PUBLIC LIFE

From the earliest times the district was inhabited by people who loved freedom. The cis-Yamuna portion was included in the republic of Panchalas who later on, changed to monarchy. They were, subsequently, absorbed in the kingdom of Kannauj. The people of trans-Yamuna portion constituted the republic of Ajad, being the ninteenth republic of Paninis list. The land being traversed by several rivers, big and small, was an ideal resort for the people who cared less for comfort and more for freedom, and, even in modern times a 'bagi' (rebel) was held in reverence by the local populace. The cession of this district to the Britishers in 1803, was immediately followed, in 1805, by the rebellion of Rao Himanchal Singh of Barhpura. who. obviously, was crushed and his properties confiscated by the Britishers. The role of the dis trict in the freedom struggle of 1857 is amply described in Chapter II. It need not be repeated. With the dawn of English education and other western methods of organisation, public opinion came to be voiced is a much direct and effective manner on all matters concerning the public weal than in the medieval -period. The democratic form of government adopted after Independence and the freedom of expression guaranteed under the constitution have stimulated the growth of public life in almost all the sectors of human activity..

Retrospect The Government of India Act, 1935, enforceden April 1, 1937, introducing provincial autonomy was the first step in the direction of a parliamentary form of government. Under this Act, the general elections to the State legislative assemblies were held in 1937. In this election, the two seats allotted to this district were won by the Congress Party. The Congress ministry was constituted in 1937, but resigned in 1939, on the issue of declaration of war against Germany by the alien Government of India. The next general elections to the legislative assembly were held in 1945, in which both the seats alloted to this district were again taken by the Congress Party without contest. The provincial legislature started functioning from April 1, 1946.

On the basis of Constitution of India, framed by Constituent Assembly and enforced on January 26,1950, the first general elections, both for Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas, were held in 1952.

State Legislature

Vidhan Sabha—In the general elections of 1952, this district was divided into four constituencies, namely : Bidhuna (East), Etawah (South), Auraiya-cum-Bharthana (South) and Bidhuna

(West)-cum-Bharthana (North)-cum-Etawah (North) ; the last named two constituencies were the double-member ones, with one seat in each reserved for the Scheduled Castes candidates. There were 4,79.000 voters in the district and about 62 per cent of them exercised their right of franchise- The number of invalid votes was 12,411. In all, 30 candidates of 7 different parties, including independents, contested for the six seats. Five seats were won by the Indian National Congress and one by the Socialist Party. The results were as follows :

In the general elections of 1957, the number and names of constituencies were altered. The newly formed constituencies were the Etawah, Jaswantnagar, Bidhuna, Bharthana and Auraiya. The two constituencies mentioned lastly were the double-member ones, each having one seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes. The number of electorate increased to 5,36,835 and about 71 7 per cent of them participated in the voting. The number of invalid votes was 11,847. In all 38 candidates contested for the 7 seats, and 3 of them were won by the Congress, two by the independents and one each by the Jan Sangh and the Praia Socialist Party ; results being as follows :

The names and number of Vidhan Sabha constituencies were again altered at the general elections of 1962, but the num-ter of seats remained unchanged. The newly formed constitu encies were the single-member ones of Auraiya Etawah Jaswant-nagar, Bharthana, Bidhuna, Ajitmal and Lakhna The last two constituencies were the reserved ones for Scheduled Castes candi dates The double-member constituencies were abolished. The number of voters was 5.91,732 and about 55.6 per cent of them cast their votes. The number of invalid votes was 16,597. Out of seven seats, which were contested by 65 candidates, five were won by the Congress Party and two by the Praja Socialist Party. The results are given below :

In 1967 general elections, the names and number of constituencies and seats remained unchanged. The number of electors was 5 81,077 and about 67 per cent of them cast their votes. The number of invalid votes was 19,714. In all 46 candidates contested for the seven seats and six were won by the Samyukta Socialist Party and one by the Jan Sangh. The details of the election were as follows :

The Vidhan Sabha, constituted after the 1967 general elections, was dissolved on February 25, 1968. After promulgation of the President's rule, the administration of the State was taken over by the Governor. A mid-term poll was held after about a year i.e., in 1969, in which the number and names of constituencies remained the same. Out of 7,09,037 voters about 54 per cent participated in the voting. The number of invalid votes was 9,419. In all 42 candidates, belonging to 9 different organisations, including independents, contested for the 7 seats and 5 of them were won by the Congress candidates and two by the Bhartiya Kranti Dal. The results were as follows :

On October 1, 1970, the State was again placed under President's rule, though for a few days only and on October 18 the ministry was formed in the State by the Samyukta Vidhayak Dal. This ministry also did not last for more than five months.

