IDENTITY & LOCATION  

BARA BHAGAT KHERA (बड़ा भगत खेड़ा)

Taluka  & Post Office : SEMRI, Tehsil : Lalganj, Distt. Rae Bareli (UP)

Prior to getting freedom from English Govt. (East India Company), and eradication of Zamindari tradition of governance (i.e., ruling the small estates / talukas by zamindars / talukedars or small kings), our nation was the country of emperors and nawabs. There were many districts under Awadh State, amongst which Rae Bareli was one. Each district comprised of many talukas. Rae Bareli had 37 such talukas mentioned below:-

1.Khajurgaon, 2. murarmau, 3. Kurri Sudauli, 4. SEMRI, 5. Paho, 6. Pilkha, 7. Gaura, 8. Kathgar, 9. Panhauna, 10. Rahwan Hasnapur, 11. Korihar Sataon, 12. Gaura Kasauti, 13. Narendrapur, 14. Hamirpur Qila Chandaniha Alam, 15. Kusmaura, 16. Dewangana, 17. Khajuri, 18. Poorey Din Shah, 19. Singhpur Panhauna, 20. Paho Gulariha, 21. Kaisarva, 22. Semarpaha, 23. Behta Kalan, 24. Bahuwa, 25. Suttha, 26. Rajamau, 27. Shahmau, 28. Seewan, 29. Nuruddinpur, 30. Tikaari, 31. Naayan, 32. Osah Khajuri, 33. Pahremau, 34. Khiron, 35. Raipur, 36. Sehwon Paschimgaon, 37. Amaawaan.

Similar to the other districts of all the States of India, the zamindars /  talukedars of various talukas of Rae Bareli district also were divided by the English rulers into many categories on the basis of numerous appeasing titles awarded to them (talukedars) such as ‘Raja Bahadur’, ‘Rana’, ‘Raja’, ‘Lall’, ‘Ravat’, ‘Rai’ and ‘Thakur’. The talukedar of SEMRI  taluka was titled as ‘Lall’.

The village BARA BHAGAT KHERA falls within the purview of historically famed BAISWARA region and the name BAISWARA is derived from the BAIS sub-caste of patriotic kshatriyas of this region who fought with exemplary bravery against the English rulers / soldiers during the freedom-fight, and laid their lives for the sake of Mother India. Barely one km. north to SEMRI  riyasat / taluka, is situated our village BARA BHAGAT KHERA, which is the birth place of our earliest known ancestor NANHKAU, whose seventh generation has since descended (viz. Riya & Rushil, the children of Sharad). This village is also adjacent to Raghuraj Singh Railway Station, which is named after one of the talukedars of SEMRI estate (riyasat / taluka). The ‘Raghuraj Singh’ Railway Station (and our village) falls on the straight railway route of Kanpur (70 kms west) to Rae Bareli (50 kms east) and Allahabad (125 kms east-south).

Rae Bareli, the district within which our village falls, attaches international political importance as its parliamentary seat has been represented by the prominent politicians and statesmen like Feroz Gandhi (late husband of Smt. Indira Gandhi, ex - Prime Minister of India), Smt. Indira Gandhi herself, Raj Narayan, Arun Nehru (of Nehru-Gandhi family) and Smt. Sonia Gandhi (wife of Rajiv Gandhi, Ex - Prime Minister of India, and daughter-in-law of Smt. Indira Gandhi).  

The history books tell that the soil of entire Rae Bareli district is proud to be associated with numerous famous places, important events, freedom fighters, martyrs, saints, scholars, litterateurs, intellectuals and mythologically popular characters. A few of them are named below:-

Birbal (one of the gems of Shahenshah Akbar’s court), Alha & Oodal (great warriors of the ancient era), Dalabbhya rishri (‘Dalmau’ is named after him), Garg rishi (‘Gengaso’, the famous Ganga ghat is named after him). Raja Rao Ram Bux Singh, Rana Beni Madhav Singh, Shiv Ratan Singh (martyrs of India’s freedom struggle). Narhari kavi (one of the gems of Shahenshah Akbar’s court). Litterateurs Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, Dulare kavi, Sheetal Din Awashthi, Girdharilal Dwivedi, Vrajnandan, Beni Kavi, Shayer Waqif Rae Barelvi, Shiv Bahadur Singh Bhadauria. A few of freedom-fight-fame places are:- Dalmau (30 kms east-south), SEMRI (1 km south), Nihastha (6 kms east), Saimbasi (7 kms east), Sareni (13 kms south), Bakuliha (2 kms south), Lalganj (14 kms east),Gahiri (6 kms south-east), Khiron (5 kms north- east).

There are indications of strategic visits to Dalmau by Kings Akbar and Aurangzeb. The soil of Dalmau is fortunate enough to touch the holy feet of lord Rama. Also, the Lakhsaagrih instance of Mahabharat is linked to Dalmau (the history books authenticate).

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