Newspapers published outside Ludhiana District, which command fairly large circulation in the District

           

            The following are the papers, journals, etc., published  outside Ludhiana but in fairly large circulation in the district :-

 

Serial No.

Name

Language

Place of publication

 

 

PAPERS

 

1

Ajit

..

Punjabi

Jullundur City

2

Akali Patrika

..

Do

Do

3

Hind Samachar

..

Urdu

Do

4

Hindi Milap

..

Hindi

Do

5

Jathedar

..

Punjabi

Do

6

Milap

..

Urdu

Do

7

Prabhat

..

Do

Do

8

Pradeep

..

Do

Do

9

Pratap

..

Do

Do

10

Tribune

..

English

Chandigarh

11

Vir Pratap

..

Hindi

Jullundur City

 

 

JOURNALS

 

1

Biswin Sadi

..

Urdu

Delhi

2

Caravan

..

English

Do

3

Filmfare

..

English

Do

4

Kashani

..

Punjabi

Preet Nagar, Amritsar

5

Preet Lari

..

Punjabi

Ditto

6

Sarita

..

Hindi

Delhi

7

Shama

..

Urdu

Do

 

 

 

(d)  VOLUNTARY SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANISATIONS

 

            Organised Social Service at the State or community level is of recent origin in the country.  Social welfare, according to the age old tradition, was generally understood to be a form of charity indulged in by wealthy philanthroipists in the construction of Serais, digging of wells and opening of dispensaries for the sick and poor.  Against the above background, scope for all such welfare activities remained extremely limited throughout the ancient and medieval periods.  To a great entent the joint family and caste systems obviated need for social welfare organisations.  The head of a joint family was expected to support all the members of the family.  He looked after the individual needs of all the members of family whether they weak or strong, sick or healthy, employed or unemployed.  Thus there was not much need for assistance from any other agency.  Next to the joint-family, the caste system also promoted the welfare of the members of the cast who were treated like the members of corporate body.  During the pre-British period, guilds of artisans also served as a means of social welfare of the members.  Each received help whenever he needed it from the other members of his caste/guild.  Above all, every village by itself was a compact unit which was governed by its own Panchayat.  Under the old rural autonomy, little scope or necessity was left for the wholetime social workers or special organisations for social service.  Further, life in those days was simple and human wants were not many.  Such wholesome social conditions prevailed upto the advent of British rule in the Punjab.  The establishment of the British system of centralised administration not only progressively reduced the traditional autonomy of the villages but also weakened the ties of social cohesion and left the people without any agency for social welfare. The establishment of Christian missions in the Ludhiana district as a sequal to British administration led to the starting of schools, orphanages and hospitals which paved the way for organised voluntary social work in India. Wealthy philanthropists who had all along directed their resources to the raising of conventional public utility works or religious institutions have contributed in considerable measure to the setting up of new social welfare agencies and institutions in the district.  Some of the notable voluntary social service organisation in Ludhiana district have been briefly described in the following pages :-

 

            Bhartiya Lachar Sevek Dal. -  (All India Beggars and Lepers Welfare Association, Ludhiana).  The institutions, established in 1948, has organised “Home of Hopes” (Bal ghar), Karan Niketan (where children of over 12 years of age are trained in tailoring, khadi industries, etc.) and Leper’s Colony.  Karan Niketan was till recently run by the Bharat Sewak Samaj, but has been handed over to the Bhartiya Lachar Sevak Dal.  The Lepers’ colony in Ludhiana serves 134 adults.

 

            The Leper’s Colony in Ludhiana is situated in Prem Nagar to the far east of Ludhiana.  its president and secretary are well-educated lepers.  The colony is electrified and has a few hand-pumps for drawing water.  The houses ate pucca.  There is a dispensary in the colony.  For the benefit of children of lepers, there is a school with the provision of games.

 

            Bharat Sewak Samaj. – It was  established in the district in 1951.  It has about 400 active members. It is a non-political and non-official all-Indian Social Service Organisation.  The Samaj devotes particular attention to the creation of spirit of voluntary service among the masses. Men and women who are willing to spare time for social service can become its members.

 

            The Samaj renders active service at the time of floods and other emergencies, when articles of daily use are distributed free of charge amongst the needy.  It also distributes foodstuffs among the indigent school going children.

 

            District Soldiers’ Sailor’s and Airmen’s Board, Ludhiana. – At Ludhiana the Board was formed in 1919 at the instance of Government of India.  It has official and non-official members with the Deputy Commissioner as Chairman.

 

            The Board assists the military personnel in respect of pension, relief, grants, scholarships, loss of discharge certificates. Jangi inam, medals distribution, medical treatment, final settlement of accounts and other allied matters.  Out of the Punjab Post War Services Reconstruction Fund stipends are granted to the children of the  serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and deceased soldiers (excluding Junior Commissioned Officers.)

