Behat - History

History

Archaeological excavations and surveys have provided evidences of the existence of many ancient settlements over the ages in and around Behat. On the basis of artifacts discovered during these excavations, human habitation can be traced as far back as 2000 BC in and around this area. Behat was probably known as Brihat-vat during the reign of the Nanda Dynasty (c. 500 BC). Indeed it is a place of considerable antiquity.

An Ashokan Pillar excavated from Topari (Khiderabād), near Saharanpur, was taken to Delhi by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq, and it is still in Feroze Shah Kotla. Mayapur (Haridwar) and Behat were well-known cities at the time of Mauryan Dynasty (c. 180 BC). Behat was next to Mayapur (Haridwar) in importance, because it was an important Buddhist center.

Xuanzang traveling in search of Sacred Buddhist Texts and Scriptures, had traveled through Behat and had come across important Buddhist Monasteries in Behat (c. 630 AD).

During the reign of Bahlul Khan Lodi (1451–1489), a Muslim colony was founded at Behat by Shah Abdullah, who was a descendent of the Saint Sheikh Baha-ud-din Zakariya Suhrawardi. Western part of Behat along the Naugaon Rau is named after him as Abdullah Mazra.

Behat remained headquarters of a Paragana, during the times of Akbar, and was known as Behat Kanjawar.

Around 1710 AD, Behat was Jagir, of Pirzadas. The place was famous for cow slaughtering, and Pirzadas didn't treat anyone fairly, except the Muslims of the Jagir. Around this time the Sikh Army of Banda Bahadur Singh, attacked Behat, and reportedly killed all the family members of Pirzadas, except one who was away at Bulandshahar, at the time of this incident. The Sikh Army, later plundered the area, and sat it on fire.

In 1834, Captain Proby Thomas Cautley, while leading the redesigning of the Eastern Yamuna Canal (which at that time was known as Doab Canal, discovered a buried town 5.18 m (17 ft) below the surrounding country and 7.62 m (25 ft) below that of existing site. That township belonged to the Pre Indo-Scythian times as established from the archaeological evidences found here. Captain Cautley also found a large number of Indo Scythian coins and other evidences about the existence of a large Buddhist Settlement at this place.

After the Mutiny of 1857, a Police Station was established at Behat. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the town had a Post Office and an Upper Primary School as well. Also until towards the end of 19th Century, an Annual Fair used to be held in honor of Shah Abdullah, chiefly organized by the local Pirzadas who then fell to difficult times due to their excesses and extravagance.

After the British left India in 1947, Government has largely chosen to ignore this area, and as a result Behat has made little progress in last 70 years or so. It looks more like a big village than a town.