Fazilka
Encyclopedia
Fazilka is a city and a municipal council
and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab
, India
and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.
, Fazilka had a population of 67,424. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Fazilka, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Colleges and professional institutes
Secondary schools
The economy of the Fazilka is based on agriculture
. Before partition, it was a major wool market. Traders used to export wool to Britain via the ports at Karachi
in Sindh
. By 2007, wool production had decreased to about 10% of the production before partition. The area around the town grows high quality cereals (wheat, rice, and others). A hybrid variety of citrus fruit known as 'Kino' is grown in this region. The surrounding areas also produce guava
and cotton.
The town is home to heritage cottage industries such as the production of woven strings (Waan) fabricated from Sarkanda grass acquired from the bank of the river Sutlej. This is a labour intensive low profit cottage industry.
, Dushehra
, Holi
, and Gurpurab. Apart from these major festivals, Fazilka hosts the following:
, Malwa, and Sahiwal
with their own specific dialects. The major dialects include the following:
dance propagated by the late Baba Pokhar Singh (1916–2002). Pokhar Singh's family had migrated from the Montgomery district of Western Punjab, and they claimed to represent the "Ravi" style of jhumar. However, Fazilka had its own style of jhummar (which they refer to as the "Satluj" style). Therefore, at least two regional styles were mixed in everyday life, and in his jhummar routine (which was basically the same each time, and which family and friends still perform today), Pokhar identified several other regional actions.
and then to Bahawalpur
. Fazilka was connected by railway to Amruka (now in Pakistan) through Chaanwala. The tracks from Fazilka to McLeod Ganj and from Fazilka to Chaanwala are now closed, perhaps uprooted.
Fazilka railway station is connected to Ferozepur and Bhatinda junctions of Northern Railways. A new railway line to Abohar
has been constructed to shorten the distance to Bikaner by over 100 km.
passes through Fazilka and connects to Delhi
via Hissar
and Rohtak
. The State highway runs from Fazilka to Ferozepur and from Fazilka to Malout
And Both Road are very clean.
International Airport and Ludhiana Domestic Airport are the nearest airports about 220 km away.
are the available means of transport within the city. These rickshaws are now dispatched by telephone by the Fazilka Ecocab Call Centre.
). Both city centres were designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Flag when seen from above, with eight roads to the main markets radiating from a centre with a large clock tower. The cities of Fazilka and Lyallpur both came into existence between 1840–1880. Layallpur Clock Tower was built by the British Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall
, for whom it was originally named Lyallpur. Fazilka Clock Tower was built in the memory of a famous philanthropist of Fazilka, Ram Narayan Periwal, by Rai Sahab Madan Gopal Periwal and Shopat Rai Periwal. The Fazilka clock tower, at an approximate height of 95 feet (29 m), is the tallest clock tower in North India. Fazilka Clock Tower was made by contractor Sh. Narain Singh under the supervision of Mohd. Ch Abdul Shakoor Kareem Malak, who was the sardar of the region. It was inaugurated by Mr. M.R. Sachdev, ESQ, ICS, the then Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur on June 6, 1939 in the presence of Sheepseks Asquire ICS DC Jalandhar and Rai Sahab Lala Vidyadhar PCS SDO of Fazilka. The tower was designed by Architect S.D. Wasan. Fazilka and Faislabad Clock towers were both inaugurated on the same day. Previously it was maintained by the Periwal Trust but since 1991, the Municipal Council of Fazilka has been responsible. The Fazilka Clock Tower was one of the first brick and masonry buildings in Punjab. A picture of Fazilka Clock Tower may be viewed in the Picture gallery of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh.
In 1940, A philanthropist Munshi Ram Aggarwal instituted M.R. college for the education of the youngsters of the region. Now it has been taken over by the Punjab Government and renamed M.R. Govt. College.
The Asafwala 1971 Indo-Pak War Memorial was inaugurated by Late President of India Giani Zail Singh. This monument is a tribute to all Indian army soldiers who laid down their lives to save our City. This is under 4 JATT Regiment, who played important role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
.