 

            The Lion club, Ludhiana. – It is another well known social welfare organisation.  It was started in Ludhiana in 1963.  Its moto is “we serve”.  Its main functions are to create mutual international understanding and to help the poor in distress.  The Club has established a gymnasium, at a cost of Rs. 4,000.  It also presented Rs. 3,000 for the  construction of waiting hall for the out-door patients in the local Kapur Maternity Hospital.  The centre of activities of the Club is Ludhiana proper.  It has also presented Rs. 1.50 lakh to Daya Nand Hospital for the construction of an eye Ward.

 

            During the Indo-Pak Conflict, the Club ran a canteen at the Railway Station for one month.  Arrangements were made for giving light refreshment to some 20,000 members of the Armed Forces. After the Conflict, the Club presented Rs. 100 per month for full one year to those twelve families whose only earning members had been killed in active service.

 

            The club holds its meeting twice a month at the residence of a member by rotation or at the local Gulmohor Hotel.  It has 52 members.

 

            The Club also offers scholarships from Rs. 20 to Rs. 50 to five deserving students.  The Club has recently constructed two bus stops in the city.

 

            Red Cross Society. – The International Committee of the Red Cross was created in 1864 in Geneva.  In 1919, a League of the Red Cross Societies was formed.  This International body was recognised under an Act passed by Government of India (No. XV of 1920) as the Indian Red Cross Society.  Afterwards its branches at State and District headquarters were established.  Ludhiana district branch of the Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1930.  The main functions of the Red Cross are to effect improvement of health, prevention of disease and mitigation of suffering.  To achieve the humanitarian objects, the society has organised its activities in the various spheres : Service to Armed Forces ; Maternity and Child Welfare ; health Education and relief at national and international level at the time of calamities ; first Aid, Home Nursing and Ambulance services through the St. John Ambulance Brigade acting as a wing of the society ; Help and assistance to the junior Red Cross activities ; Blood transfusion Service - and training to doctors, Lady Health Visitors, Mid-wives, Nurses, Nurse-dais, Dais, etc.  Like other district, Ludhiana district enrolls life members, annual members and annual associated of the Red Cross Society.   The District Red Cross Society is also running dispensaries, Welfare Centres and Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.  Their number varies year to year according to the association and contribution of panchayats.  The society also maintains a Blood Transfusion Service at the premises of Daya Nanad Hospital, Ludhiana.

 

            The societies also attend to the relief work even in normal circumstances.  Rs. 6,560 were spent as 50 per cent share of the cost of sewing machines distributed to the dependents of the soldiers killed in the Indo-Pak. Conflict of 1965.  Rs. 1,859.15 were spent on providing relief to persons in distress besides giving 9 sewing-machines to poor widows.

 

            The society is a member of the Film Circulating Library. Rs/ 6,224.47 were remitted to the State Branch on account of its share of the collections made by the Branch during 1965.

 

            In the event of armed conflict, folds and other natural calamities the Red Cross has a conspicuous role to play.  The society hastens to aid the persons in distress.

 

            Rotary club, Ludhiana. – The Rotary Club-an International Community Service Organisation- was formed in Ludhiana in 1952.  Its membership in 1965 was 50.  Its main objects are to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of the worthy enterprise, and in particular to foster acquaintance and opportunity for fellowship, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupation, application of ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life and advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men.  Its members meet every Friday evening.

 

            In Ludhiana the Club has taken steps for traffic safety by installing placards containing traffic instructions on important roads.  It also supplies artificial limbs through Brown Memorial hospital, free gas cylinders to three hospitals of the city.  It also gives community awards and a few scholarships of Rs. 25 each per mensem to the deserving students of colleges at Ludhiana. The club helps the crippled children through local maternity hospitals.

 

            Shri Krishan Sewa Dal, Jagraon. – The Sewa Dal is a local social service organisation.  It provides medical help to the disabled and needy.  It organises free-eye operation camps by inviting competent surgeons.  Hundreds of patients are provided preliminary medical check-up and many are operated upon.  The Dal provides free accommodation, food and medicines.  It also arranges the recruitment of voluntary workers for catering to the needs of pilgrims at hardwar and Kurukshetra or at other holy places on solar eclipses and other big festivals.  It further acts as a liaison between the public and Government for redressing the grievances of the people.

 

            The Dal has also installed telephone at the local electricity office for the convenience of people of Jagraon town.

 

            Sewa Samiti, Ludhiana. – Sewa Samiti was formed in the district in 1926.  It is affiliated to All India Sewa Samiti.  The Samiti elects its president every year.  There is no subscription for membership.

 

            The main functions of the Samiti are to render social service on important local fairs and festivals, such as dussehra, Dandi swami, Mahabharat Dharam Samailan, Ram Naumi and Gope Ashtami, etc.  It also sends its 20-30 volunteers on eclipse to Kurukshetra ; on Kumbhi and Kumbh to Hardwar and Paryag (Allahabad).

