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{{short description|District in Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{About|the district|its eponymous headquarters|Azamgarh|its namesake division|Azamgarh division}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Azamgarh district
|nicknames= ''Land of [[Durvasa|Durvasa Muni]]''
| settlement_type = [[List of districts of Uttar Pradesh|District]]
| total_type = Total
| image_skyline = AL-JAMIATUL ASHRAFIA.jpg
| image_caption = Jamiatul Ashrafia in Azamgarh
| image_map = India Uttar Pradesh districts 2012 Azamgarh.svg
| map_caption = Location of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh
| coordinates = {{coord|26|36|00|N|83|11|24|E|region:IN_type:adm2nd_source:kolossus-ruwiki|display=title}}
| coor_pinpoint = Azamgarh
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and union territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Administrative divisions of India|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Azamgarh division|Azamgarh]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date =
| seat_type = Headquarters
| seat = [[Azamgarh]]
| parts_type = [[Tehsils of India|Tehsils]]
| parts_style = para
| p1 =
| area_total_km2 = 4,054
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_total = 4,613,913
| population_footnotes =
| population_urban = 8.53%
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Demographics
| demographics1_title1 = [[Literacy in India|Literacy]]
| demographics1_info1 = 70.93%
| demographics1_title2 = Sex ratio
| demographics1_info2 = 1019
| demographics_type2 = [[Language]]
| demographics2_title1 = Official
| demographics2_info1 = [[Hindi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India |url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=7 December 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics2_title2 = Additional&nbsp;official
| demographics2_info2 = [[Urdu]]<ref name="langoff"/>
| demographics2_title3 = Regional
| demographics2_info3 = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 = [[Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha constituencies]]
| leader_name1 = [[Azamgarh (Lok Sabha constituency)|Azamgarh]], [[Lalganj (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lalganj]]
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +05:30
| registration_plate =
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Roads in India|Major highways]]
| blank_info_sec1 = *[[National Highway 233B (India)|National Highway 233B]]
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| website = {{URL|https://azamgarh.nic.in/}}
}}

'''Azamgarh district''' is one of the three districts of [[Azamgarh division]] in the [[Indian state]] of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/uttarpradesh/districts/azamgarh.htm|title=Azamgarh District Map|website=www.mapsofindia.com|access-date=27 November 2019}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The district is named after its headquarters town, [[Azamgarh]]. Azam, a son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit, a descendant of Gautam of [[Mehnagar]] in pargana [[Nizamabad, Uttar Pradesh|Nizamabad]], had converted to [[Islam]]. He had two sons, namely, Azam and Azmat.<ref name="azamgarh">{{cite web |url=http://azamgarh.nic.in |title=Azamgarh |publisher=Azamgarh district administration |access-date=5 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729123649/http://azamgarh.nic.in/ |archive-date=29 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is also known as land of the sage [[Durvasa]] whose ashram was located in [[Phulpur, Azamgarh|Phulpur]] sub-district,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://azamgarh.nic.in/important_places.htm|title=Durvasa Ashram in Azamgarh official public information web page|access-date=14 January 2020|archive-date=7 June 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010607195846/http://www.azamgarh.nic.in/important_places.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> near the confluence of Tons and Majhuee river, {{convert|6|km|mi|0}} north from the Phulpur sub-district headquarters.

==History==

Towards the end of the 16th century, a [[Gautam Rajput]] from Azamgarh district was assimilated into the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] court at [[Delhi]], where he had gone in search of greater influence. His mission was a success, with the royal court eventually awarding him 22 [[pargana]]s in the Azamgarh region that marked the establishment of a family line which culminated in his descendants becoming [[raja]]s of the area. This was a typical route whereby relatively obscure lineages rose to prominence.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India |first=Richard Gabriel |last=Fox |publisher=University of California Press |year=1971 |isbn=978-0-52001-807-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FHEcBTmxlOEC |pages=106–107}}</ref>

