The ancient Gorakhpur, in addition to modern, comprised the districts of Basti, Deoria, Azamgarh and parts of Nepal tarai. These region, which may be called as Gorakhpur Janpad, had been an important centre of Aryan culture and civilization.

Gorakhpur was a part of the famous kingdom of Koshal, one of sixteen mahajanpadas in 6th Century B.C. The earliest known monarch ruling over this region with his capital at Ayodhya was IKSVAKU, who founded the solar dynasty of Kshatriya. It produced a number of illustratious kings till the accession of Ram, who was the greatest ruler of this dynasty. Since then, it remained an integral part of the erstwhile empires of Maurya, Shunga, Kushana , Gupta and Harsha dynasties. According to tradition, the Tharu king, Mausen of Madan Singh (900-950 A.D.) ruled over Gorakhpur city and the adjoining area.

In medieval period, when the entire northern India lay prostrate before the Muslim ruler, Mohammad Ghori, the Gorakhpur region was not left out. For a longer period it remained under the sway of the muslim rulers, from Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak to Bahadur Shah.Tradition has it that Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316) ordered the conversion of old shrine of Goraksha ( a popular deity ) of Gorakhpur into a mosque. However, on Akbar’s reorganisation of the empire, Gorakhpur gave its name to one of the five Sirkars comprising the province of Avadh.

Gorakhpur is also identified with the Gita Press, the world famous publisher of the Hindu religious books. The most famous publication is ‘KALYAN’ magazine. All 18 parts of Shree Bhagwat Gita is written on its marble-walls. Other wall hangings and paintings reveal the events of life of Lord Ram and Krishna. The Gita Press is fore-front in dissemination of religious and spiritual consciousness across the country.

Gorakhpur rose to great eminence due to the historic ‘CHAURI CHAURA’ incident of 4th Feb., 1922, which was a turning -point in the history of India’s freedom struggle. Enraged at the inhuman barbaric atrocities of the police, the volunteers burnt down the Chauri-Chaura Police Station, killing nineteen policemen at the premises. With this violence, Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement launched in 1920.

In 1961, there were 23,01,973 Hindus, males 11,60,632 and females 11,41,341. This number became 27,03,439 in 1971 with 14,06,498 males and 12,96,941 females.

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The kshatriyas or Rajputs have been the principal land-holders in the district. The erstwhile zamindars mostly belonged to this caste who after zamindari abolition are now agriculturists for occupation. They have numerous subcastes in the district. Their number is largest in Bansgaon tahsil and smallest in tahsil Maharajganj. The well-known subcastes found in the district are Bisens, Bais, Dikshits, Surajbansis, Chauhans, Rathors and Sarnets of which the Bisens occupy the foremost place. They are spread all over the district whereas the Bais are confined mainly to the tahsil Bansgaon.

The largest number of the Surajvanshis are found in tahsil Maharajganj. This name is also adopted by the Rajput immigrants from the hills. The Chauhans are found all over while Rathors live mostly in tahsil Gorakhpur.

The Sarnets are chiefly confined to the tahsil of Gorakhpur and Bansgaon. According to tradition, the founder of the sarnet clan was Chandra Sen who settled in Gorakhpur towards the end of the 12th century A.D., and established his Satasi rule because the perimeter of his territories was 87 Kms. As he proceeded eastwards, he was confronted by the Donwar Rajputs. They were on the point of compelling him to quit the district, when his Brahmin advisor suggested a matrimonial alliance between his daughter and the son of Donar or Donwar chieftain. The proposal was gladly accepted and extensive preparation were made for the wedding. Chandra Sen in due course entered the Donwar fort with a large number of his followers. Seizing this opportunity, he treacherously murdered the Donwar chief, while his followers outside slaughtered as many of the clan as they could find. The power of the Donwars was crippled by this blow, and the Sarnet became one of the most powerful in Gorakhpur.

The Kaushik reside mainly in Bansgaon tahsil in Dhuriapar which is said to have been founded by Dhur Chandra, the first of the Kaushiks to settle in these parts. According to tradition Dhur Chand’s ancestor was Raja Kaushik, grandfather of Vishwamitra, the preceptor of Rama. Legend has it that Rama made a perpetual grant of Sarjupur, the tract between the Ghaghra and the mountains, to Vishwamitra and his descendants. More probably Dhur Chand was driven northwards by the Muslim, and crossed the Ghaghra about the middle of the 14th century. He drove out the Bhars whom he found in possession, ejected the Bhumihars who had proceeded from Harpur and established himself all along across the river in the northern parganas of Dhuriapar and Chillupar. He and his descendants distributed the conquered land among their relations. Many of the local families thus trace their origin to members of the Dhuriapar house viz. The Babus of Belghat, Malanpur and Jaswantpur.

The other subscastes of the Rajputs are the Sikarwars, Bandhalgoti and Bachgoti who came from district Sultanpur, Sengars from Ballia, Rathors the earliest settlers from west, Raghubanshis from Ayodhya, and Raikwars from Gonda and Bahraich districts. The few Sombanshis found here mostly came from Pratapgarh and the Amethies from south of Bara Banki district. The Panwars came to the district in small units, gaining ground gradually by virtue of marriages.

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Places of Interest
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Bhauapar (pargana Bhauapar, tahsil Gorakhpur)

This village which gives its name to the pargana lies in Lat. 26 degree 40′ N. and Long. 83 degree 22′ E. at a distance of 9.06 km. on a road, south of Gorakhpur city. The place was the site of the fort and residence of the Sarnet Rajputs till 1400 A.D. Even after they settled in other parts of the district they continued to hold sway over it till 1570 when they were ousted by the Mughals.

Gopalpur (pargana Dhuriapar, tahsil Bansgaon)

It is a fair sized village which stands in Lat. 26 Degree 22′ N. and Long. 83 Degree 20′ E. on the road from Gorakhpur and Sikriganj to Barhalganj, about 5 km. north-west from Gola and 48 km. from Gorakhpur. Gopalpur has figured in the history of the kaushiks. In the first half of the 18th century some of the kaushiks of Dhuriapar estate established themselves at Gopalpur. By 1836 the raja of Gopalpur plunged deeply into debt and his ruin was inevitable. At the outbreak of the freedom struggle in 1857 he supported the British and as a reward he received another estate assessed at Rs 12,000 annually and which enabled him to save Gopalpur partly. The bulk of his ancestral domains in Gopalpur had to be sold in liquidation of debts. Most of the inhabitants are Rajputs.

Rajput Personalities
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ABU BANDHU SINGH

The first great freedom fighter of Gorakhpur, waged Guerilla War with the Britishers, was at last arrested through an informer and hanged at Alinagar Chowk, Gorakhpur on 12th Aug. 1857. His supreme sacrifice remained a perpetual source of inspiration for the people of Gorakhpur till the attainment of freedom.

VIR BAHADUR SINGH

Vir Bahadur Singh, real son of the soil, ex. Chief Minister of U.P. and Central Cabinet Minister of Communication, is widely remembered as the architect of modern Gorakhpur. Gorakhpur is indebted to him for ushering a series of developmental activities, the prominent being upgradation of the city Gorakhpur to B class and Nagar Nigam, creation of Gorakhpur Development Authority, construction of residential colonies, openeing of Sports College, Mahila I.T.I. and Navodaya Vidhyalaya, ambitous Ramgarh Project, Entertainment and Amusement Parks and widening of Roads.