Geographical Points.

Hamirpur The gateway of bundelkhand have a unique divercity in its geographical point of view.

Location: Hamirpur District is located at southward in Uttar Pradesh under chitrakoot Mandal. It is a Plateau of middle India situated between Mahoba and Yamuna River. This Southern Part of Yamuna River is called the gateway of Bundelkhand. The district lies between 25°57′N 80°09′E / 25.95°N 80.15°E. District. Hamirpur is bounded by districts Jalaun , Kanpur and Fatehpur in north, Banda in east, Mahoba in south and Districts of Jhansi and Jalaun on the West. The Width from north to south is 45 km and the length of east to west is 70 Km.

Its geographical area is 4223.09 Square Km with the population 1042374 according to 2001 census in which rural population is 869916 (83.46%) and urban population is 172458 (16.54%).

From the Administrative point of view the district divided into three Tahsheels-Hamirpur, Maudaha and Rath. Rath Tahsheel is the The biggest In the district with the area 1608.12 square Km, Maudaha Tahsheel is 1546.16 Square Km and Hamirpur Tahsheel is 1064.25 squire Km.

Structure: Land structure is very important factor while studying any tract of land becouse surface height, soil structure and water flow is affected  directly or indirectly to the invironment and human life.

Major part of the district is plain and deposited soil of river yamuna. District structure is classified into two parts First is ancient deposit and Second is new deposit.

The servey of soil structure near betwa and yamuna Valley tells us that there is variety in olden rocks found in the district. the little part of the soil is derived from the rocks. Granites is abudant insteed of magnesium in the soil. Quartz and Nice these two types of rocks abounds with the granites and magnesium. Granites and Nice are used as a "Gitti"(loose rock). This is available in some part of Rath. according to’ Jhingaran’ (1967)these roks are aprox 1300 milion years old and  are from the past Arawali Mountain times.

Much of the part is formed by the new deposit. The alluvial of Yamuna river is very firtile which contributes in the development of agriculture.  Several rivers shed brings large quantities of red sand and clay. This sand is our financial backbone.

The slope of the district is towards north-west. South tahshil maudaha is 119.7 m above sea level while rath is 157.8 m. district is devided in four pats as per its height.

1.The plain of Betwa and Dhasan : 27% area covered, Loam soil, high population and produce      all   types of grain. Canals are the source of irrigation.

2.The plain of East: 20.39% area covered, better productivity, Railways and roadways is the  lifeline.

3.Plain of Yamuna and Betwa:Also called Trans Yamuna pain, 14.51% covered,

4.Narrow Valley region:4.67% covered, region lies Uncultivated,

Seismicity: No earthquake has been observed in the district during last 200 years. The district has, however experienced on a few occasions earthquakes originating in the Himalayan boundary fault zone. Moradabad fault and Narmada Tapti fault zones.But befor some days on 25 April 2015 at 11:40 AM. people of Hamirpur observed Earthqueack centered at Kathmandu, Nepal.

Climate: The Climate of the district is characterized by an intensely hot summer, a pleasant cold season . The summer season from March to about middle of June is followed by the south-west monsoon season from mid-June to the end of September. October and first half of November constitute the post-monsoon period. The cold season is from mid-November to February.

Temperature: May and the beginning of June are generally the hottest period of the year and maximum temperature in May is about 43°C and minimum about 28°C. The heat during the summer is intense. The maximum temperature on individual days sometimes reaches 45°C or more. During Cold season minimum temperature sometimes drops down to about 2 or 3°C.

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Transportation

This post is nothing but an article on  transport network of Hamirpur. It explains  the way-routes and the available transport facility. Let's read forward.

Regular bus services and train are available For Banda and Mahoba which connect many villages.

All other villages with pucca road access are generally serviced by a variety of dangerously overcrowded and poorly maintained small vehicles, including `six-seater’ E-rickshaws, tanga and jeeps. Usually, the number of passengers carried is two to three times the seating capacity. Horse-drawn carts is also continue to be used.