 

            The Samiti helps in locating the parents of lost children. It also disposes of the unclaimed dead bodies as and when contingency arises.  To meet the expenditure Samiti raises collections.

 

            Besides there are Shastriu Sewa Samiti, Radha Krishna Sewa Samiti, Krishan Dal and Janata Sewa Samiti.  The main functions of these Samitis/Dals are to raise 20-30 volunteers for special fairs/festivals.  The Samitis/Dals meet the requisite expenses by raising collections.

 

            Punjab Mahabir Dal, Ludhiana. – Formed in Ludhiana about the twenties of the present century, the Mahabir Dal has about 150 members. Its president is elected every year.  The Dal has its property at Ludhiana.  it also raises collections to meet expenses. It is running an Ayurvedic dispensary in Saban Bazaar, which is manned by a Vaid, Dispenser and an Assistant.  It also deputes 20-30 volunteers on the Dussehra and other melas.

 

 

 

CHAPTER XIX

PLACES OF INTEREST

 

(a) Introductory

 

            Ludhiana, known as Lancaster of India, should not, however be considered to be important merely on account of its remarkable industrial and agricultural development.  Its geographical situation, on the highway connecting Delhi with Central Asia, had made it note-worthy since early times.  The district is famous for many ancient mounds, sites and remins, which go back to pre-historic period.  The district has assumed considerable importance on account of its association with numerous historical land marks.  Among the places of interest spread all over the district there are old towns, historic Gurudwaras, tombs of Saints and monuments of considerable antiquarian importance.  Out of scores of such places selection of more outstanding ones has been made.  Detailed description of these places of interest has been prepared to give a clear idea of their early beginnings and present condition.  The district is well connected with both road and rail.  To  facilitate visits to all such places of great archaeological, historical and cultural significance, these have been grouped under the respective tahsils and have been arranged in the alphabetical order.

 

(b)  Ludhiana Tahsil

 

            Ludhiana tahsil of Ludhiana district, with an area of 1,449 Kilometers (1961), lies on the south bank of the Satluj between 30o-1’ North Latitude and 75o –36o and 76o-9’ East Longitude.  Its population was 5,62,411 in 1961 as against 4,22,734 in 1951.  The city of Ludhiana (population 2,44,032 in 1961) is also the tahsil headquarters.  The tahsil includes 356 villages.

 

            Alamgir. – The village is said to have been founded on an old abandoned site in the times of Emperor Aurangzeb.  Since the original assignees had taken possession of the area with the permission of the Mughal Emperor it was named as Alamgir after him.  It is about 13 kilometers to the south-west of Ludhiana on Ludhiana-Malerkotla road.  It lies on 75o – 51’ – 36” Longitude and 30o – 48’ – 36” Latitude.  The place has got a Government Middle School for  Boys and a Government Girls Primary School.  There is a Veterinary Hospital and s Sub-Health Centre.  A Sub-Post Officer is located in the government Middle School.  The village has a panchayat.  Its population was 2,317 in 1961 as against 1,900 in 1951.

 

            Alagmir is famous for the historical Gurdwara manji Sabib.  It is situated outside the villae, about 11 kilometers from Ludhiana on the Malerkotla Road ; with which it is linked by an approach road about ˝ kilometre length.  Furu gobind singh is said to have been brought to this place disguised as Ucha Ka Pir on a Manji (cot), which was carried on shoulders of 5 supporters – 2 Mohammadans and 3 Sikhs.  During his brief half the guru asked for water form a woman passerby.  She reported that there was no water at the mound ; but there was a well at a short distance.  Unfortunately no body dared draw water from it on account of a big snake that lived close to it.  The Guru shot an arrow, which killed the snake.  One of the disciples sent there to bring water, informed the Guru that the water of the well had become polluted with the blood of the wounded snake, which had fallen in it.  The Guru shot another arrow into the ground whereupon water sprang up there. being convinced of the super-natural powers of the Guru the women requested him to cure her of leprosy.  The Guru assured her that all those who would bathe in the Sarvoar with faith would be cured of leprosy.   The woman obeyed the command and was fully cured.  At the place where the Guru abandoned the manji (cot) the celebrated six-storeyed  Gurdwara has been built at the total cost of about Rs 10 lakhs,  46 Bighas of land are attached to the Gurdwara. Annual expenditure on the maintenance of the Gurdwara comes to about Rs. 1,00,000. Every year a Shahidi jor Mela is held there from 28th to 30th December. The Gurdwara attracts large crowds on every Sunday.  Mostly people come from Ludhiana and surrounding area.  No less that 8,000 persons take free Langer at the Gurdwara which has the largest Langar hall, 130ft.x 55ft., in the State.  About 1,500 people can take meals at a time and food is served in 5 shifts.  To cope with the big rush of visitors on Sundays,  bus service from Ludhiana is available at intervals for 10 minutes.  On other days government bus service is available at intervals for 10 minutes.  On other days Government bus service is available twice daily.  The Gurdwara is under the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, but is managed by a local Committee with a large number of regular staff.  The Gurdwara has been mainly built by public contribution.

