Moga, Punjab

Moga
City
Moga
Location in Punjab, India
Moga
Moga (India)
Coordinates: 30°49′19″N 75°10′26″E / 30.822°N 75.174°E / 30.822; 75.174Coordinates: 30°49′19″N 75°10′26″E / 30.822°N 75.174°E / 30.822; 75.174
Country  India
State Punjab
District Moga
Area
 • Total 2,230 km2 (860 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 150,432[1]
 • Density 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 142001
Telephone code 1636
Vehicle registration PB-29
Sex ratio 1000:883 ♂/♀
Website moga.nic.in

Moga is a city in the Indian state of Punjab. Moga was named after Moga Singh Gill, a prominent person of the Gill community.

It became part and headquarters of 17th District in the state, Moga district of Punjab state on 24th day of November 1995, by then Chief Minister of Punjab Harcharan Singh Brar. Before becoming a District, Moga was a part of Faridkot District as a Tehsil. Moga town is situated on the National Highway 95 (NH-95 Ferozpur-Ludhiana road). The area of Dharamkot block with 150 villages has been merged into Moga district, which falls under the jurisdiction of Ferozpur division.

History

Moga can trace its history back to a couple of millennia ago. Historians have theorized that the present district could have been the site of an earlier Indo-Scythian settlement, Maues. Moga city developed because of Railway development. It was the last stop of Rail line. At that time Salina, Badhni, Jeera and Dharamkot were major towns in the area. But, In 1901, when Railway arrived in Moga, a Jagir (Farm land) of Sardar Moga Singh, then this farm land got converted into a city which become even bigger than its contemporary towns of Salina and badhni. First Grain Market was built in a castle in front of Railway station in 1901.

Moga became a popular spot for traveling to Lahore. People came by train to Moga and after that, people travelled to Lahore (Now in Pakistan) via Buses. It also became a trading centre for Tea which was transported on Train, that's why it was called "Moga Chah Joga" meaning Moga only has tea as that time, Moga city was developing and only valuable commodity it used to sell was Tea.

Moreover, Moga was only among the first few cities of India which got their first college before independence. It had college when only 318 colleges and universities were in all India. Dayanand Mathra Dass College better known as D.M. College, Moga was started in 1926 by Rai Bahadur Dr. Mathra Dass Pahwa, A "Padam Vibhushan" awardee and an eminent eye surgeon, philanthropist and educationist in the Sacred memory of the Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

Moga had its first Eye clinic in 1915 which was run by Dr. Mathura Dass Pahwa. From almost 400 km diameter distance, people came to Moga for eye surgery. Moga became a folklore in Punjabi Giddha Bolis like "Je Mundian teri akh ve dukhdi tan Mogion ilaj karwa la we , tera fyda ho ju, shawa bai tera fyda ho ju" meaning Girls taunt their boyfriends that if your eyesight is weak then go to Moga City for surgery.

Indeed, Moga remained hotspot of Education and student politics. D.M. college Alumni played a big role in student politics of Punjab and India. Few honorable mentions are Choudhari Devi Lal Chotala (6th Deputy Prime Minister of India and 3rd Chief Minister of Haryana), Baldev Khosa (Bollywood actor and MLA in Versova, Mumbai), Comrade Kikkar Singh (Student union leader during 1972, Moga Goli Kand) and many other renowned personalities.

Moga always remained a centre for turmoil. People were revolutionary in nature. There were largest number of Communists during 1960 - 67 and Kharkus during 1978 - 1990 in Moga area. Even today, Moga is the heartland of Punjab Gangsters. Moga is renowned for its Gangsters and aggressive / fighting spirited Students all over Punjab.

Moga also witnessed many historic incidents like "Moga Goli Kand 1972" also called Mini Jallian Wala Bagh Massacre in Moga, where police opened fire on Innocent students who were protesting against Regal Cinema and their Goons. 100s of Buses all over Punjab and chain of Regal cinemas were burnt by Students all over Punjab in solidarity with Students of Moga Massacre. Moga remained volatile for next three years. Even, Mini Bluestar operation happened in middle of Moga city at Bibi Kahan Kaur Gurudwara in 1983 before Operation Bluestar in Amritsar. Moga's more recent post independence history is about its role in the agricultural green revolution in Punjab. Its dairy industry also developed fast and the Nestle dairy plant established in 1961 is one of the main economy drivers of the region. Over the last few decades, the town has developed as an industrial hub with a spiritual core due to its association with Sikh culture. It has also developed a reputation for custom jeep trimming, another contemporary but very Punjabi passion.

