Barnala

Barnala is a city in the state of Punjab of India which serves as the headquarters of the Barnala Sub Division . It is situated near Bhatinda.

History

The common prevalent details reveal that this place was a village named Anahadgarh. In neighboring village Bhadalwadh, Rungarh Muslims used to live who indulged in cattle stealing and plundering acts in surrounding villages grazing cattle in their crops. Following being tormented by Rungarh Muslims, people of Anahadgarh went to Bhadaur for help. Baba Gama was known for his might. When people went to Bhadaur at that time, Baba Gama was not there in his house but his brother Baba Ala Singh came along with them and he forced all Rungarh Muslims to run and started living there planting a tree (it being a Dera at that time marking foundation of a village).

Sikh historian Giani has recorded the details of setting up of Barnala in the annals of Khalsa in this manner that in the year 1775 Baba Ala Singh after offering Bhadaur (set up by King Padhar Sain) to his brother Duna Singh came to Barnala region which was lying aloof at that time. Setting it up, he made it his capital and took under his control surrounding villages. It too appears that Anahadgarh may be existing before and must have been deserted following attacks of Dharvis.

There are different opinions about the nomenclature of Barnala. Some are of the view, Vaaran being a region because of frequent storms was at that time also called Varna. So Barnala was called a land of too many storms which later on became Barnala because of precision of example. Another view reveals that a fort here is said to be built by Baba Ala Singh in which there was a ‘Baahuli’ (a well which had stairs going down). That too due to precision and Malwai accent was known as ‘Baain’. Thus Baain Wala ultimately became Barnala. Thus these are different views only but no historical detail is available that how name Barnala came into existence. Barnala was named after Baba Ala Singh. Baba Ala Singh left Bhadaur with his elder brother(hometown of Patiala State)and settled at Barnala and conquered many areas with the help of his brothers the Bhadaur Sardars. Though it was a district headquarters in erstwhile princely state system, it was later merged in PEPSU (Patiala & East Punjab States Union) and degraded as sub divisional headquarters.

There is a stone "Rameshwaram Stone" in Nath Wala Dera – Village Handiaya Adjoining with Barnala that one floating in water.

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census Barnala had a population of 116,449, out of which males were 62,554 and females were 53,895. The literacy rate was 79.59 per cent.^[2] Barnala is a Sikh majority city with approximately 50.37% of city population following Sikhism.

References