HISTORY OF JALANDHAR – Municipal Corporation Jalandhar

ABOUT JALANDHAR

The Municipal Committee Jalandhar was created in 1867 and raised Class – I in 1950 under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911. Under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, it was further elevated to Municipal Corporation by Punjab Government on 5 July 1977.

Jalandhar is the third largest city of Punjab with a long history connected with a number of interesting episodes. There are several mythological stories regarding the founding of Jalandhar. It is described in Padam Purana that the city was named after the ” Daetya King ” JALANDHAR who was the son of the ocean. It is said in an another story that the King Jalandhar had opposed the colonisation of Bist Doaba and Lord Vishnu killed him and established settlement of Jalandhar township on his back.

In the available written history, the name of Jalandhar appears in the period of King Kanishka. It is described that King Kanishka had called a meeting of religious leaders of different sects at Jalandhar in order to collect all the sacred writings of Lord Buddha. It was 100 A.D.

Jalandhar city has the honour of initiating Nath movement in Eighth century and the foundation stone was laid by Jalandhar Nath the legendary jogi. The historian and traveler from China Mr. Hune Sang Has also mentioned the name of Jalandhar city in his writings.

Jalandhar city became Capital of Katoch Sardars in 1179. Than the city was captured by Ibrahim Shah and later on in 1422-42 a powerful Rajpoot Sardar attacked Jalandhar times and again. It remained capital of Northern Province of Mughal kingdom for long time.

When Ahmed Shah Abdali destroyed Kartarpur in 1756 then Baba Wadbhag Singh of Kartarpur at the instigation of Mughal governor Adeena Beg attacked and ruined the city and the Afgans living in Basties of Jalandhar were murdered. In 1766 Jalandhar city fall into the hands of Sardar Kushhaal Singh Faizalpuria Missal. The son of Sardar Kushhaal Singh Sardar Budh Singh constructed a fort made of stones in the city. Now this place is known as Kot Kishan Chand. Another some other Sikhs sardars had also constructed some small forts with mud bricks. In 1811 the city was incorporated into the kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Till the time of its merger into English rule Jalandhar remained capital of Doaba Rayasats of Lahor Kingdom. After that it become head office of the commissioner of British rulers.

The district is named after Jalandhar, a demon king, who finds a mention in the Puranas and Mahabharata. According to another legend, Jalandhar was the capital of the kingdom of Lav, son of Rama. According to yet another version Jalandhar is said to have derived its name from the vernacular term `Jalandhar’ means area inside the water, i.e. tract laying between the two rivers Satluj and Beas, still another name of Jalandhar had been Trigartta, as it was waters by three rivers, Satluj, Beas and Ravi.

The town as it grew up to 1947 had the characteristic of its own. It had 12 Kots, 12 Gates and 12 Basties. The Kots were predominantly Hindu while Basties were mostly Muslims. The Kots, which also mean Mohallas. Each Kot had its own gate. Only a few of these Basties, Kots and gates have so far survived. Jalandhar a town of antiquity, and a seat of government several times in the past, regained its lost glory of ancient times in 1947 when following the partition, it was made the administrative headquarter of Punjab but lost too soon when the administrative offices were shifted first to Shimla and finally to Chandigarh. There were more than 60% Muslims in the city. Every Kots had its own gate. Demographic composition was changed in 1947. At the time of partition of the country Jalandhar was made provisional head quarter of Punjab. Later on administrative offices were shifted to Shimla then to Chandigarh. During the time of Emperor Akbar the currency made of copper was prepared at Jalandhar. It was TAKSAL city at that time. It was also famous for making pots made of brass and copper. Now Jalandhar in famous for manufacturing sports goods, pipe fittings, hand tools, surgical implements, body building, agriculture implements, leather goods electrical goods etc. Jalandhar is an ancient city and remained center of wisdom. Shastra's like "Abhi Dharam Janan-Prasthna" were written by Guru Katiyan at Jalandhar in first BC. At that time there were more educational center in Jalandhar than any other city of the region. Even now the city is leading Punjab in the field of education. More over Jalandhar city is a center of print and electronic media. It is the biggest Centre of Printing Industry too in North India. It is the oldest city in Punjab situated at a distance of about 84 kms southeast of Amritsar on the G.T road going to Calcutta. Jalandhar is India's foremost producer of sports goods. Its steel and iron re-rolling mills, rubber goods, electric goods, automobile parts, and sewing machine factories and handloom products are also very famous. Today, it is a major rail and road junction and an army cantonment. It is one of the biggest centres of the vernacular press in India, most of the vernacular papers, magazines in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu are published here. The renowned newspapers are Hind Samachar, Punjab Kesri, Jag Bani, Partap & Veer Partap, Ajit, Akali Patrika, Nawan Zamana and Milap. Jalandhar is famous for export of quality sports goods all over the world. It is a town of great antiquity which has become a highly industrialized center of commercial activity. The monuments in and around the city include 800 years old Imam Nasir Mosque, Devi Talab Mandir and two century old Jama Masjid. Jalandhar is the 'sports city of India' as it has not only finest sport industry but also a large number of sportsmen. In fact, 12 of India's greatest hockey players have come from a single village, Sansarpur, in Jalandhar city. Jalandhar has very alive atmosphere, something that is typical to the whole of Punjab. Initially, a college for women viz. Kanya Maha Vidyalaya was established in March 1921. Now there are large number of colleges, polytechnics, Academic and Ayurvedic colleges and also a number of colleges for women such as Hansraj Mahila Vidyalaya, Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Lyallpur Khalsa College and S.D. College. There is also a college for Teacher Training and a college of Sports. The railway line from Beas to Jalandhar was opened in 1869 and was completed upto Phillour by the next year. The Doab was linked to the rest of the Punjab by the railway bridges, constructed over the Beas in 1869 and over the Sutlej in 1870.