Places to visit

  • Gurdwara Nanaksar Sahib, Takhtupura Village. Guru Nanak Dev ji, Guru Hargobind ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji visited this place. There are three Gurdwaras adjoining to one another. Every year a maghi mela is conducted here for three days. Big conferences are hold by the major political parties of Punjab a day next to the maghi mela at Shri Muktsar Sahib. There is a temple of Bharthri Rishi very next to these Gurdwaras. Takhtupura is about 3 km. from Bilaspur on Moga - Barnala road.
  • Mehdiana Sahib, Village Mehdiana
  • Gurudwara Gurusar, Lopon Village
  • Gurudwara Gurusar Sahib, Village Khosa Kotla
  • Gurudwara Gurusar Sahib Patshahi Shevi, Daroli Bhai Village
  • Gurudwara Janamsthan Baba Gurditta Ji, Daroli Bhai village is the birthplace of Baba Gurditta Ji. Guru Hargobind ji stayed at this village. Clothes and other articles related to Guru Hargobind ji are still placed in a Gurdwara in this village. This village is about 2 km on the left side from Moga - Firozepur road.
  • Geeta Bhawan Temple, Nr. Kashmiri Park, Moga
  • Shahidi Park, Moga
  • Gurudwara Lohgarh Sahib, Village Dina
  • Baba Damu Shah Ji, Lohara Village
  • Janer- This is an anciant village back to Indus Valley Civilisation, from the ruins of this village an Idol of Lord Krishna was found, which is now placed in the temple in the village. This village is situated on the Moga - Amritsar road.

Demographics

Religion in Moga city[2]
Religion Percent
Sikhism
 
 50.46%
Hinduism
 
 46.83%
Christianity
 
 0.98%
Islam
 
 0.79%
Others
 
 0.94%

As per provisional data of 2011 census Moga urban agglomeration had a population of 159,897, out of which males were 84,808 and females were 75,089. The literacy rate was 81.42 per cent.[3]

As of 2001 India census,[4] the town of Moga had a population of 124,624. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Moga has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 66%. In Moga, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

By the provisional figure of same 2001 census the Moga District ranks 11th within Punjab with a population of about 886313, which is 3.65 percent of the total population of Punjab State. There are 883 females per thousand male in Moga district by census 2001, which is one less than found in 1991 census, that was 884. Although rate of population growth is low but the density of population has increased, which is 400 per km2. as compared to 351 by 1991 census. In Moga District 82.09 percent population is literate, whereas the rate for male & female literacy is 85.00 & 78.82 percent respectively.[1]

Education

Moga city is also known for number of educational institutes such as Engineering Colleges, Schools etc.

Some of the well-known Schools, Colleges and Institutes of Moga City are:

  • ISF College Of Pharmacy,Moga
  • Dr. SK Memorial Public Sen. Sec. School
  • The Learning Field, Moga
  • Mount Litera Zee School, Moga
  • Desh Bhagat Institute of Engineering and Management
  • D. N. Model Sr. Sec. School
  • R.K.S Sr. Sec. School
  • D.M. College Moga
  • Sacred Heart School
  • Lala Lajpat Rai Group of Colleges
  • T.I.M.E. Institute Moga
  • Oxford School, MOGA


ISF College of pharmacy is awarded as the 21st best pharmacy college of India and 9th in Research Division by NIRF MHRD, Govt. of India,only college in India having analytical lab accordance by NABL. Isf college of pharmacy having all courses of pharmacy including diploma to PhD.

DM college Moga is one of the oldest college in India. Built in Christian church convent sryle of building before independence.

Little Millennium School Moga is awarded as one of the best Top 10 Preschool in Punjab and one of the Best Top 100 Preschool in India by Brainfeed Magazine Survey 2016. The award was presented by Kiran Bedi.

Mount Litera Zee School Moga is the only school in the region to receive Green School Award.

Connectivity

Road Connectivity

Moga is well connected by road to the following nearby cities, by the following highway routes:

NH5 to Chandigarh and Shimla in the northeast and to Ferozpur in the West

Notable People

Hindu population in the district is 16 percent and 82 percent sikh population.

References

  1. 1 2 "Moga City Population Census 2011 - Punjab".
  2. ↑ "Moga City Census 2011 data". Census 2011.
  3. ↑ "Urban Agglomerations/Cities having population 1 lakh and above" (PDF). Provisional Population Totals, Census of India 2011. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  4. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
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