Interesting facts about History of Rohtak district!

Rohtak town became the headquarters of a British District in 1824,a position which it has since retained!

The municipality of Rohtak was first constituted in 1867.

Rohtak at that time was a walled city with eleven gates,Dilli darwaja being the main gate.Town was divided into two parts; Rohtak proper and Babra. Out of total population of 15699,8180 were Hindus,6928 muslims,501 Jain's 62 Sikhs and 28 of other religions like Christianity.

Sheikhs occupied the fort east of the city below which was situated the Sarai Saraogian where most of the chief Mahajans lived.

At that time income of the municipality was chiefly derived from octroi levied on the value of almost all goods brought within municipal limits.

The articles exempted from taxation were cotton,salt,opium,fermented and spiritous liquors,and articles used in dyeing!

Rohtak at that time was known for manufacturer of Turbans,plain and embroidered. रोहतक की पगड़ी मशहूर!

Major town in Rohtak district and population of the respective town as per 1881 census was Rohtak 15160,

Beri 9695,

Kalanaur town 7371,

Meham town 7315,

Kanhaur town 5251,

Sanghi town 5194,

Jhajjar town 11242,

Bahadurgarh town 6674,

,Kharkhauda town 4144,

Butana town 7656,

Gohana town 7444,

Baroda town 5900,

Mundlana town 5469.

Thus,in the year 1881 Sanghi,Mundlana,Butana and Baroda were some of the towns of Rohtak district.

Now these are villages and,as per 2011 census the population of these villages is ;Sanghi 9108 against 5194 in 1881,Mundlana 8982 against 5452 in 1881,Baroda (Mor) 7108 against 5900 in 1881,and Butana ( kundu)4574 against 7656 in 1881.

Thus there has been huge exodus of trading and skilled workers from these places during this period!

Another interesting fact;in the year 1881 -82 whereas Municipal Income of Rohtak Municipality was 8036 rupees,that of Beri Municipality was 8482 rupees! Thus ,in the year 1881,Beri town was a bigger manufacturing and trading centre than Rohtak.

Another interesting aspect! Whereas average yield of wheat produce in irrigated land in 1881 was around 5.40 quintals,currently that has gone upto 20 quintals. That is how we have been able to control food problem! Courtesy our toiling farmers,will of the government and efforts of our agriscientists!

Comparing the prices of some of the items in the year 1881 ;one rupee fetched 21.5 seers wheat,26.5 seers Gram,about 2 seers of cow ghee.

Kulbir Malik

Source; Rohtak District Gazeteer 1881-82.