 

            Bhaini Sahib. – Bhaini Sahib  or Bhaini Ala is situated at a distance of about 25 kilometres towards the east of Ludhiana, on Ludhiana – Chandigarh Road, with which it is connected by an approach road about 3 kilometres long.  The village was originally known as such and came to be called Bhaini Sahib on account of its association with practice of giving the suffix to all notable Sikh religious places.  The origin of the name is given as follows in the revenue records of the district pertaining to the Bandobast of 1882 “On taking possession of the areas of the village, Bhunder, the earliest assignee, founded the village named Bhaini.  The habitation was, however, deserted and the residents shifted to Bhainin Araian.  Once again Ala and Mana, descendants of bhunder, reverted to old site about ninety-seven years ago and founded a new village at the place.  The village was given the earlier name with the addition of Ala on account of the name of the founder.  The village thus came to be known as Bhaini Ala”.  The village has a Government Primary School (Co-educational).  A Branch Post Office (extra departmental) is also located in this school.  A public library is maintained by the village panchayat.  A telephone connection has also been installed at the Dera.  The population of the village was 740 in 1951 and 710 in 1961.  It lies on 70o – 04’ –06” longitude 31o – 52’ –20” latitude.  Bhaini Sahib is the headquarters of Namdharis.  Guru Ram Singh made the place the centre of his activities on shifting there from his birth place, Bhainin Araian, 2.5 kilometres away, onwards 13th April, 1857. Bhaini Sahib as the holy centre of the sect attracts the Namdharis from far and near.  A number of land marks are connected with the various namdhari gurus in succession.

 

            For the first time the annual function was held by the Late Guru Partap Singh on ‘Nirjala Ekadashi’ at Bhaini Sahib in 1906 A.D. in the memory of Late Guru Hari Singh.  After some time the date of this annual function was changed by Guru Partap Singh to Bhadra (1st fortnight) or September.  From 24-26 Bhadra (September) a big mela is held there every year.  The Guru blesses the followers and congregational marriages of Namdharis in a simple way without much expense are solemnised on the occasion.  Some of the disciples have raise pucca structures at the site of the mela at their own expense.  Once a year a gathering of Namdhari Youth studying in colleges is also held there.  At the meeting they are exhorted not to forget their distinguishing characteristics and traditions.

 

            The following places at Bhainin Ala are specially venerated by the Namdharies :-

 

            (1)  Thara. –Harimander (raised platform) is a place where Guru Ram Singh is said to have prayed and performed religious ceremonies.  In the morning Asa Di War is sung there.  In  the evening a lamp filled with ghee is lighted and one hour Nam Simran and kirtan are performed there.

           

            (2)  Loh (a big round iron pan).- designed and made by Guru Ram Singh is used for preparing Chapaties.  However, only such persons as do not drink tap water are allowed to see it at close quarters.  Others are allowed to look at it from a distance.  The pan is used ordinarily as also at the time of a ‘mela’ along with other pans.  During ‘melas’ a few prashadas (chapatis) are prepared on this pan, and, then these are mixed with those which are prepared on the other pans.

 

            (3)  Ram Sar (Sarowar). – this tank was dug under the orders of Late Guru Hari Singh.  It is believed that those who bathe in it, get rid of their bodily ailments. The water is also considered beneficial for children suffering from rickets and may be served with spoons.  It is proposed to make the enclosure of the sarowar pucca.  For the present only the stairs leading to the water have been constructed with burnt bricks.

 

            (4)  Diwan-wala Makan or Mandir. – Free langar has been organised at the place from 1849 A. D. and is being run uninterruptedly.  It is open to all irrespective of caste and creed for 24 hours.

 

            (5)  Akalbunga. – Situated outside the village is the place where Guru Ram Singh used to perform his worship alone.  The well situated near this place has also got great importance for the Namdhari Sikhs.  The martyrs of Malerkotla. They were said to a have been seen off here by Guru Ram Singh.

 

            (6)  Gaddi Sahib. – This  chubara (upper storey) is the place where late Guru Hari Singh used to perform diwans, etc.

 

            (7)  Havankund. – Late Guru Partap Singh is said to have performed, 1,25,000 recitations of Chandi Di War to check the opening of a slaughter house in Lahore in 1938.  Havan is usually performed here during the Bhadra mela.

 

            (8)   Place of Prayer connected with Guru Pratap Singh. – This small Thara (pucca Platform) was constructed by Guru Partap Singh and he used to perform his jap proyog (to sit for prayers after bathing a little after the midnight and continue upto about 1 ˝ hours before dawn) every year during the monsoon.  He used to concluded it at the Bhadra mela.

 

            (9)   Warni. -  A continuous prayer (for 24 hours) is being performed here.  It was started in 1934 A. D. by late Guru Partap Singh.  A ghee lamp is burnt continuously and the Dhoop is put on the burning coal.  The man on prayer duty is changed after two hours.

