KANPUR NAGAR, Uttar Pradesh

Main Attraction: Leather Factory

Kanpur city is basically known as an industrial city since long. The concentration of industrial establishments in the state of U.P. had been synonymous unit to the Kanpur Nagar. Among the industrial activities, the leather industry attains important status, where mostly weaker sections of the sociely have got jobs. The leather processing centers are located in Jajmau where, about 300-400 ‘tanneries’ are in operation. The raw leather is processed here and out of that the next stage of processing is of sole harness and industrial leather is produced which is a distinction of the city. Shoes, sandals, chappals, shoe-uppers and other leather items make the city famous. Of the total exports of the city, more than 90% is from this sector. The saddlers item is produced only at Kanpur in the country and the value of the export is more than 200 crore per annum. Besides these, the other renowned units are also there which manufacture and export other leather items. Taking into account the process of leather manufacturing the leather is dyed as per choice the high level quality is required by the prospective buyers. Kanpur Nagar was once also Known as Manchester of the East due to many textile mills established here and items like belts, suitcases, bags, winter jerseys and trousers etc. are manufactured.

Brief History

Kanpur is said to be the corruption of Kanhaiyapur or Kanhpur which was an unimportant village till its first contact with British. According to a local tradition, name of Kanhpur owes its origin to Hindu Singh a raja of Sachendi who came here about 1750 AD to bathe in the holy river Ganga and established village which possibly was named Kanhpur and with the passage of time, it changed to Kanpur.

Kanpur Nagar district was carved out from Kanpur district on 9th June 1976 and remaining part of the district was named Kanpur Dehat. Again on 12.7.1977, it was merged into the same district, Then after on 23rd April 1981, district was further divided into Kanpur Nagar and Kanpur Dehat. On 15th August 1989 Kanpur was made divisional headquarters in which six districts of Allahabad divisions, i.e,. Kanpur Nagar, Kanpur Dehat, Etawah, Auraiya, Farrukhabad and Kannauj were included.

Area that constitutes present district of Kanpur Nagar seems to have imprints of one of the earliest existence of human culture going as far as back to stone age as described archaeological finds in Moosanagar on the left bank of Yamuna. Traces of further stages of culture are revealed from bronze arrows, spear head of copper, fragments of stone images, terra cotta objects, bricks, pottery pieces etc.

In sixth century B.C, it was a part of Panchala Kingdom at Ahichetra the sway of which extended from the foot of Himalaya in the north -east to Chambal river in south- west. During the medieval period, it was part of Kannauj empire till its conquest in 1193 A.D. by Shahabuddin Ghauri at the battle of “Chandawar” and its territory passed to the Muslim rule of sultan of Delhi, Sharqui dynasty of Jaunpur, the Mughals with an interruption of rule of Sher Shah Suri of Afghanistan. The death of Aurangzeb in 1707 triggered off the process of disintegration of Mughal empire and in its wake, many battles were fought between Mughals, Marathas and Nawabs of Avadh for its control with the territory going finally to Nawab of Avadh. It remained with them till 1801 when it was made over to the Britishers. The Muslims of 1857 in Kanpur went into full conflagration when Nana Saheb, son of Peshwa Baji Rao II struck against Britishers and took control.

Kanpur rose to prominence after comming into contact with Britishers. Strategically placed, it was made an important military station and was strongly garrisoned. In late 19th century, it developed into an industrial centre with large concentration of textile industry leading nick named as Manchester of east.

Kanpur is the largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. It is known as "Leather City" as it contains some of the largest and finest tanneries in the world. Kanpur is one of North India's main commercial and industrial centres. Towards the end of 19th century, Sir John Burney Allens established a group of companies such as Kanpur Textiles, Cawnpore Woollen Mills (Lal-imli), Flex Shoes Company, Elgin Mills and North Tannery under the banner of British India Corporation having headquarters at Kanpur. In the beginning of 20th century, Lala Kamlapat established a group of companies such as; J.K. Cotton Mills and J.K. Iron etc. under the banner of J.K. During the same period Sir J. P. Srivastava established New Victoria Mills.The Jaipuria family bought Swadeshi Cotton Mills from the Horsman family and in 1928 Sardar Inder Singh founded India's First steel rerolling mill at Singh Engineering which later became one of India's biggest steel rolling mills. British Government also established a number of factories like; Aircraft Manufacturing Depot, Kanpur (Now HAL), Ordnance Factory, Kanpur (Manufactured the Nirbheek Revolver) and Parachute Factory in 1886 to supplement their defence requirements. Today Kanpur comprises Ghari detergent, Red Tape Shoes, Goldie spices, Duncans Industries, innumerous middle-scale industries, and Hosiery business etc; which are more than 350 in number.