The
flora of the district is of varied character and is typical of a tract well suited
for the growth of vegetation. The soil is fairly rich and deep and the
spring-level is high enough for the roots to absorb adequate moisture.
Moreover, there is rainfall of moderate amount and fair certainty. These
favourable conditions enable trees to grow luxuriantly. Shisham (Dalbergia
sissoo) and kikar (Acacia arabica) are the main timber-trees and are
very much liked for their hard wood, which is used for making furniture and
agricultural implements, Jaman (Eugenia jambolana) and mango (Mangifera
indica) are planted in many places on account of the value of their fruit
and dense shade. Pipal (Ficus religiosa) and borh (Ficus bengalensis)
which are the favourate and sacred trees of the Hindus are much in evidence
on wells and near shrines, both in the towns and villages. Other trees which
have received special attention are some varieties of mulberry, such as shahtut
(Morus alba) and tut (Morus Idevigata); ber (zizyphus jujuba); dhrek or
Persian lilac (Melia azadirachta); siris (Albizzia lebbek), a
quick-growing tree; and vilyati kikar (Acacia farnesiana) with fragrant
flowers. A few plants of economic importance, such as sohanjana (Moringa
ptergyosperma), the flowers and long pods of which are used for making
pickles; kachnar (Bauhinia variegata), whose flowers have a culinary
use; and lasura (Cordia muxa), the fruits of which are pickled, are
found around wells and in gardens. Besides the above trees, which are
cultivated for special purposes, there are many others found in parks, gardens,
etc. Eucalyptus has taken to the soil very well. It was originally introduced
for its strong aromatic leaves and flowers which have medicinal properties, and
occupies a prominent place. Toon (Cedrela toona) is a fine large
shade0tree. Simbal or silk-cotton-tree (Bombax malabaricum) is a
huge tree and many have been grown in different places. Some graceful evergreen
trees, like arjan (Terminalia arjuna), bahera (Terminalia belerica),
sukhchain (Pongamia glabra), maulsari (Mimusop elengi) and amaltas or
Indian laburnum (Cassiafistula) have also been planted in several
orchards.
Amritsar
provides excellent conditions for intensive cultivation of various kinds of
economic plants which give a handsome return from small areas. One of these is sucha
gulab (Rosa damascena), the flowers of which are candied and also used for
distilling ark and iter. Motia (Jasminum sambac), chambeli (Jasminum
grandiflorum) and bed mushak (Salix capera) are of similar
commercial value.
The
old arboreal vegetation of the waste places consists of jand (Prosopis
spicigera), karil (Capparis aphylla), whose berries are collected for
pickling, and dhak or chichara (Butea frondosa), whose flowers
are used as a dye and the leaves are stitched for making doonas or
containers for sweetmeats, etc. Along the Ravi and other moist places, there
are found sar (Saccharum sara), kans (Saccharum spontaneum), pilchi (Tamarix
diocal) and kundar (Typha angustata), which are used for making
ropes, baskets, thatch and mats.
Among the grasses, baru (Sorghum hbalepense) and dab
(Eragrosits cynosuroides) are very troublesome and make cultivation of the
soil difficult. Grasses useful for fodder are khabbal (Cynodon dactylon) and
madhana (Eleusine degyptica). Palwan (Andropogon pertusus) and chimbar
(Eleusine flagellifera) which come up in profusion after rains, although of
poor quality, are used by poor people for feeding cattle.
The
large weeds which infest uncultivated tracts are ak or milk-plant (Calotropis
procera), arind (Ricinus communis), dhatura (Datura fastuosa) and thor
(Opnuntia dillenii). Other noxious weeds and those which appear in crops
are pohli or thistle (Carthamus oxyacantha), bhukar or piazi
(Asphodelus fistulosis), shial kanta (Argemone mexicana), bhakhra (Tribulus terriestris),
kandyari (Solanum xanthocarpum) and dhang (Cannabis sativa).
