Malerkotla

Last updated

Malerkotla
City
Kuka Martyrs Memorial, Malerkotla 1.jpg
Kuka Martyrs Memorial, Malerkotla
India Punjab location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Malerkotla
Location in Punjab, India
India location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Malerkotla
Malerkotla (India)
Coordinates: 30°31′00″N75°53′00″E / 30.5167°N 75.8833°E / 30.5167; 75.8833
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Punjab
District Malerkotla
Founded byIsmail Khan
Named for Sardar Maler Kotla Wala
Government
 • Type Municipal Council
 • BodyMunicipal Council Malerkotla
Area
788
 • City
122 km2 (47 sq mi)
 • Urban
457 km2 (176 sq mi)
 • Metro
456 km2 (176 sq mi)
 • Rank12th
Population
[ citation needed ]
 • City
135,424
 • Rank31st
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
 •  Urban
374,000
 •  Metro
236,000
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
148023
Vehicle registration PB-28
Website www.malerkotla.nic.in

Malerkotla is a city and the district headquarters of Malerkotla district [1] in the Indian state of Punjab. It served as the seat of the eponymous princely state during the British Raj. The state acceded to the union of India in 1947 and was merged with other nearby princely states to form the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).

Contents

When PEPSU was reorganised in 1956, the territories of the erstwhile state of Malerkotla became part of Punjab. [2] It is situated on the Sangrur-Ludhiana State Highway (no. 11) and lies on the secondary Ludhiana-Delhi railway line. It is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Ludhiana and 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Sangrur.

In 2021, the city along with some adjoining areas were carved out of Sangrur district to form the Malerkotla district. [3]

History

Malerkotla, a Muslim majority state was established in 1454 by Sheikh Sadruddin-i-Jahan from Afghanistan, [4] and was ruled by his Sherwani descendants. The State of Malerkotla was established in 1600 A.D. During the 1947 riots when Punjab was experiencing heavy amounts of communal violence, the State of Malerkotla remained relatively peaceful. [4]

The roots of communal harmony date back to 1705, when Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh 9 and 7 year old sons of tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, were ordered to be bricked alive by the governor of Sirhind Wazir Khan. While his close relative, Sher Mohammed Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, who was present in the court, lodged a vehement protest against this act and said it was against the tenets of the Quran and Islam. Wazir Khan nevertheless had the boys bricked into a section of wall whilst still alive. At this, the Nawab of Malerkotla walked out of the court in protest. Guru Gobind Singh on learning of this approach had blessed the Nawab and the people of Malerkotla that the city will live in the peace and happiness. In recognition of this act, the State of Malerkotla did not suffer significantly during the Partition of India, in which communal violence permeated throughout Punjab. [4]

Under British colonial rule, a Namdhari uprising was suppressed, and the colonial government ordered execution of 65 captured rebels and those thought to be involved with the rebellion. Cowan (the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana) and Forsyth (the Commissioner of Ambala) ordered the Namdharis to be executed with cannons, without any trial, on 17 and 18 January 1872. [5]

During the partition of India, there were no riots or bloodshed in any part of Maler Kotla State. The last Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Malerkotla maintained calm and harmony during the turbulent period. He remained in India and died in the year 1982. His tomb is located in Shahi grave yard situated at Sirhandi gate, Maler Kotla. Many also attribute this peace to the presence of the shrine of Baba Haidar Sheikh, the Sufi saint, who founded the town of Malerkotla more than 500 years ago. [6] [7]

The ruling family of Sheikh Sadr-ud-Din Sherwani migrated to Pakistan and lived mostly in Model Town, Lahore, Muzaffargarh, Khangarh. [8]

Malerkotla is famous for its food, mosques, badge-making industry, [9] poets, and the ornate tombs of its princely rulers. [10]

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census Malerkotla urban agglomeration had a population of 189,424, out of which males were 82,376 and females were 64,048 . The literacy rate was 70.25 per cent. [11]

Malerkotla is the only Muslim-majority city of Punjab. [12]

