Etawah (IAST: Iṭāvā), also known as Ishtikapuri, is a city situated on the banks of Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Etawah District. Etawah's population of 256,838 (as per 2011 population census) makes it the 180th most populous city in India. The city lies southeast of the national capital New Delhi, northwest of the state capital Lucknow, east of Agra, northeast of Gwalior, northeast of Bhind, 55 km (34.40 mi) from Mainpuri, 156 km (106 mi) west of Kanpur and 360 km (225 mi) from Prayagraj. The city was an important centre for the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It is also the sangam or confluence of the Yamuna and Chambal rivers. It is the 26th most populous city in Uttar Pradesh. There are six revenue divisions in Etawah district-Etawah, Bharthana, Jaswantnagar, Saifai, Chakarnagar and Takha.In the medieval times Etawah was ruled by various rulers like Sultans of Delhi, Mughals and most notably in the late 13th Century to early 16th century by the Tomaras of Gwalior who came from Delhi and settled in Gwalior and ruled the adjacent areas.
Demographics
As per the 2011 census, Etawah city had a population of 256,790, of which males were 135,829, and females were 120,961 - an increase of 22% from 211,460 in 2001 census. (The entire Etawah district had a population of 1,581,810 in 2011.) The literacy rate was 82.89 per cent. Hinduism is majority religion in Etawah city with 74.64% followers. Islam is second most popular religion in city of Etawah, with approximately 23.61% following it. In Etawah city, Christianity is followed by 0.19%, Jainism by 1.05%, Sikhism by 0.24% and Buddhism by 0.24%. Around 0.01% stated 'Other Religion', approximately 0.19% stated 'No Particular Religion'.
Main spoken languages are Hindi (98.20%), Urdu (1.75%), and Sindhi (0.01%)
Total no. of Slums in Etawah city numbers 5,528 in which population of 33,188 resides. This is around 12.92% of total population of Etawah city.Census 2011
Name During Medevial era the king of Chauhan dynasty Sumershah had gone to the bank of the Yamuna river in Etawah, where he saw an incredible act of nature. He saw a goat and a wolf drinking water together on the bank of the Yamuna. After seeing this incident, the king went to astrologers and consulted about the incident, who advised him to build a fort at the place where the wolf and the goat were drinking water together. According to astrological calculation, building a fort would benefit the king. When construction work of the fort started at the decided location, then, while digging foundation the laborers working there found a brick of gold and silver, which made them excited and they started shouting "Eeet Mili, Eeet Mili" after hearing which the place was named as "Eeet Aaya" which later turned into 'Etawah'.
Etawah is still sometimes referred to as the city of bricks and both tradition and the appearance of the ground suggest that the modern city was founded on an ancient Khera or town site, so that it is not improbable that the existence of old bricks or old brick kilns may have led to its present name. According to some scholars, the region from Bateshwar in district Agra to Bhareh was known as 'Ishtapath' and there are a large number of temples of Lord Siva, who was 'Isht Dev' of the people of that region. From the word 'Isht' the town was given the name of Ishtkapuri a reference to which is found in Bhavishya Puran.District Census handbook
History
Ancient era
It is believed that the land existed right from the Bronze Age in the medieval times. It once formed part of the ancient Janapada of Panchala which is said to have extended from the foot of the Himalayas in the north to the river Chambal in the south. This region rose into great prominence during the period of Mahabharata. Many local traditions are attached to the modern Chakar Nagar which is a tehsil nearby which most probably seems to be Ekchakra mentioned in Mahabharata. It was Ekchakra where Pandavas along with their mother Kunti spent their secret abode of one year during the period of their exile. There is a belief that the city was founded by King Bharat. During the fourth century A.D., Guptas once again established imperial unity in India. The Chinese traveler Fa-Hien also visited a city named 'A-lo i.e. Alvi', which has been identified with modern Airwa nearly town, and spent his treat at the Dragon Shrine. Fa-Hien described it as "a city near a large forest" (atavi). There are the remains of Buddhist and Jain temples evidently of every ancient date in large number. In the ninth and tenth centuries, this region was under the rule of Gurjara Pratihara rulers. The conquest of Kannauj by Nagabhata II handed Gurjjaras control over this region. But the place was said to be evolved as an affluent region under Mihira Bhoja, the Gurjara Pratihara King.Uttar Pradesh District Factbook
With the coronation of Harsha as a king (in 606 AD) the city came under the Thaneshwer Kingdom. Hiuen Tsang in his works has also dwelt upon the prosperity of this region.
