Ghazipur Arms Conspiracy Case
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Ghazipur, is a city in the state of
Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
, India. Ghazipur city is the administrative headquarters of the
Ghazipur district Ghazipur district is a Districts of Uttar Pradesh, district of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The city of Ghazipur is the district headquarters. The district is part of Varanasi Division. The region of Ghazipur is famous mainly for the ...
, one of the four districts that form the
Varanasi division Varanasi division is one of the 18 administrative geographical units (i.e. division) of the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi city is the administrative headquarters of the division. The division consists of 4 districts, i.e. ...
of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the Ganges (Ganga) River near the border with Bihar state, about 40 miles (65 km) northeast of Varanasi (Benares).The city of Ghazipur also constitutes one of the seven distinct
tehsils A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ce ...
, or subdivisions, of the Ghazipur district. Ghazipur is located near the eastern border with
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
, approximately 80 km (50 mi) east of Varanasi. The city is internationally recognized for housing the world's largest legal
opium Opium (also known as poppy tears, or Lachryma papaveris) is the dried latex obtained from the seed Capsule (fruit), capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid mor ...
factory, established in 1820 by the
British East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
. This historic facility continues to operate under government regulation and plays a significant role in the global pharmaceutical industry by producing opium-derived medicines.


History

As per verbal and folk history, Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the
Vedic era The Vedic period, or the Vedic age (), is the period in the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age of the history of India when the Vedic literature, including the Vedas (–900 BCE), was composed in the northern Indian subcontinent, between the e ...
and it was a place for the ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the
Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
period.
Jamadagni Jamadagni () is a sage in Hindu literature. He is regarded in Hindu tradition to be one of the Saptarishi (Seven Vedic sages) in the 7th, and the current age of Manvantara.Avalon, Arthur ( Sir John Woodroffe) (1913, reprint 1972) (tr.) ''Ta ...
, the father of
Parashurama Parashurama (), also referred to as Rama Jamadagnya, Rama Bhargava and Virarama, is the sixth avatar among the Dashavatara of the preserver god Vishnu in Hinduism. Hindu tradition holds him to be the destroyer of the evil on Earth. According t ...
, is said to have resided here.
Gautama Maharishi Gautama (, ), was a sage in Hinduism and son of Brahmin sage Dirghatamas who is also mentioned in Jainism and Buddhism. Gautama is mentioned in the Yajurveda, Ramayana, and Ganesha Purana, Gaṇeśa Pūrana and is known for cursing his wife Ahal ...
and
Chyavana Chyavana () was a sage (rishi) in Hinduism. He was a son of Bhrigu, also known as Bhrigu Varuni in the Upanishads, and is known for his rejuvenation through a special herbal paste (ayurvedic jam) or tonic known as '' chyavanaprasham'', which ...
are believed to have taught and delivered sermons here in the ancient period.
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
gave his first sermon in
Sarnath Sarnath (also known as Deer Park, ''Sarangnath'', ''Isipatana Deer Park'', ''Rishipattana'', ''Migadaya'', or ''Mrigadava'')Gabe Hiemstra, "Buddha Chronicle 24: Kassapa Buddhavaṃsa". ''Wisdom Library'', 14 September 2019. is a town nort ...
, which is not far from here. Some sources state that the original name was Gadhipur, which was renamed around 1330 after Ghazi Malik. A 30 ft. high Ashoka Pillar is situated in Latiya, a village 30 km away from the city near Zamania Tehsil is a symbol of Mauryan Empire. It was declared a monument of national importance and protected by the archeological survey of India. In the report of tours in that area of 1871–72
Alexander Cunningham Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham (23 January 1814 – 28 November 1893) was a British Army engineer with the Bengal Sappers who later took an interest in the history and archaeology of India. In 1861, he was appointed to the newly crea ...
wrote, "The village receives its name from a stone lat, or monolith".


Prehistory and legendary founding

According to local tradition, Ghazipur was founded in 1330, although archaeological evidence suggests the area may be significantly older. A popular but historically unverified legend claims the city was originally known as "Gadhipura," named after a mythical king, Gadhi. While this etymology is likely apocryphal, the presence of ancient architectural fragments along the riverbank and the remains of an old mound—believed to be the site of a former fort—indicate that a settlement existed in the region long before the recorded founding date. The legend behind Ghazipur's foundation in 1330 is that Raja Mandhata, a descendant of the Chauhan Maharaj Prithviraj Chauhan III, had founded a fort at nearby Kathot and ruled a small kingdom from there. His nephew, who was the heir to the throne, abducted a local Muslim young woman, and her mother pleaded for help to the Muslim sultan of Delhi. As a result, 40 '' ghazi''s led by one Sayyid Masud set out to attack Kathot. They took the place by surprise and ended up killing Raja Mandhata. The nephew mustered an army and fought two battles against the ghazis, but was defeated in both. The first battle took place on the bank of the Besu and the other was at the site of Ghazipur. Sayyid Masud, who was now given the title Malik us-Sadat Ghazi, founded a city on the site of the second battle and called it Ghazipur.


