By Dr. C.L. Khanna Revised by Dhiraj Pandey. Revised & Enlarged Edition UPKAR PRAKASHAN, AGRA-2

Transcription

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2 By Dr. C.L. Khanna Revised by Dhiraj Pandey Revised & Enlarged Edition UPKAR PRAKASHAN, AGRA-2

3 Publishers Publishers UPKAR PRAKASHAN 2/11A, Swadeshi Bima Nagar, AGRA Phone : , , Fax : (0562) care@upkar.in, Website : Branch Offices : 4845, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi Phone : /66 28, Chowdhury Lane, Shyam Bazar, Near Metro Station, Gate No. 4 Kolkata (W.B.) Phone : Paras Bhawan (First Floor), Khazanchi Road, Patna Phone : B-33, Blunt Square, Kanpur Taxi Stand Lane, Mawaiya, Lucknow (U.P.) Phone : /B, R.R. Complex (Near Sundaraiah Park, Adjacent to Manasa Enclave Gate), Bagh Lingampally, Hyderabad Phone : /1, A. K. House, Heeranagar, Haldwani, Distt. Nainital (Uttarakhand) Mob. : The publishers have taken all possible precautions in publishing this book, yet if any mistake has crept in, the publishers shall not be responsible for the same. This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form by Photographic, Mechanical, or any other method, for any use, without written permission from the Publishers. Only the courts at Agra shall have the jurisdiction for any legal dispute. ISBN : Code No. 939 Printed at : UPKAR PRAKASHAN (Printing Unit) Bye-pass, AGRA

4 CONTENTS 1. Uttar Pradesh : At a Glance Uttar Pradesh : An Introduction History of Uttar Pradesh Role of Uttar Pradesh in Independence Movement Geological Structure and Physical Divisions of Uttar Pradesh Rivers and Lakes of Uttar Pradesh Climate of Uttar Pradesh Soils of Uttar Pradesh Forests, Animals and Birds of Uttar Pradesh Mineral Wealth of Uttar Pradesh Natural Regions of Uttar Pradesh Population and Area in Uttar Pradesh Education in Uttar Pradesh Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh Industries in Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Multipurpose Projects in Uttar Pradesh Transport and Communication in Uttar Pradesh Co-operative in Uttar Pradesh Labour and Employment in Uttar Pradesh News Papers and Magazines of Uttar Pradesh Famous Towns, Religious Centres and Tourist Places of Uttar Pradesh Fairs, Festivals and Folk Songs of Uttar Pradesh Scheduled Tribes of Uttar Pradesh Museums of Uttar Pradesh Administration of Uttar Pradesh Local Self-Government in Uttar Pradesh Information and Public Relation in Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare Rural Development in Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj Regional Development Land Reform Urbanization Trends in Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Budget Uttar Pradesh : Export Policy and Achievement Uttar Pradesh : Present Day Division, District, Tehsil and Development Blocks of Uttar Pradesh Objective Questions and Answers

