When India rebelled in 1857 against the foreign Company’s occupation, now referred to as the First War of Indian Independence, the Saharanpur and the present-day Muzaffarnagar Districts were part of that uprising. The centre of freedom fighters’ operations was Shamli, a small town in the Muzaffarnagar region which was liberated for some time. After the uprising failed, British retribution was severe. Death and destruction was particularly directed against the Muslims of the region, whom the British considered as the main instigators of the rebellion; Muslim society was devastated beyond recognition. When social reconstruction started, the cultural and political history of Muslims began to revolve around Deoband and Aligarh. Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi and Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, both proponents of the reformer Shah Waliullah’s ideology for social and political rejuvenation, established a school in Deoband in 1867. It found popularity and global recognition as the Darul Uloom. Its founders’ mission was twofold: to raise and spread a team of scholars able to awaken the religious and social consciousness of Muslims through peaceful methods and to make efforts, through them, to educate Muslims in their faith and culture; and to bring about a feeling of nationalism and national unity by promoting the concept of Hindu-Muslim unity and a united India. Muslim scholars in the city of Saharanpur were active supporters of this ideology and went on to establish the Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur theological seminary six months later, along identical lines.
In 1845 choudhary Rao Wazir-ud-din khan the descendant of (Raja Ram singh who came from rajasthan to saharanpur and converted into Islam subsequently he started living at shaikpura qudeem) was the great zaminder of shaikhpura qudeem (saharanpur). Choudhary Rao Wazir-ud-din khan became the member and voter of mughal darbar at red fort new delhi. He was the richest person of district saharanpur with 27 thousand bega land or lord of 57 village’s like shaikhpura, landohra, tapri, piragpur, yousfpur, badshapur, harhati, nazirpura, santgarh, lakhnor, subri, pathri etc., of district Saharanpur. British governor’s had good relation with Rao Wazir-ud-din and the title of royal family or Badsha-e-waqt(the king of his time) was given to him. He died in 1895 at Sheikpura Qudeem (Saharanpur). He had two son’s Choudhary Rao Mashooq Ali khan and Choudhary Rao Ghafoor Muhammad ali khan. Rao Ghafoor Muhammad ali khan had only seven children out of seven his elder son Rao Maqsood Ali khan was highly educated from Aligarh Muslim university and spiritual person. Many books of English and Persian were written or copied by him. He was the one and only one royal man of saharanpur. He was the lord of a large property in saharanpur region or in dheradun and Choudhary Rao Maqsood Ali khan was awarded by the Viceroy of India Lord Irwin at deheradun . Brother’s of him migrated to Pakistan and England. He died in 1973 at sheikpura qudeem and left behind his four sons Rao Ghulam muhi-ud-din khan, Rao Zamier haider khan, Rao yaqoob khan and Rao Ghulam hafiz.
During the reign of Shamsu’d-Din Iltutmish (1211–36), this region became a part of the Delhi Sultanate. At that time, most of the area was covered with forests and marshlands, through which the Paondhoi, Dhamola, and Ganda Nala rivers flowed. The climate was humid and malaria outbreaks were common. Muhammad bin Tughluq, the Sultan of Delhi (1325–1351), undertook a campaign in the northern Doab to crush the rebellion of Shivalik kings in 1340, when according to local tradition he learned of the presence of a Sufi saint on the banks of the Paondhoi river. After visiting the sage, he ordered that henceforth this region would be known as ‘Shah-Haroonpur’, after the Sufi Saint Shah Haroon Chishti. The simple well-preserved tomb of this saint is situated in the oldest quarter of Saharanpur city, between Mali Gate/Bazar Dinanath and Halwai Hatta. By the end of 14th century, the power of the Sultanate had declined and it was attacked by Emperor Timur (1336–1405) of Central Asia. Timur had marched through Saharanpur region in 1399 to sack Delhi and people of the region fought his army unsuccessfully. A weakened Sultanate was conquered later by the Central Asian Mogul king Babur (1483–1531).