Medieval Era The defeat of Jaichandra of Kannauj in the Battle of Chandawar in 1193 A.D at the hands of Shahab-ud-din Ghori, the city passed under influence of Muslim power, which by end of the century held in different degrees of subjection the whole of North India except Malwa and some contiguous districts. Muslim rule in Etawah faced Maratha invasion for short period within their rule in Etawah. However, the local history of the city during the early years of the thirteenth century is more or less the account of the settlement and emergence of certain Rajput clans. The Gaurs occupied part of Phaphund and Bidhuna near the Kanpur boundary, both falling in turn to Chandelas of Mahoba. The Chauhans occupied the western portion of the district, with extensive tracts now in Mainpuri. During this period; however, some disturbance related to tax arouse in Nasir-ud-din Muhammad Shah's rule, yet these issues were put to end by Tomar ruler of Gwalior in 1390. In 1400–1401 Mallu Iqbal Khan marched towards this region and was opposed by Rai Sumar Singh or Sabir of Etawah and other Zamindars of the vicinity on the banks of the Ab-i-Siyah (Kali Nadi) near Patiali. The opposing army of Rai was defeated and chased down to the confines of Etawah where they took shelter.
Etawah was associated with various important historical events like Jaunpur Campaign, reigns of rulers like Bahlul Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi, Babur, Humayun and Akbar. In the fourth year of Akbar's reign, Bahadur Khan, a younger brother of Ali Quli Khan, was granted the Jagir of Etawah at the insistence of Maham Anka, the foster mother of the Emperor. After this, Etawah district underwent major changes during reign of Rohillas and the Oudh Government.
Colonial Era The cession on 10 November 1801, the city was made over to the British Government by the Nawab Saadat Ali Khan together with the rest of the lower Doab and other tracts. This action was taken in return for a guarantee of protection, and by way of payment for the maintenance of the Oadh local forces which were ultimately stationed at Kanpur. Still for some years Etawah was threatened with Maratha inroads, while scenes occurred with the zamindars in the earlier years of the British administration which recall the experiences of the imperial officers in the 16th century, and it was not until the zamindars of Saudaus, Sahson and Kamait had been finally settled with in 1816 A.D.
The Revolt of 1857 On 25 December 1857, a British Column arrived in the city. Kunwar Johar Singh now surrounded and blew up the Etawah tahsil building from where Taj Khan was resisting the British advance. On 6 January 1858, the British reoccupied Etawah, but struggle was hardly crushed.
Freedom Struggle In 1907, rumours were afloated in Etawah that Zorawar Singh Nigam, had organized a conspiracy to throw out the British. But on enquiry it was found baseless and a person Khalil who was responsible for the rumour, was arrested and sentenced. In 1914–15, the city came into prominence as a centre of revolutionary activity when Genda Lal Dixit, a teacher at Auraiya nearby town, formed the Shivaji Samitti with object of liberating the country. Gendalal Dixit had also organized a group of young men called 'Matri-Vedi'.
In 1920 Mahatma Gandhi launched his non-cooperation movement all over the country. In Etawah, the response of the people to this movement was enthusiastic and wide spread. In 1920–21, the district congress committee was formed with Maulana Rahamat Ullah as its president. In 1925, Jyoti Shankar Dixit of Etawah was arrested in connection with the Kakori conspiracy case but later released. In 1928, boycott of the Simon Commission; followed by; the civil disobedience movement in 1930 and Quit India Movement 1942 were started in Etawah, as in other parts of the country.