5 Uttar Pradesh General Knowledge

6 1 Uttar Pradesh : At a Glance Location Latitude N and longitude E. Creation of state It was created on 1st April, 1937 as United Province which was renamed to as Uttar Pradesh in Area 2,40,928 sq. km. (7.3% of the country's geographic area). Population As per Census 2011, the total population of Uttar Pradesh is 19,98,12,341. Uttar Pradesh holds 1st position in population wise and become the most populous state of India. Only four countries namely China, USA, Indonesia and Brazil have a population higher than that of Uttar Pradesh. Capital Lucknow Neighbouring states/ country Uttar Pradesh is bounded by Uttarakhand and Nepal in North, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in South, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi in West and Bihar and Jharkhand in East. Principal Languages Hindi and Urdu Districts (Till ) 75 Division (Till ) 18 Tehsils (Till ) 340 Blocks (Till ) 821 Total Villages ( ) 1,06,774 No. of Inhabited Villages ( ) 97,814 No. of Unhabited Villages ( ) 8,960 Cities 915 Economic Zones 4 Nagar Nigams 14 Nagar Palika Parishads 193 Nagar Panchayats (Town Area) 423 Members of Vidhan Sabha 404 Members of Vidhan Parishad 100 Lok Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh 80 Rajya Sabha members from Uttar Pradesh 31 State Animal of Uttar Pradesh Swamp Deer State Bird of Uttar Pradesh Sarus Crane State Flower of Uttar Pradesh Palash (Butea monosperma) State Language of Uttar Pradesh Hindi State Tree of Uttar Pradesh Ashok Tree Agriculture Crops Rabi and Kharif, pulses, sugarcane, vegetables, mango and guava. Principal Crops Paddy, Wheat, Barley, Millet, Maize, Urad (Black Gram), Moong (Green Gram), Arhar etc. Principal Minerals Lime-Stone, Dolomite, Soap Stone, Gypsum, Bauxite, Glass-sand, manganese, Non-plastic fire clay etc. Principal Handicrafts Chikan-work, Embroidery, wood work, wooden toys and furniture, Clay-toys, carpet weaving, Silk & Brassware work. Main Industries Cement, vegetable oils, textiles, cotton yarn, sugar, jute, Lock & Scissors, Carpet, Brassware, Glassware & Bangles. Main Folklores Kajari, Chaiti, Alha, Puran Bhagat, Dhola Bhartrihari, Birha, Rasiya. Main Folk Dances Pandav, Karma, Charkula, Paidanda, Tharu, Dhobiya, Rai and Shera. Tourist and Historical Places Varanasi, Vindhyachal, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Prayag, Naimisharanya, Mathura, Vrindavan, Dewa Sharief, Dargah of Sheikh Saleem Chisti in Fatehpur Sikri, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Sankisa, Kampil, Piprahwa and Kaushambi, Agra, Ayodhya, Sarnath, Varanasi, Lucknow, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Kannauj, Mahoba, Devgarh, Bithur, and Vindhyachal. Main Rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Ramganga and Ghaghara. Physical Features Uttar Pradesh can be divided into three distinct hypsographical regions The sub-himalayan Terai region in the North- Highly fertile soil, thick forests with rich flora and fauna. The Gangetic Plain in the centre Highly fertile alluvial soils; flat topography broken by numerous ponds, lakes and rivers; slope 2 m/km.

7 4 U.G.K. The Vindhya Hills and plateau in the south Hard rock Strata; varied topography of hills, plains, valleys and plateau; limited water availability. Agro-climatic zones-9 agro-climatic zones, namely, Bhabhar & Tarai, Western Plain, Central- Western Plain, South-Western Plain, Central Plain, Bundelkhand, North-Eastern Plain, Eastern Plain, and Vindhyan region. Economic regions Western, Eastern, Central and Bundelkhand. Cultivated area ( ) lakh ha Major crops Rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, chickpea and pigeonpea. Major vegetables Potato, Peas & Cabbage Major fruit grown Mango, Guava, Banana, and Litchi. Important spices produced in the State Onion (6th among States) Turmeric, Chili, Garlic, Fennel, Fenugreek and Coriander Gross cropped area ( ) lakh ha. Land Holdings Cultivable area ( ) hectare (82.1% of total geographical area)

