Fazilka
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Fazilka
ਫਾਜ਼ਿਲਕਾ Bangla | |
---|---|
city | |
Country | |
State | Punjab |
District | Fazilka |
Elevation | 177 m (581 ft) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 67,424 |
Languages | |
• Official | Punjabi |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 152123 |
Telephone code | 01638 |
Vehicle registration | PB-22 |
Precipitation | 923.9 millimetres (36.37 in) |
Fazilka is a city and a municipal council in Punjab, India. In 2011, it was made the headquarters of the newly created Fazilka district.
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. On 27 July 2011, Fazilka was declared a District by Government of Punjab vide their Gazette Notification No. 1/1/2011-RE-II(I)/14554 dated July 27, 2011.
Fazilka is a town on Indo-Pak border that suffered some of the maximum problems due to drawing of Radcliffe line at the time of Partition in 1947. This one line divides Natural resources, many houses and people. River Satluj which was common source of water is now acting as line of division between two countries.
Before partition, 50% Fazilka population comprises Muslim, and all of them left India and reached Pakistan in 1947. Most of the village around Fazilka belongs to Muslim families, mainly Bodla, Watto, Sahoo Rajpoot and Chistis's clans. People from Fazilka visit Pakistan, Katasraj - a Hindu Holy city in Pakistan almost every year in the month of August. Fazilka is also Known As Bangla, And Heart Of Malwa.
People from Fazilka
- The late Gazal singer, Mehdi Hassan, took his music training from Fazilka.
- Sarwar Sukhera, renowned journalist, columnist and former press secretary of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was also born in a village near Fazilka.
- Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, a former Pakistani minister, originally hails from his ancestral village Mauzam, near Fazilka. He named his younger son after this village.
- Ch.Surjit Kumar Jyani (Sitting M.L.A[clarification needed])
- Sh.Sher Singh Ghubaya (Sitting M.P.[clarification needed] {Ferozpur constituency})
- DrUma Sharma (Dy,Director,health department ,Punjab)
Demographics and geography
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] 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
- Swami Dayanand ITI, Arniwala
- N.N.Career Point Institute of Management & Information Technology, Fazilka
- Rahat Institute of Computer Management
- Sangam Institute of Management & Technology, Fazilka
- Geeta Institute of Management & Technology, Fazilka
- M.R. Govt. College
- Industrial Training Institute
- Jyoti B.Ed College
- D.A.V. College of Education
- Sant Kabir Polytechnic college
- Bhagwan Parshuram Art & Craft I.T.I.
- Ch M.R.S Memorial Institute of IT & Management
- Swami vivekanand ITC
- Guru Harkrishan Art & Craft College.
- Guru Harkrishan I.T.I Near Baba Ram Dev Mandir Alam Shah Road Fazilka
- Guru Harkrishan Technical College Fazilka.
- L M B(Lala Murari Lal Bhusri)College Of Ayurvedic Pharmacy Alam Shah Road Fazilka.
- Smt Bimla Devi Bhusri Charitable & Welfare Educational Institute Fazilka
- Secondary schools
- shivalik public school
- Kendriya Vidyalaya BSF Rampura, Fazilka
- Saraswati Vidya Mandir School
- Guru Gobind singh Public sen sec school Arniwala S.S
- Godwin Public School
- Swami Daya Nand Model School
- Holy Heart Public School
- New Gurukul Vidya Mandir Public School
- Govt. Modal Senior Secondary School
- Atam Vallab Public School
- Army Public Schools
- 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
- Govt. Boy Sen. Sec. School
- Arya Kanya Putri Pathshala
- Chanakya Model School
- Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School, Kaurianwali
- 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
- Shree Ram Public School
- Comfy International Convent School
- Shaheed Udham singh Public Sen.Sec. Schol, Chak Ban wala
Economy
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.
Fairs and festivals
The Fazilka region observes almost all important major festivals of India, including Diwali, Dushehra, Holi, 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
₦ Baba Bhuman Shah Satsang, May's second Sunday of Every year, in village Chak Ban wala bodla, (Kamboj's Capital.)
Daily joint Indo-Pak retreat ceremony of BSF and Pak Rangers being performed at Sadqi border in evening.
Languages and dialects
The Fazilians have ethnic groups hailing from Southern Punjab, Saraiki, Rajasthan, Malwa, and Sahiwal with their own specific dialects. The major dialects include the following:[2]
- Saraiki and Lehndi, spoken by Rai Sikhs, Kambojas and migrants from Sahiwal (Pakistan)
- Mahajani, spoken by migrants from deep Sindh and Southern Punjab
- Malwai, spoken by settlers from the erstwhile Faridkot state
- Theth Punjabi, spoken by migrants from Majha and Doaba
- Bagri , spoken by Jat Peoples
Regional dance
Fazilka is known for a style of jhumar 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.[3] Moreover the Bollywood personalities such as Malayika Arora Khan and Mandira Bedi belong to Fazilka.[4]
Transportation
Railways
The first railway line through the town was set up 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 Bahawalnagar 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 43 km long railway line to Abohar towards the south has been constructed to shorten the distance to Bikaner by over 100 km. Trains on the new railway line to Abohar started in July 2012 and an express train started between Sri Ganganagar and Firozpur via Abohar and Fazilka in November 2012 on this track.[5]
Roads
National Highway 10 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. Fazilka to Abohar.
Air
Amritsar International Airport and Ludhiana Domestic Airport are the nearest airports about 220 km away.
Intra-city-Ecocabs
Fazilka does not have a public bus transport system. Rickshaws are the available means of transport within the city.[6] These rickshaws are now dispatched by telephone by the Fazilka Ecocab Call Centre.[7]
Maps
Temples
Fazilka has seven main Hindu temples: Hanuman Temple, Shiv Temple, Parnami Mandir, Ram Mandir, Dayra Baba Balbantgiri Temple, and the Shiv Temple of Kusht Ashram (in Leper colony). The most recent temple is the Shiv Temple, built in 2005 by the Dhawan Family in dedication to the 70th anniversary of the late Dr. Ved Parkash and Lal Devi Dhawan. It is located in the Leper colony based on the vision of the Dhawan family to enable worship by Lepers, who are traditionally shunned from worship at Hindu temples. Now one more temple has become very famous in short period of time, name is Shree Bala Ji Dhaam. The beautiful statue of Lord Hanuman Ji is placed there and inspired by Salasar Dham (Rajasthan).
Landmarks
Clock towers were placed at the city centres in Fazilka and Lyallpur (Now known as Faisalabad). 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 and 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.[8] 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.[9]
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 broadcasts the signal of Jalandar Doordarshan and Delhi Doordarshan.
Retreat ceremony at Sadqi border is one of the main attraction in this area.
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ Dr. Bhupinder Singh, Fazilka Voices, Newsletter of GWAF.
- ^ Dr. Nahar Singh (1988). Panjaabi Lok-Naach: Sabhiaachaarak Bhoomika te Saarthakta ["Punjabi Folk-Dance: Cultural Role and Significance"], Lokgit Prakashan. Translated, with editorial remarks, by Gibb Schreffler (2003)
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Abohar-Fazilka railway link operational - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2012-07-17. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "Cycle rickshaws now just a phone call away in Fazilka". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
- ^ "Welcome to the My Fazilka". Myfazilka.com. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
- ^ "Navdeep Asija, 2008". Navdeepasija.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-12-08.