History of Shahjahanpur

The district headquarters and the municipal board Shahjahanpur is a historic city. The city was named Shahjahanpur by the Great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The city was actually founded
by Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan. Both Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan were sons of Dariya Khan who was a solider in the Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s Army. Mughal emperor Jahangir was succeeded by Emperor Shah Jahan. Diler Khan and Bahadur Khan served under Emperor Shah Jahan’s command after he came in power. Both the sons were considered loyal in emperor Shah Jahan’s regime. The Emperor was very impressed by Diler Khan’s services and was given 14 villages and a permission to build a fort.


Diler Khan as per the emperor’s order built a fort in Nainar Khera on the banks of River Garrah and River Khannaut. He formed 52 sub types of “Pathan” caste in the 14 villages handed over to him. Pathans or Pashtuns are Afghans settled down in Shahjahanpur. At present a large number of “mohallas” in Shahjahanpur are also included their names under the sub castes formed by Diler Khan.

Freedom Struggle in Shahjahanpur

The city has a very strong history in Indian Freedom Struggle as Shahjahanpur gave many mighty Indian freedom fighters, who gave their life and soul for the Independence.

There are two mazars that connect the city from each corner. One mazar was erected in commemoration of one of the great Indian freedom fighter, Shaheed Ahmad Ullah Shah, for his contribution towards Indian Rebellion of 1857. Shaheed Ahmad Ullah Shah started revolution against the English East Indian Company in Faizabad and proceeded towards Shahjahanpur where he died. The other mazar was erected in commemoration to Shaheed Ashfaqallah Khan. He started his revolution against the British in about 70 year after Shaheed Ahmad Ullah Shah but he was hanged to death in a prison at Faizabad.

Indian Rebellion of 1857

Freedom fighters from Shahjahanpur have contributed considerably to the Indian rebellion of 1857. Many freedom fighters from many parts of the nation joined together in Shahjahanpur for Indian rebellion planning, of which the notable personalities were Ahmad Ullah Shah and Badahur Khan from Faizabad and Bareilly, respectively. The efforts of Ahmad Ullah Shah, Bakshi and Nazim Ali failed against the British. Later successful efforts for Indian rebellion were made by Roshan Singh, Ashfaqullah Khan and Ram Prasad Bismil.

Matrivedi Sangh Society and Robbery

The Matrivedi Sangh society was formed by Ram Prasad Bismil in 1916 under the head of Pt. Genda Lal Dixit. The main motive of the society was to collect funds for Freedom Struggle. The society turned unsuccessful in collecting funds so its members planned for robbery. Then robbery was the main source or technique to collect funds even for the Hindustan Republic Movement started by Ram Prasad Bismil. In search of funds a team of Chandra Shekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil, Rajendra Lahiri and Ashfaqullah Khan planned to rob British government funds near Kakori railway station in August 1925. The team was successful in robbing the funds but within four months nearly 40 people were arrested in connection with the robbery. In 1927 Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Roshan Singh were hanged to death by the British government in connection with Kakori train robbery case.