8 Net area sown ( ) lakh hectare Gross cropped area ( ) million hectare Area sown more than once ( ) million hectare Cropping intensity of %. Net irrigated area ( ) lakh hectare (By canals 18 3%, by tubewells 71 5% and by others 10 2%). Gross irrigated area ( ) lakh hectare Percentage of net irrigated sown area 83 07%. Total number of land holdings ( ) lakhs Marginal farmers ( ) lakh (79 5%) Small farmers lakh (13 0%) Canals and projects Upper Ganga Canal, Middle Ganga Canal, Lower Ganga Canal, Eastern Yamuna Canal, Agra Canal, Sarda Canal, Ramganga Canal, Betwa Canal, Ken Canal, Matatila Canals, Rihand Project Canal, Dhasan Canal, Tanda, Dalmau, Bhopauli, Doharighat, Belan pump canals, Tumaria, Khoh, Baur, Rampura, Lalitpur dams and Kotari project. U.G.K. 5 Soil Types of Uttar Pradesh and their Area Soil Types Area (ha) Districts Covered Bhabar soils Saharanpur, Bijnour Tarai soils Pilibhit, Bareilly, Rampur, Bahraich, Srawasti, Balrampur, Siddharth N agar, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria Alluvial soils Central, eastern, western, south western part of the state Vindhyan Mirzapur, Varanasi, soils Bundelkhand soils Mineral Resources of Uttar Pradesh Allahabad, Sonbhadra Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Banda, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Chitrakoot Aravali soils South western area of Agra Recorded Forest area ( ) 16,583 sq. km (6.88 % of total geographical area). Reserved forests 70 31% Protected forest 8 56% Unclassed forests 21 12% Forest cover (2013) 14,349 sq. km Vegetation Very dense forests 1623 km 2 Moderately dense forests 4550 km 2 Open forests 8176 km 2 Mineral Locality District Reserves (In lakh tonnes As on 31st March, 2006) Uses Bauxite Rajauan Chitrakoot Alluminium, Refractory Industry China Clay Naudiha, Ramgarh, Garda Sonbhadra Ceramics, Refractory Industry Coal Kakri, Bina, Dhughichua, Sonbhadra Thermal Power, Cement, Kharia (source IBM) Caramics Industries etc. Diaspore Garhmau, Mailar, Jhansi, Mahoba, 0 50 Refractory Gaurari, Tori Lalitpur Pyrophyllite Garhmau, Mailar, Jhansi, Mahoba, Refractory, Ceramics, Talc, Gaurari, Tori Lalitpur Insecticide etc. Feldspar Khajraha Buzurg Jhansi 1 00 Ceramics Industry Silica Sand Shankargarh, Bargarh, Lalapur Allahabad, Chitrakoot Glass & Foundry Industry Granite Kalapahar, Khailar, Jhansi, Mahoba, Polished slab & tiles Kewal, Bijoli Lalitpur, Banda, Sonbhadra M3 (source IBM) Dolomite Bari Sonbhadra Iron & Steel Industry Limestone Bhalua, Kajrahat, Billi, Sonbhadra Cement & Steel Industry Ghurma Rock Phosphate Pisnari & Tori Lalitpur Fertilizer & Elemental Phosphorus Industry Sillimanite Chhipiya Sonbhadra Refractory Industry

9 6 U.G.K. Infrastructure Educational infrastructure (Approved) Universities 31 Colleges 4,284 Government Engineering Colleges 11 Government ITI College 325 Primary Schools Upper Primary Schools Higher Secondary Schools Health infrastructure Medical Colleges 54 District Hospitals 72 Primary Health Centres 4911 Allopathic Hospitals 5102 Ayurvedic Hospitals 2114 Homyopethic Hospitals 1575 Power ( ) Production and Consumption of Power in U.P. S. Year Item No Installed Capacity (MW) Consumption (Crore KW) Total Production (Crore KW) Per Capita Power Consumption (KW hr) 5. Electrified Villages Road type Road length (km) ( ) National Highways 3250 State Highways 7703 Other District Roads Total road length Railways The railway network in Uttar Pradesh is the largest in the country. The state is well-connected to other parts of the country by a railway network spanning over 8,763 km. The major sectors and industries serviced by the railways include agriculture, cement, fertilisers, coal and manufacturing. Various parts of the state are catered to by five of the 17 railway zones in India. These are Northern Railways, North Eastern Railways, East Central Railways, North Central Railways and West Central Railways. Lucknow is the main junction for the Northern and North Eastern Railways. Intra-state rail network is well-developed, connecting the towns and the district headquarters of Uttar Pradesh. The Delhi Metro Rail links Noida and Ghaziabad with Delhi. Airports The state has six domestic airports, located at Agra, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Lucknow and Varanasi. International flights operate from Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, and Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi. New airports have been proposed at Shrawasti and Kushinagar districts. The Government of Uttar Pradesh is planning to develop an international airport between Agra and Mathura. Demography Description 2011 Actual Population 199,812,341 Male 104,480,510 Female 95,331,831 Population Growth 20 23% Percentage of total Population 16 50% Sex Ratio 912 Child Sex Ratio 902 Density/km Total Child Population (0 6 Age) 30,791,331 Male Population (0 6 Age) 16,185,581 Female Population (0 6 Age) 14,605,750 Literacy % Male Literacy % Female Literacy % Total Literate 114,397,555 Male Literate 68,234,964 Female Literate 46,162,591

