

Religions in Bilgram
Religion Percent
Hindus
51%
Muslims
48%
Others†
1%
Distribution of religions
Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (<0.2%).

Schools and colleges

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  • Girls Degree College
  • BGRM Inter College
  • Baba Manshanath Inter College
  • Government Girls Inter College
  • Shri Darshan Singh Inter College, Pasner
  • Shri Chhattar Singh Inter College
  • SD Public School
  • City Public School

Economy

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As of 1971, the economy of Bilgram was described as dominated by primary activities.[17] The main items imported were cloth, sugar, and cotton.[17] The main items manufactured were shoes, handloom cloth, and beedies.[17] The biggest exports were grains, vegetables, and tobacco.[17]

Festivals

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Bada imambada Bilgram

Moharram is one of the most important festivals of Bilgram since the medieval period. Although after the partition of India most of the families have either migrated to Pakistan or the other Indian Cities like Lucknow, Delhi, Rampur, Hyderabad etc., the sheen of the Moharram commemoration did not come to an end and Bilgramis commemorate it for two months and eight days. One of the important contributions of Moharram is that during this period Sayyid families return to Bilgram from every nook and corner of India to pay homage to the supreme scarifies of Imam Hussain. Important dates of Moharram Commemorations are 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th Moharram's Famous Juloos is called Club Ka Matam, which is the largest juloos in bilgram at Syyedwada and 10th of Moharram is famous for its Bada Taziya, which is lifted by 32 men (this tazia is world famous), beside these dates 16 Safar, Chehllum, Bahattar Tabut and Chup Tazia, Ayyame Fatima(s.a.) are very famous functions where hundreds of people congregate to pay homage to the martyrs of Karbala Anjuman Azae Hussain Organizes 72 Taboot Whereas Anjuman Bazme Hussainiya Qadeem organizes Shabbedari and chup tazia juloos. There are three Anjumans (communities) i.e., Anjuman Bazm-e- Hussainiya Qadeem, Bazm-e- Azaay-e-Hussain and Gulzar-e-Hussaini beside this there is a committee named Youth Of Bazm-e-Hussainiya Which Promotes Azadari Of Imam Hussain Ibn Ali in Bilgram they all supervise and organised several programs. Besides Moharram, Eid ul Fitr, Eid ul Azha, Wiladate Maula Ali, Dastarkhuan, and Shabberaat is also celebrated with zeal.

Sunni Muslims also celebrate a plethora of urs on various occasions. Urs e paak of "Meer Abdul Wahid sahab Bilgrami" celebrates every year by the Wasti family and Mureedin at his shrine.

Famous sites

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Bada Imam Bada Bilgram and Dargah Abbas is almost 300 years old holy sites of Shia Muslims and heritage place for visitors.

Baba Manshanath Temple is the oldest temple in town. It is the center of the main faith of the Hindu people. It has its own importance in the month of Savan. It hosts the fair in this month. Devotees come from far and wide for the worship of Lord Shankar. This temple was built by Lala Mansaram.

Villages

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Bilgram CD block has the following 120 villages:[3]