After Independence of India till January 1974, 548 freedom fighters were awarded Tamra Patras, i.e. copper plates containing a record of the services rendered by them or their forebears.
Municipal Council, Etawah
Municipal Council, Etawah was founded through Notificatin-332 date 11 July 1884 on 16 August 1884. At that time district was divided into 10 wards. Now it has 36 wards . The chairman is Jyoti Santu Gupta with Executive Officer Shri Anil Kumar .
+ Director Sr.No Name 1 Mr. Kushagra Singh (Aadi)
+ Ex-officio members Sr.No Name of Ex-officio members Position Name of 1 Mr. Ansar Ahmad Member of Parliament Kalikabre, Etawah 2 Mr. Rajendra Sngh Kushwaha MLA, Sadar Tulsi Adda, Etawah
+ Elected Ward Members Ward no. Name of elected candidate Director/ Member Name of ward 1 Mr. Gambhir Singh Member K.F.M Khan II 2 Mr. Ravi Kumar Member Friends Colony II 3 Mr. Abhay Singh Member Katra Balsingh I 4 Mr. Arvind Member Sundarpur 5 Mr. Dilip Kumar Dubey Member Katra Sahab Khan 6 Mr. Jayveer Singh Member Friends Colony III 7 Mrs. Shanti Devi Member Gaadipura 8 Mr. Mahendra Kumar Member Vijay Nagar III 9 Mrs. Madhu Member Civil Line I 10 Mrs. Usha Devi Member Mewati Tola 11 Mr. Mohammad Anees Member Sabitganj 12 Ms. Mithilesh Member Vijay Nagar I 13 Mrs. Rajanshri Member Purabia Tola Nalapar 14 Mrs. Neelam Dubey Member Karanpura 15 Mrs. Uma Member Friends Colony I 16 Mrs. Santosh Kumari Member Lalpura 17 Mr. Shabir Member Shahgraan 18 Mrs. Roopkiran Verma Member Ghatiya Ajmat Ali II 19 Mr. Deepak Member Chaugurji 20 Mrs. Manju Devi Member Vijay Nagar II 21 Mr. ratnesh Member Ashok Nagar I 22 Mr. Srikrishna Yadav Member Ghatiya Ajmat Ali II 23 Mr. Imran Hashmi Member Katra Shamsher Khan 24 Mrs. Lilavati Member K.F.M Khan I 25 Mr. Vimal Member Maksoodpura 26 Mrs. Nazma Member Chhipaiti 27 Mrs. Ruby Begum Member Bairuntola 28 Mr. Iqbal Member Pathvaria 29 Mr. Sharad Bajpayee Member Akalganj 30 Mr. Sunil Member Ashok Nagar II 31 Mrs. Pushpa Member Civil Line II 32 Mr. Shafeek Mast Khan Member Urdu Mohalla 33 Mr. Udayraj Singh Member Ashok Nagar III 34 Mr. Mohd Iliyaas Member Naurangabad 35 Mr. Anil Member Katra Balsingh II 36 Mr. Vaibhav Kumar Member Purabia Tola Pajava
+ Elected by Government Header text Name of elected candidate 1 Mr. Mohd Nazir Ansari 2 Mr. rakesh Yadav 3 Mr. Amit Soni 4 Mr. Ramesh Prajapati
Climate
The climate is a hot semi arid climate (Koppen: BSh), being slightly too dry to be considered a humid subtropical climate (Koppen: Cwa).
Communal Clashes In 1885 when Dussehra and Muharram coincided, communal disturbances broke out between the Hindus and the Muslims.
Economy
Gross District Domestic Product (At Current Price) 9,24,258 Lakhs (2015–16) Gross District Domestic Product (At Constant) 6,96,774 Lakhs (2011–12) Net District Domestic Product (At Current Price) 8,20,371 Lakhs (2015–16) Net District Domestic Product 6,10,494 Lakhs (2011–12) Per Capita Income (NDDP, At Factor Cost)(At Current Price) 48,850 (2015–16) Per Capita Income (NDDP, At Factor Cost)(At Constant) 36,353 (2011–12)