Ghasera
Ghasera is a village in Nuh district of Haryana state in northern India. It is dominated by Meos. This village is also known as Ghandhi Gram Ghasera after it was visited by Mahatma Gandhi who asked the predominantly Muslim Meos to not migrate to Pakistan.[1]
Ghasera
Gandhi Gram Ghasera | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Ghasera  Ghasera | |
| Coordinates: 28.1362471°N 77.0765927°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Haryana |
| District | Mewat district |
| Government | |
| • Type | Local government |
| • Body | Gram Panchayat |
| Elevation | 199 m (653 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 15,147 |
| Demonym(s) | Mewati |
| Languages | |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-HR |
| Vehicle registration | HR |
| Website | haryana |
| http://www.mewat.gov.in | |
History
The majority of villagers are Muslim Meos who claim descent from Hindu Lord Rama.[2] These Meos belong to Dhaingal Pal, which is also known as Ghasera Pal and Bargujar Pal. This Pal is prominent in Nuh district and it had originated from the Raiseena village in Gurugram district (also spelt Raisina, and not to be confused with Raisina Hill in Delhi).[2]
18th century
The ruined Ghasera Fort lies at Ghasera village 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Nuh city on Nun-Sohna road. The Jat ruler Surajmal of Bharatpur killed the Rajput faujdar Bahadur Singh Bargujar of Koil [present day Aligarh on outskirts of Palwal] and his son Ajit Singh in 1753 in the Battle of Ghasera. During the battle, the Jats laid siege to Ghasera, which lasted for 3 months and 15000 jats and their allies were killed by the gun fire from ramparts of Ghasera fort. On 23 April 1753, a desperate Bahadur Singh Bargurjar slayed all his women, opened the gates of the fort for the final battle to death during which he and his companions were killed. After this Jats sacked Delhi in 1754, forcing mughals to plead help from marathas, which finally resulted in a peace treaty between Jats and Marathas.[3]
Currently, of the four gateways only one remains along with the Ruined walls. in 1753.[1]
Independence
Despite pressure by the princely states of Alwar and Bharatpur, who ruled in the region, the Meo community decided not to migrate to Pakistan during the Partition of India. In 1947, Mahatma Gandhi visited Ghasera to urge the Muslims living there not to leave, calling the Meos “Iss desh ke reed ke haddi” or the backbone of India.Every December 19 since 2000, Meo Muslims in Haryana have been commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to the village in erstwhile Mewat district as Mewat Diwas.[4]
References
- Photos: 71 years after independence, Gandhi Gram Ghasera battles neglect, Hindustan Times, 1 October 2018, page 2,7.
- Shail Mayaram, Against History, Against State: Counterperspectives from the Margins, pp 196.
- Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur
- "Why the Meo Muslims in Mewat remember Mahatma Gandhi in December every year". Scroll.in. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- Outlook Publishing (7 July 2008). Outlook. Outlook Publishing. p. 76. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