Village name Total land area (hectares) Population (in 2011)
Bhatauli 121 1,750
Bhatauli Panchsala 74.3 0
Sahijana Sisala 200.3 489
Sahijana Sisala 16.4 342
Bamhrauli 250.2 685
Katri Ibrahimpur 370.1 0
Rasoolpur Goa 131.4 1,522
Manjhia 102.1 686
Chachrapur 341.4 2,305
Parauchi 277.1 1,476
Jatpura 185.3 934
Murauli Gwal 112.3 818
Pindari 571 4,692
Teria 277 1,715
Madara 185 1,297
Sahora 351.5 1,870
Ramapur 151.9 431
Parsapur 114.6 1,202
Bhikhpur 162.4 987
Chaudhariapur 197.7 1,955
Hunseypur Sisala 68.8 587
Hunseypur Pansala 59.2 0
Kuberpur Sisala 21 442
Kuberpur Pansala 9.3 0
Sakherha 355.6 2,956
Mitmitpur Sisala 92.7 579
Mitmitpur Pansala 46 304
Kaeemau Kuvariapur 310.9 2,805
Hasnapur Sisala 253.3 2,572
Hasnapur Pansala 46 304
Sanjalpur 33 1,099
Siraichmau 316.2 2,144
Bhairampur 138.8 1,129
Pahalbanabad 49.8 0
Hasnapur 62.9 0
Hansaulia 185.2 1,222
Dhondhpur 224.9 1,616
Murauli Katheria 412.5 2,340
Nekpur Hatimpur 218.4 1,348
Masoodpur 100.1 762
Durgaganj 462.3 4,683
Dhondhi 687.1 3,101
Alaapur 155.9 730
Kundrauli Sadikpur 251.3 2,345
Dabha 546.7 3,762
Behta Bujurg 669.5 3,171
Tarauli 251.4 2,737
Lalpur Kanhri 173.4 1,753
Radena Habib Nagar 413.2 2,383
Haibatpur 234.9 2,535
Gurauli 324.9 2,413
Biraichmau 226.3 1,727
Panthauri 234.2 1,034
Akhtyarpur 280.5 975
Pasner 855.5 6,486
Baifaria 150.6 1,411
Bashar 196.5 1,535
Kutuloopur 176 736
Jarauli Sherpur 568.9 7,815
Balenda 152.6 796
Akbarpur Pasnamau 299.4 2,013
Bindhouri 196.2 1,498
Kutuapur 277 2,059
Bilgram (Rural) 25.9 0
Ashafpur 43.9 0
Khalil Nagar 31.9 0
Bojhbar 142.3 0
Chandpur 180.5 1,287
Berua Nizampur 189.8 1,407
Bargawan 213.3 2,242
Noorpur Hathaura 979.8 5,150
Gujrai 291.3 3,390
Nabipur 91.9 729
Behti Khurd 277.4 1,281
Birauri 661.1 4,889
Parchal Rasoolpur 1,003 6,443
Itauli 113.5 763
Aligarh 340 1,771
Sharifabad 40.3 0
Mahmood Nagar 205.4 776
Jalalpur 335.2 1,129
Kakra Kherha 170.8 1,843
Lalpur Mirzapur 228.3 0
Diwali 409.3 2,817
Koilara 123.3 778
Koee 83.3 722
Aliapur 80.2 542
Panthora 120.5 582
Dhansari 110.7 629
Kachana 119.6 985
Terwa Chandpur 130.4 1,160
Bhogaitapur 891.4 3,962
Atarchha Khurd 304.1 1,563
Birni 336.8 3,509
Chauharpur 138 0
Atarchha Buzurg 295 1,093
Jarauli Kalan Pansala 75.9 0
Jarauli Kalan Sisala 128.2 3,262
Nekpur Newada 107.9 1,517
Dhandhamau 100.4 819
Raipura 57.9 452
Azmat Nagar Sisala 179.6 1,834
Azmat Nagar Pansala 249 0
Rampur Maghiyara 139.2 3,047
Rampur Maghiyara Pansala 154 0
Sarhiyapur Sisala 381 2,994
Sarhiyapur Pansala 593 0
Katri Banda 156 0
Katri Biluhi 962.9 1,718
Mohammad Zamanpur 11.5 0
Band 49.9 1,380
Chak Bonria 26.3 0
Choliapur 49.9 575
Paindapur 242 598
Karehka 112 1,290
Katri Karehka 85 0
Katri Meora 56.6 0
Meora 133.2 1,969
Naurangpur 291.6 561
Katri Jarsenamau 105.4 894
Gang Barar Katri Jarsenamau 26.3 0
Gang Barar Jarsenamau C... 45.3 0
Jarsenamau 78.1 1,694
Sanp Kherha 142.5 778
Chhibramau 95.9 2,459
Massonamau 140.4 574
Zaffarpur 116.6 1,366
Katri Chhibramau 362 2,080
Katri Mahdeva 307.6 964
Katri Kar Talab Khanpur 61.8 0
Katri Bichhuya 553.4 1,195
Katri Zaferpur 109.7 225
Katri Azmatpur 354.6 0
Katri Parsola 499.7 3,509
Parsola 467.2 2,895
Shahpur 39.3 900
Haraiyapur 100.8 483
Rahula 356.4 4,462
Ganipur 159 1,506
Baghiyari 486.6 1,722
Faizpur Kampoo 367.2 363
Bochanpur 75.7 180
Khairullapur 23.7 0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2023 UP Municipal Election results". ECI Uttar Pradesh. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Hardoi local election results 2023". Zee News. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Census of India 2011: Uttar Pradesh District Census Handbook - Hardoi, Part A (Village and Town Directory)" (PDF). Census 2011 India. pp. 32–34, 41, 256–81, 578–81, 589. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Nevill, H.R. (1904). Hardoi - A Gazetteer. Allahabad: Government Press. pp. 176–84. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Bilgram, India". www.fallingrain.com. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Battle of Bilgram". Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. ^ Essays in Arabic Literary Biography: 1350 - 1850, Roger M. A. Allen, Joseph Edmund Lowry, Terri DeYoung, Devin J. Stewart, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 30-Dec-2009
  8. ^ Islam in South Asia in Practice, Barbara D. Metcalf, Princeton University Press, 08-Sep-2009
  9. ^ Indian Archaeology, a Review, Archaeological Survey of India., 1979
  10. ^ The imperial gazetteer of India, Volume 13, Sir William Wilson Hunter, Trübner & co., 1887
  11. ^ A Gazetteer of Hardoi District Volume XLI: Gazetteers of the United Provinces edited by H. R Neville
  12. ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das
  13. ^ Thomas Wolseley Haig (1919). Historic landmarks of the Deccan. Pioneer Press.
  14. ^ Muzaffar Alam (1986). The Crisis of Empire in Mughal North India. Oxford University Press, Bombay. p. 21.
  15. ^ Stefan Reichmuth (2009). The World of Murtada Al-Zabidi (1732-91). Gibb Memorial Trust. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-906094-60-0.
  16. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  17. ^ a b c d Census 1971 Uttar Pradesh: District Census Handbook Part X-A: Village & Town Directory, District Hardoi (PDF). 1972. pp. viii–xi, 8–9. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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