Jalandhar is located on the intensively irrigated plain between the Beas and Sutlej rivers. The city, which has major road and rail connections, is a market for agricultural products. Manufactures include textiles, leather goods, wood products, and sporting goods. Jalandhar was the capital of Punjab from India's independence (1947) until Chandigarh was built in 1953.Jalandhar is situated at 710 31’ East and 300 33’ North at a distance of 146 kms from state capital Chandigarh. It is at a distance of 350 Kms from Delhi on Delhi-Amritsar Highway. It is surrounded by Ludhiana district in East, Kapurthala in West, Hoshiarpur in North and Ferozepur in South. It is well connected by road and train. Nearest Airport is RajaSansi Airport, Amritsar at a distance of 90 kms and Domestic Airport, Adampur at distance of approx. 20 kms.

The Jalandhar District consist of 5 tehsils/subdivisions viz. Jalandhar-I, Jalandhar II, Nakodar, Phillaur and Shahkot. Besides, there are 5 sub-tehsils, viz. Adampur, Bhogpur, Kartarpur, Goryan and Nurmahal. The district is divided into 11 development blocks, viz, Jalandhar East, Jalandhar West, Bhogpur, Adampur, Nakodar, Shahkot, Phillaur, Nurmahal, Lohian, Rurka Kalan and Mehatpur. According to 2000-2001 figures of District Statistical Office, the district has 956 inhabited villages.

The average annual rainfall in the district is 703.0 mm. The rainfall in the district in general increases from the south-west towards the north-east and varies from 551.3 mm at Nakodar to 892.3 mm at Adampur (Aera-obsy). About 70 per cent of the annual normal rainfall in the district is received during the period July to September, July being the rainiest month. Some rainfall is received mostly as thunder showers in June and in association with passing western disturbances in the cold season. The variation in the rainfall from year to year in the district is appreciable. In the 80 year, 1901 to 1980, the highest annual rainfall amounting to 181 per cent of the normal occurred in 1917. The lowest annual rainfall which was 55 per cent of the normal occurred in the year 1905. In the same period, the annual rainfall in the district was less than 80 per cent of the normal in 22 years. On an average, there are 36 rainy days (i.e. days with rainfall of 2.5 mm or more) in a year in the district. The number varies from 30 at Phagwara to 45 at Adampur (Aera-obsy). The heaviest rainfall in 24 hours recorded at any station in the district was 304.8 mm at Jalandhar on 18 August 1878.

WEATHER

There is a meteorological observation in the District of Jalandhar. But it has started functioning very recently. So description follows is based on the records of the observatories in the neighboring district where similar climate conditions prevail. After February, temperature begin to rise rapidly. June is generally the hottest month with the mean daily temperature at about 41oC and the mean daily minimum at about 27oC. Scorching dust laden winds blow on many days in the summer season and the day temperatures on individual days may reach above 450C. Afternoon thundershowers which occur on some days during the summer bring welcome relief though only temporarily. With the onset of monsoon by about the end of June or early in July, the day temperature drop down appreciably. But the nights continue to be a warm during the summer. Due to increase moisture in the monsoon air, the weather is often sultry and uncomfortable, in between these rains. After about mid-September when the monsoon withdraws temperatures decrease, the drop in the night temperature being rapid. January is generally the coldest month with the mean daily maximum temperature at about 19oC and the mean daily minimum at about 6oC. During the winter season. Cold waves effect the district in the rear of western disturbances and the minimum temperature occasionally drops down below the freezing point of water.

