Well, the aim of this blog is not to praise anyone but to
unite all Senthalis (residents of Senthal town) for community welfare.
Senthal (Pin code: 243407), is a small town within Nawabganj
Taluka of Bareilly district. This North-Indian, Muslim-dominated town has the
population of over 20,000. Though the town has an intermediate college named
Azad-Naurang Inter College, but its literacy rate is below 40 percent. There
are some government-affiliated Madarsas like Jama-E-Mahdia, Madarsa-E-Haidri,
Madarsa-E-Raza, and several others. There is also a private polytechnic named Indian
ITI, which was recently started by a local businessman. In the name of medical
facilities, Sethal has several medical practitioners, but there is no hospital
or maternity clinic. Though, this town has a small veterinary clinic. The town
has a small Railway station.
Senthal is a historic town and housed a substantial
population of Shia Syeds or Sayyids, who the direct descendants of the Islamic
prophet. It is also a home to Haidri Shia Muslims, Khans, Ansaris and others.
Hindus are in minority.
Before independence, Senthal was a very prosperous township
as most of its residents were Zamidars (landowners) of several villages. The
literacy rate was high and people from neighbouring villages come to Senthal to
pursue studies. Local teachers used to
teach students at their home, just like Gurukuls.
But, after the creation of Pakistan, the circumstances have
changed as a large chunk of the literate class from Senthal was migrated to
Pakistan. Some have migrated for the sake of better jobs and living while other
due to security concerns as the entire India was witnessing a huge communal divide.
The abolition of the Zamidari System further increased woes of local Zamidars.
(To be continued................)
