is a sleepy city of Poorvanchal, situated on the banks of holy river Ganges. Once
upon a time, Ghazipur was famous for cultivation of gulab, champa, chameli,
jasmine, kevda and many other fragmenting flowers. A few decades ago, perfumes,
oils of these flowers and kevda water were traded on a large scale in the
district.
has lost its fragrance and flowers but here still live people, who smell more
than roses. One among them is Mr Obaidur Rahman Siddiqui. He is a Historian who has written the History
of Ghazipur beginning from the ancient time till Mughal time.
A Boat in River Ganges-Ghazipur |
He has traced many historical places in Ghazipur with a
story, which were lost in the dust of time. Frankly
speaking the city has limited tourist attractions.I hope the research work of
Mr Obaidur Rahman Siddiqui will keep Ghazipur a place on tourists map of Uttar
Pradesh.
has broadened my vision and wisdom.The reason: It opens many unkwon secrets.
That makes my journey perfect.
By the grace of God I got an opportunity to travel Ghazipur.I was invited Ghazipur by Obaidur Rahman
Siddiqui to attend a function, “Rasm-e-ijra” of his new book
day of his function Obaidur Rahman arranged a boating trip in Ganges.I spend my
beautiful time at Ghats and an adventurous memorable boating trip, hearing mesmerizing
bubbling musical noise created by stearing helm of boat in water of river Ganges.
movement of the country. After independence of the country, Ghazipur District
could not develop as it was in the past.
writing on Ghazipur is incomplete without mention of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the
great Social reformer and founder of Aligarh Muslim University. The Aligarh Movement was not an instant phenomenon. It took its
shape in many many years and was started even before Sir Syed moved to his
final home Aligarh.
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Ganges Ghat View –Ghazipur |
first step towards establishing M.A.O. College and Aligarh Movement was
establishment of Scientific Society at Ghazipur in 1864. In 1860, Sir Syed
Ahmad Khan was transferred from Moradabad to Ghazipur. The stay of Sir Syed in
Ghazipur is a milestone in his life. Sir Syed
had also established a school at Ghazipur which was named as Victoria School
(established 1864) at Ghazipur. Later its name was changed to Shri Shivnath
Singh Girls Government College.
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A View of Ganga Ghats –Ghazipur |
Blog is dedicated to that boating trip which I enjoyed from Steamer Ghat to
Opium Factory, with my camera in holy river of Ganges.
boatman freed anchor, pushed boat into main river stream.I was in company of
Tariq, Anees and Rashid: Stepped in boat and fixed myself in a comfortable
position in the boat.
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A View of Ganges Ghats –Ghazipur |
was stearing boat on up stream and the return was down stream.Our boat passed
through ghats constructed along the river: Manadev ghat, Dadri ghat, Collector
ghat, Cheetnath ghat, Posta ghat, Streamer ghat, Rameshwar ghat, Pakka ghat,
Sikandarpur ghat, Kankadiya ghat, Gola ghat, Masood ghat, Nakta ghat, Khirki
ghat.
boat was flowing ahead, but I was lost in memories of my child hood.
Remembering the days when as a kid, when I used to come on an adventurous birds
hunting,with my Big Father.Those were the thrilling and exciting moments to see
shooing some migratory birds direct from boats in winter.
Now as a grown mature
man, I realized that, birds hunting
were nothing more than a violent form of recreation of the feudal system. Bird’s migration is one of nature’s wonders.
Tragically, every year millions of birds
are slaughtered during their journeys: The delicate balance of ecosystems ensures their
survival.Need not to say that Birds were the primary
inspiration for development of space technology.
Boat was leisurely sailing.The ghats were open to me as a theatre of real
life dramas. Sitting in boat, I was observing the activities on the ghats, through my
camera lens and clicking them.
Pilgrims taking ablution
in the waters of the Ganga, dhobis washing clothes, water buffaloes roaming
around.young local boys were jumping high
from ghat stairs. Women were busy in domestic gossips.
life dramas. Sitting in boat, I was observing the activities on the ghats, through my
camera lens and clicking them.
in the waters of the Ganga, dhobis washing clothes, water buffaloes roaming
around.young local boys were jumping high
from ghat stairs. Women were busy in domestic gossips.
looked as a big plate of crimson red, ready to sink in Ganges water .The rays
of the setting sun were no longer hot. The crimson red was prominently visible
in western sky.A peacefull silence was around us, only noise of river waves
striking bottom of boat. Fisher men, in mid stream, were
also pulling fish nets to return back.
the boat, I found my self tired but the mesmerizing beauty of this Ganga boat
ride was refreshing me. My camera was fully loaded with some marvelous moments.
Those memories are treasure for the rest of my life.
A Boat in River Ganges–Ghazipur
Written, photographed and posted by Engr Maqbool Akram. |