In ponds and other large bodies of
water, there are found, either in wild condition or specially grown, several
aquatic plants which are useful in various ways. Sanghara or water-nut (Trapa
dispinosa) is cultivated for its fruit which is roasted, and on removing
the skin, the kernel, which is rich in carbohydrate, is eaten. The shoots of
the kanwal or bhen (Nelumbium speciosum) are relished as a vegetable. khundar
or bater (Typha angustata) grows wild on the banks of canals,
rivers, ponds and lakes. Its long and thick leaves are used for making mats.
The
fertile soil and ample water-supply of the district provide very favourable
conditions for growing fruits. The chief fruit is nashpati or pear (Pyrus
communis). Other successful fruits are the peach or aru (Prunus
persica), the plum or alucha (Prunus communis), and various citrus
fruits such as malta (Citrus aurantium var sinensis), sangtra (Citrus
surantium) and lemon (Citrus medica). Banana (Musa sapientum) was
once grown largely but was discarded, as its quality was poor compared with
that of the fruits from Calcutta and Bombay. Falsa (Grewia asiatica) is
very remunerative for its high yield of small blue berries which are eaten or
made into syrup. Loquat (Eryobotrya japonica) is also fairly common and
successful. Litchi (Litchi chinensis), although not fully adapted to the
climate, has been grown with special care and is yielding fruit. Mangoes (Mangifera
indica) of fairly good quality are also found. The cultivation of grapes of
different varieties has also been introduced.
Game
of all kinds are scarce in the district. An occasional nilgai and chinkara
can still be found in the long grass in the river-bed on the border of
Kapurthala. A few black bucks wander about the barani area from
Gaggarbhana to Chohla and, with the spread of cultivation and canal irrigation,
it is rather remarkable that they have not disappeared altogether. A few wild
hogs are still to be found in the bed of the Beas. They hide in the thick grass
in the Kapurthala District during the day and only pay night visits to this
district. Hares are fairly numerous and it is a common sight to see parties of
youths hunting them especially after the rabi crops are cut. Wild geese
and ducks of various kinds are to be found near and in the Beas and the Ravi in
large flocks during the winter. The geese come in during the night and feed on
the young wheat plants. If there are good autumn and winter rains, ducks may
still be found in fair numbers in the chhambs in the Ajnala and Tarn
Taran tahsils. Black partridges are found near the river-beds and in the
central part of the Tarn Taran Tahsil, but they are few and far between. Grey
partridges are more widespread, but they also are very few. A few snipe are
found at Jastarwal in the Ajnala Tahsil and in pools in the Beas bet. The
common crane is common the early winter but the demoiselle crane is hardly ever
seen. The black curlew is to be met with inland, and the more wary jackcurlew
on the sandy stretches of the Beas valley. Quail come in, as elsewhere, in
April and September, whereas sandgrouse of the two common varieties may always
be seen on the moth stuble of the Jandiala sand ridge, and on the
sandier parts of the Ajnala Uthar near Chamiari. Green pigeons frequent the papal
trees and canal plantations but not in large numbers. The blue rock-pigeon
is much commoner, and there are many in the cliffs overlooking the Beas. The
Punjab Wild Birds and Wild Animals Protection Act, 1933, has had the effect, if
not of increasing game, at least of calling a halt to their further depletion.
The only venomous snakes which are met with are the cobra, the karait, the
Russell’s viper and the small keel-scaled viper (Echis carinata). Of
these, the echis is commonest and perhaps the karait is next in abundance. The kallar
wastes of Ajnala are notorious for harbouring venomous snakes. The canal
contains many fresh-water snakes but they are all harmless. Jackals are common everywhere.
(i) Climatic Divisions and Seasons and Their Durations
The climate of this district is characterized by general dryness, except during the brief south-west monsoon season, a hot summer and a bracing winter. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from November to March. The period from April to June is the hot season. The south-west monsoon season is from about the beginning of July to the first week of September. The succeeding period lasting till the beginning of November is the post-monsoon or transition period.
