The city serves as a gateway to the patients of the Kumaun, Rohilkhand and West Nepal region. In the vedic period Bareilly was famous for Ayurvedic treatment. The practitioners of that period promoted the cultivation of Aonla, popularly known as Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica, syn. Emblica officinalis) at the outskirts of Bareilly, leading the entire area to be named Aonla. One Ayurvedic practitioner of Bareilly was Late Shri Vaidya Narottam Tripathi. Another town now called Baheri was solely dependent on the cultivation of Terminalia belerica – Bahera; and eventually was named for the plants grown there. Another famous town of Bareilly is Haroda. It traditionally grew Harrada medicinal plants, scientifically known as Terminalia chebula (also as Bal Harad, or Choti Harra). In the Medieval period Muslim rulers promoted an Ancient Unani treatment called Hikmat, Tibb or Tibia. Certain families became famous for their diagnostic skills and were eventually awarded titles of Hakim-ul-Mulk (Doctor of the Country) by the Rohilla rulers.
The term Rohilla is derived from the Pashtu Roh, meaning mountain, literally a mountain air and was used by the Baluch and Jats of the Derajat region to refer to the Pashtun mountains tribes of Loralai, Zhob and Waziristan regions. The Muslims in the area are chiefly the descendants of Yousafzai Afghans tribe of Pashtuns, called the Rohilla Pathans of the Mandanh sub-section, (other Pashtuns also became part of the community), who settled in the country about the year 1720. Rohilla’s Sardar like Daud Khan, Ali Muhammad Khan and Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech were from the Afghan tribe the Barech, who were originally from the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. In Uttar Pradesh, it was used for all Pashtuns, except for the Shia Bangashes who settled in the Rohilkhand region, or men serving under Rohilla chiefs. Rohillas were distinguished by their separate language and culture. They spoke Pashto with each other but gradually lost their language over time and now converse in Urdu. Bishop Heber described them as
Rohilkhand (under Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech) was on the on the winning side at the Third Battle of Panipat of 1761 and successfully blocked the expansion of the Maratha Empire into north India. In 1772 Rohilkhand was invaded by the Marathas; however the Nawabs of Awadh came to the aid of the Rohillas in repulsing the invasion. After the war Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula demanded payment for their help from the Rohilla chief, Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech. When the demand was refused the Nawab joined with the British under Governor Warren Hastings and his Commander-in-Chief, Alexander Champion, to invade Rohilkhand. The combined forces of Shuja-ud Daulah, the Nawab of Awadh and the Company’s forces led by Colonel Champion defeated Hafiz Rahmat Ali Khan in 1774. Hafiz Rahmat Khan Barech was killed in the ensuing battle at Miranpur Katra in 1774. His death ended the period of Rohilla rule.
After the Rohilla War, the change of the power structure did little to soothe the strife torn area; rather the change aggravated a precarious state of affairs. There was a general spirit of discontent throughout the district. In 1812, an inordinate enhancement in the revenue demand and then in 1814 the imposition of a new house tax caused further resentment against the British. “Business stood still, shops were shut and multitudes assembled near the courthouse to petition for the abolition of the tax.” The Magistrate, Dembleton, already unpopular, made things worse by ordering the assessment to be made by a Kotwal. A skirmish took place between the rebel masses and the sepoys under Captain Cunningham, costing three or four hundred lives. In 1818, Glyn was posted as Acting Judge and the Magistrate of Bareilly and the Joint Magistrate of Bulundshahr.
28°10’N 78°23’E and lies in northern India. On its eastern border are Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur and Rampur on the west, Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand) in North and Badaun in South. It is level terrain, watered by many streams and generally slopes towards the south. The soil is fertile and highly cultivated, groves of trees abound and the villages are neat and prosperous. A tract of forest jungle, called the tarai, stretches along the extreme north of the district and hosts large game, such as tiger, bear, deer and wild pig. The river Sarda or Gogra forms the eastern boundary and is the principal stream. Next in importance is the Ramganga, which receives as its tributaries most of the hill torrents of the Kumaon mountains. The Deoha is another drainage artery and receives many minor streams. The Gomati or Gumti passes through the district.