The Fazilka TV Tower
is a 304.8 metres (1,000 ft) tall free-standing lattice tower situated at Abohar Road. It is used to broadcast the signal of Jallandar and Delhi Doordarshan.
Municipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.
History
The municipality was formed via Punjab Government notification no. 486, dated 10 December 1885. The town was added to the Ferozepur district in 1884.Now Fazilka is also a District from date july28,2011.Demographics and geography
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Fazilka had a population of 67,424. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Fazilka, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Education
Graduate level courses are available at M.R. Govt. College. Some private institutes give opportunities for diploma and degree level computer courses. Courses are also available for a Bachelor of Education degree. There is one Industrial Training Institute that provides vocational courses. Some private institutes also provide vocational courses.Colleges and professional institutes
- Geeta Institute of Management & Technology
- M.R. Govt. College
- Industrial Training Institute
- Jyoti B.Ed College
- D.A.V. College of Education
- Sant Kabir Polytechnic college
- Art and Craft College
- Bhagwan Parshuram Art & Craft I.T.I.
- Shaheed Bhagat Singh Computer Center
Secondary schools
- Godwin Public School
- SHIVALIK PUBLIC SCHOOL
- Swami Daya Nand Model School
- Holy Child Public School
- New Gurukul Vidya Mandir Public School
- Govt. Modal Senior Secondary School
- Atam Vallab Public School
- Army School
- Smt. Karma Bai, D.A.V School
- Shaheed Bhagat Singh Computer Center For Higher Studies
- S.D. Senior Secondary School
- D.A.V. Senior Secondary School
- Sanskrit Vidhyalaya
- S.D. Girls Senior Secondary School
- Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School
- Islamia School (Before Partition)
- Sarv Hitkari Vidya Mandir
- D.A.V D.C Modal Senior Secondary School
- Govt. Primary School No. 1, 2, and 3
- Satsang Elementary Primary School
- Jain School
- Arya Kanya Putri Pathshala
- Chanakya Model School
- Holy Heart Day Boarding School
- Rainbow Day Boarding Public School
- Amrit Model School
- Sikh Kanya Putri Pathshala
- Holy Child Public School
- Sacred Heart Convent School
- Shri Ram Public School
Economy
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Before partition, it was a major wool market. Traders used to export wool to Britain via the ports at Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. By 2007, wool production had decreased to about 10% of the production before partition. The area around the town grows high quality cereals (wheat, rice, and others). A hybrid variety of citrus fruit known as 'Kino' is grown in this region. The surrounding areas also produce guava
Guava
Guavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
and cotton.
The town is home to heritage cottage industries such as the production of woven strings (Waan) fabricated from Sarkanda grass acquired from the bank of the river Sutlej. This is a labour intensive low profit cottage industry.
Fairs and festivals
The Fazilka region observes almost all important major festivals of India, including DiwaliDiwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
, Dushehra
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
, and Gurpurab. Apart from these major festivals, Fazilka hosts the following:
- Vijay Diwas Celebration at Asafwala War Memorial on 17 December is held jointly by Indian Army and the War Memorial Trust
- Village Ban Wala Mela
- Village Lakhe Kadayian Wala Mela is held twice a year, including one on the first day of Desi Month Sawan every year, to celebrate the start of the monsoon season
- Peer Guraya Mela, Nayi Abadi Fazilka
- 15 August and 26 January: Celebration at Sadqui Check Post, Indo-Pakistan Border
- Fazilka Heritage Festival, Mehak Sarhad Di to celebrate and promote the art, culture, and food of the Fazilka region by the Graduates Welfare Association
- Anand Utsav-Environment Festival, held by the Graduates Welfare Association
Languages and dialects
The Fazilians have ethnic groups hailing from Southern Punjab, RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, Malwa, and Sahiwal
Sahiwal
Sahiwal is a city in Punjab, Pakistan. It is the administrative centre of Sahiwal District and Sahiwal Division. Sahiwal is approximately 180 km from the major city Lahore and is the city between Lahore and Multan...
with their own specific dialects. The major dialects include the following:
- Sahiwali and Lehndi, spoken by Rai Sikhs, Kambojas and migrants from Sahiwal (Pakistan)
- MahajaniMahajaniMahajani is an ancient Laṇḍā script that was used to record the Punjabi and Marwari languages....
