Purwa

Purwa
Nagar panchayat
Map of Purwa CD block
Purwa Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 26°28′N80°47′E / 26.47°N 80.78°E / 26.47; 80.78 Coordinates: 26°28′N80°47′E / 26.47°N 80.78°E / 26.47; 80.78
Country	India
State	Uttar Pradesh
District	Unnao
Area [1] [2]
• Total	3.74 km2 (1.44 sq mi)
Elevation	129 m (423 ft)
Population  (2001) [1]
• Total	24,467
• Density	6,500/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)

Purwa is a town and nagar panchayat in Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh, India. ^[1] It is located 32 km southeast of Unnao, the district headquarters. ^[3] Roads connect it with several major cities including Unnao, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Rae Bareli. ^[4] As of 2011, its population is 24,467 people, in 4,128 households. ^[1]

Purwa is the headquarters of a community development block, which was first inaugurated on 1 April 1959 in order to oversee implementation of India's Five-Year Plans at a local and rural level. ^[3] Most of the block lies within the tehsil of Purwa, but parts are in the tehsil of Bighapur instead. ^[1] As of 2011, the block comprises 112 rural villages (including Asoha itself), with a total population of 125,619 people in 25,020 households. ^[1]

History

Purwa is said to have been founded sometime around the year 1400. ^[4] Its antecedent was the village of Newayan a few miles to the west, which was founded by a Raghubansi from Ayodhya named Raja Newan. ^[4] Newayan was wiped out by the Loni River and the ruling raja at the time, Ranbir Singh, founded a new town on the lands of three villages: Bhawanipur, Sokipur, and Kalyanpur. ^[4] This new town was originally called Ranbirpur or Ranbhirpur after Ranbir Singh, and it appears under this name in the Ain-i-Akbari at the end of the 1500s. ^[4] It was then the seat of a pargana which covered an extent of 75,490 bighas and was assessed at a value of 2,425,775 dams. ^[4] The town had a brick fort and a military force of 2,000 infantry and 100 cavalry. ^[4] At some point, the name "Ranbirpur" eventually became corrupted to "Ranjitpurwa" or simply "Purwa", hence the present name. ^[4]

Under the Nawabs of Awadh, Purwa formed one of the chaklas, or districts, that made up present-day Unnao district. ^[4] It covered the eastern portion of the current district. ^[4] One of the most prominent figures in Purwa's history during this period was Raja Achal Singh Bais, who was the hereditary taluqdar of Daundia Khera and also served as chakladar and ruler of Purwa. ^[4] He lived at Purwa from 1716 to 1776, and at one point fought a major battle against the other Bais Thakurs of Baiswara who resented his rule. ^[4] Achal Singh won a complete victory and later laid out a garden at the site of the battlefield. ^[4] He founded several villages including Achalganj, in the pargana of Harha, and Achal Khera in the pargana of Purwa. ^[4] In 1184 Fasli, Achal Singh was replaced as governor by one Bhawani Singh, and not long after that he committed suicide by taking poison. ^[4]

Another important figures from Purwa's history during this period was Raja Sital Parshad Tirbedi, who also served as nazim of Purwa. ^[4] He established the Sitalganj market in Purwa (as well as another with the same name in Rasulabad) and endowed it with a temple and tank. ^[4] Another historical figure was Fateh Ali, originally a slave, who founded the village of Fatehganj near Purwa and planted trees along the road from Purwa to Basha to shade travellers. ^[4]

When the British annexed Oudh State in 1856, they originally chose Purwa as the headquarters of what is now Unnao district, but they were soon relocated to Unnao. ^[4]

At the turn of the 20th century, Purwa was described as "a considerable town" that was very spread out and locally known for its skilled shoemakers. ^[4] It held a bazaar twice per week, with an average attendance of about 1,000 visitors, and hosted several melas during the course of the year, each one with an average attendance of 7-8,000. ^[4] It had tehsil offices, a munsifi court, a police station, a dispensary, a post office, and a middle school with 157 students. ^[4] The population in 1901 was 10,260 people, including 7,529 Hindus and 2,705 Muslims; the largest communities present were the Brahmins, Banias, and Kayasths. ^[4]