National Highway no 86 : This is also called Kanpur-Hamirpur-Sagar road. Hamirpur, Kundaura, Bharwa, Ingohta, Maudaha and Khanna are situated across the highway.

List of route Connecting Hamirpur and

other villages.

Sumerpur to Banda : Pandhari, Para, Tedha and sikahula.
Hamirpur to Rath: Pauthiya chhani, Niwada, Binwar, Chilli, Muskara and Bihuni.
Hamirpur to kalpi: Jhalokhar, Kurara, sarsai.
Maudaha to Banda: Sijnaudi, Urdana, Ghatkana, 
Engohta to chhani: Vidokhar, Mawai and Lalla.
Maudaha to Rath: Ragaul, Kunehta, Baswari and Muskra.
Bharkhari to Binwar: Kharela, Gahrauli and Umri.
Panwadi to Harpalpur: Through Rath.
Rath to Mangrauth: Through Gohand.
Sumerpur to Sisolar: Pandhari, Bhauniya, Pachkhura, Badanpur, Mihuna, Minders and Tola.
Binwar to Jalalpur: Through Bandhur.
Sumerpur to Patyora: via Deogaon.
Muskara to Jalapur: Bilgaon and Down I.
Mahoba to Chilli: Bamharauli, Paths and Samgaon.
Kundaura to Pauthiya: via Mahmoodpur.

Hamirpur is well connected to the outside world. No railway station is at Hamirpur Town. The nearest railway station is Hamirpur Road which is around 5–6 km from the district headquarter and itself falls on Kanpur district. 

Demand for the railway station has been raised several times but of no use. Other nearer Railway station is Bharuwa Sumerpur which is 15 km from Hamirpur. Other railway stations are Ragaul and Khandeh.

Recently in the railway budget 2010, the minister of railways Mamta Benarji has announce survey of Hamirpur Road (Baripal)-Hamirpur line which is a good step for better connectivity of Hamirpur with Kanpur provided the poor road condition on NH-86. The new line will boost the travel to other places like Raipur, Durg etc.

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Historical Background of Hamirpur

Kalchuri Rajput Hammir Dev had established this tract hamirpur in the 11th century. At that time it was the chief district of Jhansi board. According to the Central Statistical records this district was covered area of 7192 square kilometers including Mahoba. At that time it took 11th position in the state. 

The remains of Lahcura and Nakra village connected it with Stone Ages. Arya who settled here first which are later called Chedi revealed its mythological importance.

This area is shortly noted in Mahabharata period. Rath of this district was Virat Nagar of that period where Keechaka was killed by Bhima. Remains of Dnu Mamu pond confirmed this fact. The history of this district was drowned in darkness after a long period of Mahabharata.

 Chanderi was the famous capital of Chandelas. At the same time, King Shishupal Chedi who was contemporary to lord Krishna was king here. , their descendant called Chedi and Kalchuri subsequently.

The district was also remains under the king Sagar of Ayodhya. After that this tract was ruled by Chedi king Shubahu.

 In 4th BC this region was ruled by a Magadh king 'Mahapad Nandan' . After Nandwans it united with Maurya Kingdom.

The district was also remains under the king Sagar of Ayodhya. After that this tract was ruled by Chedi king Shubahu.

The antic coins found in Pachkhura near Bharwa Sumerpur prove that this region was also ruled by Shung Wans.  After that it becomes the part of Kanisk Empire. 

There is no any information about the history of the district  for a long time after Kanishka power

District's traditions shows that this district in the supremacy of the emperor Harsha Vardhan. After the death of Harsha rulers of Gaharwar captured the region of Bundelkhand. After that in the 19th century Bundela was originated.

In the 1831 Chandra Varman (Nannuk Dev) made his capital to Mahoba and named the city "Mahotsaw Nagar". Wakypati, Yashovarman and Dhang are the notable Chandela ruler. From 1165 to 1203, the last Chandela ruler was Parmardi Dev or Parmal. it was such time  when the combatants Alha and Udal was well known. This region was also followed under the power of Qutub-ud-Din Ebak for 20 years. After that on 17th century it was under the influence of Mughal power.