In the wake of large scale defections the Congress (R) managed to muster absolute majority in the State Assembly and formed the government in April, 1971.

But in June. 1973 the Congress ministry resigned and the State was placed under President's rule once again, which was revoked in November, 1973 by the formation of ministry by the Congress.

For the general elections of 1974. there was no change in number and the constituencies. Out of 8.00,698 voters, 5.08.565 hart participated in voting. The number of invalid votes was 11,752 In all 66 candidates belonging to 10 different organisations, including independents, contested for the seven seats 3 were won by Congress, two by Bhartiya Kranti Dal and one each) by Congress (Organisation) and Jan Sangh. The results were as follows :

This district forms part of Kanpur-Jhansi Graduates' Kan-pur Teachers' and Jalaun-Etawah Local Authorities constituencies of the Vidhan Parishad. In 1975, one resident of this district was representing the district in the legislative council, who was elected from the Local Authorities constituency.

UNION LEGISLATURE

For the general elections of 1957, this district formed a double-member constituency, named Etawah, with one seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes candidate. Out of 7,98.143 voters about 98 per cent exercised their right of franchise. The number of invalid votes was 38,180. Out of two seats, the reserved one war. won by Congress candidate. The Congress contested for the both seats and secured 31.97 per cent of the valid votes polled. The other seat went to independent candidate. There were three independent candidates, who secured the maximum percentage of votes ie. 44 75. Jan Sangh and Praia Socialist parties contested for both the seats and secured 7.87 and 15.40 per cent votes respectively.

In the general elections of 1962, the district formed a single-meinber constituency, named Etawah and some part of the district was included in the Ghatampur (S.C.) constituency. Out of 4,25,674 voters of the Etawah constituency about 58 per cent cast their votes. The number of invalid votes was 8,167. The Congress candidate won the seat securing 27.66 per cent of the votes polled. The other candidates who entered in the election contest were one each of Socialist, Swatantra, Praja Socialist and Jan Sangh Parties

and secured about 26,26,10.7, 17.91 and 18 10 per cent votes respectively. In Ghatampur reserved constituency, the Congress candidate won the seat securing about 46 per cent votes.

In the general election of 1967 the constituency remained uncharged while the number of electorate had risen to 4 82 147 with polling of about 57 per cent. The invalid votes were 11,070 in number. Nine candidates, one each from the Congress the Swatantra, the Samyukta Socialist, the Republican, the Jan Sangh the Praja Socialist parties and 3 independents contested this election. The Samyukta Socialist Party won the seat and secured about 40.3 per cent of the votes polled. The Congress, Swatantra Republican, Jan Sangh, Praja Socialist and independents secured about 23.2. 5.8, 10.5, 11.2, 2.6 and 6.3 per cent votes respectively. In the other constituency. Ghatampur reserved one, in which some parts of the district was included, the Congress candidates who secured about 39 per cent of the total valid votes polled in that constituency, won again,

On account of the rift in Indian National Congress, the Lok Sabha constituted after the general elections of 1967 was dissolved on December 27, 1970 by a proclamation of President of India and fresh polls were ordered. The mid-term parliamentary elections were held in 1971 and the new Lok Sabha was constituted in March 1971. The important feature of this poll was that the Indian National Congress entered the contest divided into two district parties the Congress (J) and the Congress (N). In these polls, there was no change in number and name of the constituency and the number of electorate in Etawah constituency was 5,05,583 with 55 per cent polling. The number of invalid votes was 5.881. Out, of five can-didates, one each from Samyukta Socialist, Congress (J), Bhartiya Kranti Dal and 3 independents, the Congress (J) candidate won the seat and secured about 47.5 per cent votes. The Samyukta Socialist Party, Bhartiya Kranti Dal and independents secured 25 9 1 and 4.9 per cent votes respectively. For the first time some part of this district was included in the Kannauj constituency in which the Congress (J) candidate was elected, securing about 40 per cent votes In the other constituency, the Ghatampur, a reserved one. which also includes some part of, the Etawah district the Congress (J) candidate was elected getting about 55 per cent of the

Though all the national and regional political organisations have their units functioning in the district, yet the Indian National Congress, the Bhartiya Jan Sangh, the Socialist Party of India the Communist Party of India and the Bhartiya Kranti Dal (now incorporated in the Bhartiya Lok Dal). since its inception in 1969 are parties having some significant following. They invariably' set up candidates for successive elections to the Vidhan Sabha and the Lok babha. Their performance at the various polls has alreadv been depicted if success at polls are indicator of a political party, hold over the people, the results given earlier may be
interpreted accordingly.

