Roorkee

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Roorkee
रुड़की
روذكي
City
The East India Company-era (1854) Ganeshpur bridge over the Ganges Canal in Roorkee, 2008
The East India Company-era (1854) Ganeshpur bridge over the Ganges Canal in Roorkee, 2008
Country India
StateUttarakhand
DistrictHaridwar
Government
 • TypeMunicipal Corporation
 • BodyNagar Nigam Roorkee
Elevation
268 m (879 ft)
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total289,478
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
247667
Telephone code91 1332
Vehicle registrationUK 08
Sex ratio1.12[1] ♂/♀
Distance from New Delhi172 kilometres (107 mi) SSW
Websiteroorkeecityonline.com

Roorkee (Hindi: रुड़की Rūṛkī) is a city and seat of a municipal corporation in Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest,[2] and the headquarters of Bengal Engineer Group (Bengal Sappers) since 1853.[3][4] The renowned engineering college IIT Roorkee is located in this town.

Etymology

According to one story, Roorkee derives its name from Rurimadi imran, the wife of a local Rajput chieftain. Vernacular belief amongst villagers around Roorkee is that it got its name from "Ror ki", i.e., dwelling of a Ror.

History

Watercolor (1863) titled, "The Ganges Canal, Roorkee, Saharanpur District (U.P.)." The canal was the brainchild of Sir Proby Cautley; construction began in 1840, and the canal was opened by Governor-General Lord Dalhousie in April 1854.

Roorkee was the capital of a Moghul Mahal (similar to a present-day Pargana) during the time of Akbar, as is referred in Ain-e-Akbari, authored by Abul Fazal.[5]

The Gurjars were rapidly gaining power during the end of the Mughal rule and the Gurjar chief of Khubbar clan of Pahansu, Distt Saharanpur established reign over large parts of Saharanpur, Haridwar and established its capital at Landhaura.[6] During the 18th century, it was under the over lordship of the Gurjar State, the Landhaura state, until the death of its Gujar King, Raja Ramdayal Singh Panwar in 1813.[7] It later became a part of the territories of the British East India Company.

Before 1840, the city was a small village of mud houses on the banks of the Solani rivulet.[8] Digging work on the Upper Ganges Canal formally began in April 1842, under the aegis of Proby Cautley, a British officer. Soon, Roorkee developed into a town. The canal, which was formally opened on 8 April 1854, irrigated over 767,000 acres (3,100 km²) in 5,000 villages.[5]

Another factor that contributed to the city's growth was the inception of the Roorkee College, which has its origin in the classes started in 1845[8] to train local youth to assist in the civil-engineering work of the Upper Ganges Canal.[9] This was to become the first engineering college established in India.[10] On November 25, 1847, the college was formally constituted, through a proposal by the Sir James Thomason, Lt. Governor of North Western Province (1843–53).[8] After his death in 1853, the college was rechristened as Thomason College of Civil Engineering. The college later upgraded to University of Roorkee in 1949; on September 21, 2001, through an Act of parliament, it was made one of the Indian Institutes of Technology, IIT Roorkee.[11]

India's first aqueduct was constructed over the Solani river, near Roorkee, part of the Ganges Canal project, which itself was India's first irrigation work in North India, started by the British.[12] The Ganges Canal led to another first for Roorkee — India's first steam engine, Mary Lind, (specially shipped from England moved on rails in India) ran in Roorkee on December 22, 1851, between Roorkee and Piran Kaliyar, two years before the first passenger train ran from Bombay to Thane in 1853. Operated by the Bengal Sappers, the railway line was built to carry soil used for the construction of the Upper Ganges Canal aqueduct from Piran Kaliyar, 10 km (6.2 miles) from the city.[13] The locomotive rail paths are still intact. A replica of what the locomotive is thought to have looked like is exhibited at Roorkee Railway Station.

The municipality of Roorkee was created in 1868.[8] It had been home to the Bengal Sappers and Miners since 1853, and two artillery units were stationed there.[8] Today, the Roorkee Cantonment has a large army base. The Bengal Engineering Group and Centre (BEG&C), are still there today.

In 1901, when the city had a population of 17,197, it was made headquarters of the Roorkee Tehsil, in Saharanpur district of the United Province of the British Raj; the tehsil included in it 426 villages (of the parganas of Jwalapur, Manglaur and Bhagwanpur) and six towns, most important among them being Haridwar and Manglaur.[5] The Old Cemetery in the city is a protected monument, by the Archaeological Survey of India.[14]

Roorkee is also famous for the shrine of 13th century Sufi saint Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari — the dargah is also known as Sarkar Sabir Pak — in Piran Kaliyar village, where an annual 15-day spiritual fair (Urs) is held.

Industry

Roorkee is famous for the manufacture of survey and nautical instruments. It started in early 1900, with the repairing of instruments of the Thomason College of Civil Engineering (later University of Roorkee and then IIT Roorkee) and moving on to manufacturing of compasses, levels and other surveying instruments. After getting the state status to Uttarakhand, Roorkee has grown to having 100+ industries and corporate houses under SIDCUL.

