History
of Allahabad
The city of Allahabad is among the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh and situated
at the confluence of three rivers- Gana, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati.
The meeting point is known as Triveni and is especially sacred to Hindus. The
earlier setlemets of the Aryans were established in this city, then known as
Prayag” Prayagasya Praveshshu Papam Nashwati Tatkshanam. All sins arre
cleaned with entry in Prayag ( the ancient name of modern time Allahabad) PRAYAG
is one of the historic & mythological cities of India with glorious past
and present. It continues to enjoy the distinction of being a place of haunting
and lasting meories. It is a city of mixed culture of Hindu,Muslims, Jains and
Christans.
Its sanctity is manifest by references to it in Purans, the Ramayan and the
Mahabharata. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Brahma, the creator God of the
Trinity, chose a land on earth(ie Prayag) to perform ‘Prakrista Yag’,
at the beginning of the creation and he also refereed to it as Tirth raj or
the King of all piligrimage centres’ As per writing of ‘Padam Puran’
– “As the sun is amongst the moon and the moon amongst the stars,
likewise ‘Prayag is best amongst all places of pilgrimage”
The bathing at Prayag is mentioned in Brahma Puran s “ in the month of
Magha at the bank of Ganga Yamuna in Prayag bestows results of millions and
millions of Ashvmedha Yajna”
Prayag is birth place of Som, Varuna and Prjapati. Prayag has been associated
with mythological personalites in Brahmanical(Vedic) and Buddhist Literatures.
It was the seat of the great sge Bhardwaj, sage Durvasa and Sage Pannas sage
Bhardwaj lived here circa 5000BC anf taught more than 10000 disciples. He was
the greatest philospher of ancient world.
The Present Jhunsi area cery close to sangam was the kingdom of Chandrabanshiya
( lunar clan ) king Pururava. Nearby Kaushambi bloomed to prosperety during
Vatsa and Maurya Rule. The earliest monument of antiques Ashok Piller with incriptions
of third century B.C. cears the incriptions of his directions to his fellow
rajas and praise of King Samudragupta. The Chinese traveler Huan Tsang in 643
BC found Prayag inhabited by many Hindus who regarded the place very Holy.
1575 AD Emperor Akbar fonded the city in by the name of “ ILLAHABAS”
which has now become ALLAHABAD meant “ The City of Allaha” impressed
with the strategic importance of the SANGAM. In medieval India the city enjoyed
the honour of being the religio-cultural center of India. For a long time it
was Provincial capital of the Mughals. Later it was captured by Marathas.
1801 AD British History of the city begun in this year when the Nawab of Oudh
ceded it to the British Throne. British army used the fort for their miletary
purposes.
1857 AD The town was the centre of war of Independence and later became the
crucible of Indian Freedom Movment against British.
1858 AD The East India Company officially handed over India to British Goverenment
here at Minto Park After the first war of independence the town was named “ALLAHABAD”
and was made the capital of United Provience of Agra and Oudh.
1868 AD it become a seat of Justice wjen Allahabd High Court was established.
1871 AD British architect Sir William Emerson erected a majestic monument All
Saint Cathdral thirty years before he designed the Victoria Memorial in Kolkkata.
1887 AD Allahabad become the fourth oldest University. Allahabad has been rich
in numerous Victorian and Georgian buildings made in synthesis with Indian architectural
tradions.
This city was the heart of the indian Freedom Movement against the British rule
with Anand Bhawan being the epicentre, It was in Allahabad the Mahatama Gandhi
proposed his program of non-violent resistance to liberate India. Allahabad
has provided the largest number of prime ministers of Post independence India
Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, V.P.Singh.
Former Prime Minister Chandreshekhra was student of Allahabad university.
Allahabad is basically an Adminstrative and Educational city. High Court of
Uttar Pradesh, Auditor Genral of Uttar Pradesh, Principal Controller of Defence
Accounts ( Pension ) PCDA, Uttar Pradesh Madhymik Shiksha Prishad ( UP BOARD
) office, Police HeadQtrs and in edeucation Moti Lal Nehru Regional Engg. College
MNREC, Medical and Agriculture College , Indian Institute of Information Technology
( IIIT )
ITI Naini and IIFCO Phulpur , Triveni Glass are some of major industries here.
From the days of civilization Allahabd has been seat of learning, wisdom and
writing. It is the most vibrant politically spritually consious and spritually
awakened city of India.
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