ROHTAK

'Rohtak' (Hindi: रोहतक) is a municipal council located in Rohtak District in the Indian state of Haryana. The city can feel proud for having one of the highest number of dairies in India, a very reputable Medical College, a university where students come from different parts of India and some students also come from African countries.
Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the current Chief Minister of Haryana is from Rohtak, a reason why Rohtak has seen a lot of development in past few years. Interestingly, Mallika Sehrawat, arguably the only bold face of Bollywood beauties, hails from Rohtak.
The people of Rohtak like the rest of population of Haryana belong to the Indo Aryan type and in parts to the Indo-Dravidian type. Harayan's population, are divided into a number of castes (jatis).

Contents

History

Economy

Demographics

Art and Cultural Heritage

References

History

The antiquity of the region goes back to the pre-Vedic Chalcolithic/Bronze age. The ancient remains of the villages and towns related to the last phase of Indus Civilisation, going back to at least 4000 years, can still be seen around the region, particularly at Farmana near Mahem and Lahot (near Dhansa border). After the fall of the Indus towns, the village settlements of the Late Harappa Tradition survived until the middle of the second millennium B.C. in its decadent phase.
The advent of a new cultural tradition around 1500 B.C. most probably from the North-West of the subcontinent and beyond displaced the preceding Chalcolihthic/lndus survivors from the Gandhara region of Pakistan to Bihar. It manifested into at least three related regional cultures, the Gandhara Grave culture (C. 1500-500 B.C.), the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture (C.1100- 500 B.C.) and the Black Slipped Ware (BSW) culture (C.800-600 B.C.). The peasant-pastoral PGW culture was distinguished by the use of iron, horse and cattle and a thin grey coloured and painted pottery. It spread from Sutlej to the Ganga and particularly along the Saraswati valley in northern plains. Its discovery from Hastinapur, Panipat, Pehova, Kurukshetra, Mathura. Indraprastha or Delhi excited the imagination of the traditional archaeologists to associate the culture with the Mahabharat heroes. However, the geographical distribution, chronology and the cultural millieu of the PGW culture can be well compared with the culture of the Vedic (later phase) literature or Aryans. The discovery of the PGW culture from the lowest levels of Khokhrakot at Rohtak attests the intrusion of the Vedic people at Rohtak in the later Vedic period. The semi-agricultural and pastoral Aryans of the Rig Veda had by now taken to settled Janapadas and developed agrarian economy assisted by relevant iron technology and social organisation comprising the Varna System. It is about this period that the Gana Rajyas (tribal republics) or chiefdoms came into existence. The political struggle for domination ensued and the more successful established city states or the Mahajanapadas in the 7th century B.C. It is from now onwards that the history of India growingly becomes the history of the struggle of centripetal and centrifugal forces. Magadhan empire emerged successful in establishing almost a pan-Indian hegemony under the Nandas and the Mauryas and gave impetus to the rise of regional cities.
The Rohtak tract saw the growth of Second Urbanisation in the early historic times in the 4th century B.C. as evidenced by the excavations at Khokhra Kot mound near the town. The discovery of Ashokan pillars at Topra in North Haryana and at Hissar and Fatehabad attests the expansion of the Mauryan Empire in our region. The period was marked by the popularity of Prakrit language, the spread of Buddhism, the beginning of brick architecture, coinage and the Brahmi alphabets (a new script). After the collapse of the Mauryan empire the region saw the resurgence of the Tribal republic of the Yaudheyas to be subdued again by the invading Indo- Greeks, Sakas and Kushanas before the beginning of the Christian era. The Kushana rule integrated Northern India with Central Asia. The period saw the growth of urbanisation to higher peaks by boosting trade with Central and Western Asia and Europe. The assimilation of a variety of foreign elements enriched the Indian culture. The early historical period was also distinguished by the prevalence of slavery, caste system, decline in the status of women and untouchables under the sanction of the state and the Dharma Shastras.
The disintegration of the Kushana empire in the 3rd century A.D. again led to the rise of the Yaudheyas (tribal republic) at Rohtak as attested by the discovery of their seals and coin mounds. They were, however, subjugated by another Magadhan empire of the Guptas in the 4th century A.D. Soon after the urban centres decayed gradually giving way to the rise of feudal society and culture, agrarian economy, decentralisation of power and a new hierarchical social order. The town of Rohtak also decayed. The invasion by the Hunas, indicated anarchic conditions of the times.
The early centuries of the Christian era saw.the rise of the cults of Kartikeya. Shiva and Vishnu. This was a great era of cultural fusion when the foreign invaders like the Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushanas and the Hunas were assimilated. Stupas, pillars and sculptures, decorated bricks of temples and seals bear testimony to the beautiful art tradition of the region- Wrestling and lute playing with drums were the popular past-time of the people.
The later half of the 6th century A.D. saw the rise of the Puspabhutis or Vardhanas as the rulers of Shrikanth kingdom of Thanesar. Prabhakar Vardhan was a powerful king and ousted the Huna power from the region. Rohtak formed part of the Thanesar kingdom and later of the Kanauj empire of Harsha Vardhana, the Pushpabhuti prince of Thanesar. Anarchic conditions again set in the region with the death of Harsha. Peace was established by Gurjar Pratiharas of Ujjain (who are believed to be foreigners). They conquered North India in the 9th century and ruled from Kanauj. The Tomaras of Delhi, the Samantas of the Pratiharas, asserted their independence in the 10th century and ruled over Haryana including Rohtak.