10 U.G.K. 7 Largest District (km 2 ) 1. Lakhimpur Kheri Sonbhadra Hardoi Sitapur Allahabad 5482 Percentage of Child 1. Siddharthnagar % 2. Shrawasti % 3. Bahraich % 4. Balrampur % 5. Budaun % High Density 1. Ghaziabad Varanasi Lucknow Sant Ravidas Nagar Kanpur Nagar 1452 Top Population Growth 1. Bahraich % 2. Ghaziabad % 3. Gautam Buddha Nagar % 4. Chitrakoot % 5. Balrampur % High Literacy 1. Gautam Buddha Nagar % 2. Kanpur Nagar % 3. Auraiya % 4. Etawah % 5. Ghaziabad % High Sex Ratio 1. Jaunpur Azamgarh Deoria Pratapgarh Sultanpur 983 Urban Population Description Rural Urban Population (%) % % Total Population 155,317,278 44,495,063 Male Population 80,992,995 23,487,515 Female Population 74,324,283 21,007,548 Population Growth % % Sex Ratio Child Sex Ratio (0 6) Child Population (0 6) 25,040,583 5,750,748 Child Percentage (0 6) % % Literates 85,284,680 29,112,875 Average Literacy % % Male Literacy % % Female Literacy % %

11 2 Uttar Pradesh : An Introduction The region known as Uttar Pradesh is the result of the decentralisation and reorganisation of the area. The people who were the founder of the future of India have grown up in its soil. It has developed the new culture, civilization and humanity. The Saints have meditated in the dense forests and caves of the region and have given their views to the people of the country. Major part of Uttar Pradesh is the part of Ganga-Yamuna plains, known as Aryavart, Central province and Hindustan. According to Legends Daksh Prajapati the son of Brahma started Manav dynasty at Kankhal near Haridwar and Ishvaku, the son of Manu, established Ayodhya its capital near Faizabad. Sagar, Mandhata, Dileep, Raghu, Dashrath and Ram, the great kings were the people of this dynasty Purkha of Chandravansh established its states near Prayag. Purkha's second son Amavasu made Kannauj his capital. Nahashu the son of Amavasu jointly ruled over Kannauj or Pratishthan Yayati the son of Nahashu called Chakravarti Samrat not only of Uttar Pradesh but also of India. Five sons of Yayati extended their region to South-West and Eastern India. Hastinapur near Meerut by Kuruvansh, Mathura by Yaduvansh, Kannauj by Gadhivansh Kaushambi by Vatshvansh, Varanasi by Kshatravraddha were the capitals in the State. The name Bharatvarsh was given to the region in the name of Bharat the son of Dushyant, the king of Kuru dynasty. In Ahichhatra near Bareilly, these five founded their States. According to the invention made by Archaeological Department Hastinapur, Kannauj, Kaushambi, Mathura and Ahichhatra have their glorious history. In British period excavation of ancient places was started in Uttar Pradesh. During this excavation and survey many cultural areas of prehistoric period were found. On the basis of these records and the stone used in the stone age period and its manufacturing and the deposits, the historical period can be classified into different ages. The stone age instruments were found in Belan near Vindhyachal and valley of Son in Uttar Pradesh. Archaeological discoveries in Vindhyan deposits and rock deposits near the lake basins of Ganga valley are the archaeological records which throw light on temporary settlements and the leading life of human beings. Besides this small stone instruments and caves of cultured age were also found. Many wall paintings were found in these caves. Excavation at Koldihava, Magahra and Panchoha throw light on the paddy cultivation, pastoralism and stone age. It is proved that pre-historic wealth in the state is the result of many cultures, which throw light on the sovereign personality of the State in which the different religions, different cultures and different castes can be seen. In the excavation of Archaeological department, the remnants of different historical periods from stone age to neo-palaeolithic age, the copper age, the Indus valley civilization and mud tablet diagrams were found in Uttar Pradesh. Maurya Stupa, Jain Stupas, Buddha Vihar, Kushan Samrat and famous temples of Nagas are the proof of ancient civilization in Uttar Pradesh. When Aryans came in India, they made Uttar Pradesh their Karmsthali. It is the state where Ram and Krishna were born. Ramayana and Mahabharat were written. The Karm-upadesh of the Geeta, the heritage of our country was established from here. Except Ramayan and Mahabharat, there is no epic in the world, which has influenced the individual, the society and the life. These are the pillars of Indian life, morality and philosophy. It has united India leaving aside different castes, religions and languages. There are many scattered places in the state whose historical events are full of Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Buddha and Christian saints only. Many pilgrims places and festivals are the source of attraction for Indians. The Ganga-Yamuna Doab in the state is the area which has been the place of Ram and Krishna Lila and workable place of Buddha, Vardhaman Mahavir. Here not only

