Shahjahanpur - History

History

Shahjahanpur City was established by Shri Diler Khan and Shri Bahadur Khan, sons of Shri Dariya Khan, a soldier in the army of Mugal Emperor Jahangeer. Both Shri Diler Khan and Shri Bahadur Khan were dignitaries in the regime of Shahjahan. Pleased with the services of Shri Dilerkhan, Shahjahan gifted 14 villages with the permission to construct fortresses. Dilerkhan developed a fort in the village of Nainar Khera, situated on the rivers Garrah and Khannaut. He also established 52 types of Pathan's Caste. Today, most of the mohallas are included in the name of these castes.

Like Shahjahanpur City, Tilhar was developed by Rajput - Tirlok Chandra. This is the oldest town of the district. Due to a supply of bows to the Military, this town was called as Teer Kaman Nagar. Shri Mangal Khan, a nazim of Hafiz Rehmat Ali Khan Nawab Rohil, established a fort in the village of Mansurper, near Tilhar. He and his family members possessed it until the first freedom struggle of 1857. Later, the British Government occupied it and converted it to a police station.

Shahjahanpur District is situated in the southeast of Rohilkhand Division, and is an agriculture-based district of Uttar Pradesh established in 1813. Before its creation it was a part of Bareilly district. Geographically, it is situated at 27.35 N latitude and 79.37 E longitude. Adjoining districts of Shahjahanpur are Lakhimpur Khiri, Hardoi, Farrukhabad, Bareilly, Buduan, and Pilibhit. Its geographical area is 4575 metres 2.

The Ramganga, the Garrah and the Gomti are the main rivers of the district. The Kathana, the Jhukma the Mensi Rivers flow into the Gomti. The Khannaut, the Suketa and the Kai Rivers feed the Garrah. Major crops of the district are wheat, gram, millet, and potatoes. Freedom Fighters

There are two mazars which connect Shahjahanpur City. One majar is of Shahid Ahmad Ullah Shah, a great freedom fighter of the 1857 struggle, and another is Shahid Ashfaqallah Khan (Kakori Kand). Maulvi Ahamad Ullah Shah began his struggle in Faizabad (U.P.). From there, he went to Shahjahanpur, where his life ended. Seventy years later, Ashfaqullah initiated a struggle against the British government and was hanged in the prison of Faizabad.

Shahjahanpur made a contribution to the freedom movement of 1857. Nana Sahib Peshwa, Shehjade, from Delhi, Ahmad Ullah Shah, from Faizabad, and Khan Badahur Khan from Bareilly united here and planned for further actions in the struggle. Unfortunately, Maulvi Ahamad Ullah Shah was killed by British forces in Powayan.

Freedom fighters Maulvi Ahamad Ullah Shah, Nazim Ali and Bakshi were unsuccessful in their efforts, but later Shahid Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfiqullah Khan, and Roshan Singhmade major contributions to the Freedom Movement. The Mitravedi Sangh Society was created under the leadership of Shri Gendalal Dixit. Its purpose was to raise funds for the struggle, but because of a lack of funds, members of the society turned to robbery.

After Mahatama Gandhi withdrew his support from the movement, Ramprasad Bismil founded the Hindustan Association under the leadership of Shri Yogesh Chatterjee. To implement the plan, and contributions were sought. Once again, when contributions were not adequate, robbery became the main fund-raising technique.

On 1925 August 9, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, and Lahri conducted a robbery of government funds near the Kakori railway station. On 1925 December 26, 40 persons were arrested in this case. Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Roshan Singh, Premkishan Khanna, Banvari Lal, Hargovind, Indra Bhusan, Jagdish and Banarasi were from Shahjahanpur. A British court decided the case on 1927 December 19. Shri Ramprasad Bismil was hanged in the Gorakhpur prison, Shri Ashfaqullah Khan was hanged in the Faizabad prison, and Shri Roshan Singh was hanged in the Malaka (Allahabad) prison.