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
Map of Purwa CD block
Map of Purwa CD block
Purwa is located in Uttar Pradesh
Purwa
Purwa
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 26°28′N 80°47′E / 26.47°N 80.78°E / 26.47; 80.78
Country India
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictUnnao
Area
 • Total3.74 km2 (1.44 sq mi)
Elevation
129 m (423 ft)
Population
 (2001)[1]
 • Total24,467
 • Density6,500/km2 (17,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)

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

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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

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Purwa is located at 26°28′N 80°47′E / 26.47°N 80.78°E / 26.47; 80.78.[5]

Unnamed soldiers in First World War

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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

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
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 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Baghel, Amar Singh (1979). Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Unnao. Rampur: Government Press. pp. 150–2, 268–9. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y 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.