Religion in Malerkotla [13]
ReligionPercent
Islam
 
68.50%
Hinduism
 
20.71%
Sikhism
 
9.50%
Jainism
 
1.11%
Others
 
0.19%
Religious groups in Malerkotla City (1881−2011) [a]
Religious
group		1881 [15] [16] : 520  [17] : 250 1891 [18] : 68  [19] 1901 [20] : 44  [21] : 26 1911 [22] : 23  [23] : 19 1921 [24] : 25  [25] : 21 1931 [26] : 26 1941 [14] : 32 2011 [27]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 14,46815,52015,05615,66616,59918,44922,29692,765
Hinduism Om.svg 4,5844,9614,6735,8016,7015,246 [b] 6,270 [b] 28,044
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 1,2421,2271,3311,2445831,2402591,499
Sikhism Khanda.svg 32437511,15566826945612,864
Christianity Christian cross.svg ——91114133639172
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg ——00000——26
Others300000154
Total population20,62121,75421,12223,88024,56425,24029,321135,424

Gurudwara Haa Da Naara Sahib

The special relationship between Sikhs and Malerkotla goes back to the period when the tenth Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, was engaged in a series of battles with the oppressive Mughal rulers of the region and Sher Mohammed Khan was the Nawab of Malerkotla . Sher Mohammad Khan a General in the Mughal Army, who actively participated in the military campaign against Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, though having lost his brother and nephew in the battle of Chamkaur is said to have expressed his opposition to bricking up alive of the two young Sahibzadas of Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji, Zorawar Singh (aged nine years) and Fateh Singh (aged seven years), by the Subedar of Sirhind, Wazir Khan in 1705 and is said to have walked out, refusing to be a part of what he declared to be opposed to the tenets of Islam. [28]

It is said that he uttered ‘haa’ or ‘hai’ in anguish of the punishment imposed on the two Sahibzadas. This became known as ‘Haa da Naara’. [28]

On learning of this, Guru Gobind Singh blessed the Nawab and the people of Malerkotla with peace everlasting. This incident has been narrated over the years and gave Malerkotla a special place in the Sikh narrative. Gurudwara ‘Haa da Nara’ was built by Sikhs to commemorate this act of Nawab Sher Mohammed Khan. [28]

Education

Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan Institute of Advanced Studies, Malerkotla NsmkInstMlk.jpg
Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan Institute of Advanced Studies, Malerkotla

Urdu is taught alongside Punjabi in Malerkotla schools due to the local Punjabi Muslim majority.[ citation needed ]

Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan Institute of Advanced Studies in Urdu, Persian and Arabic is part of Punjabi University, Patiala, and is named after one of the founders of Malerkotla State. [29] It provides facilities for higher research in the languages and literature of Urdu and Persian up to PhD level and additionally runs classes for M.A. (Persian), Certificate courses (Urdu, Persian and Arabic), MSc (IT) two years, MSc (IT) lateral entry, PGDCA (one year), CCA (six months) and M.A (psychology).

There are many schools and institutes including Learning Cottage Of Commerce. There are other schools like Sohrab Public Senior Secondary School, Al Falah Public senior secondary School, the town school, Sahibzada Fateh Singh senior secondary public school, Sita grammar school, Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir, Modern Secular school, DAV public school and many more. Almighty Public School on Almighty School road, Jamalpura, Malerkotla is a co-education, English Medium Sr. Secondary School. This school provide Education about Islam for Muslim students.

Transportation

Rail

Malerkotla is situated on Delhi-Jakhal-Dhuri-Ludhiana Railway line. The nearest railway junctions are Dhuri (18 km [11 mi]) and Ludhiana 45 km [28 mi]).