Temperature.-There
is a meteorological observatory in the district at Amritsar and the records of this
observatory may be taken as representative of the meteorological conditions
prevailing in the district, in general. From about the end of March,
temperatures increase steadily till June, which is the hottest month, with the
mean daily maximum temperature at 40.5°C (104.9°F) and the mean
daily minimum at 25.3°C(77.5°F). The heat
during the summer is intense and the hot dust-laden winds which blow during the
afternoons add to the discomfort. With the onset of the monsoon in the district
by about the end of June or in the beginning of July, there is an appreciable
drop in the day temperature. The nights are, however, as warm during the
monsoon season as in summer and, owing to the increased moisture in the air,
the weather is often oppressive. After the withdrawal of the monsoon early in
September, whereas the day temperatures remain as in the monsoon season, nights
become progressively cool. From October, there is a rapid drop in temperature.
January is generally the coldest month, with the mean daily maximum temperature
of 18.9°C (66.0°F) and the mean daily minimum at 4.7°C (40.5°F). During the cold season, the district is
affected by cold waves in the wake of the passing western disturbances and the
minimum temperature occasionally drops by a degree or two below the
freezing-point of water. Frosts are common during the cold season.
The
highest maximum temperature recorded at Amritsar was 46.7°C (116.1°F) on June 11, 1953. The lowest minimum was 2.8°C (27.0°F) on December 25, 1950.
Humidity.-Relative
humidity is generally high in the mornings, exceeding 70 per cent, except
during the summer season when it is less than 50 per cent. The humidity is
comparatively low in the afternoons. The driest part of the year is the summer
season when the relative humidity in the afternoons is about 25 per cent or
less.
Table
I gives the normals of temperature and relative humidity during the different
months of the year in the Amritsar District :
TABLE I
Normals of temperature and relative
humidity
(AMRITSAR)
|
Month |
Mean daily maximum temperature |
Mean daily minimum temperature |
Highest maximum ever recorded |
Lowest minimum ever recorded |
Relative humidity Hours (Indian Standard Time) |
|||||
|
|
°C |
°C |
°C |
Date |
|
°C |
Date |
|
0830
Per
cent |
1730 Per
cent |
|
January |
18.9 |
4.7 |
25.0 |
1952 January |
24 |
-1.7 |
1955 January |
1 |
91 |
61 |
|
February |
22.1 |
6.3 |
32.2 |
1953 February |
28 |
-0.6 |
1958 February |
10 |
85 |
45 |
|
March |
27.3 |
11.4 |
35.6 |
1953 March |
25 |
3.9 |
1954 March |
5 |
73 |
40 |
|
April |
34.3 |
16.2 |
43.3 |
1958 April |
27 |
6.9 |
1960 April |
10 |
49 |
23 |
|
May |
39.4 |
21.8 |
46.1 |
1954 May |
31 |
12.9 |
1960 May |
7 |
39 |
19 |
|
June |
40.5 |
25.3 |
46.7 |
1953 June |
11 |
15.6 |
1958 June |
1 |
47 |
26 |
|
July |
35.5 |
25.9 |
45.6 |
1954 July |
1 |
20.6 |
1955 July |
20 |
76 |
57 |
|
August |
34.2 |
25.5 |
40.0 |
1954 August |
4 |
19.3 |
1957 August |
8 |
82 |
65 |
|
September |
34.4 |
23.4 |
40.6 |
1949 September |
13 |
17.2 |
1953 September |
17 |
77 |
53 |
|
October |
32.0 |
16.6 |
38.3 |
1951 October |
6 |
8.3 |
1953 October |
31 |
74 |
45 |
|
November |
26.5 |
8.3 |
32.2 |
1952 November |
1 |
-0.6 |
1949 November |
24 |
78 |
45 |
|
December |
21.2 |
4.5 |