During the brief south-west monsoon months and for spells of a day or two in association with the passing western disturbances high humidity prevails in the district. In the rest of the year, the humidity is low. The driest port of the year is the summer season when in the afternoons the relative humidity is 30 percent or less.

The skies are heavily clouded and over cast on a few days during the south-west monsoon and for spells of a day or two in association with passing western disturbances during the cold season. During the rest of the year, the skies are mostly clear or lightly clouded.

Winds are generally light in the district. In the south-west monsoon season, winds from direction, between north-east and south-east, are common but on many days in the afternoons westerly to north-westerly winds predominate, except in the latter half of summer, when easterlies and south easterlies blow on some days.

The climate of this district is on the whole dry except during the brief south-west monsoon season. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from the middle of November to early part of March. The succeeding period upto the end of June in the summer season, July, August and first half of September constitute the South-West monsoon season. The period from middle September to the middle of November is the post monsoon or transition period. Although tehsil Phagwara is in the Kapurthala District, for the description of climate the same has been included in the Jalandhar district.

INDUSTRY IN JALANDHAR

Jalandhar ranks second in India in the rate of urbanization and has the highest density of population at 598 persons per square km, as per the 1991 census. The reason for this is growing industrialization. Industrial production of sports goods began on a small scale during the late forties. Over the years, the sports goods industry has grown at an impressive rate and of late Indian sports goods are also exported to different countries.

Most of India’s sports goods are exported to the United Kingdom, The United States of America, Germany, France and Australia. Rough estimates suggest that today Jalandhar has more than one hundred major industries and about 20,000 small-scale industries with a most conservative estimate of an annual turnover of approximately Rs 450 crores The industry is mainly concentrated in Jalandhar and Meerut. The Indian sports goods industry manufactures 318 items. The Indian sports goods industry is a highly labour intensive industry which provides employment to the weaker sections of society and also employs a large number of women. The sports goods industry in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth over the past five decades and now occupies a place of prominence in the Indian economy in view of its massive potential for employment, growth and export.

Industry Jalandhar has the nucleus of sports goods industry in Punjab and has about 90% of the total sports goods units of the State. The product manufactured relates to all traditional products like foot-ball, cricket bats, hockey and cricket balls, hockey sticks, tennis badminton and squash rackets, balls, soft leather goods, shuttle cocks etc. This industry being labour intensive despite inadequate capital and technology, has reached a stage where it is reckoned as a major cottage industry providing direct employment to about 10000 workers.

Jalandhar is known for the manufacturing of Hand Tools like Spanner set, screw driver, nose pliers etc. 50 units are engaged in the manufacturing of hand tools giving employment to 8000 people.

Jalandhar is known for the manufacturing of good quality of auto parts.There are 300 units engaged in the manufacturing of auto parts providing employment to 4500 people. Several units are supplying auto parts to the orginal manufacturers of automobiles. There is export of Rs. 213.53 lacs of auto parts from Jalandhar during the year 1991-92.

Jalandhar is known for the manufacturing of rubber goods items like V-shape chappals,V-Belts, Scooter/Cycle tyres and rubber rolls. There are 625 units giving employment to 6500 persons. There is export of Rs.682.62 lacs from Jalandhar.

Surgical Instruments units are labour intensive units. There are 275 units in Jalandhar providing employment to 2500 persons. Tanning Industry Jalandhar is known for manufacture of shoes and a number of allied units. At present, there are a large number of tanning units providing employment to a major section of the scheduled caste and other weaker sections.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

The spoken language in Jalandhar is Punjabi being the mother tongue of Punjabi people. The Jalandhar falls in Doaba region, comprising the districts Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala. Doaba region is sided by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The dilect of this region is called Doabi by the linguistics. People give stress on ‘B’ in place of V. But with the spread of communication means the difference is eliminating very fast.

