Thought Kanpur sis believed to have a history that dates back to the time of Mahabharata, it is hard to find any recorded account up to 13th century. Before the advent of the Mughal era, Kanpur was supposedly ruled by Parihar kings, Bhoj and Mihir. The village of Kohna, which was later to become the modern city of Kanpur, was established by Raja Kanti deo of Prayag in 1207. Although Kanpur continued to survive and progress steadily all along its history, its first mention in the historical accounts was found only during the time of Sher Shah’s regime in 1579. Therefore, Kanpur’s development is unclear until the 13th century. Although no reference to Kanpur is found there are ancient legendary references to two of its suburbs, Jajmau and Bithoor, from which Kanpur’s origions can be derived Bithoor is located about 20 kilometers upstream of the river from the city and is approximately 10 kilometers from the IIT Kanpur Campus. Jajmau is about 8 kilometers east of Kanpur city and is nearly 20 kilometers downstream from the IIT Campus. The city of Kanpur is believed to have been founded by the Hindu King Chandel, of the erstwhile state of Sachendi. It was then called Kanhaiyapur, literally meaning the town of Kanhaiya (Lord Krishna). Over time the name was first shortened to Kanhapur and finally to Kanpur. The English Anglicized the name and called it Cawnpore. Other sources claim that the name of the town originated as Karanpur (after the famed Mahabharata character Karna), and yet others claim that is originated from the name of the nearby town Makanpur, home to the Madariya Sufi order.
Kanpur could probably hold the record as the city, with the maximum number of variations in the spelling of its name! Between 1770, when the British arrived here and now, it has changed some 20 times – every 11.24 years at an average. The list runs as follows: Cawanpoor, Caunpour, Caunpore, Cawnpour, Cawnpore, Kawnpore, Cawnpor, Cawnpour, Kaunpoor, Khanpore, Khanpura, Khanpore, Caunpoor, Khanpoor, Kannpur, Cawnpour, Caawnpore, Cawnpor, Cownpour, Cawnpore, and finally – Kanpur!
Kanpur was an important part of Aryavrat during the Arya-vedic civilization. Consequent to that and until the first half of 18th century, Kanpur continued its nondescript existence as a small town along the Gangetic shore. Under the Mughals, Kanpur was included in the Outh Subah (proince of Oudh), one of the 21 provinces that Aurangzeb’s Mughal Empire was divided into. Later, it came under the rule of the Nawabs of Oudh who, for all practical purposes remained independent of the tottering Mughal Empire, after Aurangzeb’s death. It was only in the second half of the 18th century that city came into prominence. In the month of May 1765, the British defeated Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab Wazir of Oudh in a battle at Jajmau; near Kanpur. Then, from 1773 to 1801, Kanpur remained as a part of the Oudh Kingdom. Kanpur came into British control under the treaty of 1801 with Nawab Saadat Ali Khan of Oudh. The British were quick to understand the strategic importance of the city of Kanpur; located as it was on the Grand Trunk road, alongside the shores of the river Ganges; both of which were major trade routes of their times. In a short period of time, Kanpur became treasured strategic asset as well as an important military station for the Britishers in India. It was declared a district on 24th March, 1803. During those times water transport was preferred over road and large cargo boats shipped goods up and down the river Ganges. The Britishers set up a trade post to collect octroi and issue cargo permits for goods arriving at the city and passing through it. This post became known as the Parmat ghat, derived from the English word– ‘Permit’. Like any typical cantonment town, the city was divided into two distinct areas – the military section and the rest of the city. Before the outbreak of 1857, the cantonment was located on a sprawling 10 square kilometers spread, housing the fifty thousand strong European population; whereas the sixty thousand Indian population were confined to a mere six hundred acres. The city progressed in economic terms with little hindrance, till the fateful year of 1857! Kanpur in the First Indian War of Independence In 1857, a string of events catapulted Kanpur from being the pride amongst the British army centres to becoming the epicenter of the first Indian War of independence. It started as an insidious rumour about the new cartridges being greased by the fat of pigs and cows – anathema to both Muslims and Hindus. This emotive issue led to the flare up of an anti-British war.
The three strategic events of the 1857 war at Kanpur were the fight at ‘Wheeler’s Entrenchment’, the ‘Massacre at Satee Chaura Ghat’ and the ‘Bibighar Massacre.’ In the 18th century, Kanpur has a garrison that hosued 7,000 soldiers. During the war, 900 soldiers were besieged for 22 days within their fortifications by the forces of Nana Sahib. The British forces had retreated into a shallow outpost called ‘Wheeler’s Entrenchment’, named after the commander of the garrison. The sniper fire and the bombardment continued until 23rd June, 1857, the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Massey. The Battle of Plassey, which took place on 23rd June, 1757 was one of the pivotal battles leading to the expansion of the British rule in India. One of the driving forces of the rebellion by sepoys, was a prophecy that predicted the downfall of East India Company rule in India exactly one hundred years after the Battle of Plassey phis prompted the rebel soldiers under Nana Sahib to launch a major attack on the British entrenchment on 23rd June, 1857. However, they were unable to gain an entry into the entrenchment by the end of the day. The British surrendered on the condition that they would be granted safe passage of the Satee Chaura Ghat from where they could board barges for Allahabad. The soldiers were taken to the Ghat, and in a series of events that are unclear, they were massacred. Though the Britishers accused Nana Sahib of masterminding the massacre, no factual evidence has been found to corroborate this charge. Many were killed and the remaining 200 odd British women and children were brought back to shore and sent to a building called Bibighar (ladies home). When it became apparent that the Britishers under General Henry Havelock were certain to overrun the town, the leaders thought of executing the hostages. When the soldiers refused, butchers were brought from a neighbouring town to execute the task. The dismembered bodies of these hapless victims were thrown into a well. When the British army under General Neil captured the city, they formed an Army of Retribution to extract a chilling revenge. Untold atrocities were perpetrated on the defenceless sepoys, men, women and children left behind in Kanpur. This gory incident is called as the `Kanpur Massacre'. It was destined to be the predecessor of the many periodic bloodlettings that occurred in Kanpur, caused in the name of the Hindu Muslim divide or other factors. After the British forces took contra a memorial railing and a cross were raised at the site of the well, which was subsequently bricked over. Today, the Kanpur Memorial Church – The All Souls Cathedral stands in honour of those who fell at the north east corner of Wheeler’s Entrenchment. This cathedral was built in the year 1862. The first Indian War of independence bathed Kanpur in blood and is a reminder of its historic importance in the affairs of the nation. After the First Indian War of Independence, Kanpur went on to become an important trade, business and industrial centre and one of the country’s largest producers of leather goods and textiles.