Purwa was declassified as a town for the 1961 and 1971 censuses, but was reclassified as such for the 1981 census. ^[2]

Geography

Purwa is located at 26°28′N80°47′E / 26.47°N 80.78°E / 26.47; 80.78 . ^[5]

Unnamed soldiers in First World War

Marble plaque commemorating soldiers who went from Purwa village in World War I

There is a white marble plaque in the village which commemorates the contribution of 33 unnamed men from the village, who went to the Great War (1914-1919) and fought on the side of the British imperial forces.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1901	10,260	—
1911	7,876	−23.2%
1921	7,172	−8.9%
1931	6,352	−11.4%
1941	8,893	+40.0%
1951	8,860	−0.4%
1961	Not given	—
1971	Not given	—
1981	15,235	—
1991	18,558	+21.8%
2001	21,271	+14.6%
2011	24,467	+15.0%
Source: 2011 Census of India [1]

As of 2011 ^[update] India census, ^[6] Purwa had a population of 24,195. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Purwa has an average literacy rate of 54%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 60%, and female literacy is 47%. In Purwa, 30% of the population is under 12 years of age.

Economy

The economy of Purwa is agriculture based. The outskirts of Purwa block produce rice (especially basmati and other rice varieties) and wheat. Other food grain crops include toor, green gram, moong, gram, barley, and maize. Hilauli block also produces mainly food grains. Mango orchards have great importance in this block. The agriculture is well developed, but the irrigation system of the area is not much good. Although this area have extensive canal system but they do not work properly . Agriculture totally depends upon underground water. But now many people also have their shops of various things in Purwa town . It is now hub of various economic activities for many nearby villages .

Flora and fauna

Generally all the three crops of Rabi, Kharif and Zaid are grown. Wheat, paddy and arhar are the main crops. Fruit trees of mango, guava, jamun are in plenty. Except for the month of June, one can always find grass in the field. Cows, buffalo, goats and horses are reared for agricultural and domestic needs.

Connectivity with other cities

It is near two popular cities of state Kanpur and Lucknow and connected by mainly road transport. One can take bus services from Charbag (Lucknow) to Kaiserbag (Lucknow) to Alambag (Lucknow). From Kanpur, one has to come to Unnao first and then take public transport for Purwa. In the rail budget for the year 2012-13, there was a proposal to check the feasibility of connecting Unnao to Lucknow via Purwa.

Religion

The temple of Billeshwar Mahadeo and the tomb of Mina Sahib in Purwa are both revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. ^[4] There are also the shrines of Niamat Shah and Hira Shah. ^[4]

Villages

Purwa CD block has the following 112 villages: ^[1]