Air

The nearest airports to Malerkotla are:

Notable residents

Notes

  1. ↑ 1881-1941: Data for the entirety of the town of Malerkotla, which included Malerkotla Municipality and Malerkotla Civil Lines. [14] : 32 
  2. 1 2 1931-1941: Including Ad-Dharmis

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patiala</span> City in Punjab, India

Patiala is a city in southeastern Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the Qila Mubarak constructed by a chieftain Ala Singh, who founded the royal dynasty of Patiala State in 1763, and after whom the city is named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahawalpur (princely state)</span> Princely state

Bahawalpur was a princely state in subsidiary alliance with British Raj and later Dominion of Pakistan, that was a part of the Punjab States Agency. The state covered an area of 45,911 km2 (17,726 sq mi) and had a population of 1,341,209 in 1941. The capital of the state was the town of Bahawalpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gujrat, Pakistan</span> City in Punjab, Pakistan

Gujrat is the thirteenth largest city in the Pakistani province of Punjab. Located on the western bank of the Chenab River in northern Punjab's Chaj Do'āb, it serves as the headquarters of the eponymous district and disvision; and is the 20th most populous in Pakistan, with a population of 390,533 in 2017. Along with Sialkot and Gujranwala, Gujrat forms part of the "Golden Triangle of Punjab", as these industrial cities have export-oriented economies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faridkot, India</span> City in Punjab, India

Faridkot is a city in the South-western part of state of Punjab, India. It serves as the headquarters for both the Faridkot district. as well as the Faridkot Division. The division was established in 1995 at Faridkot which includes Faridkot, Bathinda, and Mansa districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoshiarpur</span> City in Punjab, India

Hoshiarpur is a city and a municipal corporation in Hoshiarpur district in the Doaba region of the Indian state of Punjab. It was founded, according to tradition, during the early part of the fourteenth century. In 1809, it was occupied by the forces of Maharaja Karanvir Singh and was united into the greater state of Punjab in 1849.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jhang</span> City in Punjab, Pakistan

Jhang is the capital city of Jhang District in central Punjab, Pakistan. Situated on the east bank of the Chenab river, it is the 13th most populous city of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab Province (British India)</span> Province of British India

The Punjab Province was a province of British India. Most of the Punjab region was annexed by the British East India Company on 29 March 1849; it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patiala district</span> District in Punjab, India

Patiala district is one of the twenty three districts in the state of Punjab in north-west India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dera Ghazi Khan District</span> Pakistani administrativ unit

Dera Ghazi Khan is a district in Punjab, Pakistan. Its administrative capital is Dera Ghazi Khan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalandhar district</span> District in Punjab, India

Jalandhar district is a district in Doaba region of the state of Punjab, India. The district headquarters is the city of Jalandhar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludhiana district</span> District of Punjab in India

Ludhiana district is one of the 23 districts in the Indian state of Punjab. It is Punjab's largest district by both area and population. Ludhiana, the largest city in Punjab, is the district headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabha State</span> Phulkian princely state of Punjab during the British Raj in India

Nabha State, with its capital at Nabha, was one of the Phulkian princely states of Punjab during the British Raj in India. This state was ruled by Jats of Sidhu clan belonging to Sikh religion.

Punjab is home to 2.3% of India's population; with a density of 551 persons per km2. According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, Punjab has a population of 27,743,338, making it the 16th most populated state in India. Of which male and female are 14,639,465 and 13,103,873 respectively. 32% of Punjab's population consists of Dalits. In the state, the rate of population growth is 13.9% (2011), lower than national average. Out of total population, 37.5% people live in urban regions. The total figure of population living in urban areas is 10,399,146 of which 5,545,989 are males and while remaining 4,853,157 are females. The urban population in the last 10 years has increased by 37.5%. According to the 2011 Census of India, Punjab, India has a population of around 27.7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kapurthala State</span> Princely state of India

Kapurthala State, was a kingdom and later Princely state of the Punjab Province of India. Ruled by Ahluwalia Sikh rulers, spread across 510 square miles (1,300 km2). According to the 1901 census the state had a population of 314,341 and contained two towns and 167 villages. In 1930, Kapurthala became part of the Punjab States Agency and acceded to the Union of India in 1947.

