Chand of Nakodar was put under house arrest. Barkat Ali and Jalal Khan of Village Apra, Tehsil Phillaur nad Rehmat Ali of Jalandhar put under house arrest. Bhag Singh of village Chamiara (Tehsil Jalandhar) who arrived by the ship Edgware  on  7 March, 1915 was put under house arrest. Out of the seven passangers who arrived by the ship Austerley on 9 March, 1915, Bhagwan

Singh of village Phalpota (Tehsil Phillaur), Daleepa of village Jamsher (Tehsil Jalandhar), Jagta of village Raipur, Labu of village Barwa

(tehsil nawanshahr) and Miran Baksh of village Sharkpur Doaba (tehsil Nakodar) were immdiately arrested. Inspite of Governments precautions and internments, many of the Ghadarites were able to reach Punjab. They exhorted the people to rise but not with much success. The Ghadarites were suppressed with a heavy hand. A large number of them were rounded up and were tried by special tribunals constituted under the Defence of India Act, 1915.

 

With a view of stimulate political activity, the District Congress Committee was formed in 1917. It  was affiliated to the Punjab Provincial Congress Committee. The Delegates of the District Congress Committee, Jalandhar attended the Provincial Political Conference held at Lahore in 1917.   

 

The Rowlatt Act was passed in March 1919, but public meetings, against the Act. As amark of protest, Gandhiji announced general hartal on March 30, which date was subsequently changed to April 6. Gandhiji call to Satyagrah met with a tremendous response all over the Punjab and in protest meetings were held at Jalandhar and other district, where resolutions were passed against the oppressive Act. The annual session of the Punjab Provincial Conference was held at Jalandhar on 2April 1919 to spread the massage of the Indian National Congress in every corner of the province.

 

The Khilafat Movement was started in the district in early 1920 to bring pressure upon British  to change her policy  towards Turkey. Gandhiji extended sympathy and support to this movement.

 

Gandhiji had faith in the professed goodwill of the British Government when he joined the Indian politics. But the Rowlatt Act and Jallian wala Bagh incident shattered his faith. In alliance with the Khilafat leaders he started the Non-Co-Operative Movement. Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee was formed in November1920 to undertake the management of all gurudawaras and other Sikh religious institutions. A public meeting  was held at Jalandhar on 23February 1921 under the auspices of Nankana Sahib Holocaust, which occurred on 20 February wee condemed . The Seditious Meetings Act was applied to the Jalandhar District soon after Col. C.H.Buck was appointed Dupty Commissioner,Jalandhar in February 1921.A resolution of protest against the application of the Act was passed by the Municipal Committee, Jalandhar The District was declared ` Proclaimed Area`under the Seditious  meetings Act. This was done by Government without consulting the popular ministers appointed under the government of India Act,1921.

 

A conference was held at Jalandhar on 6 February which decided to set up a National University for Women at Jalandhar. Under this decision, a collage for women, viz. Kana Maha Vidyalaya was established in March 1921.

 

A Tum Tum Ekka Association was formed at Jalandhar in march 9121 and its members stopped the practice of payment of two paise Policeman at the time of leaving the Ekka stands and vowed not to carry any policeman free of charge.

 

Ghandhiji visited Jalandhar on 8 March 1921. About the middle of April 1921, a Charkha (spinning wheel ) Club was formed At Jalandhar with about 25 girls and women as members.

 

Lala Lajpat Rai visited Jalandhar on17 August 1921 and also on 17 November in the same year.

 

Under the auspices of the Khilafat Committee, Jalandhar, a meeting was held at Jalandhar on 18 September 1921 in which people were exhorted to carry on the Non-co-operation Movement vigorously. Bhagat Singh of village Khatkar Kalan (Jalandhar) and his associate, Batukeshwar Datt, each threw a bomb in the Assembly Hall in Delhi on April 1929, for which they were arrested and brought to the Central Jail, Lahore.

 

The Civil Disobedience Movement was started in the country after the declaration of complete independence as its goal by the Indian National Congress during the Lahore Session in December 1929.  