 

            The other warni was started by Sri Guru Jagjit Singh in 1959-60 in the Kothi (the residential place of late Guru Partap Singh) situated in the garden.  This is being continued in the same manner.

 

            All buildings connected with the religious order, as a mark simplicity, have thatched roofs. Another special feature of Bhaini Sahib is that there is no hand-pump or tap in the whole village and residents drink water drawn from the wells.  This is perhaps due to the great respect for cow and the feeling that the leather washer used in the tap might be made of the hide of the cow.

 

            The present head of the Namdharis, guru Jagjit Singh, lives alternatively at Bhaini Sahib and Jiwan Nagar (Sirsa, Hissar district, Haryana) where a new township has been raise exclusively for the Namdharis.

 

            Chappar. – Chappar is situated on Ludhiana- Malerkotla Road about 31 kilometres from Ludhiana and about 3 kilometres from Ahmedgarh with which it is linked by a metalled road.  There is no regular bus service for Chappar.  It lies on 75o – 48’ – 16” Longitude and 30o – 40’ – 25” Latitude.  Its population was 2,887 in 1961 against 2,216 in 1951.  It has a Government Middle (Co-educational) school and Sub-Post Office located in it.  The village has a panchayat.

 

            Gugga Pir fair is held here in September.  People assemble in thousands.  All types of political conferences are organised on the occasion.  The fair lasts for 3 days. The offerings are collected by pundits.  The fair is attended to by all communities, who set up their deras at the place.  Local tradition has it that Chappar Mari was built by bringing a few bricks from Bangar Mari situated in Rajasthan (erstwhile Bikaner State).  From this mari bricks have in turn been taken to various other places in the district, such as Cheema Mari and Manopur Mari.  Ordinarily people of the village visit the mari every day.  On Mela days people of the village take their cattle also to the place.

 

            Cattle-fairs are also held in March and October every year.

 

            Dehlon.- Dehlon is situated at a distance of 19 kilometers on Ludhiana- Ahmadgarh Road.  Its population was 2,196 in 1961 against 2,128 in 1951.  The village has Government Middle School for Boys and Girls, Veterinary and Civil Dispensaries, Post and Telegraph Office with telephone facility and Police Station.  A new Bazar has sprung up on both sides of the road.  Dehlon lies on 75o 51’ in the Longitude and 30o – 45” Latitude.  There is a historic Gurdawara built in memory of the sixth guru Haragobind.  The Guru  is said to have halted at the place on his way back to the Punjab from the Gwalior fort, where he had been imprisoned under orders of the Mughal Emperor.  A big gathering is held at the Gurdwara on the Sankrat (first) day of the Bikarmi month.

 

            Doraha – Doraha is situated at a distance of some 21 kilometres on the G. T. Road from Ludhiana to Ambala. It is also linked by rail on Amritsar- Delhi railway line.  It is a fairly old flourishing town.  It is a Class III Municipality.  It has a Government High School for Boys, Arya High School for Boys and Khalsa Girls High School.  The town has a Civil dispensary, Veterniary Hospital, Canal, P. W. D. and Forest Rest Houses, Post and Telegraph Office, Telephone Exchange and Police Post.  It lies on 76o – 2’ Longitude and 30o – 48’ Latitude.  Its population was 4,602 in 1961.

 

            About a Kilometre from Doraha is an old serai said to have been built in the reign of emperor Aurangzeb.  The serai, an impressive structure when constructed, is in ruins at present.  There is also a historic Gurdwara in the memory of guru Hargobind.

 

            Doraha was earlier a centre of timber, which was diverted via Sirhind Canal from the river Satluj.  Consequently upon the construction of the Bhakra Dam this has stopped.  The town has, however, acquired considerable industrial importance.  There are 3 Oil Mills and an Iron and Steel Re-rolling  Mills Motor and truck axle industry is coming up at the station.

 

            Ghurani Kalan.-  Eight kilometres from Payal on Payal-Malerkotla road, the ancient village was originally inhabited by jats of Bopa Rai Got.  It lies on 75o –59o Longitude and 30o- 44’ Latitude.  Guru Hargobind, whole returning from Gwalior, is said to have stayed for some time.  (Period of stay is said to be 15 days to 2 months).  The Guru is said to have stayed here with his relations.  In his memory a historical Gurdwara has been constructed at the place.  The Guru’s angrakha having (52 ‘Kalis’) a shoe and an illuminated manuscript copy of Panchgranthi (gurmukhi) are displayed in a portion of the Gurdwara in a specially designed show-case.  It is said that while he was detained in Gwalior, 52 Rajas were set free along with him as each of them caught hold of a ‘Kali’ of the angrakha.  On the basis of the same legend Guru Hargobind is known as “Bandi Chhor Baba”.  In the gurdwara there is also a neem tree where the Guru is said to have tied his horse with a neem tree-peg, which sprouted into the tree. There is another Gurdwara called ‘Nim Sahib’ where the Guru is said to have struck into the ground a neem stick after cleaning his teeth.  The same had grown into the tree.  Big Diwan is held in Ghurani Kalan on Guru Hargobind’s birthday in the month of Asadh (June), in Kartika Puranmashi (October) and 7th Pausa (December) every year.