Early recorded history: 1400s and 1500s

Legends aside, Ghazipur's first mention in contemporary sources is 1494, when
Sikandar Lodi Sikandar Khan Lodi (; 17 July 1458 – 21 November 1517), born Nizam Khan () also known as Sikandar II, was Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate between 1489 and 1517. He became ruler of the Lodi dynasty after the death of his father Bahlul Khan Lodi ...
appointed Nasir Khan Lohani as the city's governor. Ghazipur flourished during Nasir Khan's long tenure. A new fort is said to have been built under his rule, replacing an older one at Hamzapur. A wave of immigration from Muslim settlers also began at this point and lasted until the late 1500s. New '' muhalla''s were built to house them. After Sikandar Lodi died, there was a rival claimant named Muhammad Shah (son of
Darya Khan Lodi Daria or Darya is a feminine version of the Greek name Darius. The name is derived from the Persian royal name Darayavahush, which comes from a combination of the Old Persian words ''daraya(miy)'', meaning "possess" or "maintain" and ''vahu'', mea ...
, the former governor of
Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
). At first, Nasir Khan stayed loyal to Sikandar's son
Ibrahim Lodi Ibrahim Khan Lodi (; 1480 – 21 April 1526) was the last Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate, who became Sultan in 1517 after the death of his father Sikandar Khan. He was the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty, reigning for nine years until 1526, whe ...
, but he was defeated by an army led by one Mian Mustafa, which then looted Ghazipur. At this point, Nasir Khan sided with Muhammad Shah, who restored him as governor. In 1527,
Humayun Nasir al-Din Muhammad (6 March 1508 – 27 January 1556), commonly known by his regnal name Humayun (), was the second Mughal emperor, who ruled over territory in what is now Eastern Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Northern India, and Pakistan from ...
led a force to Ghazipur while the main Mughal army under
Babur Babur (; 14 February 148326 December 1530; born Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad) was the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother respectively. He was also ...
was at Jaunpur; Nasir Khan fled, and Humayun occupied Ghazipur without resistance. He was recalled to assist Babur soon after, though, and Nasir Khan resumed control over Ghazipur. Nasir Khan submitted to Babur in person in 1528, after Babur took
Gwalior Gwalior (Hindi: , ) is a major city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh; It is known as the Music City of India having oldest Gwalior gharana, musical gharana in existence. It is a major sports, cultural, industrial, and political c ...
, but Babur did not keep him as governor of Ghazipur. Instead, he gave the city to Muhammad Khan Lohani Ghazipuri, a relative of Nasir Khan who had joined Babur's side earlier. During
Akbar Akbar (Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, – ), popularly known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expa ...
's early rule, Ghazipur was held by Ali Quli Khan Zaman, who also founded the nearby town of
Zamania Zamania is a town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Its municipal council is subordinate to the Ghazipur district, Ghazipur District. It is also the administrative head of Zamania tehsil,. It is also a very historical town, it derives its ...
. Ghazipur does not seem to have been affected by Khan Zaman's first rebellion against Akbar in 1565. During his second revolt, Mughal forces under Jafar Khan Turkman attacked Ghazipur, but Khan Zaman fled. After Khan Zaman's death in battle in 1567, Akbar put Ghazipur under
Munim Khan Munʿim Khān (7 March 1525 – 23 October 1575) was a Mughal general under both emperors Humayun and Akbar. He was titled ''Khān-i-Khānān'' ('Khan of Khans') when Emperor Akbar appointed him as Prime Minister of the Mughal Empire in 1560. I ...
's control. Quttul Khan a native ,was made the
jagir A jagir (), ( Hindustani: जागीर/جاگیر, ''Jāgīr''), ( Marathi: जहागीर, ''Jahāgīrá'') also spelled as jageer, was a type of feudal land grant in the Indian subcontinent at the foundation of its Jagirdar ( Zamindar ...
dar of large part of the sarkar taluka to
Seorai Seorai is a village of Chaurasi Sikarwar, and also serve as the headquarters of Seoraivillage, Tahsil in region of Ghazipur District of Uttar Pradesh, India. The Seorai tehsil was made a tehsil of the Ghazipur District in year 2016. It consists of ...
, he was also a
Dewan ''Dewan'' (also known as ''diwan'', sometimes spelled ''devan'' or ''divan'') designated a powerful government official, minister, or ruler. A ''dewan'' was the head of a state institution of the same name (see Divan). Diwans belonged to the el ...
and later to his cousin Daud Khan of
Dewaitha Dewaitha (also written as Diwaitha, Divaitha or Deoitha) is a village of Dildarnagar Kamsar,in Zamania tehsil of Ghazipur, India, located on the banks of the Karmanasa River and it's tributary Eknaiya, The village had a population of 7,104 as o ...
after his death, during the rule of
Jahangir Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), known by his imperial name Jahangir (; ), was List of emperors of the Mughal Empire, Emperor of Hindustan from 1605 until his death in 1627, and the fourth Mughal emperors, Mughal ...
. Many positions were held by Raja Deendar Khan of
Dildarnagar Dildarnagar is a municipality in Dildarnagar Kamsar, Kamsaar of Ghazipur District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Dildarnagar is a fast-developing town. It is located 34 Kilometre, km from Ghazipur. It is also known as the heart of the Dildarnagar Ka ...
, during
Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
and Alam Shah. In the ''
Ain-i Akbari The ''Ain-i-Akbari'' (), or the "Administration of Akbar", is a 16th-century detailed document regarding the administration of the Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar, written by his court historian, Abu'l Fazl, in the Persian language. It forms V ...
'', Ghazipur was the capital of a sarkar in Allahabad Subah.