Religion in the Punjab in ancient history was characterized by Hinduism and later conversions to Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity; it also includes folk practices common to all Punjabis regardless of the religion they adhere to. Such practices incorporate local mysticism, including ancestral worship and worship of local saints of all faiths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jind State</span> Princely state of India

Jind State was a princely state located in the Punjab and Haryana region of north-western India. The state was 3,260 km2 (1,260 sq mi) in area and its annual income was Rs.3,000,000 in the 1940s. This state was founded and ruled by Jats of Sidhu clan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loharu State</span> Princely state of India

Loharu State was one of the princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. It was part of the Punjab States Agency and was a nine-gun salute state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malerkotla State</span> Indian princely state

The State of Malerkotla or Maler Kotla was a princely state in the Punjab region during the era of British India. The last Nawab of Maler Kotla signed the instrument of accession to join the Dominion of India on 20 August 1948. Its rulers belonged to a Sarwani and Lodi Pashtun dynasty from Afghanistan, and its capital was in Malerkotla. The state belonged to the Punjab States Agency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Punjab, India</span> Overview of the Role and Impact of Islam in Punjab, India

Islam is a minority religion in Punjab, India followed by 535,489 people constituting about 1.93 percent of the state population out of 27.7 million population as of 2011 census report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malerkotla district</span> District in Punjab, India

Malerkotla district is a district in Punjab state of India. It was formed after the bifurcation of Sangrur district. Malerkotla district was carved out of Sangrur and became the 23rd district of Punjab on 02 June, 2021. District Malerkotla is divided into three subdivisions: Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh.

References

  1. ↑ "Malerkotla is Punjab's 23rd district". The Hindu. 14 May 2021. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Malerkotla Punjab at www.india9.com.
  3. ↑ "District Malerkotla, Government of Punjab | Welcome to District Web Portal of Malerkotla | India" . Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Goyal, Sushil (19 August 2006). "'Malerkotla has Guru's blessings'". The Tribune . Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Rebels Against the British Rule (1995). Bhai Nahar Singh & Bhai Kirpal Singh. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors; Page XXI
  6. ↑ The Legend of Malerkotla: A Tale from the Punjab (2004) Archived 19 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine 48 min, DVD, ISBN   978-0-8026-0761-4.
  7. ↑ Bigelow, Anna B (2 December 2000). "Malerkotla: A heritage going to seed". The Tribune . Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Malerkotla Muslims.. Archived 2 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine The India Express, August 14, 1997.
  9. ↑ Chhibber, Maneesh (19 August 2006). "Where peace reigns supreme". The Tribune . Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Bigelow, Anna B (21 April 2001). "Tales lost to time". The Tribune . Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Explained: Why is Malerkotla special for Punjab, and Sikhs?". The Indian Express. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "Malerkotla City Population Census 2011 - Punjab".
  14. 1 2 "Census of India, 1941 Volume VI Punjab" . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  15. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25057656 . Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25057657 . Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  17. ↑ "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III". 1881. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25057658 . Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  18. ↑ Baines, Jervoise Athelstane; India Census Commissioner (1891). "Census of India, 1891. General tables for British provinces and feudatory states". JSTOR   saoa.crl.25318666 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  19. ↑ Edward Maclagan, Sir (1891). "The Punjab and its feudatories, part II--Imperial Tables and Supplementary Returns for the British Territory". JSTOR   saoa.crl.25318669 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  20. ↑ "Census of India 1901. Vol. 1A, India. Pt. 2, Tables". 1901. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25352838 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25363739 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  22. ↑ Edward Albert Gait, Sir; India Census Commissioner (1911). "Census of India, 1911. Vol. 1., Pt. 2, Tables". Calcutta, Supt. Govt. Print., India, 1913. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25393779 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25393788 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 1, India. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25394121 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  25. ↑ "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25430165 . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  26. ↑ "Census of India, 1931 Volume XVII Punjab Part II Tables" . Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  27. ↑ "C-1 Population by Religius Community – 2011". census.gov.in. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 "History of Malerkotla". 12 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "Urdu academy for Malerkotla". The Indian Express. 20 January 1999.[ permanent dead link ]
  30. ↑ "Punjab-Cadre IPS Officer Samant Kumar Goel Gets 1 More Year As RAW Chief". Times of India. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022.

Further reading


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.