Economy

The economy of the district is primarily agriculture i.e. agrarian economy. About 51.89% of the total workers are engaged in agriculture and allied activities, 7.68% in cottage & household industries and the rest are engaged in other activities.

Demographics

Out of total geographical area of the district, 83% is under cultivation. The main crops are wheat, gram, sugarcane & bajra. There is no perennial river in the district. Underground water level is relatively high. The district is faced with the problem of brackish water and water logging in may partts of the district. The sub soil water depth various from 4 to 40 feet

Art and Cultural Heritage

The Art and architectural Heritage of the town is of course in utter neglect. Till a decade ago the old city alleys and Railway road had about 50 havelis built in traditional architectural styles. Many stone facades with beautiful carvings and motifs were stripped from the walls and sold to heritage traders for paltry sums. In fact, the Muslim masons did all the decorative works in stone and fabricated woodcrafted door sets in these havelis (mansions). The rise of commerce and paucity of space forced the owners to demolish the fine old structures for building shopping complexes. There is no policy with the State Govt. or City Fathers to protect the heritage of the city. In spite of a local chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) functioning in the district, not much could be done because most heritage properties are in private ownership and INTCH's local chapter does not have funds or the infrastructure to carry out listing and conservation work. However, Mr. Ranbir Singh,55, a cultural historian functioning from Rohtak, in the last 25 years has documented extensively the art and architectural heritage not only of the Rohtak District but also entire Haryana on his own. He has a large collection of brilliant photographs of the heritage properties besides documenting history of the heritage value buildings, historical villages and towns of the district.
The famous 12th century Asthal Bohar Monastery has also been modernized by its Mahant Chand Nath. The oldest shrine at this place was built above the Smadh of Sidh Baba Chaurangi Nath (Bhagat Pooran Mall son of Raja Shalivan of Sialkot, now in Pakistan) under which also lies the grave of Sidh Baba Masth Nath who lived in the mid-eighteenth century AD. The shrine of Sidh Baba Tota Nath, in this campus, has beautiful frecoes painted in the early nineteenth century and done in Rajput style. Some of these, near the dome have their colors chipped off and are fading unless restored. The present Mahant is just indifferent to the preservation of these fine frescoes, very important for art historians. Sometime ago, the beautifully carved stone facade of the Digambar Jain Mandir in Barra Bazar was stripped off and sold just for Rs.1 lakh. It was a precious piece of art. Several havelis situated in the old city and Railway road are giving way to modern buildings thus depriving the city of its traditional and beautiful character.
Many large villages around Rohtak city could boast of many a fine buildings that had decorative elements and traditional architectural get up. Now, these are in bad condition and crumbling.

References