Later Mughals

After the Mughals solidified their control over Bengal, Ghazipur lost most of its political importance, and later sources mention it less. Under
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan I, (Shahab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram; 5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), also called Shah Jahan the Magnificent, was the Emperor of Hindustan from 1628 until his deposition in 1658. As the fifth Mughal emperor, his reign marked the ...
, as well as during
Aurangzeb Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
's early reign, Nawab Sufi Bahadur was governor of Ghazipur, he also build the jama masjid at Nawali.. He was succeeded by Nawab Atiqullah Khan, a native of Ghazipur who remained governor until Aurangzeb's death. Ghazipur does not seem to have been affected by the war between Aurangzeb and Shah Shuja in 1567, or by the civil wars following Aurangzeb's death. At some point after
Farrukhsiyar Farrukhsiyar (; 20 August 16839 April 1719), also spelled as Farrukh Siyar, was the tenth Mughal emperors, Mughal Emperor from 1713 to 1719. He rose to the throne after deposing his uncle Jahandar Shah. He was an emperor only in name, with all ...
's death in 1719, ''sarkar'' Ghazipur was part of a large territory granted to one Murtaza Khan as a ''
jagir A jagir (), ( Hindustani: जागीर/جاگیر, ''Jāgīr''), ( Marathi: जहागीर, ''Jahāgīrá'') also spelled as jageer, was a type of feudal land grant in the Indian subcontinent at the foundation of its Jagirdar ( Zamindar ...
''. In 1727, Murtaza Khan in turn leased this territory to
Saadat Ali Khan I Saadat Khan Nishapuri (born Mir Muhammad Amin; – 19 March 1739) was the first Nawab of the Kingdom of Awadh from 26 January 1722 to 1739 and the son of Muhammad Nasir. At age 25, he accompanied his father on the final campaign of the Mughal ...
, the first
Nawab of Awadh The Nawab of Awadh or Nawab of Oudh was the title of the rulers of Kingdom of Awadh (anglicised as Oudh) in northern India during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Nawabs of Awadh belonged to an Iranian dynasty''Encyclopædia Iranica'', R. B. B ...
.