 

Gujarwal.- Gujarwal is about 19 kilometres from Ludhiana towards the east. The nearest railway station is Qila Raipur on Ludhiana-Dhuri Railway line. It is connected with the tahsil headquarters by bus service. Gujarwal has a Government Primary School, a Government High School for Boys and a Government  Girls High School with Basic  Class. It has a Civil Dispensary,  a Veterinary Hospital and a Post and Telegraph Office. The village falls within the jurisdiction of police station, Dehlon. It lies on 75o-45’Longitude on 30o’-45’ Latitude. Its population was 3,766 in 1961 as compared to 3,764 in, 1951.

 

            About 2 kilometres from the village there is a historic Gurdwara built in the memory of the sixth Guru Hargobind. It is known as Guru Sar or Manji Sahib. The sixth Guru is said to have stayed here for a month, the local tradition puts the period for about  3 months. The people of the village came to the Guru to pay respects. One of the residents named, Ch. Fatouhi came to the Guru with a hawk (Baz) on his hand. The Guru asked him to present the hawk to the saintly person. The Chaudhari hesitated and  retuned to his house . the hawk swallowed a bundle of yarn and was about to die. Believing it to be a curse of the Guru, Ch. Fatouhi brought the hawk to Guru Hargobind  and expressed regrets for not having obeyed his command  and requested him to accept the hawk. The Guru did not condescend to accept the deferred present because he had  been pleased to ask Ch. Fatouhi to give the hawk to him only to test his faith in the Guru.  The Guru, however, patted the hawk and a lump of yarn was vomited out by it.  on every amavas, on the birthday of the Sixth Guru and Chet Chaudas large number of people assemble at the Gurdwara.  Free langar is served there.

 

            Eight Bighas of land are attached to the Gurdwara.  The gurdwara is under th Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.  A local committee is jointly incharge of the Gurdwara Guru Sar and another local Gurdwara known as Gurdwara Guru Granth Sahib.  175 Bighas of land is attached to the latter Gurdwara.

 

            Gurm. – According to the revenue records the villages was founded by the people of the said got.  It is at a distance of about 23 kilometres from Ludhiana on Ludhiana-Malerkotla Road, which bifurcates at Dehlon and 6 kilometres of the idstance has to be covered on Dehlon-SahnewalRoad.  The railway station nearest to Gurm is Sahnewal situated on Ludhiana-Ambala Cantt. Railway Line.  There is no direct bus service to the village.  It lies on 75o-53”- 11’ Logitude and 30o – 40” – 56’ Latitude.  It has a Government Middle School (Co-educational) and a Post Office which is also located in the school.  The village has a panchayat of its own.  Its population was 1,260 in 1961 against 1,128 in 1951.

 

            The village has a Gurdwara built in memory of Bhai Deep Singh Shabid.  Bhai Deep Singh is said to have been born here and the same day happened to be his martyrdom day.  About 4,000 people collect here on the occasion of the mela held from held from 25th to 27th January every year.  Temporary bazaars are set up, diwans are held and the mela goes on day and night.  Free langar is held for 3 days.

 

            There is also the Samadh of Baba Dupahar Das, which the people of the village visit once a month (on the 10th day of the moon).  350 Bighas of land are attached to the Samadh.  The income from the Samadh and the land is collected by a Committee which also controls the Gurdwara.  The villages has a Serai and Panchayat Ghar.

            Katani. – 26 Kilometres form Ludhiana on Ludhiana-Chandigarh Road is situated the village of Katani, which is linked with the main road by an approach road.  The place is famous on account of the Gurdwara Katana Sahib built here both in the memory of the visits of sixth Guru Hargobind, who stayed here on return journey from Gwalior fort and the tenth Guru Gobind Singh, who came here disguised as Uch-Da-Pir along with 5 adherents after his departure from Chamkaur.  Guru Gobind Singh is said to have taken his meals at the place and hence the Gurdwara is also known as Degh Sar.  A big hall measuring 16’ 36’ has been constructed in memory of the tenth Guru.  Katani lies on 75o – 5’ Longitude and 30o – 51’ Latitude.  Its population was 1,832 in 1961 and 1,849 in 1951.

 

The Gurdwara is situated right at the bank of the Sirhind canal and a flight of stairs goes upto the canal water.  It is built in two separate wings- one in the memory of the sixth Guru Hargobind, and the other in that of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh.