The Saharanpur botanical gardens, known as Company Garden, once the preserve of the British East India Company, are one of the oldest existing gardens in India, dating to before 1750. Then named Farahat-Bakhsh, it was originally a pleasure ground set out by a local chief, Intazam ud-ullah. In 1817, it was acquired by the British East India Company and placed under the authority of the District Surgeon. Joseph Dalton Hooker says of this Botanical Garden that “Amongst its greatest triumphs may be considered the introduction of the tea-plant from China, a fact I allude to, as many of my English readers may not be aware that the establishment of the tea-trade in the Himalaya and Assam is almost entirely the work of the superintendents of the gardens of Calcutta and Seharunpore. In 1887, when the Botanical Survey of India was set up to reform the country’s botanical sciences, Saharanpur became the centre for the survey of the northern Indian flora. The Garden is seen historically as being second only to the Calcutta Gardens for its contribution to science and economy in India. Under private auspices today, it is full of greenery and has many different kinds of plants and flowers.
Saharanpur city, as an urban centre, was established during the Mughal Empire period. It is located in a fertile Doab region that was forested until the medieval period, but in which human habitation can be traced as far back as 2000 BC; site of the Archaeological importance have been found in the district. Its original inhabitants (like Drawid, Kinner, Dasa, and Dasyns) were subdued by the Indo-Aryan peoples, who were new settlers from the Punjab region. Ancient invaders who came from near and far through the ages (Nanda, Greek, Maurya, Shunga, Indo-Greek, Yaudheya, Kushana, Gupta, White Huns, Yasodharman, Vardhana, Maukhari, and there is also one or more language in this area Rajputs-Pundir,Notyial, Chandela, Muktapida, Ayuddhas, Gurjara-Pratihara, and Palas), have left legacies. Their descendants in the region have first or last names that reflect these historical (and at times also mythological, such as Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi) kinships.
Its grain market receives the agricultural produce of the Doab region. The wholesale market (Anaaj Mandi), for grains and other agricultural produce, is located on Chilkana Road. The timber market traditionally receives supplies from the northern hilly forest regions to support the local woodcarving cottage industry and other demands. The wooden handicrafts industry is the basis of livelihood for half of the population and source of recognition globally. Beautiful art and utilitarian woodwork objects are displayed and sold in the market from near Ambala Road up to Chilkana Road. In the last few decades, Pul DalMandi is very popular area to fulfill the daily requirements, the Punjabi Market and Kamboh Katehra market have experienced a high volume of textile trade. Hosiery has become a significant cottage industry, supplying goods to Ludhiana market, other nearby cities, and Uttarakhand’s markets. Hiran Maran is the hosiery market of saharanpur.
In 1757, the Maratha army invaded Saharanpur region, which resulted in Najeeb-ud-Daula losing control of Saharanpur to Maratha rulers Raghunath Rao and Malharao Holkar. Najeeb-ud-Daula regained control when Raghunath Rao left Saharanpur for a campaign in Punjab. The conflict between Rohillas and Marathas came to an end on 18 December 1788 with the arrest of Ghulam Qadir, the grandson of Najeeb-ud-Daula, who was defeated by the Maratha general Mahadaji Scindia. The most significant contribution of Nawab Ghulam Qadir to Saharanpur city is the Nawab Ganj area and the Ahmedabadi fortress therein, which still stands. The death of Ghulam Qadir put an end to the Rohilla administration in Saharanpur and it became the northernmost district of the Maratha Empire. Ghani Bahadur Banda was appointed its first Maratha governor. During the Maratha Regime, the Bhuteshwar Temple and Bagheshwar Temple were built in Saharanpur city.
Until the end of the British rule, the power and social prestige of the descendants of the past ruling classes was formidable, especially in the rural interiors; often called the upper castes, they lorded over the lower caste people. After independence, the conversion of the country to democracy has enabled these under-privileged and ex-untouchable Dalit classes to move forward gradually in all fields in India. Late Master Kanshi Ram, the founder of pro-Dalit Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), started his political career in Saharanpur. His protégé Kumari Mayavati, a Dalit from Saharanpur, has ruled over Uttar Pradesh as a BSP Chief Minister four times and, after completing a full term in office, lost to Samajwadi Party in February 2012 assembly elections, . The Jains and Aggarwals are influential business communities; the latter have “Agarwal Sabha” and elect their presidents annually.
