Western Uttar Pradesh

Western Uttar Pradesh
Region
Indirapuram, Ghaziabad
Greater Noida
Delhi–Meerut Expressway
Augarhnath Temple, Meerut
GAIL, Noida
Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary
Location of Western Uttar Pradesh in India
Location of Western Uttar Pradesh in India
ContinentAsia
CountryIndia
StateUttar Pradesh
Covering territory
LanguagesHindi, Urdu, Braj, Kannauji
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
71,217,132
Largest cities

Western Uttar Pradesh is a region in India that comprises the western districts of Uttar Pradesh state, including the areas of Rohilkhand and those where Hindi, Urdu and Braj are spoken; it is in the region of Western Uttar Pradesh that Hindi-Urdu originated.[1] The region has some demographic, economic and cultural patterns that are distinct from other parts of Uttar Pradesh, and more closely resemble those of Haryana and Rajasthan states.[2][3] The largest city of the region is Ghaziabad, while the second-largest city, Agra, is a major tourist destination.

Western Uttar Pradesh has experienced rapid economic growth, in a fashion similar to Haryana and Punjab, due to the successes of the Green Revolution.[4][5][6] A significant part of western Uttar Pradesh is a part of National Capital Region of India.

Demographics

Religions in Western Uttar Pradesh
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 72.29%
Muslims
 
 26.21%
Others†
 
 1.41%
Distribution of religions
†Includes Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Jains.[7]
Religions in Khariboli sub-region
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 62.19%
Muslims
 
 36.17%
Others
 
 1.64%
Religions in Braj sub-region
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 82.78%
Muslims
 
 16.00%
Others
 
 1.22%

The population of Western Uttar Pradesh is composed of a varied set of communities and tribes, including Gurjars, Jats, Meos, Rajputs, Kayasthas, Tyagis, Ahir (Yadavs), Brahmins, Kachhi, Kahar, Gadaria, Kumhar, Bania, Khatik, Lodha, Valmikis, Nai, Jatav, Kurmis and Rohilla Pashtuns.[8]

The unique setup of Western UP arises largely from the castes engaged in agriculture like the Tyagis, Jats , Yadavs, Gurjars, Gadariyas and Rajputs. The region in 1980s and 1990s was witness to the "sugarcane mafia" led by the above mentioned communities.[9][10] Yadavs have a very small presence in this region.[11] Jats make up 17-18 percent in the western region, also called UP's Jatland.[12][13]

As per 2011 Census, the total population of Western Uttar Pradesh is 71,217,132, out of which 72.29% is Hindu and 26.21% is Muslim.[7] The population in Khariboli region is 29,669,035, (Hindu 59.19% and Muslim 39.17%) and the population of Braj region is 29,754,755 (Hindu 82.78% and Muslim 16%). Muslim population share in eight districts of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Moradabad, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Meerut and Bareilly has increased from 29.93% in 1951 to 40.43% in 2011. This has been point of contention in politics with demands for population control bill being raised from Hindu groups.

The percentage of Muslims in Western Uttar Pradesh (~26%) is higher than the whole state of Uttar Pradesh (where it is 19.3%).[14][15] Out of 77 assembly seats in this region, Muslim candidates won 26 seats in the 2012 assembly elections.[16] Several communities are bi-religious.[17]

The region's Rohillas are descended from immigrant groups from centuries ago, and a large subregion of Western Uttar Pradesh, Rohilkhand, takes its name from that Pashtun tribe.[18]

Sikhs from West Punjab, who came from Pakistan after partition, also migrated to the area in large numbers.[19]

Western Uttar Pradesh has gained notoriety for accounting for 30 per cent of the total honor killings in the country, according to a survey done by AIDWA.[20]

Languages

Most people in Western Uttar Pradesh speak Hindi (or its slightly earlier version Khadiboli) and Braj.

Khadiboli

Khadiboli is a slightly earlier version of Hindi and has very minimal differences. It is spoken in the northern part of Western Uttar Pradesh. Khadiboli-speaking districts include Muzaffarnagar, Sharanpur, Shamli, Bagpat, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Hapur, Amroha, Bijnor, and some parts of Muradabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, and Bulandshahar.

Braj

Braj is spoken in the southern part of western Uttar Pradesh. Braj-speaking districts include Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Aligarh, Etah and some parts of Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Firozabad and Mainpuri.

Hindi and Urdu

In the area of Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh, Persian loanwords entered the lexicon of Old Hindi (the form of Khariboli spoken in the medieval Indian period). This is regarded as the predecessor of Hindi and Urdu, both of which are spoken throughout Western Uttar Pradesh.[1]

Geography

Western Uttar Pradesh shares borders with the states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, as well as a brief international border with Nepal in Pilibhit district.