12 U.G.K. 9 Hindus but Muslim emperors have constructed temples. Govind Dev temple made by emperor Akbar is well known. Beside this Kardemeshwar Mahadev temple constructed at Panchkoshi Marg enroute to Mathura and Varanasi, Ayodhya, Rehman Khera and Tiket Rai Temple at Kanpur are worth mentioning. Before the 6th century B.C. Buddha attained enlightenment at Sarnath (10 km away from Varanasi) and preached his first sermon there. He established the religion which extended upto China, Japan and Indo-China. It is unfortunate that the religion which originated from this land, has disappeared in this land. Adi Shankaracharya, who renovated the Hindu religion came to Kashi from extreme South. His tomb is built in the mid of snow covered Himalayan ranges in Uttarakhand. Here is built the famous Kedarnath temple. He established the four religious places known as Badrinath (North), Puri (East), Dwarika (West), Shiringari (South). The establishment of these religious places was his effort to see India in a unity. Many learners, reformers and teachers were attracted toward Uttar Pradesh in medieval period. Their main object was to discover the original language of India. It was the place where the traditional educational institutes provided the religious and cultural linkages. Many artists and sculptors came over here to make the people s life happy and prosperous. It was also the Karmsthali of Ramanand, Chetanya, Kabir, Tulsi and Sur. These saints gave a new way to superstitious people and taught them tolerance towards the other religions. It is due to the result of their movements that their valuable teachings of our religion, literature and culture were disseminated. This fertile plain lies in between the North-Western hilly tract and Bay of Bengal. It has been a settled place of invasion of Mughals, with whom the Sufi saint also came. The arrival of these saints was the result of formation of rainbow organisation of caste, creed and thought which proved the valuable reserves of the nation. It was the time when the Urdu language got its existence and was developed alongwith Hindi language, although the Hindi language was deep rooted earlier. Amir Khusro also got the prominence in this period, and the language which Khusro used, was used by many Hindi and Urdu writers. Khusro also contributed towards the music. Sitar is his invention. The integrated culture was first time developed in Mughal period, it was highly developed during the regime of Akbar. He gathered famous artists, intellectuals and sculptors without any distinction of caste or creed. Literature, arts and culture were well developed during his reign. Jahangir, the successor of Akbar also encouraged Hindu-Muslim artists without any distinction. The white marble Taj Mahal made by Shahjahan is a memory of immortal love. The fall of Mughal empire started after the death of Aurangzeb in Though the dark age of Delhi started, yet the centre of politics and culture in the Avadh Darwar, for some time these assemblers of Avadh Darwar were the glory of Faizabad, thereafter Lucknow was its theatre. The Arts, culture, music and poetry well developed the feeling of communal brotherhood and new records were established during this period. But greatest political instability was at that time when Britishers ruled over Avadh. It was the beginning of revolt in state and at first it was started at Meerut in 1857 and spread out all over India. In many parts of the country, Hindus and Muslims jointly rose against the Britishers in this revolt, Uttar Pradesh was the centre of this revolt, decided battles were fought in this area, when Britishers ruled over India. The political awareness which surfaced at that time, still exists, this is the cause that Britishers gave utmost attention to this area. They tried to divide Indians and solidify their rule. In 1877 Sir Syed Ahmed Khan laid the foundation stone of M.A.O. college and later on Madan Mohan Malviya founded the Banaras Hindu University in In 1921 Mahatma Gandhi started education in Kashi Vidhyapeeth, which has given many freedom fighters who worked in Non-Cooperation Movement with Mahatma Gandhi. During this year a national Muslim University in the name of Jamiya Milia Islamiya was established at Aligarh, which was later on shifted to Delhi. The Britishers founded this against M.A.O. college. The state of Uttar Pradesh was foremost in non-cooperation movement and freedom movement. Swaraj and Anand Bhawan at Allahabad which belong to Nehru family have been the hub of the congress politics, in which many important decisions were taken against the British rule. Seven Prime Ministers, one President, and two Vice-Presidents are the products of Uttar Pradesh. During British rule, there is no doubt that Uttar Pradesh has given an important historical contribution to the entire country.

