Ghazipur

Ghazipur is a city and the headquarters of Ghazipur district in the eastern part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Situated on the banks of the river Ganges, it lies in the Purvanchal region and serves as an administrative, agricultural and trading hub. The city is historically known for its Government Opium and Alkaloid Works, one of the largest legal opium-processing facilities in the world, and as the burial place of the British Governor-General Lord Cornwallis.

Key facts

Etymology

The city is traditionally said to have been founded in the 14th century by Sayyid Masud "Ghazi" Malik, after whom the settlement is named. Earlier names associated with the area include Gadhipura.

Geography

Ghazipur lies in the alluvial plains of the middle Ganges, east of Varanasi and west of Ballia and Buxar. The terrain is flat and fertile, supporting intensive cultivation. The river Ganges flows along the city, and the smaller rivers Gomti, Karmanasa and Tamsa drain parts of the surrounding district. The climate is humid subtropical with hot summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and cool winters.

History

The region around Ghazipur formed part of successive north Indian polities, including the Mauryan, Gupta and later Sultanate empires. Under Mughal rule it became a parganah, and the surrounding zamindari was held by local Rajput and Sayyid families. The town was incorporated into the territories of the Nawab of Awadh in the 18th century, and subsequently came under the control of the British East India Company following the Treaty of Allahabad and later cessions in the late 18th century.

Lord Cornwallis, then Governor-General of India, died at Ghazipur on 5 October 1805 while travelling up-country. His tomb, a domed neoclassical mausoleum, stands in the city and remains one of its most prominent landmarks.

The Government Opium and Alkaloid Works at Ghazipur was established by the British administration in 1820 to centralise the processing of opium produced in the Ganges plains. It continues to operate under the Government of India and produces opium derivatives for the pharmaceutical industry.

Notable people

• Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya – educationist and founder of Banaras Hindu University, was associated with the district.
• Vir Abdul Hamid – soldier of the 4 Grenadiers, Param Vir Chakra recipient for action in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, born in the Ghazipur district.
• Manoj Sinha – politician and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has represented the Ghazipur Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy

The economy of Ghazipur is predominantly agricultural. Major crops include paddy, wheat, sugarcane, pulses and vegetables. Allied activities such as dairying, fisheries and floriculture are important. The Government Opium and Alkaloid Works is the largest industrial establishment in the city. Trade in agricultural produce, handlooms and small-scale manufacturing also contribute to local livelihoods.

Transport

• Rail: Ghazipur City and Ghazipur Junction railway stations lie on lines connecting Varanasi, Chhapra and Mau, under the North Eastern Railway zone.
• Road: National Highway 31 and other state highways connect Ghazipur to Varanasi, Ballia, Azamgarh and Bihar. The Purvanchal Expressway passes through the district, linking it to Lucknow.
• Air: The nearest major airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Varanasi.
• River: The Ganges supports limited inland navigation; the National Waterway 1 runs along the river.

Administration

Ghazipur is the seat of the district administration headed by a District Magistrate. Civic functions in the city are managed by the Ghazipur Nagar Palika Parishad. The city falls within the Ghazipur Lok Sabha constituency, and several Vidhan Sabha constituencies of the district correspond to areas in and around the city.