, spoken by migrants from deep Sindh and Southern Punjab - Malwai, spoken by settlers from the erstwhile Faridkot state
- BagriBagri languageBagri is a dialect of Rajasthani language of the Indo-Aryan family. It is spoken by about five million speakers in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts of Rajasthan, Sirsa and Hissar districts of Haryana, Firozepur and Muktsar districts of Punjab of India and Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar areas...
, spoken by settlers from Rajasthan - RajasthaniRajasthani languageRajasthani Rajasthani Rajasthani (Devanagari: , Perso-Arabic: is a language of the Indo-Aryan languages family. It is spoken by 50 million people in Rajasthan and other states of India and in some areas of Pakistan. The number of speakers may be up to 80 million worldwide...
, spoken by business families from Bikaner and Alwar region - Theth Punjabi, spoken by migrants from MajhaMajhaMajha is a region of the Punjab comprising the modern districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran in the Indian State of Punjab and the districts of Narowal, Lahore and Kasur in the Pakistani Province of Punjab. The term previously applied to Panjabis living north of the Sutlej...
and DoabaDoabaDoaba is the region of Indian Punjab surrounded by the rivers Beas and Sutlej. The name "Doaba" literally translates to "land of two rivers" . It is one of the most fertile regions of the world, and was the centre of the Green Revolution in India.Scheduled castes form more than 35% of the...
Regional dance
Fazilka is known for a style of jhumarJhumar
Jhumar or Jhoomar is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Multan and Balochistan, but thrived specially in Sandalbar areas of Punjab. It is slower and more rhythmic form of Bhangra. The word "Jhumar" comes from Jhum/Jhoom, which means Swaying. The songs evoke a quality which...
dance propagated by the late Baba Pokhar Singh (1916–2002). Pokhar Singh's family had migrated from the Montgomery district of Western Punjab, and they claimed to represent the "Ravi" style of jhumar. However, Fazilka had its own style of jhummar (which they refer to as the "Satluj" style). Therefore, at least two regional styles were mixed in everyday life, and in his jhummar routine (which was basically the same each time, and which family and friends still perform today), Pokhar identified several other regional actions.
Railways
The first railway line through the town was setup in 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the accession of Queen Victoria. Fazilka was connected by railway to McLeodganj (now in Pakistan and renamed Mandi Sadiqganj) on the route to BahawalnagarBahawalnagar
Bahawalnagar is the capital city of Bahawalnagar District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. As well as being district capital it also the administrative headquarters of the tehsil.-Administration:...
and then to Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
. Fazilka was connected by railway to Amruka (now in Pakistan) through Chaanwala. The tracks from Fazilka to McLeod Ganj and from Fazilka to Chaanwala are now closed, perhaps uprooted.
Fazilka railway station is connected to Ferozepur and Bhatinda junctions of Northern Railways. A new railway line to Abohar
Abohar
Abohar is a city and a municipal committee in Fazilka district in the state of Punjab, India,) located on the Ganganagar–Delhi railway route, about north of Ganganagar and about south of Fazilka. This city is also known as the "California of Punjab" for its rich soil, good irrigation sources,...
has been constructed to shorten the distance to Bikaner by over 100 km.
