Hamirpur Uttar Pradesh

Note - Please click → Hamirpur for details of similarly named villages at other places.

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Hamirpur-district-map, UP

Hamirpur (हमीरपुर) is a city and district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

Location

Hamirpur is located at 25.95°N 80.15°E. It has an average elevation of 80 metres (262 feet).

Variants

Hamirpur हमीरपुर, उ.प्र., (AS, p.1007)

History

Ancient history: The early history of the region covered by the present district of Hamirpur may be traced back to the Palaeolithic age as evidenced by the discovery of choppers, hand axes and pebble cores. According to the Pauranic tradition the earliest known Aryan people who settled in this region, lying between the Yamuna and the Vindhyas, were known as Chedis. The Chedi kingdom was known as one of the 16 most important kingdom of that period in Mahabharata. The Mahabharata describes the Chedis as being blessed with knowledge of the eternal law of righteousness. King Shishupal, ruled this kingdom and killed by Krishna.

This region was ruled by Mauryas and Shungas. The district came under the domination of Kanishka (78–120). After him the history of the district is shrouded in obscurity till about the middle of the third century. when Vindhyasakti (255–275) rose to power who was founder of the Vakataka dynasty. It seems that the district partly came under the Vakataka sway and partly under the Bharshivas (भारशिव), a branch of ancient Nagavanshi kshatriyas, whose sphere of influence extended at that time from Gwalior and Mathura in the West to probably Varanasi and Mirzapur in the east Gupta dynasty also ruled this region from the middle of the 4th century and continued till the beginning of the 6th century.

The country ruled by the Chandels from the beginning of the 9th century, wa. coincides with modern Bundelkhand comprising this district. During the rule of Bundela Rajput (between the 12th century and 19th century), the area including other parts of Bundelkhand. Famous history author Hiralal also suggested that Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh derives its name from Hammiravarman the Chandela ruler.

However, by another theory in the eleventh century the town of Hamirpur, which gave its name of the district, was founded by one Hamira Deva, a Kalachuri Rajput, who came there from Alwar and took shelter with one Badna, an Ahir. Hamira later on drove out Badna and built a fort here.

Bunda's name still survives in the neighbouring village of Budanpur, where remains of an ancient Khera are found. Having no male issue, Hamira Deva adopted his daughter's son Ram Singh, who married with the daughter of a Rajput of Amlar in Banda district. He was offered, in marriage, the eastern portion of pargana Maudaha as dowry. The remains of the fort built by Hamira Deva are still found in Hamirpur.

Medieval period: For some period this region was ruled by the Khangars and Bundelas. During Akbar's reign (1556–1605), the district of Hamirpur was divided between two suba. The parganas of Mahoba, Mulkira, Maudaha and Sumerpur and considerable portion of other territory were comprised in the three mahals (revenue paying pargana) of Maudaha, Khandela and Mahoba within the sirkar of Kalinjar and subah of Allahabad.

The remainder of the district was distributed over the mahals of Rath., Khandaut, Kharela and Hamirpur and belonged to the sirkar of Kalpi in the subah of Agra. Even its submission to the Mughal authority some part of this district seem to have remained under the Bundelas. During Aurangzeb’s reign, Chhatra Sal, a principal leader of the Bundelas commenced operations against Aurangzeb in 1671 and expended his power over the whole of the country east of the Dhasan river, completing his conquest with the capture of the celebrated fortress of Kalinjer on about 1680. His forces overran the tract now comprising the present district Hamirpur.

Modern period: In 1721, Muhammad Khan Bangash, famous as Nawab Farrukhabad, was appointed governor of Allahabad. Fighting engagements with the entrenched Bundelas, it was not until the end of 1728 that the whole Hamirpur district had come into the Nawab’s possession. It was brought to complete order in March 1729 when the sudden advent of the Marathas, Peshwa Baji Rao, into the region turned Muhammand Khan’s course of victory into defeat.

Raja Chhatra Sal, restored to his possessions, by Maratha aid and realizing that without their assistance and protection his power would be lost as it had been acquired, decided to make the Marathas interested in its preservation. Shortly before his death, he drew up a will, by which he bequeathed one-third of his dominions to the Peshwa Baji Rao, on the condition that his heirs and successors should be maintained by the Marathas in possession of the rest. The one-third of his dominions, Jaitpur Raj, which comprised most of the district was given to his second son, Jagat Raj.

Most of the tract covered by the present district was ceded to the East India Company by the treaty of Bassein on 31 December 1802. The captured of Kalpi by the British the same year effectually confirmed the British occupation of Bundelkhad. Hamirpur was then included in the newly formed district of Bundelkhand and remained a part of it till March, 1819, when two district were formed. One including Hamirpur to the north was called Northern Bundelkhand or Kalpi, and that to the south Banda. In 1821, the headquarters of the former from Kalpi shifted to Hamirpur. In 1823, Hamirpur was formed as independent district. The later history of the district up to 1857 is chiefly concerned with the difficulties of fiscal administration.

The 20th century began with the growth of nationalism in the whole of India and Hamirpur was no exception. The youth of the district were restless. During the anti-partition agitation of 1905, the district did not lag behind in holding public meetings, organizing strikes and protests.

Places of interest

• Kabaraiya
• Kalpavriksha: the 5000 years old kalpavriksha tree,
• Yamuna River:
• Betwa River:
• Sangameshwar: is 9 km from the town where the Betwa River meets the Yamuna river. At Sangam is a railway bridge made in the British period, during Kartik Purnima devotees go there to take a dip at the Sangam.
• Durgamata Temple (Maheswarimata Temple) Situated Bank of The Betwa River at village Bhendi Danda. It is a very popular temple.

हमीरपुर

हमीरपुर, उ.प्र., (AS, p.1007): इस नगर को राजा हमीरदेव ने बसाया था. इनका किला खंडहर के रूप में आज भी है.