27.7 |
1958 December |
3 |
-2.8 |
1950 December |
25 |
86 |
54 |
|
Annual |
30.5 |
15.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
71 |
44 |
Records of rainfall in the district are available for 7 stations for periods ranging from 66 to 98 years. The details of the rainfall at these stations and for the district, as a whole, are given in Tables 2 and 3. The average annual rainfall in the district is 541.9 mm (21.33"). The rainfall in the district increases generally from the south-west towards the north-east and varies from 435.5 mm (17.14”) at Khara to 591.7 mm (23.29”) at Rayya. About 74 per cent of the annual normal rainfall in the district is received during the period from June to September and as much as about 18 per cent of the annual rainfall occurs during December to February. The variation in the rainfall from year to year is large. In the 50-year period from 1901 to 1950, the highest annual rainfall amounting to 184 per cent of the normal occurred in 1917, whereas the very next year was one with the lowest annual rainfall, which was 54 per cent of the normal. In this 50-year period, the annual rainfall in the district was less than 80 per cent of the normal in 13 years, with two consecutive years of such low rainfall occurring twice. Considering the annual rainfall at the individual stations, two consecutive years of such low rainfall occurred 6 times at Khara and 4 times at Amritsar. Three such consecutive years also occurred once each at 4 out of the 7 stations. Even 4 consecutive years of such low rainfall occurred once at Tarn Taran. It will be seen from Table 3 that the annual rainfall in the district was between 400 and 700 mm (15.75” and 27.56”) in 33 years out of 50.
On
an average, there are 30 rainy days (i.e. days with rainfall of 2.5 mm or more)
in a year in the district. This number varies from 24 at Khara to 34 at Rayya.
The
heaviest rainfall in 24 hours recorded at any station in the district was 457.2
mm (18”) at Khara on October 5, 1955.
Normals and extremes of rainfall in
the Amritsar District
TABLE 2
Normals and extremes of rainfall in
the Amritsar District
Station
|
Number of years of data |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September
|
October |
|
Bhuchar |
50 (a) |
27.2 |
25.7 |
25.9 |
17.0 |
9.7 |
34.8 |
157.5 |
154.2 |
70.4 |
7.9 |
|
|
(b) |
1.9 |
2.1 |
1.9 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
2.1 |
6.2 |
6.0 |
2.7 |
0.5 |
|
Khara |
50 (a) |
24.9 |
24.1 |
22.9 |
12.2 |
8.4 |
23.4 |
122.2 |
118.4 |
54.1 |
9.7 |
|
|
(b) |
1.8 |
2.1 |
1.6 |
1.2 |
0.9 |
1.7 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
2.2 |
0.4 |
|
Tarn Taran |
50 (a) |
30.5 |
26.7 |
28.2 |
15.0 |
11.7 |
30.7 |
153.7 |
149.9 |
71.9 |
12.2 |
|
|
(b) |
2.1 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
2.3 |
7.1 |
6.2 |
3.1 |
0.6 |
|
Rayya |
50 (a) |
35.6 |
34.5 |
29.7 |
15.2 |
14.5 |
34.8 |
169.9 |
151.4 |
76.5 |
10.2 |
|
|
(b) |
2.5 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
1.5 |
1.2 |
2.8 |
8.1 |
7.2 |
3.4 |
0.6 |
|
Amritsar |
50 (a) |
30.0 |
28.2 |
27.9 |
15.5 |
10.4 |
40.1 |
161.5 |
148.6 |
71.9 |
9.9 |
|
|
(b) |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.4 |
1.5 |
1.3 |
2.8 |
7.2 |
7.2 |
3.5 |
0.7 |
|
Ajnala |
50 (a) |
30.2 |
27.4 |
30.2 |
17.5 |
14.5 |
39.9 |
161.0 |
149.9 |
74.4 |
7.9 |
|
|
(b) |
2.4 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
