Hapur
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- for the village in Nepal see Hapur, Nepal
| Hapur | |
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| Coordinates | 28°43′N 77°47′E / 28.72°N 77.78°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District(s) | Ghaziabad |
| Population | 301,987 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 206 m (676 ft) |
Hapur (Devanagari: हापुड़) is a city and a municipal board in Ghaziabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 65 kilometres east of the capital of India and noted as an exporter of paper cones and tubes. Two Northern Railway lines run through Hapur: one from Meerut, 35 kilometres to the north; and another from New Delhi, 65 kilometres to the west. Hapur has a latitude of 28.45° N and a longitude of 77.45° E.
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[edit] Etymology
On the basis Jana-Shrutis, it has been found that Hapur was founded by Raja Harishchandra, another Lok-shruti (local legend) says that Hapur was founded by Daron Ke Sardar, Hardatta, in 983. After this Hapur was called Haripur. It is also said that Hapur came from the word 'Hapar' which means garden.
[edit] History
THULLAKOTTIT (HAPUR) PLACE OF BUDDHIST IMPORTANCE During Buddhist era the upper gangatic region in the North of Indraprastha now Delhi was divided in sixteen Mahajanapadas (Big districts). One of the important Mahajanapadas was Kurudesh (region). THULLAKOTTIT was an important ‘Nigam’ (town) in the ‘Kurudesh’1. In the travel accounts of religious preaching of Lord Buddha it is mentioned, “The lord, Lord Buddha, was walking at leisure with the group of Bhikhus (Monks). He reached alongwith the Bhikkus, in the town of ‘THULLAKOTTIT’ in the region of Kurudesh)2. To know further the following story tells. The story goes on, the Brahmins (Grahapati) came to know of the arrival of the guest (Lord Buddha). They desired to have ‘darshana’ (See the lord from near, in person). They came (to the lord where he was with his followers). Presents them (before the lord). Set on his side. They got motivated by listening to the preaching of the Lord. Mixed up in the follower audience, filled the praise.3 Rashtrapal (or Rathapala), the only son of the ruling family of the town, was also sitting over there. He hears very carefully, the importance related to ‘Brahmcharya’ (to remain throughout life unmarried and without sexual intercourse). The pure Brahmcharya (Parishudda Shank-sa Prachchhalit) was not possible while living in the family. He decided to take ‘pravrajya’ Diksha, sacrifice (preaching’s vrata). He reached before the lord (Lord Buddha) and set down on the side. As per the Buddhist Scripture Majhim Nikaya, the following conversations were made up by him with Lord Buddha : 1. Once when the Lord Buddha was on an alms pilgrimage in the Kuru country with a great company of almsmen, as described above stayed at THULLAKOTHITTA, which was the township of the Kurus. 2. They came to know of it and went to him to pay their respects. 3. When they were seated, the Lord instructed them with a discourse on the Doctrine. Having received their instruction from Lord, the Brahmin heads of houses of THULLAKOTHITTA gratefully thanked him, rose up and departed with deep obeisance. 4. Seated among them was a young man named Rathapala, a scion of leading family of the place, to whom this thought came : “So far as I understand, the Doctrine which the Lord has preached is no easy matter for one who lives in a home to lead the higher life in all its fullness, purity and perfection”. 5. “What if I were to cut off hair and beard, don the yellow robes and go forth from homelessness as a pilgrim!” 6. When the Brahmins had not been gone long, then Rathapala came up and after salutations, told the Lord the thought which had come to him, and asked to be admitted to and confirmed in, the confraternity under him. 7. “Have you your parents” consent to this step, Rathapala?’ asked the Lord. 8. “No, Sir.” 9. “I do not admit those who have not their parents’ consent.” 10. “That consent, Sir, I will take steps to obtain,” said the young man, who rising up and taking a reverential leave of the Lord, went off to his parents, told them his thoughts and asked their consent to his becoming a Bhikku. 11. The parents made answer as follows : “Dear Rathapala, you are our only son, very dear to us and beloved ; you live in comfort and have been brought up in comfort, with no experience at all of discomfort. Go away ; eat, drink, enjoy yourself and do good works in all happiness. We refuse our consent. 12. “Your death would leave us desolate, with no pleasure left in life; why, while we have you still, should we consent to your going forth from home to homelessness as a Bhikkhu”. 13. A second and yet a third time did Rathapala repeat his request, only to be met by the same refusal from his parents. 14. Failing thus to get his parents consent, the young man flung himself down on the bare ground, declaring that he would either die there or become at a Bhikkhu. 15. His parents entreated him to get up while repeating their objections to his becoming a Bhikkhu, but the young man said not a word. A second and a third time they entreated him but still he said not a word. 16. So the parents sought out Rathapala’s companion to whom they told all this and besought them to urge, as from themselves, what his parents had said to him. 17. Thrice his companions appealed to him, but still he said not a word. So his companions came to the parents with this report : “There on the bare ground he lies, declaring that he will either die there or become a Bhikkhu. If you refuse your consent, he will never get up alive. But if you give your consent, you will see him when he has become a Bhikku. Should he not like being a Bhikku, what alternative will he have! Why, only to come back here. Do give your consent!” they urged. 18. “Yes, we consent ; but when he is a Bhikku, he must come and see us.” 19. Off now went his companions to Rathapala, and they told him that his parents had given their consent, but when he was a Bhikku he was to come and see them. 20. Thereupon the young man arose and, when he had regained his strength, bet look himself to the Lord, and after salutation seated himself on one side, saying : “I have got my parents’ consent to my becoming a Bhikku ; I ask the Lord to admit me.” 21. Admission and confirmation were granted him under the Lord; and a fortnight afterwards the Lord, having stayed at THULLAKOTHITTA as long as he wanted, proceeded on his alms pilgrimage towards Sravasti, where he took up his abode in Jeta’s grove in Anathapindika’s pleasance. 22. Dwelling alone and aloof, strenuous, ardent and purged of self, the reverend Rathapala was not long before he won the prize in quest of which young men go forth from home to homelessness as Bhikkhus, that prize of prizes which crown highest life. 23. Then, he went to the Lord and, seated on one side after salutation, said that with the Lord’s permission, he wished to go and see his parents. 24. Scanning with his own heart the thoughts of Rathapala’s heart, and recognizing thereby that he was incapable of abandoning his training and reverting to the lower life of a layman, the Lord bade him go when he would. 25. Hereupon, rising up and taking his leave of the Lord with deep reverence, Rathapala, after duly putting away his bedding, set out, with is robe and bowl, on an alms pilgrimage to THULLAKOTHITTA where he took up his abode in the deer-park of the Kuru King. 26. Early next morning, duly robbed and bowl in hand, he went into the town for alms, and there as he passed from house on his undiscriminating round, he came to his father’s house. 27. Indoors, in the hall within the middle door, his father was having his hair combed and seeing Rathapala coming in the distance, he said : “It was these shave lings of recluses who made Bhikku of my only dear and beloved son.” 28. So at his own father’s house Rathapala was given nothing, not even a refusal ; all he got was abuse. 29. At this moment a slave-girl of the family was about to throw away the previous day’s stale rice; and to her Rathapala said : “If, sister, that us to be thrown away, put it in my bowl here.” 30. As the girl was doing so, she recognized his hands and feet voice, and going straight to her mistress, cried out : “Do you know, madam, the young master is back.” 31. “If what you say is true, you are a slave no longer,” said the mother, who hurried off to tell her husband that she heard their son was back. 32. Rathapala was eating that stale rice under the hedge when his father arrived, exclaiming ; “Can it be, my dear son, that you are eating stale rice? Should you not have come to your own house?” 