HANSI

city, west-central Haryana state, northwestern India, on the road between Hissar city (northwest) and Delhi (southeast). Hansi is an ancient town and was probably a Kushan stronghold in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. It was captured in 1192 by Qutb-ud-Din Aybak, general of the Muslim emperor Muhammad Ghuri; several mosques and tombs date from the 12th century. Hansi was the capital of the independent kingdom carved out by George Thomas, a British adventurer, in the late 18th century. It was incorporated as a municipality in 1867. Hansi is now a commercial and communications centre. Industries include cotton ginning, handloom weaving, and metalwork. Pop. (1981) 50,365.