The historical reasons necessitating the formation of individual cantonments are different for different cantonments depending upon the prevailing political and military realities of the times.
For example Secundrabad cantonment was established to assist the Nizam of Hyderabad, militarily against his local adversaries, whereas Luck now Cantonment was established to maintain pressure on the Nawab of Oudh and to finally capture that state. Similarly the need for cooler climate for the British troops and strategic importance of Doab dictated the setting up of hill cantonments and cantonments in modern day Uttar Pradesh respectively.
However, irrespective of the local factors, the paramount consideration in setting up all these cantonments was the need for military camps in various strategic locations of India to establish, maintain and consolidate the rule of a foreign power.
Spread of diseases like, diarrhea, malaria, and venereal diseases among the troops necessitated the cantoning (insulation) of these military camps from the local population.
The records of 19 th centuries British India reveal that health and hygiene of the troops was one of the major areas of concern which the rulers of the day had to contend with. This consideration coupled with the desire of alien ruling elite to distance itself from the native population led to the development of an insulated type of character in all these cantonments which continues today.
The Kanpur Cantonment played an important role in the 1857 uprising under the leadership of Nana Sahib and Tatiya Topey. The place where the uprising started on the banks of Ganges is known as Sattichaura (also called Massacre Ghat) and has historical significance symbolizing the patriotism and sacrifices made by the local people during the first war of Indian Independence. Many religious/social functions are organized every year in the month of Aug/Sept to commemorate the event, which are attended by a