Nawabs of Awadh & Ghazipur

At first, Saadaat Ali Khan sub-leased these territories (Ghazipur, Jaunpur,
Banaras Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
, and
Chunar Chunar is a city located in Mirzapur district of Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is nearby Mirzapur city. The railway tracks passing through Chunar Junction railway station leads to major destinations of India, including Howrah, Delhi, Ta ...
) to his friend Rustam Ali Khan. Rustam Ali Khan had no interest in managing the territories himself, and someone named
Mansa Ram Mansa Ram (30 May 1940 – 14 January 2023) was an Indian politician and member of the Indian National Congress. Mansa Ram was a member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Karsog constituency in Mandi district Mandi dist ...
ended up becoming the actual administrator. In 1738, Rustam Ali Khan retired from office. Ghazipur was given to Nawab Sheikh Abdullah, son of Muhammad Qasim a
zamindar A zamindar in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semi-autonomous feudal lord of a ''zamindari'' (feudal estate). The term itself came into use during the Mughal Empire, when Persian was the official language; ''zamindar'' is the ...
of
Dharwar Dharwad (), also known as Dharwar, is a city located in the northwestern part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Dharwad district of Karnataka and forms a contiguous urban area with the city of Hubballi. It was merge ...
, while the remainder was given to Mansa Ram.
Sheikh Abdullah Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982) was an Indian politician who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah was the founding leader and President of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Confer ...
and his son Nawab Fazal Ali Khan, both were the
nawab Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Prince. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the Kingdom of Saxony, Kings of ...
s of Ghazipur and buld many monuments here ,at their time the Ghazipur Sarkar consisted of present day
Ballia Ballia is a city with a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The eastern boundary of the city lies at the junction of two major rivers, the Ganges and the Ghaghara. The city is situated east of Varanasi and about 380 k ...
,
Mau Mau may refer to: Places Brazil * Maú River, an alternate name for the Ireng River Kenya * Mau Escarpment * Mau Forest India * Mau, Bhind, a town in Madhya Pradesh * Mau, Mawal, Pune district, Marahrashtra * Mau, Punjab, a village ...
&
Azamgarh Azamgarh is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Azamgarh division, which consists of Ballia, Mau and Azamgarh districts. Azamgarh is situated on the bank of Tamsa River (Tons). It is located east of the ...
district A district is a type of administrative division that in some countries is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municip ...
s. there family was historicaly in power in the region Zahurabad, and ruled over Qasimabad estate while later, its capital being at Bahadurganj. Sheikh Abdullah also established the town of Qasimabad, after his father name and his death in 1739. He also build a fort at Qasimabad known as Qasimabad fort. Sheikh Abdullah left several monuments in Ghazipur: the Chihal Satun palace, a mosque and
imambara A Husayniyya () is a building designed specifically for gatherings of Shia Muslim, Shia Muslims for spiritual practice, religious education and commemoration ceremonies, especially the Mourning of Muharram. The Husayniyya is a multipurpose hall ...
, a masonry tank, and a large garden known as the Nawab's Bagh. Abdullah died in 1744 and was buried in a tomb by the garden. His oldest son, Fazl Ali, was away, so a younger brother named Karam-ullah was installed as governor instead. Fazl Ali appealed to Nawab Safdar Jung as became the Nawab of Ghazipur,. Fazl Ali was removed from office in 1747 following complaints of "oppression and misgovernment", and Karam-ullah (his younger brother )was restored, but he died a year later and
Fazl Ali Sir Saiyid Fazl Ali, OBE (19 September 1886 – 22 August 1959) was an Indian judge, the governor of two Indian states (Assam and Odisha), and the head of the States Reorganisation Commission which determined the boundaries of several Indian s ...
became governor again. In 1754, after
Shuja-ud-Daula Shuja-ud-Daula (19 January 1732 – 26 January 1775) was the third Nawab of Oudh and the Vizier of Delhi from 5 October 1754 until his death 26 January 1775. He was a key 18th-century Mughal ally who despised the Maratha-backed Imad-ul-Mulk. ...
succeeded
Safdar Jang Wazir-ul-Mamalik-e-Hindustan Asaf Jah Jamat-ul-Mulk Shuja-ud-Daula Nawab Abul Mansur Khan Bahadur Safdar Jang Sipah Salar (c. 1708 – 5 October 1754), better known as Safdar Jang, was the second Nawab of Kingdom of Awadh succeeding Saadat Ali ...
as
Nawab of Awadh The Nawab of Awadh or Nawab of Oudh was the title of the rulers of Kingdom of Awadh (anglicised as Oudh) in northern India during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Nawabs of Awadh belonged to an Iranian dynasty''Encyclopædia Iranica'', R. B. B ...
, Fazl Ali was removed from his position due to revenue shortfalls, and Muhammad Ali Khan was appointed in his place. Muhammad Ali Khan, however, faced difficulties maintaining order in the region, and Fazl Ali was reappointed as governor. His jurisdiction was expanded to include
Azamgarh Azamgarh is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Azamgarh division, which consists of Ballia, Mau and Azamgarh districts. Azamgarh is situated on the bank of Tamsa River (Tons). It is located east of the ...
.in 1757, and Balwant Singh, son of Mansa Ram, got the control of Ghazipur instead. Although one of Sheikh Abdullah's descendants, Azmi Ali Khan , grandson of Sheikh Abdullah and a nephew of Fazl Ali, was successful in getting the control of their ansistoral
jagir A jagir (), ( Hindustani: जागीर/جاگیر, ''Jāgīr''), ( Marathi: जहागीर, ''Jahāgīrá'') also spelled as jageer, was a type of feudal land grant in the Indian subcontinent at the foundation of its Jagirdar ( Zamindar ...
of Kasimabad, with a pention of rupees 1 lakh, in 1788. Ghazipur remained under Balwant Singh's son and successor
Chait Singh Rafa'at wa Awal-i-Martabat Maharaja Shri Chet Singh Sahib Bahadur (died 29 March 1810), commonly known as Raja Chet Singh, a Bhumihar king from the Narayan dynasty, was the 3rd ruler of Benares State, Kingdom of Benaras in northern India. Chet S ...
, but the British deposed him in 1781. His successor, Mahip Narayan Singh, was essentially stripped of all administrative powers by the British, who established Ghazipur district in 1818. There were also quite a lot of
Qazi Qazi may refer to: * Qadi A qadi (; ) is the magistrate or judge of a Sharia court, who also exercises extrajudicial functions such as mediation, guardianship over orphans and minors, and supervision and auditing of public works. History ...
s in the area as well as
Zamindar A zamindar in the Indian subcontinent was an autonomous or semi-autonomous feudal lord of a ''zamindari'' (feudal estate). The term itself came into use during the Mughal Empire, when Persian was the official language; ''zamindar'' is the ...
s. Specifically in
Yusufpur Yusufpur (युसुफपुर یوسف پور) and Mohammadabad is a Twin Town/Qasba in Mohammadabad Tahsil of the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh, India.It belongs to Varanasi Division. Coordinates: 25°37′22″N 83°45′27″E It ...
, a notable family would be the Ansari sheiks who had held such offices from the 1500s all the way till the late 20th century. Some notables would be
Hamid Ansari Hamid refers to two different but related Arabic given names, both of which come from the Arabic triconsonantal root of Ḥ-M-D (): # (Arabic: ''ḥāmed'') also spelled Haamed, Hamid or Hamed, and in Turkish Hamit; it means "lauder" or "one ...
,
Faridul Haq Ansari Faridul Haq Ansari (Urdu:فرید الحق انصاری)(1 July 1895 – 4 April 1966), popularly known as Farid Ansari, was a lawyer and politician who actively participated in Indian independence movement. He was a prominent socialist leader wh ...
, Qazi Mohammad Mustafa Ansari, Abu Zafar Ansari, Qazi Imamul Haq, Qazi Mahmudul Haq Ansari, Qazi Ahlul Haq, Qazi Nasirul Haq, Qazi Hamidul Haq, Mushir Haider Ansari, Qazi Nizamul Haq Ansari, Khalid Mustafa Ansari,
Abbas Ansari Abbas Ansari (born 12 February 1992) is an Indian politician. He won the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election from Mau representing Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party. He was later disqualified as MLA after his conviction for 2022 hate s ...
,
Afzal Ansari Afzal Ansari (born 14 August 1953) is an Indian politician of the Samajwadi Party and currently an incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) of India for Ghazipur constituency, Uttar Pradesh. He has been MLA for five consecutive term and MP for th ...
and world-famous crime master
Mukhtar Ansari Mukhtar Ansari (30 June 1963 – 28 March 2024) was an Indian gangster, convicted murderer, and politician, based in Uttar Pradesh. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Mau constituency five times, including twice ...
also was a well-known part of this family.


Scientific Society of Ghazipur

In 1862,
Syed Ahmed Khan Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (17 October 1817 – 27 March 1898), also spelled Sayyid Ahmad Khan, was an Indian Muslim reformer, philosopher, and educationist in nineteenth-century British India. Though initially espousing Hindu–Muslim unity, he ...
established the Scientific Society of Ghazipur (which was later transferred to
Aligarh Aligarh (; formerly known as Koil) is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Aligarh district and lies northwest of state capital Lucknow and approximately southeast of the capital, New Delhi. ...
), the first of its kind in India, to propagate modern Western knowledge of science, technology and industry. It was a departure from the past in the sense that education made a paradigm shift from traditional humanities and related disciplines to the new field of science and agriculture. Some current institution like Technical Education and Research Institute (TERI), part of post-graduate college PG College Ghazipur, in the city, takes their inspiration from that first Society.


