In this article we will explore the phenomenon of Qalyub and its impact on contemporary society. Since its appearance, Qalyub has sparked debates, conflicting opinions and has generated deep interest in different areas. Over the years, Qalyub has evolved and taken on new dimensions, influencing not only the way we interact with the world around us, but also our perception of reality. Through detailed analysis, we will address the various facets of Qalyub and examine its relevance in the current context.
Qalyub (Egyptian Arabic: قليوبpronounced[ʔælˈjuːb]; Coptic: ⲕⲁⲗⲓⲱⲡⲉ[2]) is a city containing a rural markaz, and an urban one.[3] It is located in the Qalyubia Governorate of Egypt, in the northern part of the Cairo metropolitan area, at the start of the Nile Delta. In 1986, it had a population of 84,413 inhabitants, which grew to 106,804 residents by 2006, a more than average growth.[4]
Name
The name of the city comes from a Greek personal name Calliope (Ancient Greek: Καλλιόπη).[2][5] Calliope is an ancient Greek goddess, the Muse of epic poetry.[5]
Overview
Qalyub is the commercial center for a significant agricultural region, and some records indicate that Qalyub has had a farmer's market, regularly, for close to one thousand years.[6]
The people of Qalyub have often proven to be self-reliant like in 1905 when they built their own 500-bed hospital with no help from the state.[7] Years later, the community received money from USAID for the hospital and the school, however, as in many rural villages, the Ministry of Social Affairs angered residents for not doing enough for them.[7] In 1982, the Basic Village Service Program (BVS), under the auspices of USAID, had twenty-five water projects slated for Qalyub.[8]
On February 13, 2005, Qalyub was the location of a politically significant strike over the benefits and the privatization of the Qalyub Spinning Company.[9]
Tuk-tuks, small cars, with government-issued license plates, can be seen in modern-day Qalyub as the district has seen a more than average increase in population growth.[4]