Malihabad

Malihabad
Town
Malihabad
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 26°56′N 80°43′E / 26.94°N 80.72°E / 26.94; 80.72Coordinates: 26°56′N 80°43′E / 26.94°N 80.72°E / 26.94; 80.72
Country  India
State Uttar Pradesh
District Lucknow
Elevation 128 m (420 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 15,806
Languages
 • Official Hindi
 • Additional official Urdu
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration UP-32

Malihabad (Hindi: मलीहाबाद, Urdu: ملیح آباد‬‎) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Lucknow district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the mango belt of North India and is internationally acclaimed for its mangoes. Among different varieties of mangoes grown here, Dussheri is the most popular variety. Besides Dussehri, other varieties of mangoes such as Chausa, Fazli, Lucknowa, Jauhari, Safeda, etc. are also grown here.

History

The town of Malihabad was established by Raja Malhia Arakh, the younger of the brave brother duo, Salhia, and Malhia, belonging to the warrior Arakh clan. Of the two brothers, Raja Salhia Singh laid the foundation of Salhiapura town, which is now known as Sandila, while Raja Malhia Singh founded Malhiapura, now called Malihabad. Raja Malhia Singh Arakh made Malihabad a contemporary power and a prosperous town. During his rule, Arakh dominion stretched south of Malihabad to parts of Kakori and Bijnour, and along the left bank of Sai to Sissandi. Arakhs held sway over Malihabad and adjoining areas including Datli till the 15th century. In AD 1470, two brothers of the Gautam tribe, Deva Rai and Naya Rana came as refugees to Malihabad after being exiled from the Argal state of Gautams. After winning over the confidence of the Arakh king, they conspired with Pathans to overthrow Arakhs from Malihabad and establish their control. Their efforts paid off when after a prolonged struggle with Arakhs, Gautam brothers took over the control of Malihabad. But soon after, they were themselves displaced by the Pathans. The mango plantations of Malihabad were developed by Pathans, under the royal patronage of the Nawabs of Lucknow.

Malihabad prides itself on Nawab Faqueer Mohammad Khan 'Goya', the poet and courtier of Awadh; "Shaayar-e-Inquilaab"Padma Bhushan Josh Malihabadi(born as Shabbir Hasan Khan), Abdur Razzaq Malihabadi, Ahmad Saeed Malihabadi who later migrated to Pakistan; Padma Shri Ghaus Mohammad Khan, the tennis player and Anwar Nadeem, stage artist, writer and poet. was born in Malihabad (India) in 1962. It has also produced some great writers like Mohsin Khan who possess a remarkable writing style. His Urdu play Khvab ki Ta'bir was awarded first prize in a radio-play contest drawing participants from nineteen Indian languages.[1]

The Mango Capital Of India

Malhiabad is also known as the Mango Capital Of India. Most Known Varieties of Mangoes in Malhiabad are:

Dashehari: One of the most popular variety of north India, it is a mid-season mango. Fruits are medium-sized, with pleasant flavour, sweet, firm and fibreless pulp. Stone is thin and keeping quality good.

Chausa: Late- maturing variety of mangoes, it matures during July or beginning of August. Fruits are large, weighing about 350g each. Fruits are bright yellow with soft and sweet pulp. It is shy bearing.

Langra: An important commercial mango variety of north India, it is biennial- bearer and a mid season variety, with good quality fruits. Flesh is rm, lemon yellow in color and scarcely fibrous. It has characteristic turpentine flavour. Keeping quality is medium.

Lakhnaua Safeda: For the one, who loves the juicy syrupy fruit instead of the pulpy one, can find no better variety than this.

A Few Rare Varieties:

Munzar Aamin: The variety is generally produced by the end of the season and appears almost round in size instead of the regular shape of a mango. It can be relished both by sipping the juice and by cutting it into slices and chomping the thick pulpy fruit.

Nazeer Pasand: These varieties of mangoes are not at all fibril and can be found by the time of the season when Dashehari starts disappearing from the market.

Japani Lakhnaua: The variety representing the blend of two countries and unity among them is named after the shape of the tree and its bracts. What makes it different from the other varieties is its palatableness, which is not only sweet but starts getting sour as one reaches toward the dorsal of the fruit.

Kaccha Meetha: This unique variety of mangoes are rare to find and are known for their sweet taste even when they are raw and ripe.

Paan: As the name suggests the fruit is in shape of a ‘paan’ with mushy yellow pulp. As compared to the look it weighs heavier and each fruit is of approximately half a kg.

Ramkela: These are special mango variety, which is only used to make pickle. It does not get ripe and remains sour throughout. To get these, you have to wait until end of July when they are at their best to be pickled.

Kala Pahad: Abhorrent in looks, this variety of mangoes tastes in three different avors at the same time which disparate it among all other varieties of mangoes.

Jauhari Safeda: The variety makes it presence even before the Dashehari in the market and can be found even after the season ends for Dashehari.[2]

Geography

Malihabad is located at 26°55′N 80°43′E / 26.92°N 80.72°E / 26.92; 80.72.[3] It has an average elevation of 128 metres (419 feet).The main areas in Malihabad are Mirzaganj, Syedwara, Chaudrana and Kewalhar.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[4] Malihabad had a population of 15,806. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Malihabad has an average literacy rate of 52%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 59%, and female literacy is 45%. In Malihabad, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Religions in Malihabad
Religion Percent
Muslims
 
 51%
Hindus
 
 48%
Others†
 
 1%
Distribution of religions
†Includes Sikhs (0.2%), Buddhists (<0.2%).

Economics

Dasheri mango plantations is one of the major income source of the region, with mangoes being exported to many neighbouring countries. Dasheri Mango is very delicious and famous for its sweetness and soft pulp.

Film

The Filmfare Award winner (1979) and winner of National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi (1978), film Junoon was mostly shot in the Mahals of Malihabad. The 1978 Urdu film was produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Shyam Benegal and was a hit of its time. The film was based on Ruskin Bond Novella A Flight of Pigeons.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ http://www.urdustudies.com/auinfo/KhanMohsin.html
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Malihabad
  4. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
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