Rath, India

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Rath | type = city | latd = 25.58 | longd = 79.57
locator_position = right | state_name = Uttar Pradesh
district = Hamirpur
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altitude = 165
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 55,938| population_density =
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Rath is a city and a municipal board in Hamirpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

History

According to the general belief in the town, Rath name has come from the word "Virat". It is believed to be Virat Nagari where Pandavas remained in hiding for one year. Nobody knows the validity of the facts but there are many beliefs related to it. Virat was the king of Virat Nagari on whose name the city was named as Virat Nagari. All the Pandavas along with Draupadi remained in Virat Nagri for a year in hiding (Agyatvas).Yudhishthir was a courtier who used to play Chaupar (the game of dice).Bheem was a cook. Arjun lived as Brihannala, a dance teacher to Uttara who was later married to his son abhimanyu. Draupadi was a maid to the queen. The brother of queen. Keechak, tried to lure Draupadi and was killed by Bheema near a pond. Dhupakali pond in the city is believed to be the pond where Bheema killed Keechak.

Rath is the home tehsil of two great Indian freedom fighters and the father of the freedom movement in the whole of Bundelkhand, Dewan Shatrughan Singh [aka 'Bundelkhand Gandhi' & 'Bundelkhand Kesri'] & his wife Rani Rajendra Kumari. These were the two fountain heads of the freedom movement in all of Bundelkhand. They also were the main patrons of revolutionaries like Chandrashekhar Azad who frequented their Castle in their native village of Maungrauth. The Rani defeated the sitting UP Chief Minister C.B. Gupta as an independent candidate. They were also the main inspiration behind the Bhoodaan movement in Bundelkhand and Maungraut changed the history of the movement by becoming the first complete Gramdaan.

Numerous scholars have done PhD's on the life of these 2 great Indian patriots. There is an annual mela on the birthday of these two stalwarts held annually in Maungrauth in December and is attended by over 40,000 people. They opened numerous colleges and libraries in the Bundelkhand region and none were named after them. The district hospital of Hamirpur is named after Dewan Sahib after his death.

Despite being from one of the most affluent families in Central India this couple sacrificed everything for the nation and donated their lands to the poor even prior to 1947. They were in British jails for the freedom struggle for over 9 years each. They are now the subject of folk tales and songs highlighting their bravery and hailing them as symbols of Bundelkhandi valor.

In the struggle for Freedom, Krantikari Pundit Parmanand gave his life for the country.
Swami Brahmanand, who also remained Member of Parliament from Hamirpur Constituency, is known as Bundelkhand Malviya. He was born in a village Barahara. All his life, he struggled for the development of the region. He also founded an Inter college and a Postgraduate College in the city. Students from Bihar and Kashmir also come here to get agricultural education. He is known as Bundelkhand Malaviya due to his contribution towards education in the city.

Geography

Rath is located at coord|25.58|N|79.57|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Rath.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Rath] ] . It has an average elevation of 165 metres (541 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Rath had a population of 55,938. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Rath has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 50%. In Rath, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999 India census 2001, Table 3] from Web Archive;]

References