Village name	Total land area (hectares)	Population (in 2011)
Lala Khera Vikram Gairabad	87.7	0
Lala Khera Laxman Gairabad	39	0
Mawaiya Ramae Khera	89.3	387
Lala Khera Nohari Gairabad	20	0
Lala Khera Janki Gairabad	9.6	0
Lala Khera Jawahar	108.5	621
Nathi Khera	158.7	907
Mada Khera	50.3	322
Bara Khera	97.6	499
Argaon Pansa Khera	390.5	2,560
Gokul Pur	80.4	324
Palhari	148.2	1,208
Unchagaon Sani	368.5	2,431
Hari Khera	157.1	848
Kataun	99.7	784
Bhulemau	214.4	958
Gadorwa	95.4	382
Barwat	162.9	596
Taragarhi	376	1,488
Langarpur	400.9	1,755
Uncha Gaon Killa	317.6	1,884
Mirzapur Sumhari	456	2,694
Ramavmrapur	338.9	1,638
Gangadas Pur	106	376
Nabab	170.8	1,225
Himmat Khera	185.2	877
Atwa	56.9	530
Semri Mau	143.1	904
Chak Bachur	23.7	240
Bahraura Bujurg	173.2	1,572
Shankar Chak	15.8	329
Majhgawan Sadqu	178.1	1,441
Bhupati Pur	490.4	3,035
Fatehganj	162	798
Suikhera	193.7	714
Kasraur	556.2	2,679
Patti Sukhnandan	94.3	772
Kasba Paschim	373.5	917
Asehru	289.7	1,361
Durgapur	122.3	36
Gulabbari	26.6	0
Kasba Bhawani Pur	390.5	27
Kasba Ramahimmat	433.8	8
Achalkhera	145	890
Sirsahib Lal	10.5	0
Chak Jamalpur	104.2	654
Dhirji Khera	92.8	551
Chamiani	899.2	7,161
Bisun Khera	361.7	811
Ahamdabad Grant	78.5	172
Sarson	223.6	1,197
Tikria	98.4	320
Sirkale Khan	22.4	0
Bharti Garhi	56.9	0
Kalyanpur	59.5	0
Chandi Garhi	129.6	817
Tiker Khurd	205.9	1,086
Tiker Kalan	311.3	1,077
Bewalmansa Khera	320.4	1,868
Daila	81.9	580
Chhulamau	168.7	961
Bachhulia	39.1	531
Basnoha	135.4	485
Tusraur	220.7	1,222
Bhadnag	573.5	3,213
Vade Khera	190.9	514
Banigaon	753.6	3,418
Himmatpur	85.3	458
Zambur Pur	262.4	1,801
Darheta	372.2	2,582
Muraita	238.4	1,970
Kodara	284.4	1,416
Nawa Gaon	150.2	773
Topra	250.8	2,065
Batau Mau	104.8	373
Bhatauli	181.1	1,587
Pinzra	337.2	2,323
Chandrasena	144.7	1,067
Asgar Ganj	48.6	407
Mohiuddinpur	476.4	3,060
Miya Ganj	49.7	318
Atwat	18	960
Jajanpur	96.1	672
Mulahimpur	56.6	520
Behta Bhawani	281.5	2,796
Lachhi Khera	73.4	373
Jagat Khera	84	725
Kathar	145	923
Salaithu	356.1	1,263
Kishan Khera	151.4	845
Mahramau	290.1	1,589
Lakhmademau	329.6	1,461
Tiprarpur	1,059.4	4,539
Gadha Kola	171.2	1,186
Bhatmau	229.8	1,326
Muraita	246.2	1,180
Tevaria	150.4	991
Sijnisohramau	262.3	2,789
Apsari	150.9	884
Majhigawan Sevak	114.6	406
Rasulpur	127.7	617
Arhauli	172.2	754
Dhemna Khera	123.2	681
Rawatpur	145	457
Raghunath Pur	147.9	756
Turkha	119.4	490
Pakra Buzurg	464	3,249
Mamrej Pur	450.4	2,326
Panhan	112.1	545
Baizua Mau	176.2	939
Ramakhera	63.1	512
Purander Pur	137	1,210

References

1. "Census of India 2011: Uttar Pradesh District Census Handbook - Unnao, Part A (Village and Town Directory)". Census 2011 India. pp. 348–72, 525–44. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
2. Census 1981 Uttar Pradesh: District Census Handbook Part XIII-A: Village & Town Directory, District Unnao (PDF). 1982. pp. 15, 348–51. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
3. Baghel, Amar Singh (1979). Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Unnao. Rampur: Government Press. pp. 150–2, 268–9. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
4. Nevill, H.R. (1903). Unao: A Gazetteer, Being Volume XXXVIII Of The District Gazetteers Of The United Provinces Of Agra And Oudh. Allahabad: Government Press. pp. 121, 123, 221–30. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
5. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Purwa
6. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.