Tracing the timeless spirit of Charkhi Dadri

By: Dushyant, Class VII, Apeejay School, Charkhi Dadri

Making of City: In 14th Century, Charkhi Dadri was established by Bilhan Singh Lamba, who was inspired to settle in the area after seeing a cow and a lion drinking water together at Dadar
Lake. He sought the blessings of a nearby Mahatma, who told him that his family would be blessed and rule over the area if he made it his home.

History: According to folklore, a large lake named Dadar existed in Dadri, which is why the city is named Dadri. Earlier, Dadri was also the main district headquarters of the then-Jind princely state. Earlier, in the first freedom struggle of 1857, the people here openly revolted against the East India Company due to their rebellious nature. Till 1857, the Dadri area was under the princely state of the Nawab of Jhajjar.

The Nawab also opposed the British rule and supported the revolutionaries. After the failure of the revolution, the British separated Dadri from Jhajjar and merged it with Jind state as a punishment. After that, for 90 years, the people here continued to have a feeling of rebellion against British rule. Dadri was a major centre of the Praja Mandal movement against the native princely states that were flourishing under the British umbrella before 1947. The Praja Mandal movement that started from here also spread to other princely states nearby.

Achievements:

1. Great Personalities:
   
   Ram Krishna Gupta: Late Shri Ram Krishan Ji Gupta, popularly known as
   Gupta Ji, was a prominent Indian National Congress leader, freedom fighter, and
   parliamentarian. Born on 27 May 1918, in Barnala Mandi, Punjab, he studied his
   B.A. and LL.B. degrees from Banaras and Lahore. He actively participated in the
   Quit India Movement and spent 16 months in jail for his role in the struggle for
   independence. He was also associated with the Azad Hind Fauj and was a close
   associate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Gupta Ji was elected to the Lok
   Sabha three times from Hissar, Haryana during the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Lok Sabha,
   representing the Indian National Congress.
   
   He served as both General Secretary and President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. He was deeply committed to education and rural development. He founded the Dadri Education
   Society in 1961 and helped establish educational institutions such as JVMGRR
   College in Charkhi Dadri. He passed away on April 14, 2009, remembered for his
   lifelong service to the nation and his community.
   
   Babita Kumari: Babita Kumari Phogat is a former Indian professional wrestler
   from the state of Haryana. She is a multiple Commonwealth Games medalist,
   including the gold medal in 2014, Silver in 2010, and 2018.
2. Ancient Places in the City
   
   Cement Corporation Factory: Cement Corporation of India established
   one of its cement plants in Haryana. The plant was commissioned in 1982
   with a capacity of 174,000 tonnes per annum. The process used in the
   plant was semi-dry cement. The plant is spread across 250 acres. It
   functioned for almost 15 years before production was stopped in 1996
   and fully closed on October 31, 2008.
   
   Shyamesar Lake: In 1687 CE, during Aurangzeb’s rule, Lala Sita Ram
   built the Shyamesar Lake at the cost of Rs. 100,000 in 1687 CE. Lala was
   also mentioned as the treasurer of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (r.
   1719-48) in the “1904 Phulkian States Gazetteer”.
3. Media Attention
   
   1996 MID-AIR-COLLISION: Charkhi Dadri came to media attention when, on 12
   November 1996, a Kazakhstan Airlines Ilyushin Il-76 struck a Saudia Boeing 747 in the
   sky above the village, causing both aircraft to crash into the fields below. The collision
   resulted in the deaths of all 349 people on board both aircraft. It was the deadliest
   mid-air collision on record, the deadliest aviation disaster that left no survivors, and the
   deadliest aviation disaster in India.