Nand Ram Ka Tila

Nand Ram Ka Tila (Nand Ram’s uneven Land) is an undulating area measuring approximately 3 km by 3 km situated in the heart of city of Agra in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The coordinates of the area are, Latitude 27°10'47.71"N and Longitude 78° 0'48.45"E. The area is under the administrative jurisdiction of Police Station Mantola. Sadar Bhatti is the nearest landmark. Sadar Bhatti used to be foundry area during the British period and known for many steel foundries where cast steel was molded into various weapon grade spares. The area is surrounded by Mantola Road in the north and Railway Line in the south and south east

The area has a mixed population of Jatavs, Muslims as well as Valmikis. The overall socio economic status of the people in the area is very low. It represents the typical degrading status of the Indian cities without proper water and electricity supply. Even the cleanliness as well as the hygiene of the area is below acceptance levels. Houses do not have individual toilet blocks and water supply connection. Everyone still uses a common toilets complex which are one of the worst maintained anywhere in the world. Water supply is non potable and occasionally worms can be found in the piped water.

Jatavs were traditionally into the job of making shoes. Similarly, the valmikis were traditionally into cleaning/scavenging work. All the three communities have a peaceful existence and share common festivals and other important occasions. Once in a while , communal violence also erupts in the area.

In the first decade of the twentieth century, a large group of Maurya caste community which were resident of Rajasthan were being prosecuted by the upper caste Hindus as they belonged to the “untouchable” category of the Hindu caste system. Their agricultural land was usurped and were subjected to innumerable atrocities. Hence a large group of Maurya’s under the leadership of Nand Ram Maurya decided to move to the city of Agra. The huge sea of prosecuted people settled near the Agra Fort. However, since Agra Fort was already under the British troops occupation, they were asked to move to a new location.

One of the leaders of the Maurya community, Mr. Nand Ram Maurya, negotiated with the British resident and consequently the whole group was allocated the area which is presently known by the name of it’s leader , Nand Ram Maurya. Hence the name Nand Ram ka Tila which means an undulating area belonging to Mr Nand Ram. Nand Ram had five sons.

Later on , various other communities started inhabiting the area which was once a sparsely populated sandy barren land full of xerophytes vegetation. .