2.7 |
7.4 |
7.5 |
3.2 |
0.6 |
|
Begey |
40 (a) |
26.2 |
28.2 |
30.0 |
17.0 |
12.5 |
39.1 |
146.1 |
138.7 |
75.7 |
7.9 |
|
|
(b) |
1.7 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
2.1 |
5.5 |
5.3 |
2.6 |
0.5 |
|
Amritsar (District) |
(a) |
29.2 |
27.8 |
27.8 |
15.6 |
11.7 |
34.7 |
153.1 |
144.4 |
70.7 |
9.4 |
|
|
(b) |
2.1 |
2.4 |
2.1 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
2.4 |
6.8 |
6.4 |
3.0 |
0.6 |
Station
|
Number
of years of data |
November |
December |
Annual |
Highest
annual rainfall as % of normal and year* |
Lowest
annual rainfall as % of normal and year* |
Heaviest
rainfall in 24 hours ** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount (mm) |
Date |
|
Bhuchar |
50 (a) |
3.6 |
12.9 |
546.8 |
184 (1908) |
30 (1921) |
235.2 |
1894 June 19 |
|
|
(b) |
0.2 |
1.0 |
27.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Khara |
50 (a) |
2.3 |
12.9 |
435.5 |
223 (1917) |
35 (1905) |
457.2 |
1955 October 5 |
|
|
(b) |
0.2 |
1.0 |
24.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Tarn Taran |
50 (a) |
3.3 |
16.0 |
549.8 |
214 (1917) |
38 (1932) |
258.3 |
1894 June 19 |
|
|
(b) |
0.3 |
1.1 |
30.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Rayya |
50 (a) |
3.1 |
16.3 |
591.7 |
198 (1917) |
26 (1902) |
367.0 |
1955 October 5 |
|
|
(b) |
0.3 |
1.2 |
33.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Amritsar |
50 (a) |
3.1 |
16.0 |
563.1 |
180 (1908) |
50 (1922) |
396.2 |
1881 July 10 |
|
|
(b) |
0.3 |
1.3 |
32.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ajnala |
50 (a) |
3.3 |
13.7 |
569.9 |
161 (1950) |
39 (1902) |
198.1 |
1888 August 23 |
|
|
(b) |
0.3 |
1.0 |
33.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Begey |
40 (a) |
4.3 |
11.9 |
537.9 |
172 (1917) |
44 (1918) |
271.8 |
1904 August 7 |
|
|
(b) |
0.3 |
0.8 |
25.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Amritsar (District) |
(a) |
3.3 |
14.2 |
541.9 |
184 (1917) |
54 (1918) |
|
|
|
|
(b) |
0.3 |
1.1 |
29.8 |
|
|
|
|
(a) Normal rainfall in
mm
(b) Average number of
rainy days (days with rain of 2.5 mm or more)
*Years given in
brackets
** Based on all
available data up to 1961
TABLE 3
Frequency of annual rainfall in the Amritsar
District
(Data 1901-1950)
|
Range in mm |
Number of years |
Range in mm |
Number of years |
|
201-300 |
1 |
601-700 |
9 |
|
301-400 |
8 |
701-800 |
5 |
|
401-500 |
11 |
801-900 |
2 |
|
501-600 |
13 |
901-1000 |
1 |
(iv) Atmospheric Pressure and Winds
Cloudiness.-The skies are generally partly to
heavily clouded and occasionally overcast during the monsoon season and for
brief spells of a day or two in association with the passing western
disturbances during the cold season. During the rest of the year, the skies are
mostly clear or lightly clouded.
Winds.-Winds
are generally light, with some strengthening in the summer and early part of
the monsoon season. In the post-monsoon and cold season, winds are light and
variable in direction in the mornings and mostly from the west or north-west in
the afternoons. In April and May, winds are mainly from directions between
north-west and north-east in the mornings and between west and north-east in
the afternoons. By June, the easterlies and south-easterlies also blow and, in
the south-west, monsoon season winds are more commonly from the directions
between north-east and south-east.
