Malerkotla

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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
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Malerkotla
Malerkotla (India)
Coordinates: 30°31′00″N75°53′00″E / 30.5167°N 75.8833°E / 30.5167; 75.8833
CountryIndia
State Punjab
District Malerkotla
Founded byIsmail Khan
Named for Sardar Maler Kotla Wala
Government
  Type Municipal Council
  BodyMunicipal Council Malerkotla
Area
788
  City122 km2 (47 sq mi)
  Urban
457 km2 (176 sq mi)
  Metro
456 km2 (176 sq mi)
  Rank12th
Population
  City135,424
  Rank31st
  Density1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
   Urban
374,000
   Metro
236,000
Demonym 433,000
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]

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

Malerkotla is famous for its vegetables and badge-making industry, [9] besides its poets and monuments. [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) [lower-alpha 1]
Religious
group
1881 [15] [16] :520 [17] :2501891 [18] :68 [19] 1901 [20] :44 [21] :261911 [22] :23 [23] :191921 [24] :25 [25] :211931 [26] :261941 [14] :322011 [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 [lower-alpha 2] 6,270 [lower-alpha 2] 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 0000026
Others300000154
Total population20,62121,75421,12223,88024,56425,24029,321135,424

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. [28] 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

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References

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Further reading