Meerut

This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality

Meerut is a city to the north-east of New Delhi. Its claim to fame lies in the fact that the famous chant of "Dilli chalo" (Move to Delhi) was taken up first from here during the Indian rebellion of 1857 against the British East India Company.

It has one of the biggest cantonments in India as it holds a strategic advantage of being close to the national capital, New Delhi.This is actually debatable as it existed before Delhi became the Capital . (The statement also shows inadequate distinction between a Garrison and a Cantonment. Cantonments contained British residents from all walks of life and always had a garrison to provide protection to them. They were also not exclusively for British (transient) occupation there was a larger proportion of Indians resident there - some of them moneylenders to the British). For more about the start of the encroachment and how Cantonments got to be established read this at the PBS site on Empires .

Meerut is a district with 1025 villages and a population of around 2.5 Million. However the population in city itself is 1,074,229 according to the 2001 Census.

The majority of the city are Hindus, with the minority Muslims.

Notes about the history of Meerut:

1. From Ramayan, Ravana's wife Mandodari, hailed from Meerut.In other way Meerut was the Sasural( home of In- Laws) of Ravana. The town is named after Mandodari. Meghnath was her son.

2. 1857, 1st war of Independence was started here. Current day Kalipaltan Mandir is where the Kalipaltan (dark skin soldier) troops were housed. At this location the british gave them rifle cartridges. The wrapping was to be opened by the mouth,the Britishers told the Hindu's that they have used beef fat in the cartridges and Muslims were told that pork fat was used in the cartridges. //Attention:- There was an unconfirmed rumour that this was their strategy to hurt the sentiments of both religions. No matter, both Muslim and Hindu knew that the cartridges were made in England.

3. Mall Road is a wide road in Meerut near what was originally a British Military cantonment. Raghbir Sarang was known to have raced horse Buggies on this road and was whipped for having beaten a Brit.

4. 1940's--Meerut Movie Theaters had a "Don't Move" policy during playing of British national anthem. Or else you will get hit by a British Soldier.

5. Hasitnapur - The seat of the Kaurav/ Pandav's had their Sena (Gaurds) come from Meerut

6. Lakshgarh - The Mahabharat Laksh house that burned "Parnavah" Town. Kaurav's wanted to burn down the Pandav's. Home/site is in Meerut .

More "official" information on Meerut can be found here. A resident of Meerut has this blog on the city.