Fatehpur district

Fatehpur district is named after its headquarters, the town Fatehpur. According to local legends, the name is derived from a battle won by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur over Raja Sita Nand of Athgarhia. The name of the conqueror is sometimes given as Jalal-ud-din, the ruler of Bengal. According to another tradition, the name originates from Fateh-mand Khan who supposedly founded the town. This tradition is based on a fragmentary inscription found at Denda Sai in Tehsil Khaga, which mentions that an officer of Sultan Ala-ud-din named Fatehmand Khan obtained a Farman from Fateh-mand Khan in 1519 A.D. However, there was no known king by the name Ala-ud-din at the time, meaning the title of the Sultan must be wrong for the date to be correct. Also, Denda Sai is about 48 kilometres (30 mi) from Fatehpur.[2]

Grand Trunk Road passes through the district; it is one of Asia's major trading routes which back at least 2500 years. Fatehpur was mentioned in the Puranic literature. Bhitaura, the site of the sage Bhrigu, was historically an important source of learning.

In the 18th century, Fatehpur district was part of the subah of Korah and was under the rule of the Wazir of Awadh. In 1736, the district was captured by the Marathas, who retained possession of it until 1750 when they were ousted by the Pathans of Fatehpur. In 1753, the district was reconquered by the Nawab of Awadh. A 1764 treaty between the British East India Company and the Nawab turned Korah over to the Emperor in Delhi. The Emperor retained it until 1774 when it was restored to the Nawab Wazir. In an 1801 treaty, the Nawab reconveyed it to the East India Company in return for the defense of his country.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the district rebelled against the rule of the East India Company in June. However, order was reestablished after the Siege of Lucknow.[3]

Fatehpur district is a part of Prayagraj division. It is situated between two important cities, Prayagraj and Kanpur of the state of Uttar Pradesh, being 117 kilometres (73 mi) from Prayagraj and 76 kilometres (47 mi) from Kanpur. The state capital Lucknow is 137 kilometres (85 mi) away. The north boundary of the district is the river Ganges and its southern boundary is the river Yamuna. The district covers an area of 4,152 square kilometres (1,603 sq mi).

According to the 2011 Census of India, Fatehpur district has a population of 2,632,733.[5] It ranks of 154th in India (out of a total of 640).[5] The district has a population density of 634 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,640/sq mi).[5] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001 to 2011 was 14.05%.[5] Fatehpur has a sex ratio of 901 females for every 1000 males.[5] Its literacy rate is 67.43%. Scheduled castes represent 24.75% of the population.[5]

At the time of the 2011 Census, 97.48% of the population in the district spoke Hindi and 2.49% spoke Urdu as their first language.[6] The local dialect is Awadhi. This district's main religion is Hinduism, including 86.4% of the population, followed by Islam, which includes 13.32 % of the population.

The district is divided into three sub-districts (tehsils): Fatehpur, Bindki, and Khaga.

These sub-districts are further divided into thirteen development blocks:

Fatehpur district includes several towns which are culturally significant.

Ghazipur is an ancient town that was visited by the Chinese monk Huan Tsuang in the mid-600s. It includes numerous historic structures and sites including Paina Quila (fort), Ghazipur Quila (fort; now a police station), Dargah (tomb), Tuglaki Masjid (mosque), and Murchaura (battlefield). It also includes the Subhas Market and Purani Bazaar

Korari is archaeologically important. It has two brick temples with intricate carvings on the outer faces; each panel has a different design. One temple is tilted in its axis about four degrees.

Bhitaura is situated on the bank of the Ganges where the river flows to the north; this is significant to the Hindu religion. This site is also where Saint Bhrigu was worshipped, giving it the name Bhrigu Thaura. The ghats of Bhitaura and Asani were described as sacred in the puranas.

Dhata is famous for its statue of Ravana and the Temple of Dadua in Kabraha. Dhata is located at the end of Fatehpur district and consists of twelve Purvas.

• Sohan Lal Dwivedi, a poet born in the Khutila-sijouli village of Bindki sub-division
• Niaz Fatehpuri, Urdu writer and poet
• Ranvendra Pratap Singh, State Minister of Agriculture, Government of Uttar Pradesh
• V. P. Singh, the 7th prime minister of India
• Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi, an independence activist

• Fatehpur district official website
• Site dedicated to Bundelkhand Kesri, who had family ties to Fatehpur