13 3 History of Uttar Pradesh The pre and post-historic period of the state is gloomy. The discovery of arms and implements of ancient and neo-palaeolithic age in excavation at Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Bundelkhand, Sarai-a-nahar area of Pratapgarh and of Harappan objects in Alamgirpur in Meerut take us back to ancient historical age. In ancient time the state was known as Madhya-Desh. Being at en-route for invaders from North-West and forming part of the rich fertile plain in between Delhi and Patna, its history is closely linked to the history of North India. It is only from the Rigvedic age that some coherent historical account is found. It is said that when Aryan came to India, they colonized at Saptasindhu (Modern Punjab) in India. More important of them were Puru, Turvasu, Yadu, Anu and Druhm. These five classes were known as Panchjan. Besides this there was one prominent class known as Bharat. Gradually Aryans extended their territory towards the East. The Shatpath Brahman gives an interesting account of the victory of Kaushal (Avadh) and Videh (Bihar) by the Brahmans and Kshatriyas. Expansion of territory led to the creation of new states (Janpads), emergence of new people and new centres. The Saptasindhu gradually lost importance and the Aryans were attracted to the fertile plains in between Saraswati (the lost river at Rajasthan) and Ganga. This was the centre of their culture, literature, spiritualism and politics, over here there ruled the Kuru, Panchal, Kashi and Kaushal Kingdoms. In the vedic period, the state was known as Brahmarshi Desh. Bharadwaj, Yaznavalkaya, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra and Valmiki sages made Uttar Pradesh as their Karmsthali in the vedic period. It was known as Madhya Desh, extended upto Prayag in the East, which was the boundary of Uttar Pradesh. All great persons and gods whose description is found in Hindu Katha and Literature lived over here. Ramayan and Mahabharat epics are related with the people of this state. It is due to that the Aryans were known as well cultured, well behaved with great ideals. In 6th century B.C. 16 Mahajanpadas engaged in a state of serious competition for supremacy. These states (Janapads) and their capitals were as follows : S.N. Mahajanpad 1. Kuru (Meerut, Delhi and Thaneshwar) 2. Panchal (Bareilly, Badaun and Farrukhabad) Capital Indraprastha (near Delhi) Ahichchhatra (near Bareilly) 3. Shursen (around Mathura) Mathura 4. Vats (around Allahabad) Kaushambi 5. Kaushal (Avadh) Saket (Ayodhya) and Shravasti (Sahet Mahet in Gonda district) 6. Malla (near Deoria) Kushinagar (Kasia) and Pawa (Padrauna) 7. Kashi (Varanasi) Varanasi 8. Ang (Bhagalpur) Champa 9. Magadh (South Bihar) Giribraj (Rajgrara, Rajgiri, near Bihar Shariff) 10. Vrajji (District Darbhanga and Muzaffarnagar) Mithila (Nepal border) and Vaishali (Muzaffarpur) 11. Chedi (Bundelkhand) Shuktimati (probably near Banda) 12. Matsya (Jaipur) Virat (near Jaipur) 13. Asmak (Godavari valley) Pandanaya 14. Avanti (Malwa) Ujjaini (Ujjain) 15. Gandhar (North-West region in Pakistan) Taxila (near Rawalpindi) 16. Kamboj Rajapur (place not known)