Bareilly (Rohilkhand) was a major centre during The Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as India’s First War of Independence). The Rebellion began as a mutiny of native soldiers (sepoys) employed by the British East India Company’s army against race- and religion-based injustices and inequities, on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut. It soon erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions mainly in north-central India along the major river valleys (See red annotated locations on Map at right) but with local episodes extending both northwest to Peshawar on the north-west frontier with Afghanistan and southeast beyond Delhi. Communal hatred led to ugly riots in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. The green flag was hoisted and Muslims in Bareilly, Bijnor, Moradabad and other places shouted for the revival of a Muslim kingdom.
The slightest weakening of the central authority provoked acts of defiance from the Katehriya Rajputs. Thus the Mughals allotted lands for Afghan settlements in Katiher to weaken the rebels. Afghan settlements continued to be encouraged throughout the reign of Aurangzeb (1658–1707) and beyond. These Afghans, known as the Rohilla Afghans, caused the area to be known as Rohilkhand. Originally, some 20,000 soldiers from various Pashtun Tribes (Yusafzais, Lodis, Ghilzai, Barech, Marwat, Durrani, Tanoli, Tarin, Kakar, Khattak, Afridi and Baqarzai) were hired by Mughals, which was appreciated by Aurangzeb Alamgir. An additional force of 25,000 men was given respected positions in Mughal Army. Most settled in the Katehar region during Nadir Shah’s invasion of northern India in 1739, increasing their population to 100,0000.
Another culturally significant temple is the Chunne Miyan’s Lakshmi Narayan Temple (located in Katra Manrya street near Bara Bazar). Its origin dates to independence in 1947. These Hindu migrants built a small place of worship among existing ruins but later discovered that the place belonged to Fazal-ul-Rahman, whose nickname was ‘Chunne Miyan’. He filed a claim against the illegal occupation of the land. Meanwhile, the proceedings of the temple continued. Once, HarMilapi ji Maharaj came from Haridwar to deliver a holy Sermon. Chunne Miyan was so impressed that he decided not only to withdraw the case but also gave financial aid for the construction of the temple. Since then the temple is popularly known as chunne miyan’s mandir’ and is situated in the Katra maanrai region of Koharapeer.
Today, the institute contributes immensely to human resource development in the discipline of veterinary sciences with skills and knowledge necessary for the challenges of the new millennium. It awards master and doctoral degrees in more than 20 disciplines of veterinary and animal sciences, livestock products technology, basic sciences and extension education. To impart continuing education to field veterinarians, the institute also conducts diploma courses in veterinary preventive medicine, animal husbandry, veterinary biological products, animal reproduction, poultry husbandry, medicine and surgery, zoo and wild animal health care and management, meat and meat products technology.
Bareilly is well-connected with the rest of the country through railways from the 19th century. An official map of 1909 shows that Bareilly was a prominent railway junction during the 20th century. Six railway tracks intersect in the city. In 1890, the Bengal and North Western Railway took over management of the Tirhoot State Railway (under a lease) in an effort to increase the latter’s profitability. The Lucknow-Sitapur-Seramow Provincial State Railway merged with the Bareilly-Pilibheet Provincial State Railway to form the Lucknow-Bareilly Railway on 1 January 1891. The Lucknow-Bareilly Railway was owned by the Government of India and worked by the Rohilkund and Kumaon Railway.
The country is burdened with a crowd of lazy, profligate, self-called sawars (cavaliers), who, though many of them are not worth a rupee, conceive it derogatory to their gentility and Pathan blood to apply themselves to any honest industry, and obtain for the most part a precarious livelihood by sponging on the industrious tradesmen and farmers, on whom they levy a sort of blackmail, or as hangers-on to the wealthy and noble families yet remaining in the province. These men have no visible means of maintenance, and no visible occupation except that of lounging up and down with their swords and shields, like the ancient Highlanders, whom in many respects they much resemble.
Bareilly is an educational hub of western Uttar Pradesh, with multiple universities and research institutes. Bareilly is a seat of M. J. P. Rohilkhand University and hosts Indian Veterinary Research Institute and Central Avian Research Institute. (in Izzatnagar). The city hosts numerous Engineering Colleges (Institute of Engineering & Technology, A Govt Engineering College at M. J. P. Rohilkhand University Campus), Management Colleges, Law Colleges, Medical Colleges and other colleges run general courses. Bareilly College, located in the heart of city, is among the oldest educational institutions in India, built prior to the Revolt of 1857. It even has historical importance.
