Aligarh is a city of 1.3 million people, located roughly 130 km southeast of Delhi. It is the administrative headquarters of the district and is an important business center.
Particularly known for its lock industry, Aligarh exports locks around the world. It is also an agricultural trade center with food processing as a mainstay of the economy.
The city has two major universities. Mangalayatan University was established in 2006 by India’s University Grants Commission and is a secular school. Aligarh Muslim University, founded in 1875, is also a public university but does offer a curriculum in Muslim studies.
The religious composition of the city is 55% Hindu and 43% Muslim. The Christian community is just .5% of the people. Yet, Aligarh is one area of India where the different religions are known to live together peacefully.