Kakori

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kakori | type = city | latd = 26.88 | longd = 80.8
locator_position = right | state_name = Uttar Pradesh
district = Lucknow
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altitude = 121
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 16,731| population_density =
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Kakori (Hindi: काकोरी, Urdu: کاکوری) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Lucknow district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated 14 km north of Lucknow. More widely known for its Kebabs, Zardozi work and Dasheri mangoes, Kakori is also the centre of once flourishing Urdu poetry, Literature and Qadiriya Qalandari Sufi Order.

Kakori is famous for producing hundreds of civil servants in British India who served all over the country. It was the leading town in Oudh along with Rudauli and Mahmoodabad that supplemented the culture of Lucknow. Kakori is also the main abode of two branches of Hashemites clan of the Quraish Tribe, namely Alavi and Abbasi since fifteenth Century. The Alavi (often spelt as Alvi) branch claim their lineage to Ali, the fourth Caliph and prophet Mohammed's cousin and his son in-law. However, this branch claim their lineage to Ali through his son "Muhammad bin Hanafiyah", with his wife Khaula Al-Hanifiyah. The Alavi of Kakori also referred as Moulvizadigan (Moulvis) or Makhdoomzadigan (Makhdooms) depending whether they are descendant of Mulla Abu Bakr Jami Alavi, who settled in Kakori in 1460 or descendant of Qari Amir Saifuddin Alavi, who settled in Kakori in 1552. The Abbasi branch claims their lineage to Al-Abbas, an uncle of the prophet Muhammad. The Abbasi of Kakori also referred as Qazizadigan (Qazi's), indicating that they are the descendants of Qazi Shaikh "Klan (elder or Senior)" Abbasi, who settled in Kakori after his appointment as the first Qazi of Kakori by the Royal Court of Delhi in 1490. Kakori is famous for its mangoes, kebabs, palatial houses of Muslim gentry of Oudh and numerous mosques. The town is the seat of the Qadiria Qalandaria Sufi order and the Urs attracts thousands every year. The greatest poet of 'naat' genre of Urdu poetry Mohsin Kakorvi, his son Noorul Hasan Nayyier, the compilerof Nurul Lughaat, one of the authentic Urdu Dictionary to date and the satirist Ghulam Ahmed AlaviFurqat Kakorvi all belonged to this town.

It is also known for the Kakori train robbery. On August 9 1925 several revolutionaries including Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh, Gajodhar Singh, Rajendra Lahri, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Manmathnath Gupta, etc. stopped a train near the town and looted the government treasury traveling in it. A memorial to the revolutionaries is located in the town.

A crater on Mars is named after the town.

Geography

Kakori is located at coord|26.88|N|80.8|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Kakori.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kakori] ] . It has an average elevation of 121 metres (396 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Kakori had a population of 16,731. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Kakori has an average literacy rate of 46%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 51%, and female literacy is 40%. In Kakori, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Trivia

Kakori is one of the Indian towns which has a Martian crater named after it. The other cities/towns are Amet, Bhor, Broach, Poona (Pune), Rayadurg, Sandila and Wer

References