 

Knech. – The village is said to have been named by the original inhabitants after the name of the mound on which it is situate.  It is about 18 kilometres from Ludhiana – 18 kilometres on G. T. Road going to Ambala and 1 kilometre by the approach road on the left.  The nearest railway station to Knech is Doraha on Ludhiana-Ambala Railway Line.  Its population was 1,972 in 1961 compared to 1,586 in 1951.  It has a Pachayat, a Veterinary Dispensary, a Government Primary School (Co-educational) and a Branch Post Office.  The village is attached to the Police Station Sahnewal.  There is no regular bus service.

 

The village has a historic Gurdwara known as Manji Sahib, which was built in memory of the visit of  Guru Gobind Singh when he passed through the village after leaving Chamkaur.  Guru Gobind Singh asked Fatouhi for a mare, which died on the refusal of its owner.  The Gurdwara is managed by a local committee under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

 

Lalton. – Lalton is situated at a distance of about 8 kilimetres from Ludhiana.  It had a population of 2,824 in 1961 as compared to that of 2,734 in 1951.  It lies on 75o-47’ Longitude and 30o – 51’ Latitude.  Just near the village by the roadside there is Gurbachan Memorial Hospital run by the Brown Memorial Hospital, Ludhiana.  There is a Government High School for Boys and Girls with Basic Classes.  There is Veterinary Hospital,  a Branch Post Office, a Panchayat Library and three Government Primary Schools.

 

Earlier the village was included in the territory of Rai Muslims of Raikot.  It was taken by Chaudhari Gainda, who functioned as ruler for some time.  He had built a Gurdwara, a Shivala and a tank at the place.  Free langar was also provided at the Gurdwara.  Subsequently the village developed into 2 parts known as Lalton Kalan and Lalton Khurd.  In revene papers Lalton Khurd is known as Akalgarh.

 

Ludhiana. -  Ludhiana, the principal town and headquarters of the district of the same name, lies on the Northern Railway, and is at a distance of 307 kilometres on the Grand Trunk Road from Delhi, on 30o- 55’ – 0” Latitude and 75o- 50’ –56” Longitude.   Its population was 2,44,032 according to 1961 Census as compared to 1,53,795 in 1951.

 

It is situated on the ridge just over the Budha Nala, or former bed of the Satluj, about 11 Kilometres from the present course of the river.

 

The town is believed to have founded in the time of the Lodi Emporers, on the side of a village called Mirhota, in the year 898 Hijri (A.D .1481). the founders are said to have been yusf Khan and Nihang Khan Lodhi, or perhaps the latter alone; and it is generally accepted that Ludhiana is a popular variation of Ludhiana. the place selected was a slight eminence on the south bank of the Satluj , commanding the passage of the river, on the high road from Central Asia to Delhi. The history of the town is in a great measure that of the district as a whole and has been described in detail in Chapter II ,History. Under the Lodies it was the seat of Government for this part of the empire, and a large fort was built on the site of present one by Jalal Khan, grandson of Nihang Khan. The Mughals fixed the headquarters of the sarkar, or division of the province (suba) at Sirhand, and Ludhiana was only a mahal1or district; but it did not lose its importance; and to judge from what are said to have been the boundaries of Lodis city, it must have had a population of 5,000 or 6,000 .  Neither did it suffer from the Durani invasions ,although as already noticed, Nadir Shah is said to have ordered a general massacre of the people of the town. On the downfall of the Mughal empire2 it passed quietly in to the hands of the Rais about the year  1760 A.D. and under them continued to enjoy the same measure of prosperity  as before. Rai Kalha improved the fort, and it was one of the thanas under the rule of this family. Maharaja Ranjit Singh took it with the rest of the country from Rani Bhag Bhari in 1806 and gave it to his maternal uncle, Raja Bhag Singh of Jind.  When  Sir D. Ochterlony advanced to the Satluj in 1809, land was allotted to the British for a cantonment to the west of the town; but the British held noting else till 1835.3 when on the death of Raja Sangat Singh the town and the adjoining country were brought under British possession. 4

 

1.  Mahal corresponded to the present tahsil better than to any other sub-division.

              

2.  Under Jahangir and Shah Jahan the high road from Delhi to Lahore was provided with the minars at every two kos ; of these there are still standing one about a mile east to Luhdiana, and another some two miles further east : one near Sahnewal, one near serai of Lashkari Khan and one near Rajputan : they are all in good state of preservation.

 

3. although the town was not nominally under the British till A. D. 1835, the British Political Agent appears to have exercised paramount influence in it from the first, and many of the improvements effected in it date from before 1835.