In the reign of Akbar the complete provinces of Vindhya had Divided into two parts, first was Allahabad which cosist of Maudaha, Kharela, Mahoba and Kalinjar while Kalpi Khrela Khandut and Rath comes into the another diocese. 

In 1960, this territory came under the affluence of Shiromani Maharaja Chatrashal. From 1772 to 1790 their descendant maintained independent power in to Charkhari. Nana Govinda Rao and Himmat Bahadur made a treaty with the British in 1804 and after then Bruisers became all in all in Bundelkhand and thus hamirpur come under the British rule. It was made a single territory made Banda its headquarters.

In 1812 the subdivision Jaitpur was separated from this district and given to King Keshari Singh. In 1805, conch district which had been taken from Jaswant Rao Holkar in 1817, the territory was incorporated by Khandeh.which have 43 village. in 1819, this region was further divided into two districts. Hamirpur and the area spreaded west, including the Cane River was called northern Bundelkhand or Kalpi. And eastern part of the Ken was called Banda. First the district headquarters was Kalpi but in 1821 Hamirpur became headquarter of the tract.

In 1853, Jaitpur and Mahoba were submerged with Hamirpur which was the part of Jalaun. Konch and Kalpi were moved to district Jalaun. Hamirpur in 1858 was linked to the newly formed Board of Jhansi.But   again in 1863, it was added to the board of Allahabad Division in 1911, and Hamirpur once again linked with Jhansi Board .Currently Mahoba Charkhari and Kulphadh has been separated from the Hamirpur district.

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Sati Shrines

Satī the feminine of satya which means "true" was a religious funeral practice among some Indian communities in which a recently widowed woman would have immolated herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.The term is derived from the original name of the goddess Sati, also known as Dakshayani, who self-immolated because she was unable to bear her father Daksha's humiliation of her (living) husband Shiva.The practice had been banned several times, with the current ban dating to 1829 by the British.

Sati shrine

The term may also be used to refer to the widow herself. The term sati is now sometimes interpreted as "chaste woman."Numerous sati stones (or shrines) are found across Bundelkhand which are worshipped even today; 'sati maiya' is believed to grant wishes and protect husbands.
There are also numerous villages with names derived from 'sati': Satpara, Sataurha, Satrayee, Sataree, Satuniya, Satipura, Satariya

Case-Tola Khangaran is a village westward from Rath Near the bank of Dhasan River.here live is the majority of Bubdelknd's famous historical descendant of bravo Khangaar of Gdhkundar. Thats why the name of this place is Tola Khangaran. Here lived a kayastha named Lala Parm. who has only one married son. Lala's son became ill and died. ultimately, His wife expressed her the desire  to her father-in-law to be sati with her husband. She has prepared herself for that. She done her full makeup, wearing new clothes, put vermilion on the forehead. Eyes Mascara, color on legs, basil and coconut in her hand  sat on the mare. and walked with the dead body of her husband. Sati news flashed like lightning in the neighboring village of Tola Khangran . Many men and women of the other Village came by the bullock carts and gathered to see the sati  of carts Sati family appeared . The funeral location became like a fair. Sati funeral pyre was decorated. Sati accedes with husband. Sati kept her husband's head on her thigh. people set fire on pier and soon Sati  was dedicated to fire.After this Collector of Hamirpur Mr. Sridhar Nehru arrested many man and women and applied anti-sati law Section 302.and put them in jail. 

Other phenomina of Sati around Hamirpur are :

In 1979 an Aahirwar woman from Tathera village in Mahoba district reportedly committed sati.
In 1984 An Sati is known in Jari village of Banda district.
In 1994 Pawan Devi tried to commit sati in Chodhry Mohalla in Banda.  She was rescued by the police after she jumped onto her husband's funeral pyre.
In 1999, Charan in Satpura village of Mahoba district is said to have committed sati.
In 2002 Kattubayee from the Nayee community committed sati in Patna Tamoli, Panna district. The district has five recently built sati temples.
In 2005 Ramkumari, a Brahmin woman from Banudarhi village in Banda district, reportedly committed sati. However, the administration said it was a case of suicide.

