BUDAUN, Uttar Pradesh

Main Attraction: SHAKEEL BADAUNI

Shakeel Badayuni was one of the most popular composers of Urdu Shayri, and Gazals. He was famous Urdu poet, lyricist and songwriter in Hindi films also. He was born on 3rd August 1916 at Mohalla Baido Tola in Budaun. He got his primary education in Urdu, Arabi and Persian at his home from his father Maulla Jamil Ahmad of Shokhta’s family. He passed his Higher Secondary in 1936 from Maston Islamia High School and graduated from Aligarh Muslim University in 1942. In 1946, Shakeel Budauni resigned from his job in supply department, Delhi and joined Kadar Studio in Film Industry at Mumbai as a lyricist. 

He got education of ‘shayari’ from Mohd. Zila-ul-Kadri alias Jam Badauni and Jigari. His main compositions published were ‘Ranaiyan’, ‘Sanmon Hasan’, ‘Rangeeniyan’, ‘Shabistan’, ‘Nagma-e-firdos’, ‘Door koi Gaye’, ‘Shakeel ki Diary’ etc. He actively participated and organised a number of seminars in Urdu, English and Hindi. Shakeel Badauni, the ‘Shayr’ of Urdu gazals was popular as the ‘King of Gazals’. Shakeel Budauni earned respect in film industry as a Film lyricist of Urdu and Hindi songs. Shakeel Budauni passed away on 20th April of 1970 at the age of 54. 

His memorable melodious and heart touching songs are still afresh in the memory of Indian folk, which were provided for unforgettable movies like, Babul, Mela, Aan, Ganga-Jamuna, Didar, Ghunghat, Udan Khatola, Baiju Bawra, Mother India, Mugal-eazam, Chaudhawin ka Chand and Gharana etc.

Brief History

The district is named after its headquarters town Budaun, which is said to be Vedamau of the Mahabharat and Budhmau of the Buddha period. An inscription found near the suburb of the town indicates that it was known as Vodamayuta in the 12th and 13th centuries and in course of time got corrupted to Budaun. But the evidence of ancient coins and other antiquities discovered here shows that some earlier town on the same site existed long before the advent of Muslims in India. With the finding of numerous prehistorically bronze weapons and tools, it is beyond doubt that this region must have been civilized long ago, probably during the Bronze Age or even earlier. 

The earliest known Aryan people, who settled in this region, were Panchals, who were the close allies of the Kurus, as is indicated by the joint name, Kuru Panchala. About the middle of the fourth century B.C. this region was annexed to the Nanda empire of Magadha and after the overthrow of the Nandas a quarter of century later, the district became part of the powerful Maurya Empire. With the downfall of the Mauryas, Sungas established their dynasty which lasted about one hundred years i.e. from 187 B.C. to 75 B.C. After Sungas, the Kanva dynasty wielded power. The history of the region from the end of the Kanva rule to the rise of the Guptas is very obscure.

About the beginning of the first century B.C. a third dynasty came into existence in Panchala which consisted of some fourteen successive rulers, all having names ending in ‘Mitra’ and have hence often designated as the Mitra rulers of Panchala. The beginnings of the second century A.D. Kushanas subjugated Mitra of Panchala and were allowed to live as deodorise. During the fourth century A.D. Gupta once again established imperial unity in India. 

After the downfall of the Guptas in the latter half of the sixth century A.D. the district appears to have come under the domination of the Maukhari Kings of Kannauj and after them under that of the emperor Harsha (606-647 A.D.). After the death of Harsha, the history of the region, as that of the rest of Northern India, spells anarchy and confusion. Sometime in the first half of the ninth century, it came under the sway of the rising power of the Gurjara Pratiharas.

The Pratiharas Empire of Kannauj collapsed under the repeated shocks of terrible onslaughts by Muslims. With the establishment of Rashtrakutas in the region, the prosperity and importance of Budaun grew tremendously and soon it became one of the premier cities of Northern India. There are ruins of an immense fort and a very handsome mosque of imposing size, crowned with a dome, and built in 1223. According to tradition, Badaun was founded about 905, and an inscription, probably of the 12th century, gives a list of twelve Rathor kings reigning at Badaun (called Vodamayuta).

The first authentic historical event connected with it, however, was its capture by Qutb-ud-din Aybak in 1196, after which it became a very important post on the northern frontier of the Delhi Empire. In 1197-98 Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Mohammad Ghori’s governor took possession of the city. Qutb-ud-din Aibak on his accession to the Delhi throne in 1210, appointed Iltutmish as governor of this place. Ghiya-ud-din Balban rode to the throne of Delhi in 1265-66. 

In the very year of his reign Balban was beset with the serious problem of Katehriya uprising in Budaun and Amroha. He suppressed the rebellion in such an exemplary manner that “the blood of the rioters ran in streams, heaps of slain were to be seen near every village and jungle and the stench of the dead reached as far as Ganges.” In the 13th century two of its governors, Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, and his son Rukn-ud -din Firuz, attained the imperial throne.

In 1289, Jalal-ud-din Feroz ascended the throne of Delhi and founded the Khilji dynasty. He was succeeded by Ala-ud-din. After the death of Alaud-din nothing is heard about Budaun till the accession of Feroz Tughlaq, the third ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty in 1351. After the death of Firoz, confusion reigned supreme throughout the empire and in 1394 Budaun came in possession of Nusrat Shah, while Mahmud was confined to Delhi throne during the early years of Mahmud’s reign. Mahabat Khan was appointed governor of Budaun. In 1571 the town was burnt, and about a hundred years later, under Shah Jahan, the seat of the governorship was transferred to Sahaspur- Bilari.

It is rather surprising that the history of Budaun remains almost obscure throughout the reign of Akbar, more so because, one of the greatest historian of the day, Abdul Qadir Budauni was the native of this place. This may have been either due to the fact that Budaun relapsed into insignificance or no significant event occurred to attract the attention of the chronicler. Abu Fazl’s Ain-i-Akbari throws a considerable light on the administration of the district during Akbar’s reign. The foremost change that was brought in this regime was that Budaun lost its status of being the capital of a province and became merely a sirkar in the subah of Delhi. 

The history of Budaun remains obscure for considerable period after the death of Akbar in 1605. During the middle of eighteenth century Hafiz Rahmat Khan, a Rohilla warrior played an important role in the history of this region. He was defeated and killed in 1774 and the whole of Rohilkhand passed into the hands of Shuja-ud-daula. For twenty seven years, Budaun remained in the possession of the rulers of Awadh. But in 1801, the Nawab Vizir of Awadh agreed to surrender Rohilkhand and other territories to the East India Company. Till 1856, the district remained peaceful.

On the eve of freedom struggle of 1857 the people of the district took part in the struggle. The month of May 1858, saw the gradual restoration of order and the British rule. Thereafter, for 50 years the district remained peaceful and made considerable economic progress. The 20th century saw the dawn of nationalism in the country. However, in between the Swadeshi era and the advent of Gandhiji on the political scene, there was no remarkable political happening in the district. 

The beginning of 1920 saw the foundation of the district congress committee and during the same year, the Non-co-operation Movement started by Gandhiji also spread in the district. In 1930, Civil Disobedience Movement was started in Budaun, as in the other parts of the country. During this Movement, more than 600 persons from the district were sent to jail. During Quit India Movement nearly all the local leaders were arrested but their place was continuously filled up by other people. On August 15, 1947 the country achieved its long awaited dream of independence. The district celebrated the Independence Day in the befitting manner.