Ghazipur at the turn of the 20th century

At the turn of the 20th century, Ghazipur was described as forming "a narrow belt" along the bank of the Ganges. Ghazipur proper extended for about 5.5 km along the river, from Khudaipura in the east to Pirnagar in the west; and about 1.5 km on the other axis, away from the river. West of Pirnagar was the large former
cantonment A cantonment (, , or ) is a type of military base. In South Asia, a ''cantonment'' refers to a permanent military station (a term from the British Raj). In United States military parlance, a cantonment is, essentially, "a permanent residential ...
area, which extended for another 4 km along the river. The main business quarter was along the riverfront, while most houses were away from the river. The town was described as generally rather poor, and its streets were winding and narrow. The riverfront, on the other hand, was described as "picturesque", with a number of masonry
ghat Ghat (), a term used in the Indian subcontinent, to refer to the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf, such as a bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond, the Ghats in Varanasi, Dhobi Ghat or the Aap ...
s. On the west was Amghat, where the opium factory was located; other ghats further downstream included Collector Ghat, Pakka Ghat, Mahaul Ghat, Gola Ghat, Chitnath Ghat, Natkha Ghat, Khirki Ghat, and Pushta Ghat. The main road was the one coming in from Varanasi to the west. It went due east for about 1 km after entering the city, and this stretch was flanked by houses and shops on both sides. Near the entrance, it passed the tank and tomb of Pahar Khan; then the Bishesharganj marketplace; then the Qila Kohna, or old fort; and then the
dispensary A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital, industrial plant, or other organization that dispenses medications, medical supplies, and in some cases even medical and dental treatment. In a traditional dispensary set-up, a pharmacist dispense ...
, which was built in 1881 atop an old mound that may represent an even earlier fort. Beyond this, the road passed through the Lal Darwaza neighbourhood, past the town's '' sarai'', and past the town hall (built in 1878) and adjoining mosque. Past this was the police station, and after that was Martinganj, a marketplace named after a former British official. After this point, the road bent sharply to the left, away from the river, for about 200 m. It then bent to the east to run parallel with the river. In this area was a major triple junction at Ghazi Mian, where the Varanasi road met with two others: one coming from Korantadih and
Ballia Ballia is a city with a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The eastern boundary of the city lies at the junction of two major rivers, the Ganges and the Ghaghara. The city is situated east of Varanasi and about 380 k ...
to the east and another coming from
Gorakhpur Gorakhpur is a city in the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of the West Rapti River, Rapti river in the Purvanchal , Purvanchal region. It is situated 272 kilometres east of ...
and
Azamgarh Azamgarh is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Azamgarh division, which consists of Ballia, Mau and Azamgarh districts. Azamgarh is situated on the bank of Tamsa River (Tons). It is located east of the ...
in the north. From Ghazi Mian, a wide highway went south to the riverbank at Pushta Ghat, where a ferry crossed over to Tari Ghat on the other side. The Ghazipur City railway station was also near Ghazi Mian. The main landmark along the main road in the Ghazi Mian area was the Chihal Satun, or "hall of forty pillars", which was built by Abdullah Khan in the mid-1700s. The main road continued east through Razaganj and Begampur to the
Ghazipur Ghat railway station Ghazipur, is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ghazipur city is the administrative headquarters of the Ghazipur district, one of the four districts that form the Varanasi division of Uttar Pradesh. It is located on the Ganges (Ganga) ...
on the eastern city limit. Meanwhile, across from the Chihal Satun, another major road split off toward the northeast, passing the
Jami Masjid A congregational mosque or Friday mosque (, ''masjid jāmi‘'', or simply: , ''jāmi‘''; ), or sometimes great mosque or grand mosque (, ''jāmi‘ kabir''; ), is a mosque for hosting the Friday noon prayers known as ''jumu'ah''.See: * * * * ...
and "the Nawab's garden, tank, and tomb" before joining the Korantadih and Ballia road, which then marked the city's northern boundary. Near this point were the garden of Karimullah and the tank of Dharam Chand. Polpulation The current estimate population of Ghazipur city in 2024 is 155,000 , while Ghazipur metro population is estimated at 169,000 . The last census was conducted in 2011 and the schedule census for Ghazipur city in 2021 was postponed due to Covid. The current estimates of Ghazipur city are based on past growth rate. Once govt conducts census for Ghazipur city, we will update the same here in 2024. As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Ghazipur in 2011 is 110,587. Although Ghazipur city has population of 110,587; its urban / metropolitan population is 121,020.


Geography

Ghazipur is located at . It has an average elevation of 62 metres (203 feet). Rivers in the district include the
Ganges The Ganges ( ; in India: Ganga, ; in Bangladesh: Padma, ). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international which goes through India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China." is a trans-boundary rive ...
, Gomati, Gaangi, Beson,
Magai The Magai is a small river of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. This river originated from village Dubawan in Azamgarh Uttar Pradesh This rivers enters Mau and Ghazipur Ghazipur, is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ghazipur city is ...
, Bhainsai,
Tons Tons may refer to: * Tons River, a significant river in India * Tamsa River, locally known as Tons in its lower parts (Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh, India) * The plural of ton, a unit of mass, force, volume, energy, or power, which includes: ...
and
Karmanasa River The Karamnasa or Karmanasa River () is a tributary of the Ganges. It originates in Kaimur district of Bihar and flows through the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Along the boundary between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar it has the districts ...
.


Demographics

India census, Ghazipur city had a population of 231607, out of which males were 121467 and females were 110140 Males constituted 52.445% of the population and females constituted 47.554% of the population. Ghazipur has an average literacy rate of 85.46% (higher than the national average of 74.04%) of which male literacy is 90.61% and female literacy is 79.79%. 11.46% of the population is under 6 years of age and the sex ratio is 904.