Special
Weather Phenomena.-The western disturbances affect the weather over the district
during the cold season, causing widespread rain and gusty winds. Duststorms and
thunderstorms occur in the summer season. Occasional fogs occur in the cold
season.
Tables
4 and 5 give the mean wind speed and the special weather phenomena respectively
for Amritsar:
Mean wind speed in kilometer/houa
(Amritsar)
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
Annual |
|
6.7 |
7.9 |
9.2 |
9.6 |
11.5 |
11.6 |
10.9 |
8.8 |
7.1 |
6.3 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
8.4 |
Special weather phenomena
(Amritsar)
|
Mean number of days with |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
Annual |
|
Thunder |
1.9 |
1.9 |
4.0 |
4.6 |
4.2 |
6.2 |
8.5 |
9.2 |
4.2 |
1.9 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
48.1 |
|
Hail |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
|
Dust-storm |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
2.7 |
4.6 |
0.9 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
10.0 |
|
Squall |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
3.2 |
|
Fog |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
1.5 |
HISTORY
|
(a) |
|
|
(b) |
|
|
© |
|
|
(d) |
|
|
(e) |
Special interest in the
history of this portion of the Punjab, the fertile central doabs, commences
with the rise of the Sikh religion and power. There is no mention of any
important city or seat of Government having existed in what is now the Amritsar
District during the early period of history. Presumably all through the early
period, the area remained under the Lahore rulers, a purely agricultural tract,
peopled by the progenitors of the Jats, the peasant proprietors of today.
After
the final overthrow of the Shahi Kingdom in 1008, then ruled by Anangpal, son of
Jaipal, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni launched a series of predatory invasions of the
Punjab. From that time, until the final overthrow of the Muhammadan supremacy,
the Amritsar District was attached to the Suba or Province of Lahore.
The district lies on the road usually taken by the invading Muhammadan armies,
and was liable to be plundered and devastated at each incursion, but, as it
does not appear to have then contained cities famous for their wealth, it is
possible that it may have been looted and laid waste to a less extent than the
adjoining territories, the invaders preferring to push on to Sirhind and Delhi
after leaving Lahore. This may partly account for the comparative absence of
the extensive mounds or thehs, marking the sites of deserted villages,
which are so often found in districts to the west of Amritsar.
I. THE SIKH GURUS
From
the eleventh century to the end of the fifteenth century, there is little to
call for special notice in the history of this part of the Punjab. It was
shortly after the middle of the fifteenth century in 1469 that Guru Nanak Dev,
the first Guru, the founder of the Sikh religion, was born at the village of
Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib in the Sheikhupura District of Pakistan). His
father is said to have been a village accountant (Patwari) of the Khatri
caste. Nanak Dev himself early took to the life of a devotee, and traveled over
most of India, but his history is in no way specially connected with that of
the Amritsar District. He died at Kartarpur (now in the Sialkot District in
Pakistan) in 1539, leaving behind him the writings which contain the exposition
of the faith of the Sikhs (literally, disciples) and a numerous bank of
disciples. He does not appear to have claimed for himself any special divinity.
Guru Nanak Dev’s reforms were in their immediate effect religious and moral
only. His name is perhaps more closely associated with Vairowal and Ramdas than
with other villages in District Amritsar. From the former came several of his
disciples, and the temple at Ramdas was founded by Baba Buddha, one of his
immediate followers.
Amritsar
District Gazetteer, 1947, p.18
Ibid.,
p.19
The second Guru, Angad Dev, was the
most trusted disciple of Nanak Dev, on whose death he was acknowledged as the
teacher of the new faith. He continued to stay until his death in 1552 at
Khadur Sahib, a large village to the east of Tarn Taran, where there are a
temple and a tank sacred to his memory, supported by a jagir from the
Government. Little is known of his ministry and, on his death, his mantle
passed on to Guru Amar Das, one of the most devoted of his followers.