History
Padhiana is a remaining legacy of Minhas Confederation of villages. Minhas Rajputs of this village are descendants of Shri Baba Kati Deo Ji (alias Kati Ji), a feudal lord of the 16th century, who was a vassal to the Jaswal Raja (King) of Jaswan. Shri Kati Deo was the younger brother of legendary, Shri Mati Deo.
The founding ancestor of this village migrated from Daroli, today Daroli Kalan, when family fortunes split. The village today has seven Pattis (family branches). Detailed record of each Minhas family is maintained by genealogists in Hardwar, Uttarakhand.
In 1815, the village became a part of Sikh empire when territories of the Raja of Jaswan were confiscated by Ranjit Singh. Few decades later, following the second Anglo-Sikh war, it was transferred to British along with other territories of Punjab.
Historical personalities of this village include Sikh warriors, Sangat Singh Ji, Uday Singh Ji, and Bachiter Singh Ji; all served in the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh Ji's army. Later, Sikh Chiefs from this village served in the army of famous Sikh leader Banda Bahadur Singh Ji, who offered them a Fief (Jagir) which lies in what is today the Patiala district of Punjab. These Chiefs later built a fort and established Bahadurgarh village in their new land. A medieval well in Padhiana, although now sealed, still exists commemorating these Chiefs, and is called Bahadargarhian Da Khoo (the well of Bahadargarh Chiefs).
Prominent personalities from recent centuries include Col. Dilbagh Singh Minhas, the first Recruiting Officer at Jalandhar Cantt. The first Commander-in-Chief of the country, General K.M. Cariappa came to this village at the invitation of Col. Dilbagh Singh Minhas on 4 March 1949. Col. Dilbagh Singh Minhas who enlisted Punjabis in the Army, Navy and Air Force from Padhiana and surrounding villages. A prominent and well known personality in the Doaba region due to his charity work. Sardar Khajan Singh, a Safed Posh during British rule. His grandson Sardar Ujagar Singh was a member of Punjab Zila Parishad in post independence India. Sardar Dayal Singh of this village, who migrated to Kota Bundi, was a Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly in the 1950s. Er. Wattan Singh Minhas a Civil Engineering graduate from prestigious Thomson Engineering College, Roorkee (now, IIT, Roorkee) served as Chief Engineer in Central Public Works Department (CPWD). He is credited with construction of a number of Dams immediately after India's independence from British. His younger brother Captain Bhag Singh Minhas served the country as an army officer and in the martial tradition of the village is credited with active participation in the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars. More recently, Sardar B.S. Minhas, an Indian Administrative Services officer, was Secretary (called Deputy Minister in some countries), Ministry of Small Scale Industries and Agro & Rural Industries of India, the highest position a public service officer can hold in Indian Government ministry.
In Military, Sardar Brigadier Manjit Singh of this village was awarded Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award, for his leadership in 1987 Jaffna operations of Indian Army. Major (later Brigadier) Varinder Singh Minhas, Vir Chakra, the officer, who successfully led Indian Army's famous Siachan operation against Pakistan in 1984 also has Padhiana origin. The operation won many gallantry awards to its participant soldiers, including a Param Vir Chakra to Sardar Bana Singh, the only soldier to ever win this award while alive.
Among media personalities, Bollywood models and actors, brothers Rahul Dev and Mukul Dev have Padhiana ancestry. Also, famous Punjabi poet, lyricist and TV show producer Lal Padhianvi grew up in Padhiana.
The village has produced many eminent scientists, army officers, educationists, administrators, and artists, some of which are listed in later sections.
A Brahman Lady's tomb commemorating her Sati stands near the village North crematory reminiscent of the medieval traditions of Padhiana gentry. The pond adjoining the crematory is called "Tal Satiwati" or, in English, "Pond of the Sati Lady".
Army officers of this village
(Excerpt from The Tribune dated August 11, 2006)
Although as many as 282 Army personnel, hailing from Padhiana village, have shown their valour in the World War I and World War II and more than 35 youth from the village still serve in the Indian Army, while some have joined the Indian Air Force has been ignored by the administration.
All the serving and over 400 ex-servicemen here say their courage and sacrifice has not been duly rewarded by the district administration. Their only demand to the administration — a Sainik Bhawan — is yet to be fulfilled.
While a hall, library room, meeting room and veranda has been completed in the past six years, the building is yet not ready for use, as there are no provisions for power connection, water supply, kitchen and toilets.
The village has an entrance gate in the memory of Subedar Bir Singh who fought in World War I as well as II. A stone erected outside a gurdwara pahari darwaja sahib ji in the village reads: "176 men went for war from this village from 1914 to 1919. Eight gave up their lives."
The first Commander-in-Chief of the country, General K.M. Cariappa came to this village at the invitation of Col. Dilbagh Singh Minhas on 4 March 1949. Col. Dilbagh Singh Minhas who enlisted Punjabis in the Army, Navy and Air Force, was the first Recruiting Officer at Jalandhar Cantt.
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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.
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Brigadier Manjit Singh Minhas, MVC was an officer of the Indian Army, who served with the Mahar Regiment and the 11 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, during Operation Pawan 1987 in Sri Lanka.
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