Hardoi is the 148th largest Hindi speaking city in India with a total population of 1,26,851. Highest employment in Hardoi is in Agriculture, Readymade garments, Cotton textile and other household industries. The district has 76% of the workforce employed in the Agricultural Sector, 19% in the Industrial Sector and the remaining 5% are Household workers. The major crops produced in the district are Rice, Maize, Wheat, Masoor, Sugarcane and Rapeseed Mustard. Apart from these, other horticultural crops like Mango, Guava, Onion, Potato, Pea etc. are also produced. People believe that the name Hardoi comes from a distorted version of its earlier name Haridrohi, which is a Hindi word that means "anti to the God". According to Hindu theology, in the past, it was ruled by a King Hiranyakashipu, who didnt have faith in God but instead declared himself as God. He wanted the people to pray him, but later his own son Prahlada rebelled. He tried to kill his own son by various means but was unsuccessful. Later, to save Prahlad, God Vishnu as Narasimha himself came in disguise, such that he was neither human nor animal and killed Hiranyakashipu. Hardoi is first mentioned during the Muslim rule. In 1028, Bawan was invaded by Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud. However, Muslims didnt occupy the region until 1217. After a long struggle, Sayyad Shakir established first Muslim site at GOPAMAU. Many battles between the Mogul and Afghan empires took place in Hardoi region due to the location of the district. Later, in February 1856, Hardoi, as a part of Oudh, became part of the British territory after Lord Dalhousies proclamation. The headquarters of the district were first at Mallawan but then became Hardoi after the Sepoy Mutiny.
