Charkhi Dadri is a city and headquarters of Charkhi Dadri district in the state of Haryana located in southern Haryana, India, about 90 km from the national capital Delhi. The town was made by joining the villages of Charkhi and Dadri after urban development. Charkhi Dadri is on NH 148B between Narnaul to Bathinda and NH 348B between Meerut to Pilani segment passing through the city.
Etymology
Dadri is derived from a lake called Dadar which was full of dadur (Sanskrit: frog) from which it took its current name. To distinguish Dadri from other similarly named places in the area, sometimes Dadri’s name was appended to the nearby village of Charkhi. After India became independent, in recognition of the contribution of people of Charki village during the first war of independence in 1857 against the British colonial rule and Praja Mandala movement against the oppressive rule of the Jind State, the government officially named the town as Charkhi-Dadri.
When Ramkrishna Dalmia, the founder of Dalmia Group, established a cement factory at Dadri during the rule of Jind State, the town was renamed as “Dalmia Dadri” on request of Sir Ganga Ram Kaul who was then Chief Minister of Jind State, which was renamed to “Charkhi Dadri” when Jind State was merged with Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) in 1948.
History
Early history
The town was founded around the 14th century by Bilhan Singh.
According to the oral tradition, he saw a cow and lion drinking water side by side at dadur lake. Intrigued by the sight, he went to a nearby cottage where a Mahatma named Swami Dayal lived. Bilhan Singh sought Mahatma’s blessings and was told that if he made the place his home, his family would be blessed and would rule over it in the future.
Mughal era
During the medieval times, Dadri was also a pargana (district) and riyasat (state). Mughal emperors Akbar and Farrukhsiyar both issued firmans (housed in Red Fort Archaeological Museum and “Rao Harnarian Singh Dhan Collection of Charkhi Dadri” respectively) to grant land to zamindars as “madad-i-mash” (subsistence allowance). In 1780 CE, mughal emperor Shah Alam II bestwowed the title of Rao of some Brahmins of the town.
British colonial era
In 1806, British raj gave Charkhi Dadri to Nawab of Jhajjhar, the ruler of a princely state who stayed in power till 1857. Charkhi Dadri tract had an area of 575sq miles and revenue of Rs 10,3000 annually. In 1857 war, the Nawab of Dadri, Bahadur Jung Khan who had given token allegiance to Emperor ˞BahadurShah Zafar, surrendered to British and tried by military court-martial in Delhi on 27 Nov. 1857. He was removed to Lahore. Dadri was awarded to Raja Sarup Singh of Jind for his services to EIC in the 1857 war. In May 1864, some fifty villages revolted against his descendant Raja Raghbir Singh but the rebellion was crushed. Three principal villages which took part in the rebellion, Charkhi, Mankinas and Jhanjhu, were burned down. Notable Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian scholars lived here as evident by the collection of Sanskrit and Persian manuscripts by Rao Uttam Singh, a teacher to the King of Jind State.
1996 mid-air collision
Charkhi Dadri came to media attention when, on 12 November 1996, a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 struck a Saudia Boeing 747 in the sky above the village, causing both jets to crash into the fields below. The collision resulted in the deaths of all 349 people on board both aircraft. It was the deadliest mid-air collision on record, the deadliest aviation disaster that left no survivors, the deadliest aviation disaster in India, as well as the third-deadliest aviation disaster of all time (Not including 9/11).
Formation of district
Previously in Bhiwani district, Charkhi Dadri became part of the new Charkhi Dadri district in 2016. According hssc 16 Nov 2016
Historic monuments
There are some historic places in the city which include Shyamesar Lake and Dayal Temple to name a few.
- Baba Shami Dayal Samadhi and temple:
Most ancient monument in the town is the Samadhi of Baba Shami Dayal, who is Jathera (also called Dhok) of Phogat gotra of Jats, holds an annual fair on 8th day of Bhado month of Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar.
- Shyamesar lake: