Kakrala is a city and municipal board in Badaun district in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located to the East of the district Headquarter. It is 14 km from Badaun. the term Kakrala originates from the apbhramsha Kakrabad. The most population of this town are consisting Muslims, as the culture of India suggests, the town is also diverse in terms of religion, festivals, etc. India has a unique culture of unity in diversity, the same phenomenon has occurred in this town also. In the vista of towns of this state one distinguishes Kakrala as quite significant. In fact, Kakrala is the name of a city which has a well British era municipal board.It is situated approximately at 27.9 deg N 79.2 deg E. It has an average height of 160 meters or 524 feet.
The discovery of Indian town or city becomes complete with the knowledge of its current demographic scenario. In order to meet the objectives, numerous demographers have organized surveys and research works and thus brought out significant information about Kakrala city. Regarding this, the Census report is praiseworthy. Data like population, literacy rate, etc. can be deduced from this report. According to this report, Kakrala city has got a total population measurement of 40,081. Females are less in number than their male counterparts. This becomes obvious from the literacy rates of both males and females. In other words, male populace constitutes 53%, while the total population of females comprises 57%. Information about the children who are residing in Kakrala too can be deduced. Thus, children, who are below six years of age, constitute 20% of the total population of Kakrala. The literacy rate adds to the information of this Kakrala city. Most of the population are Muslim Rajputs.
Kakrala fought the British Government from 1914 to 1919.
Many incidents in Indian history show the prominence of the Rajputs of Rajasthan in terms of military strategy and their audacity in the battlefield.
Bhatti Rajputs, who do belong to the same family of the great Rajputs, are famous for their respect to the motherland and their love for integrity and impartiality. These Bhatti Rajputs are nowadays based in a small town near the district Budaun. This small town, with a population of just 60 thousand, is known as Kakrala. They came into the mainstream in 1610 AD, when they seized Noorjahaan into their custody from Vardhaman in Bengal. They took her to Agra after defeating Sher Afghan in a battle.
Later Noorjahaan ruled over India on the name of Jehaangir. In that state of affairs, where the entire modus operandi was changed and came into the hands of the same lady they carried off earlier, it became impossible for the Bhatti Rajputs to live in Agra.
In response to it, they left Agra and took shelter at some anonymous place. They remained there until the death of Jehaangir. Later on her wife Noorjahaan wanted her son-in-law to be throned. But in these circumstances Bhatti Rajputs played very important role in forming the next political administration under the leadership of Shahjehan. It was in their exile, they changed their religion and outfits. It was a major transformation in terms of the socio-politico scenario. Though these transformations were going on in a large scale, they didn’t marry their boys and girls in other communities.
Many Persian words, spoken in then royal courts of Rajasthan and Agra, can be found in their local language or dialect to date. This community’s political contributions remain as they were during the reigns of Shahjahaan and Muhammad Shah Rangeeley. But when they found the administration is not going with the will of an ordinary man, they again left the capital city and returned to Kakrala to earn their living.
In 1857, a number of changes were brought forward by the East India Company in India. There was restlessness. Nawab of Oudh, Rani Laxmibai and Tantya Tope wanted free India from the East India Company. The despotic approach and suppressive nature of the Company was the cause. In this grave situation they unanimously chose Bahadur Shah Zafar as their leader and struggled against the Company. They concluded that the war should be fought across India at once. Rohella chieftain Hafiz Rahmat Khan played a major role in expanding this war in Rohelkhand and assembling many supporters. Hafiz Rahat Khan wanted Bhatti Rajputs to help him in this important war against the East India Company, since they had military experience. He requested to Bahadur Shah Zafar and asked him for the help of Bhatti Rajputs. In response to it Bahadur Shah Zafar sent his son Feroz Shah to Kakrala to seek help of the Bhatti Rajputs in the war against the Company. Feroz Shah praised their courage in the field of honor and asked them to help at the time. Bhatti Rajputs warmly welcomed the request and showed their renowned hospitality. It was an important time for the crop in entire north India. Most of the people in Kakrala were in their wheat fields. On the spur of the moment their sickles were replaced with swords.
Kakrala became the epicenter of politics at that time. The patriots from different parts of the country had already gathered there and it was the time for Hafiz Ahmed Shah and his army to enter Kakrala through Bareilly. Inhabitants of Kakrala established their base camps at Mahhra, in the west side of Kakrala. As the army of Hafiz Ahmad Shah and his supporters from Kakrala were assembling at these base camps, British government chose Brigadier Kunk to destroy the base camps and to repress the proposed movement. Many of his troops were killed in this clash. Seeing this defeat, the British government sent a war specialist General Penny to repress the revolt of 1857.
As soon as he came on to the front of Kakrala, there was bloody fighting. Patriots from Kakrala broke the formation of British troops and shoved General Penny to the bridge located at the west side of Kakrala. An artilleryman was waiting and when his canon fired, the General’s body was ripped apart.
Mangal Khan, Sardaar Khan, Ghulami Khan, Rahman Khan, Chhahram Khan, Dilawar Khan, Vaasal Khan and Faujdar Khan individually played very important roles on their own particular fronts.
But the people of Kakrala have not even issued the certificate of Freedom Fighter, whereas the authorities or government’s gazette have already verified the evidence.
When the revolt of 1857 was about to end in the entire country, the British government focused on Kakrala to avenge General Penny’s assassination. So the British government retaliated by confiscating the natives’ land. People were forced to grow indigo instead of wheat in their fields. A huge government building was constructed there to store indigo. The place is known as Kothi in Kakrala. A huge jail was also constructed to punish revolutionaries and freedom fighters. Everyday five prisoners were publicly executed to frighten civilians.
When Indians elsewhere learned of the repression in Kakrala, they requested Queen Victoria to look into the matter personally. Finally, the suppression and brutality ended.
History
The history of Kakrala goes back to the Mughal era and the town was founded at the same time, at that time the town was covered with dense forests. The mass level immigration took place from the Hanumangarh (erstwhile Bhatner) Rajasthan. Most of them were Rajputs. Now, it has more than one lakh population. There is also a Dargah of Shah Dargahi Muhammad Faiz Baksh. This Dargah is also popular as Ziarat Shareef. A madrasa is also running with the cooperation of Saqlaini Academy, Bareilly.
Geography
Kakrala is located at 27.89222°N 79.19528°E. This place is situated in Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, India, its geographical coordinates are 27° 54′ 0″ North, 79° 12′ 0″ East and its original name (with diacritics) is Kakrāla. The average temperature in winter is 25 °C (77 °F), and can reach up to 38 °C (100 °F) in summer..
Agriculture
The land in and around Kakrala is very fertile. The town produces guavas, sugar cane, wheat, and other agricultural products at a large scale. Agriculture is the most important business in kakrala. Some areas of lands having sandy soil which is suitable for the Potatoes, Sweet potatoes, and peanuts.
Demographics
As of 2011 India census, Kakrala had a population of 105000. Males constituted 52.71% of the population while females constituted 47.28%. Kakrala has an average literacy rate of 57.96%: male literacy is 61.69%, and female literacy is 53.76%.