33. Said Rathapala, “What house of our own, householder, can we have who are homeless, having gone forth from home to homelessness? I did come to your house, where I was given nothing not even a refusal ; all I got was abuse. The above conversation were made between the Lord Buddha and The Rathapala THULLAKOTTIT Nigam (town) was in the Kuru ‘Janapada’ of Kurudesh. One opinion suggests that this THULLAKOTTIT Nigam (town) was near Indraprasth (Delhi), other opinion says it was near Hastinapur. But most of them agree on, that its name become THULLAKOTTIT because the Koth (store) of the people of this area always remained full of food gains. The ‘storage’ were named as ‘Sthool Kosthak’, the rooms in which stored are known as Kotha or Koth. The present town ‘Hapur’ which was a part of district Meerut (now in Ghaziabad since the District Ghaziabad converted from a Tehsil of Meerut district). Meerut as a district was not known during Mahabharatha period. It came to be known as administrative unit from the items of Mughal emperor Akbar.5 According to some sayings the town of Hapur was established by Raja Harish Chandra.6 The other saying tells us that it was established by Hardatta a chieftain. The local traditions associate King Ahibarana Tomara, founder of Baran (or Bulandshahr) and Barnawa who had lands in between two. Hardatta captured Meerut, Koll and Baran (Bulandshahr) in the year 983 A.D.7 In the later history during British period Hapur became a municipality town in 1872 as the municipality was established in that year.7 Thus the present township has its history of urban centre. Coming back to the origin again the story of Rashtrapal (or Rathapala) goes on. Rashtrapal sought permission from his parents. He got it, conditionally and became a monk and follower of Lord Buddha, then and there at Thullakottit. He went back to his parents as was the condition was not recognised by them. When recognised afterwards he was offered gold, food and his beautiful wives. But he refused everything saying through the gold in the stream of river Ganga said sisters to his wives. It is further goes on that Rashtrapal (Rathapala) went to see the gardens. Some one saw and informed the Kaurav king that the delighted son of the ruling family of ‘THULLAKOTTIT’ is sitting under the shadow of a tree. On questioning Rashtrapal (Rathapala) said on one point the true were so many of his people in ‘THULLAKOTTIT’ and he was not alone. Thus, the references to ‘THULLAKOTTIT’ are found in several account of Buddhist scriptures which have been collected, translated and edited. Only a few such references could given here. “THULLAKOTTIT” as name has been derived from the facts of that time and which still exist and thus the story of the past gets connected with the recent history of the place. THULLAKOTTIT town was in the district of Kuru. As stated earlier, there are two opinions. One assumes that it was near Hastinapur. The other assumes that it was near Indraprastha (Delhi). The name “THULLAKOTTIT” was given as it was situated in the region where the stores of the people were always full of food grains. The storage were names as “Sthool Koshthak” (solid base apartments). Such has been the practice, it is well known, that the people used to make these Koshthak under the ground. Some, rich, did build them of the bricks and lime and the ordinary just of well like dug holes, under the ground. These were till recently known as ‘Khatti’ (locally known name) to fill these with grains, as shortage technique. This continuing importance of the town is known in the modern times, as for last centuries. The town now known as Hapur, it has been the biggest whole sale mandi (market) and storage centre of food grains. It is in this continuity that the fact is very well known and it is recognized even in the historical records. The evidence on the location of the township, “THULLAKOTTIT” suggests it some where near Indraprastha and/or some where near Hastinapur. The present town known as ‘Hapur’ lies almost at an equal distance of 55 km. from both the places therefore any historian or travesties entering from either side could measure the nearness from that side. The accounts of the ‘storage of food grains’, the big mandi (market) of food grains and in the present century thereby the establishment of the food grain storage institute, all go in the sequence to suggest that the Nigam (town) of Lord Buddha’s period is none else than Hapur. Further evidence and historical material may confirm and reconfirm this fact for times to come. At present, on one side i.e. on the Meerut Road, International Buddha Education Institute is a prominent centre of the Buddhists. I was established in 1952, knowing such facts from the Buddhist scriptures and situated probably at the place where the Lord (Lord Buddha) entered Rathapala as his disciple. On the name of Rathapala, the International Buddha Education Institute established the Monastery known as Sakyasingha Rathapala Buddha Monastery.
