Meerut has a glorious history buried under multiple layers of the past. The city has countless stories to tell. Situated on a fertile land between two great holy rivers—Ganga and Yamuna, in north-western Uttar Pradesh, Meerut has been a hub of diverse human activities in every historical era, even in the age before the existence of written records. Its establishment could be traced to ancient times. From the time as early as the Ramayana & the Mahabharata and the Puranas to the British colonial rule, the city has left a sign of strong presence in each period of India’s history, from ancient to modern.
Meerut, one of the oldest cities in India, has an interesting relation to Ramayana. The city is believed to have derived its name from Mayarashtra, the capital of the kingdom of Mayasura, Mandodari’s father. Needless to say, Mandodari was the wife of Ravana, the antagonist of the epic Ramayana.
Meerut has a connection with the Indus Valley civilization. Alamgirpur, the easternmost settlement of the civilization, is located in Meerut district. Hastinapur, a town in Meerut district, has a history that dates back to the period of Mahabharata. This ancient place is portrayed as the capital of the Kuru Kingdom of the Kauravas. Many incidents in the Mahabharata were set in the city of Hastinapura. Archaeological excavations at Hastinapur were carried out in the early 1950s by B. B. Lal, the then Director General of the ASI.
Meerut had been a centre of Buddhism in the period of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, and remains of Buddhist structures were found near the Jama Masjid in the present day city. The Ashoka Pillar, at Delhi ridge, was carried to Delhi from Meerut, by Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
During the Sultanate period, Meerut had a pretty tough time. Qutb-ud-din Aibak, who established the Delhi Sultanate, attacked and captured the city in 1193. Timur in 1399 attacked and sacked the city; but met with the fierce resistance offered by the brave locals. The city remained in a state of relative peace under the rule of the Mughal Empire. During the rule of Akbar, there was a mint for copper coins here. With the capture of power by the British, the town evolved into a military garrison. Meerut is closely associated with the Indian Rebellion of 1857, better known as the First War of Independence against the British Rule. The rebellion began on 10 May, 1857 as a mutiny of Indian soldiers of the Company's army in Meerut. This particular incident acquired the form of a nationalistic struggle for independence posing a serious threat to the British power in India.
In recent decades, Meerut has rapidly developed from an old city with a rich tradition and a fascinating history into an increasingly urbanized society with new residential towers, various industries & commercial activities, and an advanced life style. A lot has changed over the years. Meerut is no longer just a city near to the national capital, but an emerging destination for businesses and residents alike.
Meerut is now one of the largest producers of sports goods, the largest producer of musical instruments in India, and one of Asia's biggest gold markets. The city is also an education hub in western Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the first section of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor or the RAPIDX train, the country’s first high-speed & high-frequency mass rapid rail system aimed to ensure better regional connectivity & sustainable urban development; which once fully completed, will reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to a little less than an hour. Meerut, which is presently on the cusp of great socio-economic change, is included among the fastest growing cities in India.
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