===Colonial era===
The district was ceded to the British in 1801 by the wazirs of [[Lucknow]]. Both Hindu and Muslim landowners (known as Rautaras) of Azamgarh aided the [[Sepoy Mutiny]] against the British in 1857. On 3 June 1857 the 17th Regiment of Native Infantry mutinied at Azamgarh, murdered some of their officers, and carried off the government treasure to [[Faizabad]]. The district became a centre of the fighting between the [[Gurkha]]s and the rebels, and was brought under control in October 1858 by Colonel Kelly.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Azamgarh|volume=3|page=79}}</ref> The most notable rebels were Late. Janab Lal Mohammed Chivtahvin. Later, many of the local land owners were crushed by the British.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chestofbooks.com/reference/Encyclopedia-Britannica-1/Azamgarh.html|title=Azamgarh|website=chestofbooks.com|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref> Later, residents of Azamgarh participated in various national movements including the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement in 1942.<ref name =azamgarh/> The historian, social reformer, nationalist [[Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan]] was born in Kanaila village in this district.

==Geography==
Azamgarh district has an area of {{convert|4054|km2}}. The district lies between the [[Ganges]] and the [[Ghaghara River|Ghagahara]].<ref name="azamgarh" /> Azamgarh district is surrounded by the districts of [[Mau district|Mau]] in the east, [[Gorakhpur district|Gorakhpur]] in the north, Ghazipur in the south-east, [[Jaunpur district|Jaunpur]] in the south-west, [[Sultanpur district|Sultanpur]] in the west and [[Ambedkar Nagar district|Ambedkar Nagar]] in the north-west.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uponline.in/Profile/districts/Azamgarh.asp |title=Azamgarh |publisher=UP online |access-date=17 August 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100714041444/http://uponline.in/Profile/Districts/Azamgarh.asp |archive-date=14 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The slope of the land is from northwest to southeast. Roughly speaking, the district consists of a series of parallel ridges, whose summits are depressed into beds or hollows, along which the rivers flow; while between the ridges are low-lying rice lands, interspersed with numerous natural reservoirs.<ref name="EB1911"/>

Azamgarh district is further divided into 8 sub-districts, and 22 development blocks. There are 4,106 villages (3,792 inhabited and 314 uninhabited) in the district.<ref name =azamgarh/>

==Demographics==

{{historical populations|11=1901|12=11,03,469|13=1911|14=10,63,951|15=1921|16=10,89,471|17=1931|18=11,20,059|19=1941|20=12,98,992|21=1951|22=14,98,092|23=1961|24=16,90,536|25=1971|26=19,95,685|27=1981|28=24,93,757|29=1991|30=31,28,623|31=2001|32=39,39,916|33=2011|34=46,13,913|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref>|align=center}}

{{bar box
|title=Religion in Azamgarh district (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Uttar Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11394/download/14507/DDW09C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|84.06}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Uttar Pradesh|Islam]]|green|15.58}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.36}}
}}

According to the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]] Azamgarh district has a [[Demographics of India|population]] of 4,613,913.<ref name=districtcensus>{{cite web |year=2011 |title=District Census Handbook: Azamgarh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/1170/download/3694/DH_2011_0960_PART_A_DCHB_AZAMGARH.pdf|access-date= |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> This gives it a ranking of 30th in India (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=districtcensus/> The district has a population density of {{convert|1139|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}.<ref name=districtcensus/> Its [[Family planning in India|population growth rate]] over the decade 2001-2011 was 17.11%.<ref name=districtcensus/> Azamgarh has a [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] of 1019 [[Women in India|females]] for every 1000 males,<ref name=districtcensus/> and a [[Literacy in India|literacy rate]] of 72.69%. 8.53% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 25.39% and 0.20% of the population respectively.<ref name=districtcensus/>