Local Publications

The publication of newspapers and periodicals in the district started about the beginning of the present century. The Al Bashir an Urdu weekly. and the Brahma Saransa. a Hindi monthly, which were being published in the first decade of the present century, by now have stopped their publication. At present 32 newspapers and periodicals are being published in the district. Among these the Anubhut Yogmala,. a Hindi monthly, is the oldest one and is being published since 1923. Desh Dharma and Tor Samachar, the Hindi dailies containing news and current affairs are more popular in the district. Among the weekly newspapers covering the news and current affairs the important ones are the Arunodaya, Etawah Samachar, Swatantra Deep, Sarvodaya Parivar and Yuddhisthir Ka Vijaya Shankh. Besides these, the educational institutions of the district are also publishing their college magazines. The details of newspapers/periodicals published from here are given below :

If the publication of magazines is an indication of the people's temperament,thenumber of yogic and Ayurvedic Hindi monthlies of Etawah do disclose the aptitude of the people for Ayurvedic medicines and yogic exercises, which is not found in other districts generally.

The humanitarian urge to organize voluntary associations to serve a social purpose is found in the people of almost all the districts of this state and Etawah is no exception to it. With the advent of British rule and western method of education in the country, missionary institutions were set up, which gave rise to many counter religious and social organisations viz : Arya Samaj, Ram Krishna Mission and the like, besides the establishment of hospitals, technical, non-technical and educational institutions, etc. Since Independence, the government has taken active interest in the promotion of voluntary cultural and social service organisations.

Though voluntary welfare organisations are free to undertake any of their welfare schemes, the government sees that these activities are in harmony with its schemes and policies. This is generally achieved through the system of grants given to such organisations and by periodical checking of utilisation of such grants.

Efforts have been made to co-ordinate the activities of the old voluntary social service organisations and the new governmental institutions and to enlist people's participation at the same time. Some important social service organisations of the district are given below:

The Samaj Kalyan Parishad was established at Bharthana in 1956. The aim of the association is to promote the educational, cultural, moral, physical and intellectual development of the members of the society. This organisation is running a Bal Vidya Mandir and an adult women's training centre, and also arranges cultural programmes on national festivals. Its income consists of the donations, contributions and government aid.

A branch of Akhil Bhartiya Deredar Kalakar Sangh, whose central office is at Delhi, was established at Kabirganj. Etawah in January 1959, which is now known as Deredar Kalakar Sangh. Its main object is to rehabilitate the professional dancers and their associates. This organisation had established a Kalakar Silal Grah Udyog Sahkari Samiti in 1961 at Etawah, a Bal Mandir especially for the children of dancing prostitutes and a Charkha Society at Auraiya. This organisation has also arranged and solemnised the marriages of daughters of prostitutes. The sources of income of this organisation are the membership fees, public donations and contributions.

The Chaube Gur Narain technical institute was establish in 1921 at Manikpur. Its main objects are educational develop ment, to increase the income of rural inhabitants by giving the training in art and craft, and development of small-scale indu tries. The institution has its own building and a hostel an imparts technical and vocational training.

The first branch of the Arya Samaj was established in 188 at Jaswantnagar and by 1954 about two dozen branches were established at important places in the district and were affiliated with the State unit of the Samaj. This Samaj opened quite a few educational institutions and an orphanage, being known as Shradha nand Anathalaya. Important among educational institutions wen the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic School, Vedic Pathshala, Arya Kany.-Pathshala, Achut Pathshalas at Katra, Karanpura, Ghatea Azmat| Ali and Dhankaran. The Arya Sewa Samiti, which was established at Bharthana in 1946, was registered in 1959. This associa-tion is running a library and a reading-room.

The crime prevention society of the district emphasises the rehabilitation of prisoners and the released ones. Its main objects are to work for the prevention of crime and to create a healthy society.

The prohibition society of the district consisting of organiser, supervisor and pracharacks emphasises prohibition, by adver tising the adverse effects of drinking habits through mass contact
and propaganda.

Many of the All India social service organisations have their branches in Etawah. The Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts and Guides and Balkan-Ji-Bari are worth mentioning. The
local Red Cross Society is presided over by the district magistrate and the chief medical officer is the honorary secretary. The Bharat Scouts and Guides mostly confine their activities to students
and arrange instructional classes, tours, camp-fires, etc.

Akhil Bhartiya Serva Seva Sangh has a branch at Etawah and it endeavours to promote khadi spinning and weaving, care of animals, village sanitation, upliftment of depressed classes, treatment of leprosy and other diseases by indigenous methods and naturopathy.

Organizations like Uttar Pradesh Pichhara Varg Sangh and Harijan Sewak Sangh also have their branches at Etawah promoting the interests of the Backward Classes and Harijans.

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