When the British reached Saharanpur in 1803, it was under Gurjar Control who were allied to the Marathas. The Gurjar King Raja Ram Dayal Singh held vast territories in the area. The Marathas were ousted by the British East India Company, which occupied the region of Saharanpur in 1803; They also occupied the present Muzaffarnagar and Haridwar districts. Saharanpur passed firmly into the hands of British invaders in 1804, when they had eliminated Maratha resistance and suppressed the frequent Sikh attackers completely. Raja Ram dayal Singh was allowed to rule the area by the British. When the British usurped the vast holdings of Raja Dayal Singh Gurjar in 1813, a local uprising of the Gurjars took place, but the British suppressed it with a heavy hand. Local Gurjar chiefs planned a collective revolt in 1824, but the plan leaked and the movement was ruthlessly crushed.
During the Mughal period, Emperor Akbar (1542–1605) made Saharanpur a sarkar (administrative unit) under the Province of Delhi. He bestowed the Jagir of Saharanpur to Raja Shah Ran Veer Singh, a Jain noble in his court, who laid the foundation of the present city at the site of an army cantonment. The nearest settlements at that time were Shekhpura and Malhipur. Saharanpur was a walled city, with four gates: the Sarai Gate, the Mali Gate, the Buria Gate and the Lakhi Gate; Nakhasa Bazar, Shah Behlol, Rani Bazar and Lakhi Gate were the names of the neighbourhoods. The ruins of Shah Ran Veer Singh’s old fort can still be seen in the Chaudharian locality of Saharanpur, not far from the better known ‘Bada-Imam-bada’. He also built a large Jain temple in Muhallah/Toli Chaundhariyan, it is now known as the ‘Digamber-Jain Punchayati Mandir’.
Historically, the common householder’s market is centred in the compact area around the landmark Jama Masjid. Within a radius of less than half a kilometre around it, a network of narrow roads is lined with groups of shops selling commodities from jewellery to groceries.Main markets in the region include Nehru market, Shaheed Ganj, Naya Bazar, Sarrafa Bazar- known for a large number of jewellery shops, Halwai Hatta- well known for various shops offering variety of food stuffs , Dinanath, Bartala Yadgar, Mor Ganj, Pansari Bazar- cities’ wholesale stationery and paper market. Modern show rooms, retail outlets of branded goods, and branches of several major banks are located in the Court Road market, near the city’s Civil Court and the Collectorate offices. The city does not yet have any shopping malls.
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division. Situated close to the borders of Haryana and Uttarakhand states, and surrounded by a very fertile agricultural region plentiful yields in grains and fruits, Saharanpur is a flourishing city in Uttar Pradesh. Saharanpur is famous for its wood carving cottage industry.Many firms like A-one handicrafts and Venus arts are working in handicrafts industry since starting. It is a thriving market of local agricultural produce, including basmati rice and mangoes. A variety of agro-based industrial enterprises – such as textiles, sugar, paper and cigarette factories – are located here.
On 28 December 1988, Saharanpur district lost the region of Haridwar, which was made into a new district within the Saharanpur division. Subsequently, Haridwar district was taken out of Saharanpur division and merged with what is now Uttarakhand, a new state that was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000. With this territorial reorganization, Saharanpur lost many important places of religious and cultural heritage, including the city of Roorkee, disappointing the Saharanpur people. Political debate is still simmering on whether parts of Saharanpur, including the city itself, can be merged with Uttarakhand. Another political view is that a new state of Harit Pradesh should be carved out of the present Western Uttar Pradesh region.