Azamgarh district's total population was 3,939,916 as per 2001 census with population density of {{convert|972|pd/sqkm}}. The population consists of 393,401 urban and 4,220,512 rural; 2,137,805 females and 2,082,707 males. The literacy rate is 70.93%.<ref name =azamgarh/>

===Languages===
The official language is [[Hindi]] and additional official is [[Urdu]].<ref name="langoff" /> [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] is the native language of Azamgarh.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor=M. Paul Lewis |encyclopedia=Ethnologue: Languages of the World |title=Bhojpuri: A language of India |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=bho |access-date=30 September 2011 |edition=16th |year=2009 |publisher=SIL International |location=Dallas, Texas}}</ref> The Bhojpuri variant of [[Kaithi]] is the indigenous script of Bhojpuri language.<ref>{{cite book |last=Grierson |first=George Abraham |url=http://archive.org/details/handbooktokayath00grie |title=A handbook to the Kayathi character. |date=1881 |publisher=Calcutta, Thacker, Spink, and co. |others=The Library of Congress}}</ref>

{{pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Languages in Azamgarh District (2011)<ref name="languages"/>
|label1 = [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] |value1 = 55.58 |color1 = gold
|label2 = [[Hindi]] |value2 = 35.28 |color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 8.21 |color3 = green
|label4 = Others |value4 = 0.93 |color4 = grey
}}

At the time of the [[2011 Census of India]], 55.58% of the population in the district spoke [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]], 35.28% [[Hindi]] and 8.21% [[Urdu]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Uttar Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10224/download/13336/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0900.XLSX|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]|access-date=30 June 2023}}</ref>

==Government and administration==
===Tehsil/Town in Azamgarh district===
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://villagesinindia.in/uttar_pradesh/azamgarh.html |title=3560+ Villages in azamgarh District, uttar pradesh |access-date=11 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802151500/http://villagesinindia.in/uttar_pradesh/azamgarh.html |archive-date=2 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Azamgarh]]
* [[Burhanpur]]
* [[Lalganj (Lok Sabha constituency)|Lalganj]]
* [[Mehnagar]]
* [[Nizamabad, Uttar Pradesh|Nizamabad]]
* [[Phulpur, Azamgarh|Phulpur]]
* [[Sagri Assembly constituency|Sagri]]
* [[Martingani|Martinganj]]

===Important places in Azamgarh district===
According to the district's official website,<ref>{{cite web|title=Important Places|url=http://azamgarh.nic.in/ImpPlaces.html#place2|website=About Azamgarh|publisher=Azamgarh District Administration|access-date=22 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602183034/http://www.azamgarh.nic.in/ImpPlaces.html#place2|archive-date=2 June 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> the nine important places in Azamgarh district are:-


* [[Azamgarh|Azamgarh City]]
* [[Nizamabad, Uttar Pradesh|Nizamabad]]
* [[Mahrajganj, Uttar Pradesh|Maharajganj]]
* [[Mubarakpur, Azamghar|Mubarakpur]]
* [[Mehnagar]]
* [[Durvasa]]
* Dattatreya
* Govindsahab
* [[Avantikapuri]] (Awank)


==Economy==
In 2006 the [[Ministry of Panchayati Raj]] named Azamgarh one of the country's 250 [[Poverty in India|most backward districts]] (out of a total of [[Districts of India|640]]).<ref name=brgf/> It is one of the 34 districts in Uttar Pradesh currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).<ref name=brgf>{{cite web|author=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |date=8 September 2009 |title=A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme |publisher=National Institute of Rural Development |url=http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |access-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405033402/http://www.nird.org.in/brgf/doc/brgf_BackgroundNote.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2012}}</ref>

==Education==
===Colleges===
{{Main|:Category:Colleges in Azamgarh district}}


* [[Government Engineering College, Azamgarh]], established in 2000 is a constituent college of [[Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University]] (formerly Uttar Pradesh Technical University) and has its campus at [[Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology]] in [[Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh|Gorakhpur]].
* [[Government Medical College, Azamgarh]]. established in 2006 is a state medical college located at Chakrapanpur, [[Azamgarh]].
* [[Maharaja Suhel Dev University]], Azamgarh The university was established in 2019.
* [[Shibli National College, Azamgarh]], established in 1883.