Western Uttar Pradesh's soil and relief has marked differences from that of the eastern part of the state.[21] The soil tends to be lighter-textured loam, with some occurrences of sandy soil.[22] Some loess soil is continuously deposited by winds blowing eastwards from Rajasthan's Thar Desert.[23]

Precipitation

Western Uttar Pradesh receives rain through the Indian Monsoon and the Western Disturbances. The Monsoon carries moisture northwards from the Indian Ocean, occurs in late summer and is important to the Kharif or autumn harvest.[24][25] Western Disturbances, on the other hand, are an extratropical weather phenomenon that carry moisture eastwards from the Mediterranean Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.[26][27][28][29] They primarily occur during the winter season and are critically important for the main staple of the region, wheat, which is part of the Rabi or spring harvest.[27]

Administrative divisions

Western Uttar Pradesh includes 26 districts in six divisions:

  1. Saharanpur division – Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli
  2. Meerut division – Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Hapur, Bulandshahr
  3. Moradabad division – Moradabad, Bijnor, Amroha, Sambhal, Rampur
  4. Agra division – Agra, Mahtura, Firozabad, Mainpuri
  5. Aligarh division – Aligarh, Etah, Hathras, Kasganj
  6. Bareilly division – Bareilly, Badaun, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur

Demands for statehood

In Uttar Pradesh, "the cultural divide between the east and the west is considerable, with the purabiyas (easterners) often being clubbed with Biharis."[30] Also, while the green revolution resulted in a rapidly rising standard of living in Western Uttar Pradesh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh (like Bihar) did not benefit to the same extent.[31][32] These cultural and economic disparities are believed to have fueled the demand for separate statehood in Western Uttar Pradesh.[33][34] A separate entity would likely become a prosperous smaller state similar to Haryana and Punjab, under greater political control of local ethnic groups.[35]

Some politicians and parties have demanded that Western Uttar Pradesh be granted statehood under the name Harit Pradesh.[36] Braj Pradesh and Pashchim Pradesh are alternative names that have been proposed, because the region incorporates the historic region of Braj and is the western (pashchim in Hindi) part of Uttar Pradesh respectively.[36][37]

Religious riots

Jigar gate in Moradabad, named for the famous Urdu poet Jigar Moradabadi.

Western Uttar Pradesh has a history of religious riots happening frequently.[38] Many Hindu and Muslim riots happened in Meerut and Muzaffarnagar.[39] Beginning on 27 August 2013, clashes between the Hindu and Muslim communities of the Muzaffarnagar district have claimed 43 lives and injured 93.[40][41][42][43]

A girl from the Hindu community was stalked by a Muslim youth in Kawal village.[44][45] In retaliation, a Muslim youth named Shahnawaz Qureshi[46] was killed by two brothers of the girl, Sachin Singh and Gaurav Singh.[47][48] The two brothers were lynched by a Muslim mob when they were trying to escape.[48]

Another major riot in Meerut took place on 22 May 1987, during the Hindu-Muslim riots in Meerut city in Uttar Pradesh state, India, when 19 personnel of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) allegedly rounded up 42 Muslim youth from the Hashimpura mohalla (locality) of the city, took them in truck to the outskirts, near Murad Nagar, in Ghaziabad district, where they were shot, and their bodies were dumped in water canals. A few days later, dead bodies were found floating in the canals. In May 2000, 16 of the 19 accused surrendered, and were later released on bail, while 3 were already dead. The trial of the case was transferred by the Supreme Court of India in 2002 from Ghaziabad to a Sessions Court at the Tis Hazari complex in Delhi,[49] where it is the oldest pending case.

A riot broke out in the Kanth municipality of Moradabad district, on 27 June 2014, over installation of loudspeakers at a religious place, which was objected to by another community. The tension prevailed for over a week accompanied by frequent clashes.[50] Another riot occurred between the Sikh and Muslim communities in Saharanpur over a land dispute, killing three and injuring many people.[51] As much as 13 companies of the Rapid Action Force, the PAC and CRPF were conveyed by the government to take control of the situation after imposing curfew in riot-hit areas of Saharanpur.

Highway connectivity

Major highways running through the region include NH 2, NH 3, NH 11, NH 9, NH 58, NH 73, NH 74, NH 87, NH 91, NH 509, NH 530B, NH 119, NH 235, NH 709A, NH 709B, NH 709AD,

Notable people

References

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  3. ^ Alfred De Souza (1983), Urban growth and urban planning: political context and people's priorities, Indian Social Institute, 1983, ... The difference in the urban settlement pattern between western and eastern Uttar Pradesh is so pronounced that one could almost feel that the two regions were located in two different countries with completely different economic systems ...
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