Places of interest

Sights in the city include several monuments built by Nawab Sheikh Abdulla, or Abdullah Khan, a
governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
of Ghazipur during the
Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...
in the eighteenth century, and his son Fazl Ali Khan. These include the palace known as Chihal Satun, or "forty pillars", which retains a very impressive gateway although the palace is in ruins, and the large garden with a
tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engine; ...
and a tomb called the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari. The road that starts at the Nawab-ki-Chahar-diwari tomb and runs past the mosque leads, after 10 km, to a
matha A ''matha'' (; , ), also written as ''math'', ''muth'', ''mutth'', ''mutt'', or ''mut'', is a Sanskrit word that means 'institute or college', and it also refers to a monastery in Hinduism.
devoted to
Pavhari Baba Pavhari Baba (1798–1898) was a Hindu ascetic and saint. He was born in Premapur, Jaunpur in a Brahmin family. In his childhood he went to Ghazipur to study under the tutelage of his uncle who was a follower of Ramanuja or Shri sect . After ...
. The tank and tomb of Pahar Khan,
faujdar Faujdar under the Mughals was an office that combined the functions of a military commander along with judicial and land revenue functions. The term faujdar contained pre-Mughal origins. During those times, the term referred to a military offic ...
of the city in 1580, and the plain but ancient tombs of the founder, Masud, and his son are also in Ghazipur, as is the tomb of
Lord Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805) was a British Army officer, Whigs (British political party), Whig politician and colonial administrator. In the United States and United Kingdom, he is best kn ...
, one of the major figures of Indian and British history. Cornwallis is famous for his role in the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, and then for his time as Governor-General of India, being said to have laid the true foundation of British rule. He was later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, there suppressing the
1798 Rebellion The Irish Rebellion of 1798 (; Ulster-Scots: ''The Turn out'', ''The Hurries'', 1798 Rebellion) was a popular insurrection against the British Crown in what was then the separate, but subordinate, Kingdom of Ireland. The main organising force ...
and establishing the Act of Union. He died in Ghazipur in 1805, soon after his returning to India for his second appointment as Governor-General. His tomb, overlooking the Ganges, is a heavy dome supported on 12 Doric columns above a cenotaph carved by
John Flaxman John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was a British sculptor and draughtsman, and a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism. Early in his career, he worked as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery. He spent several yea ...
. The remains of an ancient mud fort also overlook the river, while there are
ghat Ghat (), a term used in the Indian subcontinent, to refer to the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf, such as a bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond, the Ghats in Varanasi, Dhobi Ghat or the Aap ...
s leading to the Ganges, the oldest of which is the ChitNath Ghat. Close to ChitNath Ghat,
Pavhari Baba Pavhari Baba (1798–1898) was a Hindu ascetic and saint. He was born in Premapur, Jaunpur in a Brahmin family. In his childhood he went to Ghazipur to study under the tutelage of his uncle who was a follower of Ramanuja or Shri sect . After ...
ashram is a place of interest for
Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda () (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindus, Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Vivekananda was a major figu ...
followers. This ashram is further from the original
Pavhari Baba Pavhari Baba (1798–1898) was a Hindu ascetic and saint. He was born in Premapur, Jaunpur in a Brahmin family. In his childhood he went to Ghazipur to study under the tutelage of his uncle who was a follower of Ramanuja or Shri sect . After ...
underground hermitage caves, and is somewhat less explored by tourists. Those are the caves where
Pavhari Baba Pavhari Baba (1798–1898) was a Hindu ascetic and saint. He was born in Premapur, Jaunpur in a Brahmin family. In his childhood he went to Ghazipur to study under the tutelage of his uncle who was a follower of Ramanuja or Shri sect . After ...
, whom
Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda () (12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindus, Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Vivekananda was a major figu ...
considered only 2nd to his guru Ramkrishna, used to meditate, sometimes, as the folklores go, feeding only on air (hence the name Pavhari Baba).