REFERENCE 1. Singh, R. (1990). Buddha Katha (Hindi), Varansi Hindi Prakashan Sansthan, pp. 359-364. 2. Singh, ibid, p. 359. 3. Singh, ibid, p. 359. 4. Singh, ibid, p. 360. 5. Joshi, E.B. (1965) : Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers-Meerut. 6. N.a. : Hapur Mahayojna Praroop, Hapur p:1. 7. Joshi, ibid, p. 31. 8. Sanskritayan, R. (Translator) (1991). Majjhim-Nikaya (Hindi) Bahraich, Bhartiya Boudh Shiksha Parishak, pp. 333-340. 9. Singh, ibid, p. 359. Book Reference 1. Majhim Nikaya
[edit] Geography
Hapur is located at 28°43′N 77°47′E / 28.72°N 77.78°E[1]. It has an average elevation of 206 metres (675 feet).
[edit] PIN and STD Code
PIN (Postal Index Number) of Hapur is 245101. The Telephone code is 0122. Speedpost is available in the city.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[2], Hapur had a population of 3,01,987. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Hapur has an average literacy rate of 58%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 65%, and female literacy is 50%. In Hapur, Muslims are 41% & 59% are Hindus. Also 16% of the population is under 6 years .
[edit] Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute, Hapur
In order to develop facilities for Applied Research and Apex Level Training in the field of foodgrain storage and preservation, a Grain Storage Research and Training Centre was established at Hapur in 1958, which was later on expanded into Indian Grain Storage Institute (IGSI) with two field stations at Ludhiana and Bapatla (later shifted to Hyderabad) with the financial assistance from UNDP in 1968. Three field stations at Jabalpur, Jorhat, and Udaipur were subsequently established in 1981. In 1996, the IGSI was renamed as Indian Grain Storage Management and Research Institute (IGMRI). Field Stations at Jabalpur and Udaipur have however been closed w.e.f. October 2002. While the training, and research and development activities are undertaken by IGMRI, the work of popularising scientific methods of foodgrain storage developed by IGMRI among farming community is implemented through the Save Grain Campaign teams.Hapur is a city of great joys. A lot of new schools are working for its upliftment.
[edit] Miscellaneous Facts about Hapur
- Hapur is known for the Regional Centre of The World Fellowship of Buddhist at Sakyasingha Rathapala Buddha Monastery, Buddha Lok, Meerut Road, Hapur.
- Hapur is known for International Buddha Education Institute, Buddha Lok, Meerut Road, Hapur
- Hapur is known for S.S.M.D.M.R.D. Institute, Sakyavilla, Village Shahmahiuddinpur, Tehsil Hapur, District Ghaziabad.
- Hapur is famous for H.E. Lag Maha Nayak Maha Thera, Leading Buddhist Spritual Leader of India.
- Hapur is famous for Younker Scientific and Social Sciences Research Foundation, Meerut Road, Hapur lead by Mr. Heero Hito with 25 other Youth researchers of various feilds.
- Hapur is known for two big Buddha Statue situated at Buddha Monastery on Meerut Road.
- Hapur is known for Mr. M.K. Otani who is the leading Youth activists of city and appointed as Member, Minority Commission, Government of Uttarkhand.
- Hapur is also known for Mr. Harish Kumar, leading Archeologist of Hapur who founded more than 12 sites in and around Hapur.
- Hapur is also known as leather city, this has been allotted the region for becoming the part of NCR by Government of India.
- Sikh Mission, Hapur is one of the biggest missions in India established by Internationally known Sikh Missionary Giani Badal Singh Ji.
- Hapur's papadams (salty, flat, round wafers) are very famous in India.
societies in Hapur. The main aim of society is clean Hapur & Green Hapur.
- Hapur (HPU) is an important junction of the Indian Railways.
- Hapur is well known for derivative market in the world, the first derivative trading in the world done here by Jaggaram and Totaraam.
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Hapur
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
In hapur, there is a bigest food storage of food coorpuration of india (FCI).
