Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/177

 PUR-QUT 169 ate. attended by about seven or eight thousand people. The annual amount of sales at these fairs and the bazars is about Rs. 31,000. The population amounts to 10,880, the Hindus number 8,355, and Moslems 2,625, of the Hindus, Brahmans (2,267), Baniáns (2,000), and Kayaths (1,000) predomin- There is a tahsil, a thána, and a school where more than a hundred boys are taught. Purwa was formerly the headquarters of the chakladar of the Harha Purwa, chakla or collectorate of the nawabi. At annexation also the headquarters of the district were at Purwa. A tahsildar only resides there now. The town is said to have been founded about 500 years ago. Primarily one Rája Newan, a Raghubansi resident of Ajodbya, came and settled at a place four miles west of this town, which is now known as Newáyan. After some time the river Lon washed that village away. Rája Ranbír Singh, a descendant of the abovenamed rája, who ruled Newáyan at that time laid the foundation of this town, which stands on the land of the villages Bhawanipur, Sokípur, and Kaliánpur. It was then called Ranbir- pur. Now the word “ Ranjit” is put (erroneously) instead of Ranbir, and the town is called " Ranjitptırwa" or “ Purwa." Rája Achal Singh Bais, a resident and taluqdar of Daundia Khera, was chakladar, as also the liege lord of the town of Purwa, and had taken up his residence at this place from 1123 fasli (A.D. 1716) to 1183 fasli (A.D. 1776). The other Thákurs of Baiswara and of the Bais tribe, who had a great dislike to the rule of the chakladar, waged war against Achal Singh, in which they were totally defeated. Rája Achal Singh ther had a garden laid out on the very plain where the battle was fought which is still there. Rája Achal Singh, Raja Sital Parshád, Tirbedi, Nazim, and Fateh Ali, a favourite slave of Almás Ali, Khwaja Sará, have been remarkable persons in the history of this town. Rája Achal Singh is said to have been the founder of Achalganj in the pargana Harha, district Unao, Achal Khera, &c., in pargana and tahsil Purwa, as also of the following villages in this district -- Purwa, Unchgáon, Naigaon, Banthar, Jhalotor. Rája Sítal Parshad founded Sítalganj in this place, embellishing it with a temple and a tank. Another place of this name was founded by the same názim in Rasúlabad. Fateh Ali was the founder of Fatehganj which lies near Purwa, and he planted the road from Purwa to Basha, and froin Jalálabad to the entrance gate of the city of Lucknow, with trees forthe convenienceand com- fort of travellers. He also had laid out and planted a garden, with a masonry tank, in the city of Lucknow. Buildings of former times now remaining are the temple of Billeswar Mahadeo and the tomb of one Mina Sábib-- both regarded as sacred by Hindus and Muhamınadans respectively; a shrine of Niámat Shah, and a burial-place of one Híra Shah, both famous hermits, are also worthy of note here, QUTUBNAGAR*—Pargana MISRIKA-Tahsil MISRIKU– District SITA- PUR.-Is 18 miles west from Sitapur on the high road to Hardoi. 22
 * By Mr. M. L. Ferrar, C.S., Assistant Commissioner,