Firozabad

For other uses, see Firozabad (disambiguation).

Template:Infobox Indian jurisdiction Firozabad (Hindi: फ़ीरोज़ाबाद, Urdu: فیروزآباد) is a city in India, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The ancient name of this town was Chandwar nagar; it is said that once in reign of Akbar the great, revenue was being brought through the city. it was looted by the people who lived here. Akbar when came across it sent his army comprising a unch named "firoz" to make the city a cantonment to improve thieves who lived here. The tomb of this firoz is still present near bus stand, today also. From the earliest it was famous for glass and bangle works, and its related small scale industry is famous throughout the world. Due to underdeveloped industry, literacy rates are very low. The city suffers from child labour, low literacy, and pollution.

Firozabad is located in north central India, in western Uttar Pradesh state, 40 km from Agra and around 240 km away from Delhi, at the northern edge of the Deccan Plateau, at 27°09′N 78°24′E. The height above sea level is 164 meters (540 ft). \

The boundaries of Firozabad district touch Etah district in north and Mainpuri and Etawah districts in the east. The Yamuna river makes its southern boundary. The area of the district is about 0.8% of total area of Uttar Pradesh, and the population is 1.1% of the state's total population. Approximately 73.6% of the population lives in rural area. More than half of the workforce is engaged in manufacturing activities. The city is also an important market center. It has severe winter and summer seasons. The district is mostly flat and its slope is from north west to south. Child labour is practiced widely in this city.

History

The ancient name of this town was Chandwar nager,The name Firozabad was given in the regime of Akbar by Faraz Shah Mansab Dar in 1566. It is said that Todarmal was passing through this town, on a pilgrimage to Gaya. He was looted by robbers. At his request, Akbar, sent his Mansab Dar Faraz Shah here. He landed near or about Datauji, Rasoolpur, Mohammadpur Gajmalpur, Sukhmalpur Nizamabad, Prempur Raipura. The tomb of Firoz Shah and ruins of Katra Pathan are the evidences of this fact.

Mr. Peter, a businessman working for the Dutch East India Company visited Firazabad on 9 August 1632 and found the town in good condition. It is written in the gazetteer of Agra and Mathura that in 1596 Faraz was upgraded to a pargana. Faraz was bestowed to Nawab Sadulla as jagir, in the regime of Shahjahan. Jahangir ruled here from 1605 to 1627. Etawah, Budaun, Mainpuri, Faraz were under first class mansabdar of emperor Farrukhsiar. Bajirao peshwa looted Firozabad and Etmadpur in 1737 in the regime of Mohammad Shah. Jats of Mahawan attacked Faujdar Hakim Kajim at Firozabad and killed him on 9 May 1739. Jats ruled Firozabad for 30 years. Gajuddin, Hidayat Vaksh son of Alamgir  second his nephew and Mirza baba the son in law, came to Firozabad. Mirza Nabab Khan stayed here till 1782. In the end of 18th century, Firozabad was ruled by Himmat Bahadur Gusain with cooperation of Marathas. The French Army chief of Marathas, D. Wayan, established an ordnance factory in November 1794. Mr. Thomas Traving also mentioned this fact in his book Travels in India. Marathas appointed his subedar Lakwadads here who made a fort near old tehsil, known at present as garie.

General Lek and General Vellajally attacked Firozabad in 1802. In the beginning of British regime Firozabad was in Etawah district but after some time it was attached to Aligarh district. When Sadabad was created as a new district in 1832, Firozabad was attached to it. Later on, in 1833 Firozabad was attached to Agra district. In 1847, the business of lac was flourishing at Firozabad.

In 1857, Chauhans of Mainpuri, Jamidar of Chandwar with local Mallahs took active parts in freedom struggle. Famous Urdu poet Munir Shikohabadi too was sentenced to Kala pani by the British East India Company government. People of this city took part in "Khilafat Movement", "Quit India Movement", and "Namak Satyagrah" and went to the jail during these national movements. In 1929, Father of Nation Mahatama Gandhi, in 1935 Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, in 1937 Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and in 1940 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose visited Firozabad. Firozabad district was finally established on 5 February 1989.

Geography

Firozabad is located at 27.15°N 78.42°E / 27.15; 78.42. It has an average elevation of 164 metres (538 ft).

Transport

Firozabad city has a railway station served by the Delhi-Howrah trunk route of the Indian Railways. Several trains serve the city connecting it to long and short distanced destinations including New Delhi, Howrah, Mumbai, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Jammu Tawi, Amritsar, Jamshedpur, Patna, Aligarh, Agra, Etawah and Tundla.

Tundla Junction railway station in the Tundla town (20 km west of Firozabad city on National Highway 2) of the Firozabad District is a major railway station of North Central Railways. Due to its proximity to Agra several trains on the Delhi Howrah route which don't stop at Firozabad station make a stop at Tundla Junction hence serving Firozabad as well as Agra cities.

