| The Municipal Committee, Jalandhar was created in 1867 and raised to Class – I in 1950 under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911.It was further elevated to Municipal Corporation under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976,by Punjab Government on 5 July 1977. Jalandhar is the third largest city of Punjab with a long history connected with a number of interesting episodes. There are several mythological stories regarding the foundation of Jalandhar.
It is described in the “Padam Purana” that Jalandhar name is given to this city after “Detya King”. There are so many stories regarding the “Detya King” Jalandhar. He was burned from the fire of anger (Kop-agni) of Lord Shiva. The fire of anger dropped in the “Sangam” of Ganga and the Ocean. Lord Vishnu killed Detya King in a severe fight to give freedom from the Detya King Jalandhar.
Jalandhar was a state in the old period. The king of this ancient city, Susharma took part in the war of Mahabharata from the Kaurav side with his six brothers. In the available written history the name of Jalandhar appears in the period of King Kanishka . It is described that King Kanishka had called a meeting of religious leaders of different sects at Jalandhar in order to collect all the sacred writings of Lord Buddha. It was in 100 A.D. the Jalandhar city has the honour of initiating Nath movement in Eighth century and the foundation stone was laid by Jalandhar Nath the legendary jogi. The historian and traveller from China Mr. Huan Siang had visited this city in year of 7th century. He mentioned the name of Jalandhar city and its rich cultural heritage in his writings. Jalandhar city became Capital of Katoch Sardars in 1179. Than the city was captured by Ibrahim Shah and later on in 1422-42, a powerful Rajput Sardar attacked Jalandhar times and again. It remained the capital of Northern Province of Mughal kingdom for long time. When Ahmed Shah Abdali destroyed Kartarpur in 1756 then Baba Wadbhag Singh of Kartarpur at the instigation of Mughal governor Adeena Beg attacked and ruined the city and the Afgans living in Basties of Jalandhar were murdered. In 1766 Jalandhar city fall into the hands of Sardar Kushhaal Singh Faizalpuria Missal. The son of Sardar Kushhaal Singh Sardar Budh Singh constructed a fort made of stones in the city. Now this place is known as Kot Kishan Chand. Another some other sikhs sardars had also constructed some small forts with mud bricks. In 1811 the city was incorporated into the kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Till the time of its merger into English rule Jalandhar remained capital of Doaba Rayasats of Lahor Kingdom. After that it become head office of the commissioner of British rulers. |
| Before the partition this city had 12 Kots, 12 gates, 12 Basties and 12 Baghs and still exist i.e. |
| 12 Kots: Kot Kishan Chand, Kot Lakhpat Rai, Kot Sadat Khah, Kot Achhi, Kot Chhimbian, Kot Pakshian, Kot Bahadar Khah, Kot Mohd. Amin, Kot Sadiq, Kot Badal Khah, Kot Fazal Krim and Kot Asman Khah.
12 Gates: Mai Heeran Gate, Valmiki Gate, Sheetala Gate, Khirngra Gate, Gate Neela Mahal, Saidan Gate, Phagwara Gate, Gate Shah Kuli, Lahori Gate, Khodian Gate, Dehlivi Gate and Jura Gate.
12 Bastian: Basti Danishmandan(created in 1606), Basti Sheikh(created in 1614), Basti Guzan, Basti Bawa Khel, Basti Shah Kulli, Basti Mithu, Basti Nau(created in 1759), Basti Peer Dad, Basti Bhure Khan, Basti Pathanan, …………
12 Baghs: Chahar Bagh, Company Bagh, Partap Bagh, Pucca Bagh, Bagh Ahluwalia, Bagh Bahrian, Bagh Jawind Lal, Bagh Karam Baksh etc.. |
| The Hindus used to live in Kots and Muslims in Basties. There were more than 60% Muslims in the city. Every Kots had its own gate. Demographic composition was changed in 1947.At the time of partition of the country Jalandhar was made provisional head quarter of Punjab.Later on administrative offices were shifted to Shimla and then to Chandigarh.During the time of Emperor Akbar the currency made of copper was prepared at Jalandhar. It was TAKSAL city at that time. It was also famous for making pots made of brass and copper. Now Jalandhar is famous for manufacturing Sports goods, Pipe fittings, Hand tools, Surgical Goods & implements, Body building Instruments, Agriculture implements, Leather goods and Electrical goods etc. Jalandhar is an ancient city and remained a center of wisdom. Shastra’s like “Abhi Dharam Janan-Prasthna” was written by Guru Katiyan at Jalandhar in first BC.