In 1623 two Afghan brothers of the Barech tribe, Shah Alam and Husain Khan, settled in the region, bringing with them many other Pashtun settlers. With the immigration of Daud Khan, an Afghan slave (who originally hailed from Roh in Afghanistan), the Afghan Rohillas came into prominence. His adopted son Ali Muhammad Khan succeeded in carving out an estate for himself in the district with his headquarters in the region. He was ultimately made the lawful governor of Kateher by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir (ruled 1658–1707) and the region was henceforth called “the land of the Ruhelas.” After the end of the Mughal Empire many Pathans migrated from Rohilkhand.
Santosh Gangwar is a prominent leader and former Member of Parliament from the city of Bareilly, who was the MP for 20 years (1989–2009). He was a former minister of state in Government of India, holding the portfolio of Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas with additional charge of Parliament Affairs in 13th Lok Sabha minister of state in Government of India. Prior to this, Shri Gangwar was Minister of State of Science & Technology with additional charge of Parliamentary Affairs from October 1999 to November 1999. He was chief whip of the of BJP in 14th Lok Sabha. He faced defeat in the 15th Lok Sabha Elections, 2009 by a very narrow margin.
This was built in 1952. It is also known as Dakshin Mukhi Hanuman Mandir. Several thousand devotees visit Lord Hanuman every Tuesday and Saturday. Baba Ramdas blessed the temple and was the main person behind its establishment. It is managed by “Baba Ramdas Hanuman Mandir Trust” whose patron is Shri. S.K. Agarwal (Guruji), President is Shri. Rajesh Agarwal and Secretary is Architect Sumit Agarwal. Since last 60 years on its anniversary, 108 Shri Ram CharitrManas Navahan Paath are held. The campus has a Shiva Mandir with Narmadeshwar Shivling.
At the beginning of the thirteenth century, when the Delhi Sultanate was firmly established, Katehr was divided into the provinces of Sambhal and Budaun. But the thickly forested country, infested with wild animals, provided just the right kind of shelter for rebels. Katehr became famous for rebellions against imperial authority. The Sultanate period featured frequent rebellions in Katehr. All were ruthlessly crushed. Sultan Balban (1266–1287) ordered vast tracts of jungle to be cleared so as to make the area unsafe for the insurgents.
The city has many arts and cultural organizations, with art galleries and theaters all around the city. The ‘Craft Fair’ organized each year at YugVeena Library helps artists get recognition. Strongly influenced by the city’s immigrants from nearby regions, Bareilly has a mix of different cultures including Brij culture (of Mathura), Awadhi culture (of Lucknow), Pahaari culture of Kumaun region (Uttrakhand) and Harayanvi Culture (of North-West Uttar Pradesh). Bareilly also hosts Fashion Shows to demonstrate the area’s unique style.
The Panchal coins were minted at Bareilly and the surrounding areas during 176–166 BC. Kushan and Gupta kings established mints in the region that continued into the Christian era. The Adi Vigraha and Shree Vigraha coins of the Pratihara Kings that were minted here between the 4th and 9th centuries were found at Ganga Ghati. Dating to this period are also silver coins similar to those of Peroz III. The city’s continuing status as a Mint town was helped by the fact that Bareilly was disturbed only during the Independence Struggle.
A Passport Office, opened in 1983 as a subordinate office of Ministry of External Affairs under the supervision of India’s Central Passport Organization. Passport issuance is a central subject under the Indian Constitution and is allotted to the Ministry of External Affairs. This office deals with the issue of passport/travel documents to the citizens of 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh i.e. Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Badaun, Moradabad, Rampur, Bijnor, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Firozabad, Kashi Ram Nagar, Etah & Mainpuri.
Panchala reemerged at this time as one of the strongest powers in India. About 25 kings who ruled during this period produced thousands of surviving coins. During the period between the fall of the Mauryas and the rise of the Guptas, the Panchalas had two phases of power – first the pre-Kushan phase, from c. 150 BC to CE 125 and later about fifty years after the fall of the Kushanas, which ended c. CE 350 when Panchala was assimilated into the Gupta empire by Samudragupta. Ahichatra became a province in the Gupta empire.