The city is 40 east from Agra on National Highway 2 which makes it an important stopover for the transport vehicles on this highway. Firozabad hence is connected to several bus services to the Western and Eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh state. Due to proximity to Agra and hence the borders of Uttar Pradesh with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh states several inter-state bus services also serve the city. Some major cities connected with Firozabad through bus services are: Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Dehradun, Haridwar, New Delhi, Mathura, Jaipur, Gwalior, Saharanpur, Agra, Aligarh and Meerut.

Intra-city transport typically consists of Rickshaws, 3-wheelers and ac ,non ac city buses ,

Climate

The lowest recorded temperature in Agra was −1 °C; the highest was 48 °C.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Firozabad had a population of 278,801. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Firozabad has an average literacy rate of 67% higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 53%. In Firozabad, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.tempr.

Industry

Evolution of Firozabad glass industry

During ancient periods, invaders brought many glass articles to India. These glass articles when rejected were collected and melted in locally made furnace called as "Bhainsa Bhatti." This was the start of the glass industry in Firozabad. In this furnace, wood was used as a fuel. These old traditional furnaces are still in use in Sasani near Aligarh and at Purdal Nagar. During that time only small bottles and bangles were made. At this time only one bangle at a time can be made. In this bangle there was no joint. These bangles were called "Kadechhal Ki Chudi". Since then Firozabad is the home of the glass industry, white and coloured glass pieces being manufactured for the purpose of assembling jhad and fanus (chandeliers) which were in demand by royal courts and nobles for decorating their assembling and drawing rooms. Later on phials for Itra, scents, and other cosmetic products were made. Slowly and steadily Indian marriage items like bangles, kangans, kada, etc. were produced in bulk for the general public. Today it is having famous area as suhag nagar because it fulfills almost all the demand of bangles, kadas, kangans and other items of suhagins (married women).

Since 1989, Firozabad has produced artistic glassware in different colours and shades used in chandeliers and other items. About four hundred glass industries are registered in Firozabad, making different types of glass products. They use natural gas instead of coal. Half of the production of these units is exported. Nowadays, blowing/modeling is done by the Pot Furnace & Regenerative tank furnace in the factories.

Firozabad with the changing time has entered in to new era of Glass Manufacturing, it has become a major hub of manufacturing different Glass based items and has registered its global presence, diversifying its industrial base and encouraging ancillary industries including Chemicals, Packaging and more of service sector based industries have flourished in a short span of time.

In 2001 declared in their reports that Firozabad is #1 area in world where the most child workers work.

Products

All sorts of glass articles, including jars, candle stands, glasses, flower vases, and electric wares such as decorative lights, bulbs and every other sort of glass articles are prepared in this city. These articles are painted with vivid colours and innovative patterns. Etching is done on some products to enhance their beauty. Decoration work is also done on some products by fixing other material on them.

Firozabad glass industry broadly consists following types of products: -

Glass artwares

Glass artware like toys, candle-stands, crosses, Christmas trees, different fruits, mini-trees, images of birds, animals, personalities, Gods and Goddesses are made here for Indian as well as foreign markets. There are several good quality glass article and crystalware exporters and manufacturers, few are Chhatari Glass Industries, Elora Glass Industries, Crown Glass, Agarwal Glass etc.

Glass domestic-wares

Firozabad glass industry for the last two centuries has been involved in manufacturing drinking glasses, beer glasses, wine glasses, dinner sets consisting of bowls, plates, lemon-sets, pudding sets, etc. in attractive cuttings, charming designs.

• Glass Chandeliers: Since the Mughal period, Firozabad has been producing different shapes and shades of magnificent hanging chandeliers. Many innovative designs have been added to suit different tastes.
• Glass Marriagewares: Bangles, Kangans and karas are made here since ancient period as traditional Indian woman wadrobe accessory. Bangles made here are distributed throughout India. Bangles don't get that much opportunity in the international market, since it is a traditional Indian accessory. But still due to globalisation the market for bangles is expanding internationally.

Glass hardware

All types of glass hardware are manufactured here for house decoration and other purposes. Glass Scientific and Lab wares. Since last 10 years beakers, flasks, test tubes, containers and other scientific wares are being manufactured here, which are needed in various laboratories.

Glass automobile wares. The glass accessories for automobiles like light bulbs, mine battery bulbs and other light and sight equipments are produced here for two wheelers and four wheelers.

Glass street and domestic light wares. For the lighting of urban and rural areas and other utility purposes many glass items are being produced including miniature bulbs and high power voltage bulbs. It is estimated that 6% demand of bulbs is being fulfilled from Firozabad.

Glass beads

Firozabad is known as the world capital for beads. Glass beads produced here are exported to all over the world for use in all kinds of items including clothing, accessories, Jewellery and shoes.

Notable Person

1. Mr. Pankaj Sarvesh Kumar Dixit - Famous Bangle Merchant

External links

• Firozabad City E-Portal
• Firozabad District Homepage
• R K College of Systems & Management, Firozabad (U.P.) affiliated with Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University | Agra University
• Glass City of India by Rajat Jain, Shri Vardhman Handicrafts, Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
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