At that time there were more educational centres in Jalandhar than any other city of the region. Even now the city is leading Punjab in the field of education. More over Jalandhar city is a centre of print and electronic media. It is the biggest centre of Printing Industry too in North India. It is situated in the fertile Doaba region of Punjab between the two rivers the Beas and the Sutlej. The City is famous since Mughal Empire as Noor Jahan was brought up here.
In 1947 the large number of migrants came to Jalandhar and settled here. Since, then the city has assumed greater importance and developed into an industrial city, excelling in the manufacture of sports goods, surgical equipment, hand tools and other allied goods. Jalandhar is also famous for its printing industry and publishing houses. Jalandhar has more than one dozen vernacular dailies i.e. Daily Ajit(Punjabi), Ajit Samachar(Hindi), Punjab Kesri (Hindi), Jagbani(Punjabi), Hind Samachar(Urdu), Akali Patrika(Punjabi), Nawan Zamana(Punjabi), Lok Lehar(Punjabi), Vir Pratap(Hindi), Hindi Milap, Danik Bhaskar(Hindi), Dainik Jagran(Hindi), Amar Ujala (Hindi),TheTribune(English,Hindi and Punjabi), Hindustan Times(English), Daily Mehnat(Punjabi). There are also many weekly, fortnightly and monthly news papers and magazines being published from Jalandhar.
It had been the capital of Punjab after partition for some time. It has the first radio station in Punjab. It has the first Television centre having a tower largest in Indian and a big studio Asia. It is the third largest city (Area 100 Sq KM) and having population more than 8 Lacs after Ludhiana and Amritsar. The city is connected by road and rail to all the important cities in India. This city is the gate way to Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir.
Jalandhar is centrally located in the present physical layout of the reorganized State of Punjab. Geographically, it forms an irregular triangle, surrounded by Hoshiarpur District in the North-East Kapurthala and Nawashahar in the east, Kapurthala District in the West and Firozpur and Ludhiana districts in the South. The Sutlej river forms its natural southern boundary, separating it from Ludhiana and Firozpur districts. It lies in the apex of the Bist Doab, the territory lying between Sutlej and Beas rivers. Alongwith Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala districts, it forms Doaba region in the state. |
| Known as a Nursery of Indian Hockey |
| A tiny village called Sansarpur on the outskirts of Jalandhar has represented four of the five Continents in International Hockey produced 14 Olympians and also has the World highest per capita Olympic Medals. From 1932 till 2000 this village produced 14 Olympians including who played in the 1968 Olympic Game. 5 of them, Balbir Sigh (Punjab Police), Jagjit Singh, Balbir Singh (Sevices), Tarsem Singh and Ajit Pal Singh played for India and the remaining two, Hardyal Singh and Jagjit Singh Played for Kenya. Jalandhar is proud to have 7 players played in the same Olympic games representing two different Nation and Continents, This have not ever been repeated in the history of the Olympic games. |
| FAIRS AND FESTIVALS |
Harballabh Sangeet Maha Sammelan, Mela Baba Sodal of Jalandhar city, Mela Gurudwara Shahidan at Talhan Sahib Sunday, Bhagwan Valmiki Jayanti, Guru Ravidas Jayanti, Shivratri, Ram Naumi, Gurpurabs, Gugga Naumi, Basant, etc.
Important personalities of this city:-Hafiz Jalandhari, Upender Nath Ashk, K.L.Sehgal, Rai Bahadar Badri Dass, |
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