Ghazipur opium factory

The opium factory located in the city was established by the British and continues to be a major source of opium production in India. It is known as the Opium Factory Ghazipur or, more formally, the Government
Opium and Alkaloid Works The Government Opium and Alkaloid Factories (GOAF) is an Indian government-owned organisation. Its headquarter is located in New Delhi. The overall supervision of the organisation comes under the purview of Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finan ...
. It is the largest factory of its kind in the country and indeed the world. The factory was initially run by the
East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
and was used by the British during the
First First most commonly refers to: * First, the ordinal form of the number 1 First or 1st may also refer to: Acronyms * Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-Centimeters, an astronomical survey carried out by the Very Large Array * Far Infrared a ...
and
Second Opium War The Second Opium War (), also known as the Second Anglo-Chinese War or ''Arrow'' War, was fought between the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States against the Qing dynasty of China between 1856 and 1860. It was the second major ...
s with China. The factory as such was founded in 1820 though the British had been trading Ghazipur opium before that. Nowadays its output is controlled by the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act and Rules (1985) and administratively by the Indian government
Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...
, overseen by a committee and a Chief Controller. The factory's output serves the global pharmaceutical industry. Until 1943 the factory only produced raw opium extracts from
poppies Poppies can refer to: *Poppy, a flowering plant *The Poppies (disambiguation) - multiple uses *''Poppies (film)'' - Children's BBC remembrance animation *Poppies (Mary Oliver poem), ''Poppies'' (poem) - a poem by Mary Oliver *"Poppies", a song by P ...
, but nowadays it also produces many alkaloids, having first begun alkaloid production during World War II to meet military medical needs. Its annual turnover is in the region of 2 billion rupees (approximately 36 or 37 million US dollars), for a profit of about 80 million rupees (1.5 million dollars). It has been profitable every year since 1820, but the alkaloid production currently makes a loss, while the opium production makes a profit. The typical annual opium export from the factory to the US, for example, would be about 360 tonnes of opium. As well as the opium and alkaloid production, the factory also has a significant R&D program, employing up to 50 research chemists. It also serves the unusual role of being the secure repository for illegal opium seizures in India—and correspondingly, an important office of the
Narcotics Control Bureau The Narcotics Control Bureau ( NCB) is an Indian central law enforcement and intelligence agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The agency is tasked with combating drug trafficking and the use of illegal substances ...
of India is located in Ghazipur. Overall employment in the factory is about 900. Because it is a government industry, the factory is administered from New Delhi but a general manager oversees operations in Ghazipur. In keeping with the sensitive nature of its production, the factory is guarded under high security (by the
Central Industrial Security Force The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is a central armed police force in India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. CISF's primary mission is to provide security to large institutions, be it state or privately-owned. It was set up unde ...
), and not easily accessible to the general public. The factory has its own residential accommodation for its employees, and is situated across the banks of river Ganges from the main city of Ghazipur. It is surrounded by high walls topped with barbed wire. Its products are taken by high security rail to Mumbai or New Delhi for further export. The factory covers about 43 acres and much of its architecture is in red brick, dating from colonial times. Within the grounds of the factory there is a temple to Baba Shyam and a
mazar Mazar of Al-Mazar may refer to: *Mazar (mausoleum), Muslim mausoleum or shrine Places * Mazar (toponymy), a component of Arabic toponyms literally meaning shrine, grave, tomb, etc. ; Afghanistan * Mazar, Afghanistan, village in Balkh Province * ...
, both said to predate the factory. There is also a solar clock, installed by the British opium agent Hopkins Esor from 1911 to 1913.
Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...
, who was familiar with opium both medicinally and recreationally, visited the Ghazipur factory in 1888 and published a description of its workings in '' The Pioneer'' on 16 April 1888. The text, ''In an Opium Factory'' is freely available from Adelaide University's ebook library.
Amitav Ghosh Amitav Ghosh (born 11 July 1956)Ghosh, Amitav
, ''
's novel '' Sea of Poppies'' deals with the British opium trade in India and much of Ghosh's story is based on his research of the Ghazipur factory. In interview, Ghosh stresses how much of the wealth of the British Empire stemmed from the often unsavoury opium trade, with Ghazipur as one of its centers, but he is also amazed at the scale of the present-day operation. The Ghazipur Opium Factory may have one more claim to fame, for a rather unusual problem it has. It is infested with monkeys, but these are too narcotic-addled to be a real problem and workers drag them out of the way by their tails.


Climate


Transport

Ghazipur Airport is situated in Ghazipur city. The airport is on the Ghazipur-Mau Road.
Airports Authority of India The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (India), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civi ...
(AAI) is the operator of this Airport.