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Culture

 Years ago, a rich and diverse tradition of diffident caste and creed and there song and dance mixed in the Hamirpur region. Several local cultures are exist in this Hindu religious tradition which is now called Buneli.

Folk Dances, Folk Songs, Folk Arts, Musical Instruments  and many Festivals and celebrations are the major dimensions of Bundeli Culture. These impart the opportunity to the Hamirpurites to spread  their Quality across the world.

The Language of this tract of land is called Bundli or Bundelkhandi which consists a lot of sub dialects. which varies from village by village .

"Tola khangaran" this word memorize the the practice of Sati Pratha which is famous in indian History was active in Hamirpur and its near by.

Since its culture  is not much famous due to the lack of correct information. Thats why very few young artists are attracted towards Hamirpur Culture and trends.

Becouse of  livelihood pressures, large scale migration, farmers deaths and spread of the Dj, TV , Hamirpur's culture is dying rapidly.

Since the 1990s, there has been an explosion of a new kind of Bundelkhandi 'folk' music. Sung to the accompaniment of modern instruments like synthesizers, and often with sexually suggestive lyrics in Bundeli, the music is sold  in street and is  played at ear-splitting volume in public transport  buses, rickshaws and street shops.

Sincer thanks to Sri Ayodhya Prashad Gupta, "Kumud ", Orai.

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Status Of Women

Women have always been an integral part of human civilization. The position of women in Indian villages has seen many significant changes from the ancient period to the contemporary period. Historical incidents of sati are also celebrated in folklore. in which The women were forcefully burnt with their dead husbands and made Sati. they were given in marriage at an early age of only 4-5 years and the young widows were also not allowed to remarry.

However such examples don’t have any relation to the actual status of women. Hamirpur is not a developed city. So like other rural parts of the country, one may found women cooking, working in fields, grazing cattle, collecting dung, bringing water, collecting firewood and doing manual labor at construction sites yet their contribution is unrealized.

Currently, Womens are doing heavy manual labor in compression to the man yet they receive lower daily wages. This phenomenon is happening in the entire Hamirpur region.

Domestic violence is common in Hamirpur. Female partner is more commonly the victim of domestic violence. They have to face abusive or violent behavior of other family members. Due to the poor education they are unable to report it to the authorities. Women from SC groups are also vulnerable to sexual harassment exercised by upper caste men. There is no strong women’s rights movement, although many small, localized efforts exist

There is no data on how many such cases take place in Hamirpur - and we have no way of knowing how many such cases go unreported - but some indication can be got from state-wise figures.

Also, widows and women rejected by husbands are ill-treated by the society. It was noted in female group discussions that except for a few very old widows, many of the women chose to live with another male, often their brother-in-law ('jeth').

There were also instances of women moving away with the new men in their lives, leaving their children to be looked after by aged parents.

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Religious Groups

The population is overwhelmingly Hindu. The percentage of Hindu population in  Hamirpur is much higher than the percentage of its surroundings. The Muslim population of Hamirpur District lies mostly in Kurara, Rath, Maudaha and Muskara.

Coexisting with mainstream Hinduism have diversity of religious beliefs and practices  so they impart a powerful influence of Folk culture.which makes this region unique among numerous other traditions .

A sizable Muslim population is found in Hamirpur only in a few villages of  Hamirpur.see table in Religious Groups in Hamirpur).According to Census 2001 figures, the maximum Muslim population in Hamirpur districtswas 83000.The muslim population shows the glory of  Muslim rulers in pre-British-rule times, and Urdu continues to be used and taught there.

Pathans, Qureshis, Siddiquis, Sayids, Ghoris and Muslim Rajputs are the categories of Sunni Muslim.There are also several Muslim occupational groups like Behnas, Julahas, Kunjras and Qassabs.

Hamirpur has several important places of Hindu pilgrimage that attract people of the religion from all over the country. The majority of the Jains belong to the Digambar sect and are traders or moneylenders.