Among the notable new townships are Green park colony, Vinod Vihar Colony, Avas Vikas Colony, Prem Puri Colony, Bhagwati Colony, Indraprastha Colony, Paramont Tulip, South City Colony, Shivaji Nagar, Gill Colony, Madho Nagar, Hakikat Nagar, Avas Vikas Colony, Central Park, Gill Colony, Jagadish Colony, Laxman Singh Colony, Mission Compound, Neha Garden, New Patel Nagar, Devi Niwas, Royal Palm, Roop Vihar Colony Navada Road, Ansariyan Street, Basera Haji Abdul Ghafoor, Shankerpuri Colony, Shiv Vihar Colony, Rohit Vihar Colony, Sun City, Matki Jharoli, Parsvanath City, Sun City Grand, Beri Bagh, Ranjeet Nagar Colony, Himmat Nagar, Indira Gandhi Colony, Kapil Vihar,Basant Vihar Extn,Parvati Dham Colony near Circuit House
A multinational cigarette manufacturing company, the Indian Tobacco Company (ITC Limited) previously known as the Anglo-American Tobacco Company and the Imperial Tobacco Company, is located in Saharanpur. This factory was built in the 1930s by Baba Shib Dayal Bedi. He was the Municipal Commissioner of Saharanpur during this period. Cherisys Technologies has entered the city as an IT solutions provider after moving to the city from New Delhi. Cherisys Technologies was the first IT solutions provider in the city. Star Paper Mill, Sugar Mill, Hardboard Mill, Textile Mill, and Wood-seasoning Mill are other important industrial enterprises located in the city.
From 1822 to 1825, the Gurjar community held a fierce armed protest against British rule. Several times, when the British were transporting their treasury from one place to place they were killed and looted by Gurjar soldiers and farmers. Most of the Gurjar-occupied areas like Landhaura, Parikshitgarh, Dadri and Samthar had their boundaries reduced by the British. Estates consisting of thousands of villages were reduced to only few hundred villages. Revolts in western Uttar Pradesh (including Saharanpur district) during 1821 to 1825 led to the killing of thousands of Gurjars. Many were hanged and thousand of them were given a life sentence.
Saharanpur is well-connected to all the major cities by bus and train. The city is located on National Highway 73. It is a major junction of Indian Railways. The main railway station, Saharanpur-Junction, is in the middle of the city, and the Tapri Railway Station is on Paper Mill Road. The Roadways Bus-stand is located near the Saharanpur Junction Railway Station; buses of Uttar Pradesh Government Roadways and other government and private sector services are available from here for all nearby towns and major cities. Saharanpur Airport is at Sarsawa Air Base, it is manned and operated by the Indian Air Force.
Saharanpur is like any other city of western Uttar Pradesh in language, dress, food habits, festivals, and other traditions and ceremonial functions. Cinemas, hotels, and eateries are available for entertainment. Local editions of Hindi and Urdu newspapers are published. Khadiboli is the lingua franca in which local Punjabi speakers are fluent. Dhoti and Kurta are traditional men’s garments. Women wear dhoti (Saree) and Salwar-kurti, that originates from the Punjab as a number of Punjabi people have migrated to Saharanpur. Ragni is a traditional method of story telling in the form of a poem.
Ahmad Shah Durrani, the Afghan ruler who arrived after Nadir Shah, conferred the territory of Saharanpur as Jagir on Rohilla chief Najaf Khan, who assumed the title of Nawab Najeeb-ud-Daula and, in 1754, started living in Saharanpur. He made Gaunsgarh his capital and tried to strengthen his position against Maratha Empire attacks by entering into a friendship with the Gurjar chieftain Manohar Singh. In 1759 AD, Najeeb-ud-Daula issued a Deed of Agreement handing over 550 villages to Manohar Singh, who became the Raja of Landaura. Thus the Rohillas and the Gurjars now controlled Saharanpur.
Mughal emperors Akbar and later Shah Jehan (1592–1666) had bestowed on Sayyed families the Pargana of Sarwat. In 1633 one of them founded a city and named it as well as the region around it as Muzaffarnagar, in honour of his father, Sayyed Muzaffar Ali Khan. The Sayyeds ruled there until the 1739 invasion by Nadir Shah. After his departure, anarchy prevailed in the entire Doab and this region was ruled or ravaged in succession by Rajputs, Tyagis, Brahmins, and Jats. Taking advantage of the anarchy, the Rohillas took control of the entire trans-Gangetic region.