Asoha is a village in Purwa tehsil of Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located about 16 km north of Purwa, the tehsil headquarters, and 51 km east of Unnao, the district headquarters. The main crops grown here are wheat, barley, gram, juwar, paddy, and pulses, and irrigation is provided by a canal as well as by tanks. The soil here is mostly clay. As of 2011, the population of Asoha is 3,709, in 856 households.
Asoha is the headquarters of a community development block, which was first inaugurated on 1 July 1956 in order to oversee implementation of India's Five-Year Plans at a local and rural level. As of 2011, the block comprises 122 rural villages (including Asoha itself), with a total population of 153,798 people in 30,885 households. Asoha is also the headquarters of a nyaya panchayat.
History According to C.A. Elliott, the name "Asoha" is derived from that of Ashwatthama, the figure in the Mahabharata, who is said to have rested here for a time after the murder of Draupadi's children. Asoha was historically the seat of a pargana, which is first attested during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar in the late 16th century. At the turn of the 20th century, Asoha had five temples, a police station, a cattle pound, and a primary school, as well as "unusually extensive" groves of mango and mahua trees.
The 1961 census recorded Asoha as comprising 4 hamlets, with a total population of 1,868 (981 male and 887 female), in 304 households and 286 physical houses. The area of the village was given as 861 acres. It had a police force of 1 sub-inspector, 1 head constable, and 13 constables at the time.
Culture A legendary figure named Astik is worshipped in Asoha. He is said to have been born during the Dvapara Yuga period, and that at the time of the great Sarpa Satra performed by Janamejaya, Astik received a boon from the serpent Takshak, who promised him that men bitten by snakes would recover if they took his name.
Villages Asoha CD block has the following 122 villages:
Village name Total land area (hectares) Population (in 2011) Kashi Pur 54.8 300 Datauli 125.5 735 Saharawan 894.5 6,211 Keona 149.4 890 Keoni 182 653 Jagdish Pur 144.7 276 Sahabad Grant 400.2 1,475 Beekamau 216.8 1,235 Narsingh Pur 118.6 769 Kantha 2,155.1 9,973 Ratawar 227.4 871 Surja Pur 151.9 1,195 Saraiya 198 1,013 Chaktaliya Bhur 32.9 0 Islam Nagar 114.6 523 Newada 79.7 566 Nimaicha 115.9 607 Sikri 205.7 488 Ajai Pur 88.3 376 Asoha (block headquarters) 337.5 3,709 Pathak Pur 459 3,054 Malla Khera 67.9 555 Gadhi Karmali 202.6 881 Goshain Khera 487.5 1,199 Kushli Khera 209.7 107 Harnam Khera 252.9 347 Ismail Pur 257.9 882 Barha 72.5 638 Gyanpur 140.2 892 Makdumpur 41.3 540 Gaddipur 63.7 33 Darheta Achli 88.5 814 Darheta Mahant 75.2 627 Lachhi Pur 160.6 1,037 Pahar Pur 164.6 1,269 Ograpur 209.9 1,597 Chilauli 217.8 1,165 Gumapur 170.8 946 Pardamanpur 63.5 305 Kilpur 70.1 366 Godwa 102.8 330 Dundiyathar 163.8 798 Bilaura 325.2 2,388 Majharia 142.5 1,096 Chaupai 533.6 2,548 Nim Tikar 163.3 1,227 Semri 352.6 1,980 Utraura 240.4 1,281 Jabrela 451.4 3,004 Karam Semau 87.1 0 Soho 64 1,675 Pahasa 378 1,355 Beru 140.4 975 Muktey Mau 406.9 969 Chhiyantikur 147.8 1,562 Kalu Khera 101 1,888 Bhawalia 228.1 2,177 Bhur Pahas 99.6 0 Rampur 330.6 1,432 Rawat Khera 71.2 394 Kanchanpur 270 1,793 Maliha Garha 228.1 1,216 Anwarpur 119.6 707 Sandoli 146.5 665 Sarwan 795.5 3,824 Baraoli 302.2 894 Terhwa Babhna 152.2 749 Sarwara 129.9 715 Bhao Mau 176.6 1,125 Samadha 856.9 3,681 Sheo Garh 76.8 712 Sikhaiya 200.5 1,157 Barwa Khurd 183.6 693 Bhat Purwa 147.7 961 Gilshah Mau 135.9 689 Shah Pur 475.5 2,342 Mubarkpur 119.5 818 Pipri 224.8 1,777 Darsawan 473.7 3,074 Daun 714.6 2,743 Asawar 510.1 3,080 Zorawar Ganj 514.2 2,553 Jhakwasa 93.3 1,065 Raipura 64.7 308 Rahimanpur Jagdishpur 283.8 714 Saidpur 142.4 750 Abhusha 170.9 1,070 Chhavinath Khera 66.7 403 Mohammdpur 101.8 720 Ajaipur 90.5 617 Talhauri 137.5 1,373 Karauli 251.9 811 Madarpur/Narainpur 246.6 1,254 Ratwsiyana Madarpur 203.4 1,033 Dharampur 266.9 762 Tilokpur 115.2 900 Bachhaura 312.2 1,802 Sariya 141 973 Mirri Khurd 166.2 589 Mirri Kalan 627.1 5,622 Raiker 63.5 448 Bhadin 395 2,212 Manika Pur 251.6 685 Maidpur 161.3 954 Kudikapur 241.8 657 Dhannipur 171.3 759 Dhaurhara 147.7 787 Ibrahimpur 114.6 370 Chaitra 232.1 1,449 Rashidpur 100.3 785 Turi Raja Sahib 144.2 586 Turichhabinath 116.8 594 Raipur 68.7 364 Behta 199.5 1,423 Sumbhari Khurd 243.4 787 Raqba 46.8 284 Mangat Khera 220.7 1,329 Majhkuriya 74.6 1,470 Atarsai 311.2 317 Baigaon 267.9 3,212 Bachhrauli 202.3 949 Kakauha 78 445
References