14 U.G.K. 11 Out of the above 16 states, eight (1 to 7 and serial number 11) were in present Uttar Pradesh and are still in the state. More known among them were Kaushal, Kashi and Vats. Beside these certain republican states were also with in the boundary of Uttar Pradesh e.g., Shakya state of Kapilvastu, Bhagga state of Samsumergiri, the Malla state of Pawapuri and Kushinagar. All the states were perpetually at war with each other. Kaushal annexed Kashi and Avanti grabbed Vats. Later on Kaushal and Avanti, in turn were subjugated one by one by Magadh, which became most powerful in the entire region. Magadh was ruled in succession by Haryank, Shishunag and Nand dynasty. The Nandas ruled from 343 B.C. to 321 B.C. The Nand empire extended through whole of India except Punjab and Bengal. It was during their regime that Alexander invaded India in 326 B.C. Several historians are of the view that due to the powerful Magadh state, Alexander's force could not advance beyond Beas river. With Alexanders retreat, Chandragupta Maurya defeated Nand and became the emperor. During the Magadhan empire the state was under the rule of Chandragupta Maurya and his grand son Ashok. The whole of the Uttar Pradesh enjoyed peace and prosperity during the regime of Chandragupta, his son Bindusar and grandson Ashok. Ashok pillars and engravings on rocks have been found at Sarnath, Meerut, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Kalpi, Sankisa, Basti and Mirzapur which are in Uttar Pradesh. The lion capital inscribed in the Ashoka's pillar at Sarnath has been adopted by the government of India as the state Emblem. Ashoka's empire extended from Hindukush in the North-West to Bengal in the East and from Himalayan in the North to Pennar river in the South. The downfall of the Magadh empire began with the death of Ashok in 232 B.C. His whole empire was divided among his five sons. The Mauryan dynasty ruled over 137 years. According to the Vayu Purana the Mauryan dynasty ruled for 134 years. The last ruler of this dynasty was Vrihdrath, who was assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shung in 185 B.C. Pushyamitra kept Magadhan empire intact. Thus a new dynasty came in power at Madhya Desh. It is known from the rock documents found at Ayodhya that Shung dynasty was a Brahman caste. Pushyamitra made Ashvamedh Yagya at Jagatgram, near today's Dehradun (Uttarakhand). At the end of the 3rd century B.C. the Greek invaders were more active; it is proved in the literature written by Kalidas and Patanjali. It is said that Greek rounded off Madyamika in between Saket (Avadh) and Chittor. The capital of Patliputra was also afraid of their attack. Meanander and his brother mounted a heavy attack in about 182 B.C. These invaders occupied extreme South-West Sagal Kathiawad (Sialkot) and Mathura. During this period the Shung dynasty was replaced by the Kanva dynasty in Magadh. This dynasty continued to rule for 45 years and it was brought to an end in 28 B.C. by Simuk, the founder of the Satvahan or the Andhra dynasty. It was that time that the attention of central Asian rulers was drawn towards India for the first time. Saka had set up their Kshatraps in Mathura. The first Saka King was Mayus who died around 58 B.C. After the Saka the Parthians attacked north India and were defeated by them. Rajubal and Saudas also ruled over this area. The Kushana also mounted an attack around 40 A.D. and ruled upto entire central Asia, including north India. The Kushan dynasty was established by Kadphises Ist. His grandson Kanishka was doubtlessly the greatest among all Kushan rulers. Some scholars are of the view that he started Sak Sambat 78 years A.D. Kanishka fought with the king of Saket. Several inscriptions and coins found in excavations in extensive parts of Uttar Pradesh indicate that this territory was at that time part of the Kushan empire. Mathura was at that time a well known centre of Art. Yhvan-Chwang, the Chinese traveller is of the view that Kanishka made Purushpur or Peshawar his capital and his kingdom was from Gandhar to Avadh and Banaras. Kanishka fought with China and conquered the East Turkistan. It is said that Mathura was his second capital. The regime period of Kanishka and genealogy of Kushan rulers are uncertain. After Kanishka his son Huvishka succeeded to the throne and was followed by his son Vasudev. With the approach of third century A.D., the Kushan sovereignty in Madhya Desh had collapsed and a number of small states once again sprang up. During the Kushan reign Mathura was the centre of trade and culture. The art of sculpture and architecture was