Roads
National Highway 10National Highway 10 (India)
National Highway 10 a National Highway, length , in northern India that originates at Delhi and ends at the town of Fazilka in Punjab near the Indo-Pak Border.-External links:* Map of NH-10...
passes through Fazilka and connects to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
via Hissar
Hissar
Hissar means Fort or Castle in Arabic. Many forts in Ottoman, Safavi and Mughal empires are named Hissar. Hissar could refer to:*Hisar, India, a city in Haryana state in India.*Hisar District in Haryana state in India...
and Rohtak
Rohtak
Rohtak City is a Municipal Corporation in Rohtak district that styles itself as the "Heart of Haryana". It is located 70 km Northwest of New Delhi and 210 km South of the state capital Chandigarh at the NH 10...
. The State highway runs from Fazilka to Ferozepur and from Fazilka to Malout
Malout
Malout is a city and a municipal council in Muktsar district in the Indian state of Punjab. Located in southern Punjab, it is a prominent town in the cotton belt where production per unit area is one of the highest in India....
And Both Road are very clean.
Air
AmritsarAmritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
International Airport and Ludhiana Domestic Airport are the nearest airports about 220 km away.
Intra-city
Fazilka does not have a public bus transport system. RickshawsAuto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
are the available means of transport within the city. These rickshaws are now dispatched by telephone by the Fazilka Ecocab Call Centre.
Maps
Map of FazilkaLandmarks
Clock towers were placed at the city centres in Fazilka and Lyallpur (Now known as FaisalabadFaisalabad
Faisalabad , formerly known as Lyallpur, is the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, the second largest in the province of Punjab after Lahore, and a major industrial center in the heart of Pakistan. Before the foundation of the city in 1880, the area was very thinly populated. The population has...
). Both city centres were designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Flag when seen from above, with eight roads to the main markets radiating from a centre with a large clock tower. The cities of Fazilka and Lyallpur both came into existence between 1840–1880. Layallpur Clock Tower was built by the British Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall
James Broadwood Lyall
Sir James Broadwood Lyall KCSI, GCIE. was an administrator in the Indian Civil Service of the British Raj period. Between 1887 and 1892 he was Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab. He was a younger brother of Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall....
, for whom it was originally named Lyallpur. Fazilka Clock Tower was built in the memory of a famous philanthropist of Fazilka, Ram Narayan Periwal, by Rai Sahab Madan Gopal Periwal and Shopat Rai Periwal. The Fazilka clock tower, at an approximate height of 95 feet (29 m), is the tallest clock tower in North India. Fazilka Clock Tower was made by contractor Sh. Narain Singh under the supervision of Mohd. Ch Abdul Shakoor Kareem Malak, who was the sardar of the region. It was inaugurated by Mr. M.R. Sachdev, ESQ, ICS, the then Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur on June 6, 1939 in the presence of Sheepseks Asquire ICS DC Jalandhar and Rai Sahab Lala Vidyadhar PCS SDO of Fazilka. The tower was designed by Architect S.D. Wasan. Fazilka and Faislabad Clock towers were both inaugurated on the same day. Previously it was maintained by the Periwal Trust but since 1991, the Municipal Council of Fazilka has been responsible. The Fazilka Clock Tower was one of the first brick and masonry buildings in Punjab. A picture of Fazilka Clock Tower may be viewed in the Picture gallery of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh.
In 1940, A philanthropist Munshi Ram Aggarwal instituted M.R. college for the education of the youngsters of the region. Now it has been taken over by the Punjab Government and renamed M.R. Govt. College.
The Asafwala 1971 Indo-Pak War Memorial was inaugurated by Late President of India Giani Zail Singh. This monument is a tribute to all Indian army soldiers who laid down their lives to save our City. This is under 4 JATT Regiment, who played important role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
.
The Fazilka TV Tower
Fazilka TV Tower
Fazilka TV Tower is a 304.8 metres tall free-standing lattice tower at Fazilka, India, which was completed in 2007 and which is used for FM-/TV-broadcasting in Punjab...
is a 304.8 metres (1,000 ft) tall free-standing lattice tower situated at Abohar Road. It is used to broadcast the signal of Jallandar and Delhi Doordarshan.