 

4.  For details of the above sketch see chapter II, History.

 

When the town was transferred to the British it appears to have occupied the space between the fort and ridge over the low lands (which later was the boundary on  two sides), and the present Chaura Bazar upto the old Sabzi-mandi,5 and on from that the Hazuri Sarak. The present Municipal Hall and the tomb of Pir Roshan,6 are situated outside the old limits on the west; but to the east of this the houses covered the whole of the unoccupied space between the fort and the present town.  No record can be found of the estimated population of that time. The old imperial road entered the town on the eastern side, where the Christian Medical College and Brown Memorial Hospital now stand ; and the British Residency was also on this side while the cantonments lay to the West, the present Civil Lines being the remnants of the former habitation.  Under Sir Claude Martin Wade, Agent to the Governor- General for the Affairs of the Punjab and North-West Frontier, 1823-1840, and his successors the town increased in size and importance spreading out southwards.  It became the centre of a very extensive trade in grain, sugar, cloth, etc., which found its way down the Satluj in boats from Phillaur.  There had always been a small colony of Kashmiri weavers in the town, but in A. D. 1833 a famine in Kashmir drove numbers of this class all over the country, and some 1,500 to 2,000 of htem were settled in this town, and started in trade by the exertions of Sir C. M. Wade, the British Political Agent.  In 1842, on British withdrawal from Kabul, the family of Amir Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk, with a numerous body of adherents and attendants, came with the British ; and Ludhiana, then a frontier station, was fixed on as their residence.  They at first took up their abode on the west side of the city ; but soon after shifted to the south side, where the land on which their houses and gardens stood was assigned tothem.  When after the Satluj Campaign of 1845-46 the Ludhiana district was formed, the civil offices were removed to the cantonment side of the town, and in 1854-55 the Grand Trunk Road was metalled and realigned to its present position.  In 1854, the cantonments were abandoned, a small force being retained as a garrison of the fort ; but this change does not appear to have much affected the town, which with the improved communications, was becoming more important every year as a centre of trade.  The events of the Great Rebellion of 1857 have been related in Chapter II, History.  The houses of the town at that time came to within a short distance of the fort, and, when the garrison mutinied, it was found to be in communication with the town-people just outside it-Sufis, Suds, Gujars etc.  Ricketts the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, on the departure of the rebels, ordered the demolition of all the houses within a radius of 200 or 300 yards of the fort, the inhabitants settling down where they could.  The Gujars were removed to their lands below the town ; the Sufis took up their abode in the vicinity of the cantonment Bazaar and the Suds and other spread themselves over the town.  The opening of the railway from Delhi, to Lahore in 1870 gace a great stimulus to its trade and a number of shops and serais were built along the Grand Trunk Road, facing the Railway Station.

 

5.  During the year 1965, the Sabzimandi (Vegetable and Fruit Market) was shifted from its old site near the Municipal Hall to a new site across the Budha Nala, on the G. T. Road.

6.       Pir Abdul Qadir Jalani (see para 64 of the Settlement Report by T. Gordon Walker).

 

 

            The town, as it existed about the beginning of the present century, was situated in an angle of the ridge, or high bank which to the east of it ran due north and south and then turned westward, forming the boundeary on two sides.  In the older part, the limits of which have been described above, the houses rose storey over storey, and were crowded together, while the streets and lanes were narrow and tortuous.  But the new town to the south of the Chaura Bazaar bore all the marks of being modern.  The streets were wide and straight, and the houses and shops mostly of one pattern.  The principal streets, the Chaura Bazaar and the Hazuri Sarak, were designed by Sir C. M. Wade himself, and one of his projects, the Iqbal Ganj, is a standing proof that he was rather too sanguine about the speedy development of the town for which he did so much.  His successors, Assistant Agents and Deputy Cmmissioners, each added something, e. g., the Murrary Gunj (Captain Murray) Ghulla Mandi, or grain market (Captain Larkins), and the Kaisar Ganj.  The old town was divided into mahallas according to castes/groups of people (Suds, Sufis, Sayyids, ect.) ; but these had mostly been lost sight of.  Attached to the town was large area, owned principally by Sayyeds, Gujars and Arains, most of whom resided within the town limits or in the old military bazaar, and this land was divided into eight tarafs.

 

            During the last over half a century or so and particularly since the Punjab Partition of 1947, the limits of the City and its population have increased enormously.  Ther has been extension on almost every side.  The Civil lines and the adjacent colonies, The Agricultural University Area,  Bharat Nagar, Jawahar Camp, Model Town, Model Gram, Islam Ganj, Industrial Area ‘A’ and ‘B’ and extension, etc., have all sprung up during the last two decades or so.  On the northern side, the limits of the city now extend beyond the Budha Nala upto the recently constructed Bye-Pass, connecting the G. T. Road, from village Bhora on the northern side with the new Industrial Area Dhandari on the southern side.

 

            Ludhiana is an important commercial and trading centre and has become famous for small-scale industries.

 

            Ludhiana has become the biggest centre of hosiery goods in India.  The city is also famous for the manufacture of cycles, sewing-machines machine-tools, auto-parts (chassis and suspension) and various other small-scale industries, woolen and cotton goods and textiles.

 

The place is also well-known for the several professional and arts College viz., Guru Nanak Engineering College, Christian Medical College, Daya Nand Medical College, Punjab Agricultural University, Government College for Boys and Government College for Women and several schools for boys and girls.  The city can also boast of three Public Libraries and a Swimming Pool.

 

 

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