Malerkotla

Malerkotla
Malerkotla
Location in Punjab, India
Malerkotla
Malerkotla (India)
Coordinates: 30°31′00″N 75°53′00″E / 30.5167°N 75.8833°E / 30.5167; 75.8833Coordinates: 30°31′00″N 75°53′00″E / 30.5167°N 75.8833°E / 30.5167; 75.8833
Country India
State Punjab
District Sangrur
Founded by Dera Ismail Khan
Named for Maula khan
Government
 • Type Municipal Corporation
 • Body Municipal Corporation Malerkotla
Area788
 • City 122 km2 (47 sq mi)
 • Urban 457 km2 (176 sq mi)
 • Metro 456 km2 (176 sq mi)
Area rank 12th
Population 322,000
 • City 135,424
 • Rank 31st
 • Density 1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
 • Urban 374,000
 • Metro 236,000
Demonym(s) 433,000
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 148023
Vehicle registration PB-13
Website www.malerkotla.co.in
Malerkotla in the district map of Sangrur, Punjab

Malerkotla is a city and a municipal council in Sangrur district in the Indian state of Punjab. It was the seat of the eponymous princely state during the British Raj. The state acceded unto the union of India in 1947 and was merged with other nearby princely states to create the Patiala and East Punjab States' Union (PEPSU).

When that political entity was reorganised in 1956, the territories of the erstwhile state of Malerkotla became part of Punjab.[1] It is located 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 Sangrur district.

History

Malerkotla, a Muslim majority state was established in 1454 A.D. by Sheikh Sadruddin-i-Jahan from Afghanistan,[2] and was ruled by his Sherwani descendents. The State of Malerkotla was established in 1600 A.D. It is noteworthy that during the 1947 riots when Punjab was in flames, the State of Malerkotla did not witness a single incident of violence; through it all, it remained a lone island of peace.[2][3]

The roots of communal harmony date back to 1705, when Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, 9 and 7 year old sons of 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, were ordered to be bricked alive by the governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan, his close relative, Sher Mohammed Khan, Nawab of Malerkotla, who was present in the court, lodged vehement protest against this inhuman act and said it is against the tenets of Quran and Islam. Wazir Khan nevertheless had the Sahibzadas tortured and bricked into a section of wall while still alive. At this the Nawab of Malerkotla walked out of the court in protest. Guru Gobind Singh on learning this kind and humanitarian approach had blessed the Nawab of Malerkotla with his Hukamnama, Kirpan etc. In recognition of this act, the State of Malerkotla did not witness a single incident of violence during partition.[2][4]

During the partition of India, there were no riots or bloodshed in any part of Maler Kotla State. The last Nawab Iftkhar Ali Khan maintained calm & harmony during the turbulent period. He remained in India & died in the year 1982. His tomb is located in Shahi grave yard situated at Sirhandi gate, Maler Kotla.

However a part of the Ruling Family of Sheikh Sadr-ud-Din Sherwani migrated to Pakistan and living mostly in Model Town, Lahore, Muzzafargarh, Khangarh.[5] Though many also contribute 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]

Malerkotla is famous for its vegetables and badge-making industry as well,[8] besides its poets and monuments.[9]

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census Malerkotla urban agglomeration had a population of 135,330, out of which males were 71,401 and females were 63,923. The literacy rate was 70.25 per cent.[10]

Religion in Malerkotla[11]
Religion Percent
Islam
 
 68.50%
Hinduism
 
 20.71%
Sikhism
 
 9.50%
Jainism
 
 1.11%
Others
 
 0.19%

Education

Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan Institute of Advanced Studies, Malerkotla
Govt. College, Malerkotla

Urdu is taught alongside Punjabi in Malerkotla schools due to the local Muslim majority. The 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.[12] 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) 2 years, MSc (IT) Lateral entry, PGDCA (1 year) and CCA (6 months).

Transportation

Rail

Malerkotla is situated on Delhi-Jakhal-Dhuri-Ludhiana Railway line. The nearest railway junctions are Dhuri 18 Kilometers, Ludhiana 45 Kilometers.

Air

The nearest airports to Malerkotla are:

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ Malerkotla Punjab at www.india9.com.
  2. 1 2 3 Goyal, Sushil (August 19, 2006). "'Malerkotla has Guru's blessings'". The Tribune. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  3. ↑ A people's gratitude Archived 14 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine. The Sikh Review, Issue No. 14, November 2003
  4. ↑ http://www.himalayanflorica.com/fatehgarh_sahib.html. Retrieved June 27, 2008. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ Malerkotla Muslims.. Archived 2 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine. The India Express, August 14, 1997.
  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 (December 2, 2000). "Malerkotla: A heritage going to seed". The Tribune. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  8. ↑ Chhibber, Maneesh (August 19, 2006). "Where peace reigns supreme". The Tribune. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  9. ↑ Bigelow, Anna B (April 21, 2001). "Tales lost to time". The Tribune. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  10. ↑ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  11. ↑ "Malerkotla City Population Census 2011 - Punjab".
  12. ↑ "Urdu academy for Malerkotla". The Indian Express. 20 January 1999.

Further reading

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