Jhansi is the 34th largest hindi speaking city of India with a total population of 5,00,000. Part of modern Uttar Pradesh, the city lies close to the Madhya Pradesh border and is regarded as the gateway to the Bundelkhand region. Highest employment in Jhansi District is in Agriculture, Electrical and Construction industry. The district has 59% Agricultural workers, 35% workers in Industry and Services and 6% Household workers. Jhansi is a good agricultural belt, the land very suitable for citrus fruits. Other crops cultivated include wheat, pulses, peas and oilseeds. Pahunj and Betwa are the major rivers of Jhansi district. In ancient times, Jhansi was a part of the regions of Chedi Rashtra, Jejak Bhukit, Jajhoti and Bundelkhand. Known earlier as Balwant Nagar, Jhansi was a stronghold of the Chandela kings. By the 11th Century, Jhansi lost its importance, but by the 17th Century, under Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha, Jhansi again rose to prominence. Raja Bir Singh Deo had good relations with the Mughal Emperor Jehangir and in 1613, the Raja had constructed the Jhansi fort. As related history, in 1729, Mohammed Khan Bangash had attacked Chattrasal in the Bundelkhand region. The Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao (I) had helped Maharaja Chattrasal defeat the Mughal army. As a mark of gratitude, Maharaja Chattrasal offered a part of his state to the Marathas, which included Jhansi. In 1842, Raja Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi married Mannikarnika, who was renamed Lakshmi Bai after marriage and is remembered as the valiant “Jhansi ki Rani”, who led the forces against the British in 1857, sacrificing her life for the cause of Indias freedom at the young age of 22. In 1861 the city of Jhansi and a dependent territory was ceded to Gwalior State and the capital of the district was moved to Jhansi Naoabad.