 

To break the  Salt Laws, Ghandhiji started Dandi March  on 12 Mach 1930. The Government took repercussion measures to put down the movement. The congress was declared an illegal organization and a number of persons from Jalandhar District were thrown into jails.

 

Under the Ghandhiji Irwin Pact dated 5 March 1931, Ghandhiji alongwith all the political prisoners  was released and the Civil Disobedience Movement was called off. Bhagat Singh and his two comrades, Raj Guru and Sukhdev  were convicted in the Lahore conspiracy case and were hanged on 23 March 1931. Their bodies were secretly cremated by the police near Husainiwal (near Firozpur), on the right bank of the Satluj.

 

The Congress working committee passed a resolution demanding immediate complete and unconditional withdrawal  of the British from India. In this year, the Quit India Movement was  started by the Congress.  Ghandhiji and all members of the congress working committee alongwith a large number of persons were arrested on 9 August 1942.

 

The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in July 1947 and India became Independent of 15 August 1947. The achievement

of Independence was celebrated in the district, as I the rest of the country with great enthusiasm which was, however, marred by the communal riots and exodus of minority communities from both sides of the border, consequent upon the partition of the country.

 

 

CHAPTER III

PEOPLE

v     Distribution of Population between Rural and Urban Areas

v     Fair and Festivals

 

Distribution of Population between Rural and Urban Areas

 

According to 1991 Census, there are 14 towns in the district, viz. Adampur, Alawalpur, Banga, Bhogpur, Goraya, Jalandhar , Jalandhar Cantonment, Kartarpur Nakodar, Nawashahar, Nurmahal, Phillaur, Rahon and Shahkot.Among them, Jalandhar is classified as Municipal Corporation, while others are Municipal Committees, except Goraya, and  Shahkot, which are Notifed Area Committees. All these accommodate 35.96 percent of the total population of the district, which is second as compared to the other Districts of the Punjab State. According to 1991 Census, the percentage of urban population of the district was 35.12. The following table give the distribution of population between rural & urban areas and male & females by tehsil in the district according to 1991 Census.

 

Tehsil/Disrict

Total Population

Males

Females

Rural

Urban

Jalandhar

Nawashahr

Nakodar

Phillaur

9,88,797

3,78,833

3,15,910

3,43,247

5,21,369

1,98,484

1,66,122

1,81,118

4,67,428

1,80,349

1,49,788

1,62,129

3,99,979

3,20,386

2,77,186

3,00,434

5,88,818

58,447

38,724

42,813

District Total

20,26,787

10,67,093

9,59,694

12,97,985

7,28,802

(Census of India 1991, Series – 20 Punjab, Paper – I of 1992, Final Population Totals and Statistical Abstract of Punjab 1994)

Sex Ratio

 

The total population of Jalandhar District according to 1991 Census was 20,26,787 out of which 10,67,093 were males and 9,59,694 were females, showing the ration of 52.65 : 47.35 against the ratio of 52.83:47.17 of 1981 census.

 

According to the 1991 Census, the number of females per 1,000 males  was 899 against 882 females per 1,000 males in the State as a whole. The number of females per 1,000 males improved at lot as it was only 893 per 1,000 males as per 1981 census. The district came next to Hoshiarpur District (919 females per 1,000 males) in the State for number of Females per 1,000 males.

 

Density of Population

 

The density of population of Jalandhar District increased from 428 person per sq. km. in 1971 to 596 persons per sq. km. in 1991, which was higher than 403 persons per sq. km. of the State as a whole .The density of the population in the rural areas of the District was 399 persons per sq. km. whereas in urban areas, it was 4,995 person per .sq. km. as per 1981 Census. The district ranked second in respect of   density of population after Ludhiana (641 persons per sq. km.) in 1991. According to 1981 Census, the density of population of the district was 510 persons per sq. km.

