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Malerkotla

Coordinates: 30°31′00″N 75°53′00″E / 30.5167°N 75.8833°E / 30.5167; 75.8833
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Malerkotla
City
Kuka Martyrs Memorial, Malerkotla
Kuka Martyrs Memorial, Malerkotla
Malerkotla is located in Punjab
Malerkotla
Malerkotla
Location in Punjab, India
Malerkotla is located in India
Malerkotla
Malerkotla
Malerkotla (India)
Coordinates: 30°31′00″N 75°53′00″E / 30.5167°N 75.8833°E / 30.5167; 75.8833
Country India
StatePunjab
DistrictMalerkotla
Founded byIsmail Khan
Named forSardar Maler Kotla Wala
Government
 • TypeMunicipal 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
Demonym433,000
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
148023
Vehicle registrationPB-28
Websitewww.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).

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

[edit]
Main article: Malerkotla State

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

[edit]
See also: List of cities in Punjab and Chandigarh

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]
Religion Percent
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 14,468 70.16% 15,520 71.34% 15,056 71.28% 15,666 65.6% 16,599 67.57% 18,449 73.09% 22,296 76.04% 92,765 68.5%
Hinduism 4,584 22.23% 4,961 22.81% 4,673 22.12% 5,801 24.29% 6,701 27.28% 5,246[b] 20.78% 6,270[b] 21.38% 28,044 20.71%
Jainism 1,242 6.02% 1,227 5.64% 1,331 6.3% 1,244 5.21% 583 2.37% 1,240 4.91% 259 0.88% 1,499 1.11%
Sikhism 324 1.57% 37 0.17% 51 0.24% 1,155 4.84% 668 2.72% 269 1.07% 456 1.56% 12,864 9.5%
Christianity — — 9 0.04% 11 0.05% 14 0.06% 13 0.05% 36 0.14% 39 0.13% 172 0.13%
Buddhism — — 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% — — 26 0.02%
Others 3 0.01% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% 1 0% 54 0.04%
Total population 20,621 100% 21,754 100% 21,122 100% 23,880 100% 24,564 100% 25,240 100% 29,321 100% 135,424 100%

Gurudwara Haa Da Naara Sahib

[edit]

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

[edit]
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

[edit]

Rail

[edit]

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

[edit]

The nearest airports to Malerkotla are:

Notable residents

[edit]
[edit]
  • Gurudwara Sahib Haa Da Naara
    Gurudwara Sahib Haa Da Naara
  • Mubarak Manzil Palace
    Mubarak Manzil Palace
  • Qila
    Qila
  • Railway station
    Railway station
  • Eidgah
    Eidgah

Notes

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

References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "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.[permanent dead link]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Kinship and the Political Order: The Afghan Sherwani Chiefs of Malerkotla (1454–1947), Contributions to Indian Sociology, Vol. 28, No. 2, 203–241 (1994).
[edit]


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