==Local media==
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2020}}
Mostly all major English, Hindi and Urdu dailies including [[The Times of India]], [[Hindustan Times]], [[The Hindu]], [[Dainik Jagran]], [[Amar Ujala]], Hindustan, Rashtree Sahara, Inquilab, Hausla News, Third eyes, Dainik Manasha Mail. Hindi and Urdu dailies also have their bureaus in the city. Almost all big Hindi TV news channel have stringers in the city.

==Notable people==
Notable people from Azamgarh district include:-<br />
''<small>NB This list excludes those from Azamgarh itself which are listed in that article</small>''<br/>



[[Azmi]] is a common toponymic surname among Indian Muslims from Azamgarh.{{efn|Not to be confused with the similar Arabic surname meaning resolute or derived from ''[[wikt:azam|azam]]'' (great) + -i.}}
* [[Abdul Haq Azmi]] (1928–2016), Indian Islamic scholar, cousin-uncle of [[Rana Ayyub]]
* [[Abdul Lateef Azmi]] (1917–2002), Indian Urdu writer
* [[Abu Azmi]] (born 1955), Indian politician, MLA from Maharashtra and former Member of Rajya Sabha<ref>[http://ceo.maharashtra.gov.in/ECI/Affidavits/S13/SE/171/ABU%20ASIM%20AZMI/ABU%20ASIM%20AZMI.htm Abu Asim Azmi - Election Commission of India Affidavit]. [[Chief Electoral Officer (India)|Chief Electoral Officer]]</ref>
* [[Ahmad Ali Barqi Azmi]] (born 1954), Indian Urdu poet
* [[Azizullah Azmi]] (1929–2010), Indian politician, MP of Lok Sabha
* [[Baba Azmi]], Indian film cinematographer, husband of [[Tanvi Azmi]]
* [[Habibur Rahman Azami|Habib al-Rahman al-'Azmi]] (1901-1992), Indian Islamic scholar of hadith and fiqh
* [[Iliyas Azmi]] (born 1934), Indian politician, MP of Lok Sabha
* [[Kaifi Azmi]] (1919–2002) was an Indian Urdu poet, husband of [[Shaukat Azmi]] and father of [[Shabana Azmi]]
* [[Khaleel-Ur-Rehman Azmi]] (1927–1978), Indian Urdu poet and literary critic
* [[Mohammed Badi Uzzaman Azmi]] (1939–2011), British-Pakistani television and film actor
* [[Muhammad Mustafa Azmi]] (1930–2017), Indian Islamic scholar of hadith
* [[Mushtaq Ahmed Azmi]] (1919–2011), Indian adult educationist and UNESCO official
* [[Obaidullah Khan Azmi]] (born 1949), Indian politician, MP of Rajya Sabha
* [[Seema Azmi]], Indian actress of film and stage
* [[Shahid Azmi]] (1977–2010), Indian human rights lawyer
* [[Shakeel Azmi]] (born 1971), Indian Urdu lyricist and poet
* [[Waqar Azmi]] (born 1970), British-Indian civil servant
* [[Shaikh Shamim Ahmed Azmi]] (1938–2019), former MLA and [[Indian National Congress]] leader from Mumbai<ref>{{cite news |title=ممبئی: معروف مسلم سیاست داں شیخ شمیم احمد کا انتقال، آج تدفین ہوگی |url=https://www.qaumiawaz.com/national/mumbai-leading-muslim-politician-sheikh-shameem-ahmed-passed-away-burial-today/|trans-title=Mumbai leading Muslim politician Sheikh Shameem Ahmed passed away burial today |access-date=28 February 2020 |work=[[Qaumi Awaz]] |date=23 September 2019 |language=ur-IN}}</ref>
* [[Qamaruzzaman Azmi]] (born 1946), Indian Islamic scholar
* [[Saeed-ur-Rahman Azmi Nadvi]] (born 1934), Indian Islamic scholar
* [[Mirza Aslam Beg]] - [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of army staff]] of [[Pakistan Army]] in 1987–1991
* [[Bisram]], Bhojpuri writer and poet
* [[Hamiduddin Farahi]] - religious scholar, educationist, writer, chief administrator of Madrasatul Islah - from Fariha village