 

Growth of Population

 

The population of the Jalandhar District according to 1991 Census was 20,26,787 of which 12,95,985 were rural and 7,28,802 were urban. The net addition to the population between 1981 and 1991 was 2,92,213 thereby recording a decennial growth rate 16.85 per cent during the decade as against to State growth rate of 20.81 per cent. The population of the District from 1971 onwards with the decennial growth rates given below :

 

Year

population

Percentage decade Variation

1971

1981

1991

14,54,501

17,34,574

20,26,787

--

+19.26

+16.86

 

(Census of India 1981, Series 17, Punjab, Part – XIII – A-B General Population Table and Primary Census Abstract and Census of India 1991, Series – 20, Punjab Paper – I of 1992 Final Population Totals)

 

Distribution of Population of Scheduled Castes

 

According to 1991 Census, the population of Scheduled Casts in Jalandhar District was 7,92,098 (4,20,607 males and 3,71,491 females). The district has the highest percentage of Scheduled Castes, i.e. 39.08 percent in the State in comparison of other district. The percentage of Scheduled Castes in the state as per 1991 Census was 28.31.

 

The tehsil wise distribution of Scheduled Castes population in Jalandhar District according to 1981 and 1991 Census is given below :

 

Tehsil/District

1981

1991

 

Total

Males

Females

Total

Males

Females

Nawashahr

Phillaur

Nakodar Jalandhar

1,32,981

1,24,396

93,754

2,78,166

70,832

66,179

49,702

1,47,899

62,149

58,217

44,052

1,30,267

1,62,907

1,52,279

1,13,709

3,63,203

86,655

80,998

60,314

1,92,640

76,252

71,281

53,395

70,563

District

6,29,297

3,34,612

2,94,685

7,92,098

4,20,607

3,71,491

(Census of India 1981, Series 17, Punjab, Part – XIII – A & B General Population Table and Primary Census Abstract and Census of India 1991, Series – 20, Punjab Paper – I of 1992 Final Population Totals)

 

 

Distribution of population by religion

 

Distribution of population of the district by religion according to 1971 and 1981 Census is given below:

 

 

Religion

1971

1981

Total

Males

Females

Total

Males

Females

Hindus

Sikhs

Muslims

Christians

Buddhists

Jains

Other Religions

Religions not stated

7,84,048

6,58,018

3,362

10,705

238

2,660

..

 

470

4,18,759

3,44,595

1,841

5,447

115

1,354

..

 

305

3,65,289

3,08,423

1,521

5,258

123

1,306

..

 

165

9,69,420

7,43,366

5,429

11,683

155

2,440

1,541

 

540

5,14,378

3,90,449

2,931

6,058

79

1,279

843

 

312

4,55,042

3,52,917

2,448

5,625

76

1,160

698

 

228

Total

14,54,501

7,72,416

6,82,085

17,34,574

9,16,739

8,18,195

(Source : Statistical Abstracts Of Punjab)

 

Population of Towns

The proportion between rural and urban population in the district in 1991 was 64:35 in 1981. According to 1991 Census, the population of towns in the Jalandhar District is given below :

 

Towns

1971

1981

1991

1        Adampur

2        Alawalpur

3        Banga

4        Bhogpur

5        Goraya

6        Jalandhar City

7        Jalandhar Cantt.

8        Kartarpur

9        Nakodar

10    Nawashahr

11    Nurmahal

12    Phillaur

13    Rahon

14    Shahkot

8,105

4,732

11,885

..

6,000

2,96,106

33,724

14,644

18,156

17,527

8,135

11,543

6,607

..

10,960

5,851

13,490

6,882

8,802

4,08,196

33,356

17,878

26,239

26,726

9,676

17,650

8,671

7,018

15,331

6,468

17,721

4,896

10,708

5,09,510

31,520

21,093

28,478

29,955

11,149

20,956

10,771

10,246

(statistical Abstracts of Punjab 1979, 1985 and Census of India 1991, series 20,Punjab Paper 1of 1992, Final Population Totals)

 

Village Classified by Population

 

The following table shows the number of villages classified by various ranges of population in the Jalandhar District, according to 1981 and 1991 Census.

