Jais
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Jais
Town in the Salon tahsil of Rae Barell District, United Provinces, situated in 26° 16' N. and 81° 33" E., on the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway, and on the road from Lucknow to Sultanpur. Population (190X), 12,688. It is said to have been originally a Bhar fortress called Udayanagar or Ujalekanagar. Tradition relates that the place was stormed by an officer of Saiyid Salar, and its modern name is derived from the Persian Jaish, 'a camp.' The Jama Masjid is the chief building. This was built with the materials of an old Hindu temple, and was restored by Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur. Other fine buildings were erected in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Jais is celebrated as being the birthplace of Muhammad JaisT, author of the vernacular poem called the Padmdvati, who lived early in the sixteenth century. Excellent muslin was formerly manufactured here ; but the industry has declined. There is, however, some trade in grain, tobacco, and coarse cotton cloth. The town contains a dispensary and a flourishing school with 137 pupils.
