Aligarh

Aligarh, the town famous for being home to the Aligarh Muslim University, is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is often called the ‘Mecca of Education’ by the Muslims living in India. Aligarh Muslim University has produced many important luminaries over the years, one of them being Sir Muhammad Iqbal who is considered to be the founding father of Pakistan.

Aligarh Muslim University was founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan in 1875, who tried to model it on the Oxford and Cambridge universities of the UK. At that time, the university was known as Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College. It was in 1920 that the university got its present name.

In the 18th century, Aligarh was known by the name of Kol. The exact origins of that name have not been traced. Some theories suggest that it was the name of the tribe which dwelled in the region while others suggest that it was the name of a demon or a mountain here.

Before being invaded by the Muslims, the city was ruled by the Rajputs. There is also evidence, in the form of Buddhist statues, to suggest that the town was under Buddhist influence sometime in the past. The city was taken over by the Muslims in the 12th century, when Qutub-ud-din-Aibak took control of the city and appointed the first Muslim governor of the region.

Apart from being the hub of education for Muslims, Aligarh is also an industrial city and the ‘City of Locks’, as it is sometimes called. This is because of the presence of Link Locks here. Link Locks is the largest manufacturer of locks in India. Along with locks, Aligarh is known for its hardware, particularly brass fittings, which it supplies in large numbers. Of late, the auto industry has also started thriving here, exporting most of its goods to other countries.

Like most other Indian cities, Aligarh too is divided into the old and the new. The new part of the town has Dhorra Mafi or Sir Syed Nagar, which according to Guinness Book of World Records, is the most educated Asian colony.

Largely an educational area, Aligarh does have its tourist places of interest in the form of the Aligarh Fort along with a few temples and churches which crowd the area. The city is well connected to other parts of India via road as well as rail.