 

Year

Total number of inhabited villages

Less then 200

200-499

500-499

1000-1999

2000-4999

5000-9999

10000and above

1981

1991

1,226

1,239

171

135

260

232

375

367

318

367

95

126

7

11

--

1

 

Fair and Festivals

 

Indian culture is synthetic amalgam of diverse ideologies. The fairs are a living symbol of our culture life. The gay and vivacious Punjabis are very fond of fair or a festival. People of all communities come to participate in these fairs from far flung areas.

 

The important fairs of Jalandhar District are described below :

 

Harivallabh Sangeet Mela – The famous Harivallabh Sangeet Mela is held in the memory of the sant-musician, Swami Harivallabh. It is organised at Devi Talab near the samadhi of the saint from 27 December to 30 December every year. . It is attended by classical singers and musician of repute from all over the country. According to the finding of the Punjab University, Swami Haribhallabh came from a rich family of village Bajwara of district Hoshiarpur. He renounced the world and became a disciple of Swami Tulja Gir who was initiated him into the art of music. He toughs great heights in classical music and his dhrupadhs were his master pieces. Besides, being a master musician, he was a good composer of new tunes in classical music.

 

He attracted a large number of admirers and disciples. One of his disciples was Pandit Tolo Ram, a brahmin of Jalandhar. Besides being a lover of music, Pandit Tolo Ram had a great organizing ability and on the death of his guru ,he put himself and his heart and soul to the service of the institution. He toured far and wide and collected funds for the mela. The advent of this great master on the stage of the Harivallabh became a place of pilgrimage for all top class magicians, without distinction of cast and creed. Heardly was there a classical singer of repute who did not visit the fair.

 

In 1956, a regular Sangeet Academy under the aegis of the Haribhallabh Sangeet Mahasabha was formed. The object of the Academy is to setup a centre in the Punjab for teaching and research in classical music. A syllabus has already been farmed and the teaching institution has been open with the objective of holding their own examination for award of diplomas and degrees.

 

The shrine is the smadh of Sh. Haribhallabh Bhai buld on the bank of the tank which goes by the name of Devi Talab. It is an unassuming single small-roomed construction in which has been place lingam (phallus) of Lord Shiva which is worshipped. The people come from distant place to enjoy Indian classical music. Admission to the samelan is free as also board and lodging during the day of the fair.

 

The Fair of Baba Sodal – The fair of Baba Sodal is associated with Sodal, a small boy who came to be respected as a baby-God. The fair is held to commemorate his death anniversary at his smadh. The fair is held once a year in the month of Bhadon which roughly corresponds to mid-September. The celebration take place on the 14th of Shukal Paksh (bright half of the lunar month), the day on which child deity left for his heavenly abode. The fair lasts for one day./ in the early hours of the morning, women come in large numbers to make offering at the smadh.

 

The legend goes that Sodal was born in a family of Chadha clan of Khatri caste in Jalandhar City. It is said that one day the mother of Baba Sodal went to nearby pond to wash clothes. Despite her repeatedly asking to him to go back, he followed her. The mother lost temper and shouted at him, “ Have you come here to die ? Go and drown yourself in the pound.”  It is said that Sodal asked her three times to repeater words which  she did. Sodal then plunged into the water never to appear again. According to another version, he simply fell dead on the spot ; according to still another version he transformed himself into a snake and bored himself into the earth.

 

The main place of worship is the smadh of Baba Sodal. In side the smadh, there is a painted portrait do Baba Sodal kept decorated with garlands and rosaries and is looked after by a separate priest. There is a pucca tank called ‘Baba Sodal-Da-Sarowar’. The offering at the smadh are distributed among the pilgrims and sprinkle a few drops on their body. Some have a dip in the tank.

 

Pilgrims of all religions come to fair from different parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Among the pilgrims, females preponderate who seek blessing for children and general well-being of their families. 