Business & Services

Roorkee is Business Center also. It has many Business & Service Centers. After birth of Uttrakhand State it is developing as a leading Service Centre of the State. Apart from other Services, it has many Advertising Agencies also.

Geography

Roorkee is located at 29°52′N 77°53′E / 29.87°N 77.88°E / 29.87; 77.88.[15] It has an average elevation of 268 metres (879 feet).

Roorkee is 172 kilometres (107 mi) north of the Indian capital, New Delhi between the rivers Ganges and Yamuna, close to the foothills of the Himalayas. Before the creation of Uttarakhand on November 9, 2000,[16] Roorkee was a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Climate

Roorkee
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
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22
2
 
 
230
 
 
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6
 
 
40
 
 
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27
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190
 
 
22
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: GAIA case studies
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0
 
 
72
36
 
 
9.1
 
 
77
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1.6
 
 
86
45
 
 
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99
50
 
 
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102
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86
54
 
 
0.4
 
 
81
45
 
 
7.5
 
 
72
39
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Due to its location away from any major water body and its proximity to the Himalayas, Roorkee has an extreme and erratic continental climate. Summers start in late March and go on until early July, with average temperatures around 28 °C (82 °F). The monsoon season starts in July and goes on uptil October, with torrential rainfall, due to the blocking of the monsoon clouds by the Himalayas. The post monsoon season starts in October and goes on uptil late November, with average temperatures sliding from 21 °C (70 °F) to 15 °C (59 °F). Winters start in December, with lows close to freezing and frequent cold waves due to the cold katabatic winds blowing from the Himalayas. The total annual rainfall is about 2600 mm (102 in).

Transport

Roorkee comes under Northern Railway region of Indian Railways and is connected to major Indian cities.

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, though the preferred one is Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

Roorkee's major neighbouring cities are Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Ambala and Chandigarh. The National Highway 58 (NH58) (Delhi-Haridwar-Mana Pass) and NH73 (Panchkula/Chandigarh - Yamuna Nagar - Roorkee) pass through the heart of the city.

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census Roorkee urban agglomeration had a population of 2,89,478, out of which males were 1,65,242 and females were 1,24,234. The literacy rate was 84.29 per cent.[17]

See also: List of cities in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

As of 2001 India census,[18] Roorkee had a population of 2,21,784. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Roorkee has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 64%: male literacy is 87%, and female literacy is 81%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. The city has 61% Hindus (29.9% Bhramans, 13.8% Vaish, 17.3% others Hindus Cast), 28% Muslims, 9% Punjabis/Sikhs, 0.3% Christians and 1.7% Jains. The city has size able community of people arriving from Garhwal hills and hence Garhwali is also spoken in many new colonies coming up around the city.

Languages spoken are Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.

Education

IIT Roorkee main building

Roorkee is a centre of education and research. It is best known for Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT), which was formerly called the University of Roorkee and originally known as the Thomason College of Civil Engineering.

The Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh started its operations in India, from a single room in the main building of erstwhile Thomason College of Civil Engineering, when it shifted to India from Lahore in Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947; it continued to operate from Roorkee until 1954, when it shifted to its present premises in Chandigarh.

Roorkee is home to several government research institutes: Central Building Research Institute (C.B.R.I.), Irrigation Research Institute (I.R.I.), Institution of Engineers Regional Center (I.E.I.), Alternate Hydro Energy Centre (A.H.E.C.), Irrigation Design Organization (I.D.O.) and National Institute of Hydrology (N.I.H.).[19]

With the availability of schools, colleges and institutions for higher education and professional degrees, students come for enrollment from all over India and abroad. For a detailed history of this landmark institution, one can refer two volumes by Prof. KV Mital named History of Thomason College of Engineering and History of Roorkee University published in 1996, available at Roorkee University alumni office in the main building of the campus.

UNIVERSITY

  • IIT Roorkee

In addition to the university, the notable colleges and schools in Roorkee are:

Private Engg.Colleges

  • PHONICS GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS [2]
  • Hermes College of Engineering & Management Roorkee (HERMES [College])
  • Greenway Institute of Management Studies Roorkee] (GIMS Roorkee)
  • College of Engineering Roorkee (COER)[21]
  • Institute of Technology Roorkee[22]
  • B.S.M. College of Engineering, Roorkee[23]
  • Roorkee Institute of Technology Roorkee (RIT Roorkee)[24]
  • Shakambhari Institute Of Higher Education And Technology (S.I.H.E.T Puhana ; Roorkee) www.sihet.org

Management Colleges

  • Quantum School of Business, Roorkee, Uttarakhand
  • Greenway Institute of Management Studies Roorkee (GIMS Roorkee)
  • Institute of Management Studies, Roorkee - (I.M.S Roorkee)[19]
  • Phonics School of Business Administration, Roorkee
  • Hermes College of Management Studies
  • B.R.D. College of Managements & Sciences, Roorkee
  • Bishambhar Sahai Law Institute
  • Seventh Day Adventist Degree College
  • Bishambar Sahai Management Institute
  • Roorkee Institute of Management Sciences (R.I.M.S.)