* [[Amin Ahsan Islahi]] - Islamic scholar - from Bamhur village
* [[Aslam Jairajpuri]] - Islamic scholar
* [[Shamim Jairajpuri]] - zoologist
* [[Zafarul Islam Khan]] - Chairman of Delhi Minority Commission, [[Author]] and [[Journalist]] based in New Delhi. He is currently editor and publisher of The [[Milli Gazette]]
* [[Wahiduddin Khan]] - Indian [[Islamic Scholar]] and peace activist known for having written a commentary on the [[Quran]] and having translated it into contemporary English. He has been listed in [[the 500 Most Influential Muslims]] of the world. [[Padma Bhusan]]
* [[Chhannulal Mishra]] - Hindustani classical singer.
* [[Laxmi Narayan Mishra]] - modern Hindi dramatist
* [[Shibli Nomani]] - Islamic scholar
* [[Prem Chand Pandey]] - Indian scientist and academic
* [[Shyam Narayan Pandey]] - writer and poet - from Dumraon village, (now in [[Mau district]] but was in Azamgarh district at the time)
* [[Badri Nath Prasad]], mathematician, founder of The Allahabad Mathematical Society<ref>{{cite web |title=The Allahabad Mathematical Society Founded in 1958 |url=https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Societies/Allahabad/#Prasad |website=Maths History |access-date=26 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Vibhuti Narain Rai]] - former [[Indian Police Service|IPS officer]] and former Vice-Chancellor - Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya
* [[Ahmad Salahuddin]] (1937-1996), Indian [[biochemist]], founder director of Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit at AMU in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh|page=About IBU|url=https://icibu.in/|access-date=21 September 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922103650/https://icibu.in/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Rahul Sankrityayan]] - Hindi travel writer - from [[Kanaila|Kanaila Village]]
* [[Prakash Singh]] - DGP-Police, BSF Indian Police Reform movement (Honoured with Padma Shri Award and presidents Police Medal)
* [[Vinod K. Singh]] - ([[Padma Shri]]), director - [[Indian Institute of Science Education and Research]], Bhopal.
* [[Ayodhya Prasad Upadhyay]] - Hindi poet - from Nizamabad
* [[Balram Yadav]], Indian politician, MLC ([[Member of Legislative Council]]), former cabinet minister (Uttar Pradesh) and general secretary of [[Samajwadi Party]]
* [[Sangram Yadav]] - politician, MLA from [[Atraulia Assembly constituency]]
* [[Kausar Yazdani]] - Islamic scholar born 1935.



==See also==
* [[Banahara]]
* [[Chaukiganjor]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{official website|http://azamgarh.nic.in/}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Azamgarh district
|North = [[Gorakhpur district]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Mau district]]
|Southeast = [[Ghazipur district]]
|South = [[Varanasi district]]
|Southwest = [[Jaunpur district]]
|West = [[Sultanpur district]]
|Northwest = [[Ambedkar Nagar]]
}}

{{Azamgarh district}}
{{Districts of Uttar Pradesh}}
{{Azamgarh division topics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Uttar Pradesh}}

[[Category:Azamgarh district| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Uttar Pradesh]]

Azamgarh district - Revision history

CleanupBot at 07:18, 22 March 2026