 

 

CHAPTER IV

AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

 

v     Agriculture and irrigation

v     Statistics Of Livestock

 

 

The economy of the district is predominantly agricultural. It continuos to be agro based despite the rapid shift towards the setting up of small scale industries after the independence. According to the 1991 Census, about 44.82 percent of the total working force of the district constituted cultivators and agricultural labourers, which is the third lowest after Ludhiana and Rupnagar being 36.26 and 44.01 respectively.

 

The available land in the district is mainly used for agriculture purpose.

 

Land Utilization

 

The total area of the district according to village papers during 1993-94 was 341 thousand hectares, out of which 314 thousand hectares was not show area. The area under forests was only 5 thousand hectares 16 as thousand hectares was not available for cultivation. The area shown more than once was 214 thousand hectares. The cropping intensity during 1993-94 in the district was 168.3 per cent.

 

The following statement shows the classification of area by land use in the district, during the year 1974-75, 1979-80, 1984-85 and 1989-90 to 1993-94 :

 

Particulars

1974-75

1979-80

1984-85

1989-90

1990-91

1991-92

1992-93

1993-94

1  Total are according to villages papers

 

2        Forests

3        Land not available for cultivation 

4        Other uncultivated land excluding current follows

5        Fellows Lands

 (I) Current fellows        

 (ii) Other fellows

6        Net area sown

7        Area sown more then once

8        Total cropped area (6+7)

 

 

 

341

4

 

41

 

 

(a)

 

4

4

292

 

148

 

440

 

 

 

342

4

 

41

 

 

(a)

 

3

3

294

 

175

 

469

 

 

 

341

3

 

36

 

 

(a)

 

8

8

294

 

207

 

501

 

 

 

341

3

 

43

 

 

(a)

 

2

--

291

 

222

 

513

 

 

 

341

3

 

31

 

 

(a)

 

8

--

293

 

227

 

520

 

 

 

341

3

 

17

 

 

--

 

4

--

310

 

211

 

521

 

 

 

341

5

 

12

 

 

--

 

4

--

308

 

213

 

521

 

 

 

341

5

 

16

 

 

--

 

5

--

314

 

214

 

528

 

(Statistical Absracts of Punjab 1975,1980,1985 and 1990 to 1995) 

 

Irrigation Facilities –

 

Assured irrigation facilities are necessary for successful introduction of seed, fertilizer, water technology and propagation of multiple cropping. To achieve the target of maximum agriculture production, more and more area in the district has been bought under irrigation. In 1974-75, the net are irrigated was 248 thousand hectares which increase to 311.3 thousand hectares in 1993-94. The percentage of net area irrigated to net area shown was 85 in 1974-75 against 99.14 in 1993-94. The net area irrigated by different sources of irrigation in the district for the year 1974-75, 1979-80, 1984-85 and 1989-90 to 1993-94 is given below:

                                                      (Thousand hectares)

Source

1974-75

1979-80

1984-85

1989-90

1990-91

1991-92

1992-93

1993-94

Government Canals

Private Canals

Tubewells and Wells

Other sources

18.5

--

229.4

 

0.1

22.2

--

233.1

 

--

23.0

--

254.6

 

--

37.0

--

248.2

 

--

38.1

--

250.0

 

0.7

38.9

--

266.7

 

--

36.9

--

264.6

 

--

38.9

--

272.4

 

--

Total

248.0

255.3

277.6

285.2

288.8

305.6

301.5

311.3

(Statistical Absracts of Punjab 1975,1980,1985 and 1990 to 1995) 

 

The area irrigated by Bist Doab Canal in the district during the year 1974-75, 1979-80, 1984-85 and 1989-90 to 1993-94 is given in the following table :

 

Year

Area Irrigated (Hectares)

1974-75

1979-80

1984-85

1989-90

1990-91

1990-92

1992-93

1993-94

47,884

44,718

52,891

50,767

50,851

51,105

51,109

50,587

( Source : Excutive Engineer, Bist Doab Division, Jalandhar )

 

Contents    Next