History
Malout’s origins span centuries, and its name has multiple folk origins. One narrative tells of a mud fort built by the Mann tribe, leading to the name evolving from “Mann Kot” to “Mann Ot” and eventually “Malout.” Another legend describes a benevolent figure named Mall, and locals referred to the area as “Mall-di-ot” (“Mall’s shelter”), which gradually transformed into “Malout.” [2]
During British rule, in 1853, Chaudhary Nanaka Ram Godara of Lunkaransar (Bikaner) purchased approximately 4,800 acres of land from the British, then divided it among his sons; Sardara Ram Godara, Narayan Ram Godara, and Harji Ram Godara; who began agricultural and industrial development. When the railway station was planned around 1898, Chaudhary Nanaka Ram Godara is credited with donating land for its construction and the creation of a township. [3]
The arrival of the Bathinda–Karachi railway line in 1917–18 accelerated urban formation. Chaudhary Harji Ram Godara, a major landholder, established a market near the station called Harji Ram Mandi, becoming a critical hub for regional commerce. [4] [5] The first three havelis in Malout were built by the Chaudhary families in 1918.
In 1919, local merchants from various other places led by Seth Thakar Das Ahuja approached Chaudhary Harji Ram to acquire plots which did not happen. Later, a seven-member committee purchased 200 acres from the Zamindar of Sheikhhu for ₹114,163.32. Shops and residences were laid out under this plan opposite to Chaudhary Harji Ram Mandi. On 19 March 1920, Malout was formally established, and on 17 November 1921 concurrent with the Prince of Wales’s visit the market was renamed Edward Ganj Malout Mandi, with the inauguration of a water purification system by district officials. [6]
By the late 1940s, Malout had essential civic infrastructure, including a post office, telephone exchange, guest house, and cemetery. It also became renowned for its cotton production and agricultural machinery trade, earning the title Cotton capital of Punjab. [7]
The Godara family continued to shape Malout's progress. Land near the railway station for government schools, a hospital, and several other public facilities was donated by the family, strengthening the town’s civic infrastructure. [8] Chaudhary Surja Ram Godara, a philanthropist and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC), earned the regional nickname Cotton King for his industrial role all over India. His ventures, such as Ch. Surja Ram and Sons Ginning and Pressing Factory, solidified the town’s commercial importance in the textile sector. [9] [10] With cotton producers and the agricultural machinery industry, Malout and its nearby villages were known as the cotton capital of Punjab. [11]
From its folklore-rich origins to its rise as a civic and commercial center, Malout’s journey reflects the interplay of settlement, strategic initiatives, and entrepreneurial leadership anchoring its place as a significant agricultural and trade town in Punjab.
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.
India