BALLIA..
my place of ancestral origin..
a small town in the border region between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
a population of just over a lakh plus..
heart of the Bhojpuri culture..
home to political, literary and religious stalwarts..
It has been a land of sages and there ashrams like Valmiki, Bhrigu and Durvasa( do you know him or his temper). As per the latest records the Valmiki ashram was washed long back in flood but Bhrigu ashram do exist and has a ceremonial value in the Hindu pilgrimage.
The legends say that the name was derived from the Valmiki but another belief is that it has been derived from the sandy nature of the land of the place, locally known as "Ballua" (balu meaning sand).
Ballia is also known as Baghi Ballia (Rebel Ballia) for its significant contribution in India's freedom struggle. During the first Independence War of India in 1857, Ballia came in picture in when in Meerut Cantt the rebellion took place against Britishers. Shree Mangal Pandey who was that first freedom fighter of that war who was born in village Nagwa. He was first to fire the bullet and was later hanged by the Britishers. During the Quit India Movement
of 1942 Ballia gained independence from British rule for a short period of time when the district overthrew the government and installed an independent administration under Chittu Pandey. As my parents say he was the one who went to Collector office and killed him by his boots and declared himself as the District Collector. He ruled for seven days and then came the British cavalry on white horses(the old says so) and crushed the whole movement. All able bodied males were either killed or ran away and thus came the name BAAGI BALLIA!
Mangal Pandey(1857), Chitu Pandey(1942), Dr Ganesh Prasad(Renouned Mathematician), ChandraShekhar(Politician and former PM), Dr Hazari Prasad Dwivedi( Renouned Poet), Acharya Parashuram Chaturvedi ( litrary genious) and the very famous JP.. ie.Jay Prakash Narayan.. these are merely a few names which people know.. there must be scores which people don’t..
One of the famous thing is the Dadri mela- the cattle fair which is organized in october or november. It is one of the largest cattle fair of india, it has origin from the name of the Dadar muni who was student of Bhrigu rishi. It is a must visit as all the best of the bhojpuri culture is at its best there.
The contribution of this small town to the history of India is much more than significant but very poorly recognized.. and what I perceive.. its very poorly represented.. The number of people from this small town who have done good for themselves and their environment is endless.
When will this part which has immense talent , culture and heritage come on National map...
I AM FORCED TO THINK!!
*all written here are my personal opinion
my place of ancestral origin..
a small town in the border region between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
a population of just over a lakh plus..
heart of the Bhojpuri culture..
home to political, literary and religious stalwarts..
It has been a land of sages and there ashrams like Valmiki, Bhrigu and Durvasa( do you know him or his temper). As per the latest records the Valmiki ashram was washed long back in flood but Bhrigu ashram do exist and has a ceremonial value in the Hindu pilgrimage.
The legends say that the name was derived from the Valmiki but another belief is that it has been derived from the sandy nature of the land of the place, locally known as "Ballua" (balu meaning sand).
Ballia is also known as Baghi Ballia (Rebel Ballia) for its significant contribution in India's freedom struggle. During the first Independence War of India in 1857, Ballia came in picture in when in Meerut Cantt the rebellion took place against Britishers. Shree Mangal Pandey who was that first freedom fighter of that war who was born in village Nagwa. He was first to fire the bullet and was later hanged by the Britishers. During the Quit India Movement
of 1942 Ballia gained independence from British rule for a short period of time when the district overthrew the government and installed an independent administration under Chittu Pandey. As my parents say he was the one who went to Collector office and killed him by his boots and declared himself as the District Collector. He ruled for seven days and then came the British cavalry on white horses(the old says so) and crushed the whole movement. All able bodied males were either killed or ran away and thus came the name BAAGI BALLIA!
Mangal Pandey(1857), Chitu Pandey(1942), Dr Ganesh Prasad(Renouned Mathematician), ChandraShekhar(Politician and former PM), Dr Hazari Prasad Dwivedi( Renouned Poet), Acharya Parashuram Chaturvedi ( litrary genious) and the very famous JP.. ie.Jay Prakash Narayan.. these are merely a few names which people know.. there must be scores which people don’t..
One of the famous thing is the Dadri mela- the cattle fair which is organized in october or november. It is one of the largest cattle fair of india, it has origin from the name of the Dadar muni who was student of Bhrigu rishi. It is a must visit as all the best of the bhojpuri culture is at its best there.
The contribution of this small town to the history of India is much more than significant but very poorly recognized.. and what I perceive.. its very poorly represented.. The number of people from this small town who have done good for themselves and their environment is endless.
When will this part which has immense talent , culture and heritage come on National map...
I AM FORCED TO THINK!!
*all written here are my personal opinion
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