Degree Colleges

  • Quantum School of Business
  • B.S.M. Law College
  • K.L.D.A.V. PG College
  • B.S.M. P.G. College
  • S.S.D.P.C. Girls' PG College
  • B.R.D. College Saliyar Roorkee
  • Roorkee College of Pharmacy
  • K.L. Polytechnic, Ram Nagar, Roorkee
  • B.S.M. P.G. College
  • Methodist Girls' PG College
  • Roorkee Degree College
  • RIMS Roorkee Institute of Medical Science
  • College of Advanced Technology, Polytechnic College

Schools

  • Montfort Senior Secondary School Roorkee
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 BEG&C,Roorkee
  • Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 BEG&C, Roorkee
  • Delhi Public school DPS-Rooorkee
  • Army Public School - 1,Roorkee
  • Army Public School - 2, Roorkee (previously St. Gabriel's Academy, Roorkee)
  • St. Ann's Senior Secondary School, Roorkee
  • A.B.N. School Roorkee
  • Roorkee Scool for Deaf (in IIT Roorkee premises)
  • Bhartiya Academy Roorkee(Soni foundation trust)
  • Shemford Futuristic School - Roorkee (CBSE 10+2 School)
  • Children's Senior Academy Roorkee
  • Anand Swarup Arya Saraswati Vidya Mandir, South Civil Lines, Roorkee
  • St. John's Senior Secondary School
  • Roorkee Public Senior Secondary School
  • Greenway Modern School
  • Chandra Shekhar Senior Secondary Public School
  • Scholar's Academy Roorkee
  • Doon Public School, Nai Mandi, Roorkeee

Neighbourhoods

Roorkee has expanded considerably in recent times. At present, the city's important residential and commercial areas include: Posh residential areas: Saraswati Kunj,Civil-lines Residential area, Jadugar Road, Rajputana West, Mahaveer Enclave, Bhagirathi Kunj, Solani Puram, Ashok Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Niti Nagar, Ram Nagar Outer, New Avas Vikas township, Salman Colony, Zohra Bagh, New Nehru Nagar, Ganeshpur, Railway Road, Defence Colony, Akashdeep Enclave, Pradeep Vihar, Navrachna Paradise Colonel's Enclave, Ganges Enclave,RajVihar Colony, Preet Vihar,Purwa deen dayal ,Purvali, Saket colony, Sanjay Gandhi Colony, South Civil Lines, Ashoka Puram, Green Park Colony,Rajendra Nagar,Subhash Nagar etc.

Main Commercial Areas

Civil-lines Market,Vishal Mega Mart, Main Bazar, Easy Day Roorkee, Tyagi Market, Sultan Tower, Nehar Kinara (Canal View Road), B.T. Ganj, Chaw Mandi, Old Railway Road, Amber Talab, MaktoolPuri, Roorkee Cantt. (Sapper Market I and II, Lalkurti), Ramnagar camp, Delhi Road etc.

References

  1. ^ a b "Census of India, 2011". Office of the Registrar General, India. 2 March 2002. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  2. ^ Roorkee - History
  3. ^ Bengal Sappers’ saga of valour, The Tribune, 24 November 2008.
  4. ^ "Roorkee Cantonment". Atulkohli-earthsc.tripod.com. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  5. ^ a b c Roorkee Town The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p.324. Cite error: The named reference "gaze" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ History page - from city website of Roorkee.
  8. ^ a b c d e Roorkee Town2, The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 325.
  9. ^ Indian Engineering Colleges, The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 4, p. 321.
  10. ^ Sandes, Lt Col E.W.C. (1935). The Military Engineer, Vol II. Chatham: Institution of Royal Engineers. p. 368.
  11. ^ IIT Roorkee Official website.
  12. ^ Irrigation and Navigation Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909 v. 3, p. 341.
  13. ^ First train ran between Roorkee and Piran Kaliyar, The Hindu, 10 August 2002.
  14. ^ Alphabetical List of Monuments - Uttarakhand Archaeological Survey of India website.
  15. ^ "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Roorkee". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  16. ^ Uttarakhand Govt. of India, Official website.
  17. ^ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  18. ^ Template:GR
  19. ^ National Institute of Hydrology, accessed on 30 May 2011.
  20. ^ "Quantum Global Campus Roorkee". Quantum.edu.in. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  21. ^ "College of Engineering Roorkee". Coe-roorkee.com. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  22. ^ "ITR Roorkee". Itroorkee.org. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  23. ^ "B.S.M. College of Engineering, Roorkee". Bsmcoer.org. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  24. ^ Roorkee Institute of Technology – Roorkee

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Roorkee&oldid=545882770"