Since, the Jalandhar city is the house of printing press, the writers flocked to Jalandhar from all over the Punjab and many of them settled here and wrote great books. These writers wrote about the deep agonies of partition of 1947. The cruelties done during those times, the problems of migrants from Pakistan, the short stories novels, plays and poems deal with the subject of human crisis created with the partition. These books or some selections from these books were later on prescribed for school and college syllabuses. This gave inspiration to many young writers. The writers write Punjabi in Gurmukhi script. Kartar Singh Duggal a great writer of Punjabi literature brought All India Radio to Jalandhar.

FAIR AND FESTIVALS

Jalandhar is one of the ancient India Cities. Which find itself even in the Indian Epic-The Mahabharata. It is situated in the fertile Doaba region of Punjab between the two rivers the Beas and the Sutluj. The City is famous since Mughal Empire as Noor Jahan was brought up here.

During the partition of the country, the large number of migrants came to Jalandhar and settled here. Since, then the city has assumed greater importance and developed into an industrial city, excelling in the manufacture of sports goods, surgical equipment and other allied goods. Jalandhar is also famous for its publishing houses and nearly 18 vernacular dailies are published in Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

It has been the capital during Sikh rule under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is the third largest city (Area 100 Sq KM) in Punjab after Amritsar and Ludhiana and has developed either side of old G.T. Road. The city is connected by road and rail to all the important cities in India.

The fairs are a living symbol of our cultural life. The gay and vivacious Punjabis are very fond of fair or a festival. People of all communities come to participate in these fairs from far flung areas. The most notable event in Jalandhar is the annual national Harbhallabh Fair :-

HARBHALLABH SANGEET MELA
THE FAIR OF BABA SODAL

The famous Harbhallabh Sangeet Mela is held in the memory of the saint-musician, Swami Harbhallabh. It is organized at Devi Talab near the samadhi of the saint from 27 December to 30 December every year. Prominent exponents of classical music, both vocal and instrumental, from all over the country gathers to provide a rare feast of music for the connoisseur. Swami Harbhallabh came from a rich family of village Bajwara of district Hoshiarpur. He renounced the world and became a disciple of Swami Tulja Gir who was initiated him into the art of music. In 1956, a regular Sangeet Academy under the aegis of the Harbhallabh Sangeet Mahasabha was formed. The object of the Academy is to setup a Centre in the Punjab for teaching and research in classical music. A syllabus has already been formed and the teaching institution has been open with the objective of holding their own examination for award of diplomas and degrees. The people come from distant place to enjoy Indian classical music. Even Mahatma Gandhi was attracted to the festival in 1929. Admission to the sammelan is free as also board and lodging during the day of the fair. Hardly was there a classical singer of repute who did not visit the fair.

The fair of Baba Sodal is associated with Sodal, a small boy who came to be respected as a Baby-God. The fair is held to commemorate his death anniversary at his smadh. The fair is held once a year in the month of Bhadon around mid-September. The fair lasts for one day./ in the early hours of the morning. The main place of worship is the smadh of Baba Sodal. Inside the smadh, there is a painted portrait of Baba Sodal kept decorated with garlands and rosaries and is looked after by a separate priest. There is a pucca tank called 'Baba Sodal-Da-Sarowar'. The offering at the smadh are distributed among the pilgrims and sprinkle a few drops on their body. Some have a dip in the tank. Pilgrims of all religions come to fair from different parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Among the pilgrims, females preponderate who seek blessing for children and general well-being of their families. The legend goes that Sodal was born in a family of Chadha clan of Khatri caste in Jalandhar City. It is said that one day the mother of Baba Sodal went to nearby pond to wash clothes. Despite her repeatedly asking to him to go back, he followed her. The mother lost temper and shouted at him, " Have you come here to die? Go and drown yourself in the pound." It is said that Sodal asked her three times to repeater words which she did. Sodal then plunged into the water never to appear again. According to another version, he simply fell dead on the spot; according to still another version he transformed himself into a snake and bored himself into the earth.

KNOWN AS A NURSERY OF INDIAN HOCKEY

A tiny village called Sansarpur on the outskirts of Jalandhar has represented four of the five Continents in International Hockey produced 14 Olympians and also has the World’s highest per capita Olympic Medals. From 1932 till 2000 this village produced 14 Olympians including who played in the 1968 Olympic Game. 5 of them, Balbir Sigh (Punjab Police), Jagjit Singh, Balbir Singh (Services), Tarsem Singh and Ajit Pal Singh played for India and the remaining two, Hardyal Singh and Jagjit Singh Played for Kenya. Jalandhar is proud to have 7 players played in the same Olympic games representing two different Nation and Continents, this have not ever been repeated in the history of the Olympic games.