Notable people

* Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, was
Attorney General of Bangladesh The attorney general for Bangladesh () is the Bangladeshi government's chief legal adviser and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. The attorney general is usually a highly respected senior advocate and is appointed by the ru ...
*
Abbas Ansari Abbas Ansari (born 12 February 1992) is an Indian politician. He won the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election from Mau representing Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party. He was later disqualified as MLA after his conviction for 2022 hate s ...
, Declared absconder by Court, Indian politician *
Afzal Ansari Afzal Ansari (born 14 August 1953) is an Indian politician of the Samajwadi Party and currently an incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) of India for Ghazipur constituency, Uttar Pradesh. He has been MLA for five consecutive term and MP for th ...
, Indian politician, Member of Parliament 2004–2009, 2019–2023 convicted and sentenced to 4 years under Gangster Act. He has also been disqualified from the membership of Lok Sabha on account of his conviction. *
Mukhtar Ansari Mukhtar Ansari (30 June 1963 – 28 March 2024) was an Indian gangster, convicted murderer, and politician, based in Uttar Pradesh. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Mau constituency five times, including twice ...
, convicted and jailed criminal turned Indian politician, 5 times MLA from Mau Sadar *
Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari (25 December 1880 – 10 May 1936) was an Indian nationalist and political leader, and former president of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League during the Indian Independence Movement. He was one of the found ...
,
freedom fighter A freedom fighter is a person engaged in a struggle to achieve political freedom, particularly against an established government. The term is typically reserved for those who are actively involved in armed or otherwise violent rebellion. Termi ...
*
Lord Cornwallis Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805) was a British Army officer, Whigs (British political party), Whig politician and colonial administrator. In the United States and United Kingdom, he is best kn ...
, colonial administrator of North America, Ireland, and India died here *
Abdul Hamid ʻAbd al-Ḥamīd (ALA-LC romanization of ; ; ), also spelled as Abdulhamid, Abdelhamid, Abd-ul Hamid, and Abd ol-Hamid, is a Muslim male given name and, in modern usage, surname. It is a Muslim theophoric name built from the Arabic words '' ʻabd' ...
, recipient of Param Veer Chakra, India's highest military award. *
Nazir Hussain Nazir Hussain (15 May 1922 – 16 October 1987) was an Indian actor, director and screenwriter. He was famous as a character actor in Hindi cinema and was a pioneer of Bhojpuri cinema. He acted in almost 500 films, with Dev Anand starring in ...
, Bollywood actor and father of Bhojpuri cinema * Shrawan Kumar, mathematics professor at
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at Chapel Hill * George Marten, cricketer *
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Governor of Rajasthan *
Chakrapani (politician) Swami Chakrapani is an Indian political activist. He is the leader of a breakaway faction of the Hindu Mahasabha and Incumbent President of Hindu Mahasabha, a long-standing Hindu nationalist organisation in India, but claims to be its overall p ...
, President of
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*
Mahendra Nath Pandey Mahendra Nath Pandey (born 15 October 1957) is an Indian politician who was Minister of Heavy Industries and Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of India and Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Member of Lok Sabha for Chandauli (Lok ...
, Member of Parliament, Minister for Skills Development *
Mangal Pandey Mangal Pandey (died 8 April 1857) was an Indian soldier who played a key role in the events that led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which resulted in the dissolution of the East India Company and the beginning of the British Raj through the ...
, first hero sepoy, who raised the spark of freedom in India *
Sarjoo Pandey Sarjoo Pandey () (19 November 1919 – 25 August 1989) was an Indian politician, Indian independence activist and a leader of the Communist Party of India, who was born in Urha and died in Moscow. Life Pandey was born in Urha (small village in ...
,
freedom fighter A freedom fighter is a person engaged in a struggle to achieve political freedom, particularly against an established government. The term is typically reserved for those who are actively involved in armed or otherwise violent rebellion. Termi ...
*
Yunus Parvez Yunus Parvez (1931/1932 – 11 February 2007) was an Indian actor who played supporting roles in over 200 films from 1963 to the 2000s. He is best known for his roles in films like '' Garm Hava'' (1974), ''Deewaar'' (1975), '' Trishul'' (1978), ...
, actor *
Dipendra Prasad Dipendra Prasad (born 1960) is an Indian mathematician. He is an Emeritus Fellow of mathematics at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. He is a number theorist known for his work in the areas of automorphic representations and the Gan ...
, mathematics professor at
TIFR Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) is a leading research Institute under the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. It is a public deemed university located at Navy Nagar, Colaba in Mumbai. It also has a centres in B ...
– Mumbai *
Gopal Prasad Gopal Prasad (born 31 July 1945 in Ghazipur, India) is an Indian-American mathematician. His research interests span the fields of Lie groups, their discrete subgroups, algebraic groups, arithmetic groups, geometry of locally symmetric spaces ...
, mathematics professor at
University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
at Ann Arbor *
Furqan Qamar Furqan Qamar (born 1 January 1960) is a former Vice-chancellor of University of Rajasthan and first Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Himachal Pradesh. Earlier he was associated with Association of Indian Universities. Professor Furqan Qa ...
, professor, former Vice chancellor and advisor to Planning Commission (Education) *
Ajay Rai Ajay Rai (born 7 October 1969) is an Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress since 2012. He is a five-time MLA from Uttar Pradesh. He was the 12th Uttar Pradesh Congress chief. A local strongman in the Varanasi area, Ra ...
5 times MLA from
Pindra Pindra is one of three tehsils (sub-districts) in Varanasi district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Pindra is situated 24 kilometers from the city of Varanasi and has 424 villages. History Pindra Village /Town was first settled during the ...
and former Minister in the state government. * Baleshwar Rai 1970 Batch IAS Officer, *
Himanshu Rai Himanshu Rai (1892 – 16 May 1940) was an Indian actor and film director. Regarded as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema, he is best known as the founder of the studio in 1934, along with Devika Rani. He was associated with a number of mov ...
, Indian television actor. * Kuber Nath Rai, writer and literary scholar * Ram Bahadur Rai,
Padmashri The Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 Janu ...
recipient * Shivpujan Rai, freedom fighter, 1942 *
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,
Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...
recipient *
Viveki Rai Viveki Rai (19 November 1924 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian writer who penned over fifty books. He was a famous literary figure of Hindi and Bhojpuri literature. He belonged to Bhumihar community of Sonwani village in Ghazipur. He was a w ...
, writer * Moonis Raza, Vice Chancellor Delhi University and Co. Founder & Rector
Jawaharlal Nehru University Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU; ISO: Javāharalāla Neharū Viśvavidyālaya) is a public research university located in Delhi, India. It was established in 1969 and named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The university ...
*
Rahi Masoom Raza Rahi Masoom Raza (1 September 1927 – 15 March 1992) was an Indian Urdu and Hindi poet and writer and a Bollywood lyricist. He won the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue three times, for his work in '' Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki'' (1979), ''Taw ...
, author and poet * Sahajanand Saraswati, ascetic and leader * Ram Badan Singh,
Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan (IAST: ''Padma Bhūṣaṇa'', lit. 'Lotus Decoration') is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 Januar ...
recipient *
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,
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Jammu & Kashmir, Ex Member of Parliament, former State Minister of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in the Union Cabinet, Government of India *
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, Journalist former Director at RSTV *
Dinesh Lal Yadav Dinesh Lal Yadav (born 2 February 1979), popularly known as Nirahua, is an Indian actor, singer, producer and politician who works in Bhojpuri-language films. He is among the most successful Bhojpuri actors, with successive five box office succ ...
, singer and actor & MP *
Kashinath Yadav Kashinath Yadav is an Indian folk singer and politician from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, who is famous for singing Biraha, an ethnic Bhojpuri folk genre of Ahir communities. Political career He held the position of Minister of State in the Gover ...
, Former Minister and MLC, folk singer *
Virendra Kumar Yadav Virendra Kumar Yadav is an Indian politician and a member of the 17th Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh ( U.P. ) of India. He represents the Jangipur Assembly constituency in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh and is a member of the Samajwa ...
, MLA from Jangipur. *
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, Indian T20 Captain.


See also

* List of educational institutes in Ghazipur *
National Waterway 1 (India) The National Waterway 1 (NW-1) or Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system is located in India and runs from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal via Patna and Bhagalpur in Bihar across the Ganges river. It is long, making it the l ...


References

{{Authority control Cities and towns in Ghazipur district Cities in Uttar Pradesh