  

In the some Rath region of District, there is a church establishment dating from the 1930s, and there are a few Christian families., who live separately and have a distinctive lifestyle.

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Hamirpur Folk Songs

Folk songs of the district is simply diffirent and deep rooted. Mostly thease songs are sung in some occation such as marriage, festivals, while grinding and during harvesting.

"Bhari dupahri sawan Gaiye, sorath gaiye adhi raat. Alha saira wa din Gaiye, ja din jhadi lage din raat."
 Some of popular folk songs are.

1. Faag : Faag song is a rhythmic music famous and it could be heard in the entire Hamirpur region during spring season when the crops are ready for harvesting. In this time people enjoys the festivals of color called Holi.

Faag songs  is being sung by a group of people with 'Dhol', Majeera and Harmonium. Faag express the mystical attachment between male and female.

A thousand of Phag songs was composed by a folk poet Isuri (born 1881, in Mauranipur, Jhansi).

2. Alha : Alha or Saira is a monsoon song which sung When farmers are free from their agricultural works during heavy monsoon. Alha is composed in bundeli language.

"Barah baris lai kookar jiye, Au terah lau jiye Siyar.Baris atharah chhatriy jeeye, Age jeewan ko dhikkar."

Alha recital makes our emotions awake through the description of heroic deeds of  Alha and Udal, who fought on the side of the Chandelas in the war against Prithiviraj Chauhan. The Alha’s lyrics has been continuously enriched by different authors at different times. Interested people can visit Para village in Teeja Mahotsaw.

 3. Dadre and Gari : This is the main folk lore of Bundelkhand. As a ‘Gari’ they show the happiness and joy to express their feeling for the blissful movement when the auspicious marriage is taking place. They evoke the feelings in the heart of bride and groom with love and romance. ‘Dadre’ is sung by a group of ladies to bless the newly wed couple. For example.

"Thakura tori jat ganwar nanad bai dware na bithaio beimanan ka..pahli chal jab mai aai mori sakhi pahli chal jab mai aai. Wo to nirkhat kajra hamar nanad bai dware na bithaio beimanan ka...."

4. Lamtera :Lamtera songs sung in honour of Ganesh and Shakti. It songs are sung by Bundeli pilgrims during devotional festivals of whole district in the month of January, February and March after rabi crop in winter blossoms. Farmers after seeing their crops flowering, their hearts and minds also bloom like a flower. To show their gratitude to the God, the devotees offer the flowers of their emotions to the lotus feet of the God. They realize that the whole year passed in day to day life, and with the feeling of spring season they want to get blessed by going to the pilgrimage places, temples and to take the holy bath in the rivers.

5. Khyal :  a competitive form of singing performed by two groups of singers In ‘Khyal Gayaki’, a singer recites mythical stories, heroic deeds, the social events and the deep family relations. In this expression of songs, a very special drum ‘Dhapli’ gives very special beats which harmonize emotions,

6. Kaharwa : In the expression of folk lore Kaharwa, the sentiments of heart culminate into the romantic expression. This song is always sung by a drummer who follows the dancer of Raai, which is why this dance is also known as Raai-Kaharwa.

7. Sohar : This is sung on the occasion of the birth of a child.

8.Achri : This is  a folk song form performed in honour of mother goddesses especially during Navratri. People used to sing this song in groups with dholak and majera.For example read this attractive song.

"Lal Langoti Hanth me Soti Chal Bhai Gange Hana Ho Maya..Chal Bhai Gange Hana Ho Maa....."

9.Tambura Bhajans : These are songs usually sung to Kabir's lyrics, celebrating a nirguni (formless) godhead.

10.Diwari Songs: This is sung during deepawali and Maun pooja.

11. Dj Songs: "Dj Jagat raj" and "Dj vicky" is well known word in local Dj mixing. In this bollywood songs are mixed with high brass and sound.

"Teri ankha ka yo kajal mane kare se gori ghayal, mai shahad shahad....." 

Some attempts have been made to compose and popularise new folk songs in and around hamirpur.

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