15 12 U.G.K. developed during the regime. After the Kushan, the Naga kings rose to power in Western Uttar Pradesh. From the middle of the second century upto the 4th century the rise of the Gupta ruler is very meteoric. The Panchalas of Ahichchhatra had a powerful kingdom which probably extended upto Mathura. The entire area comprising Kumaon, Garhwal, Kullu, and Simla hills formed the kingdom of Kunindas (Uttarakhand). Kaushambi (Kosam near Allahabad) probably was the independent state. Guptas emerged from Magadh. With the advent of the Guptas in 4th century A.D. Political unity was again restored in India and during two centuries of their rule Madhya Desh (Uttar Pradesh) shared general peace and prosperity with other regions. Chandra Gupta I solidified his state after he had married the daughter of Lichchhiwi dynasty, because powerful Lichchhiwi had control over Bihar and Nepal. Chandra Gupta kingdom was extended upto Allahabad, Avadh and South Bihar. The power of Nagas did not reduce the Ganga-Yamuna valley. During the regime of Chandra Gupta II Fahien, the Chinese traveller was impressed with the glory of the Guptas, the way in which Gupta rule over the Madhya Desh and Kindness of the people of the state. Mathura and Varanasi were at top of glory in Gupta period. Fahien in his travel memories India has described the rich life of the people of Uttar Pradesh. After the decline of Guptas empire the power again decentralized in the state. But this prosperity could not remain long in Uttar Pradesh. In 484 A.D. the White Huns of North West China under the leadership of Torman and Mihirkul destroyed the Iranian empire, attacked Mathura, Kannauj, and Kaushambi and burnt these cities and grandeur of these cities totally vanished. Parwati Gupta, the king of Patliputra could not save these areas. At this time A Morwatti Inshan Burman emperor started battle against Huns, after defeating him, the Huns were removed from India. At this time Kannauj was again made the capital of Madhya Desh. For some time the Mokherians of Kannauj ruled over the major part of Madhya Desh, later on Harshvardhan, the king of Thaneshwar ruled over here. Thus, the dynasty of Thaneshwar and Kannauj joined hands and Kannauj became the major city of north India. It was the desire of every state to rule Kannauj. The Chinese traveller, Yhan-chwang visited the country at the time of Harsha and praised his reign. During the 8th century (After the death of Harsha) Yashovarman established sway over Kannauj. In alliance with Lalitaditya Muktapith of Kashmir, he defended India from Arab's attack. During that time there was a fear among the neighbouring states due to Arabs strength, by which they ruled from China Turkistan to Carboda city of Spain. But they could not stay in India due to Kannauj. Later on Muktapith and Yashovarman could not stay in alliance. The successor of Yashovarman could not face the joint attack of Pal Naresh of Bengal and Rashtrakuts Samrat of Maharashtra, which resulted in the fall of Kannauj. Due to the later Avadh rulers, Kannauj became a bone of contention between Palas of Bengal, Rashtrakuts of South and Gurjar Pratihar of Western India but ultimately the Gurjars Pratihar were successful they held sway over North India during the whole of the 9th and 10th centuries. They were vanquished by Mahmud of Ghazni in A.D. The Chandel ruler of Jeijak Bhukti or the present Bundelkhand successfully met the onslaught of Mahmud of Ghazni thanks to their fortress at Kalinger. Gurjar Pratihar emperors were very brave. They were patrons and protectors of Art, Literature and Culture. Mihir Bhoj, Mahipal and Mahendrapal were famous kings, they ruled over Multan and Saurashtra in West, Bihar in the East and Vindhyachal mountain in the South. After the decline of Pratihars, the anarchy once again gripped Madhya Desh. Two new dynasties one in south and the other in Eastern Uttar Pradesh emerged. One of them was Chandelas of Mahoba, who ruled over 400 years. The famous temples of Khajurao were built during the regime of these Chandels. The other dynasty was Gaharwar. During their regime again peace and order were established in this region. Govindchand ( ) and Jaichand ( ) were the two prominent Gaharwar rulers. Due to the short-sightedness of Jaichand, Chauhan King Prithviraj had to face defeat at the hands of Mohammad Gori at the battle of Tarain in 1192 A.D. and he himself was defeated and slain at Chhandwar in Etawah next year. Slowly the Madhya Desh reached under the control of

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