VIII  Heroes of NEFA and Ladskh Campaigns (1962-63) and Indo-Pakistan Conflict (1965)

 

Like those from the rest of the country, the military personnel from Ludhiana district displayed conspicuous valour and devotion to duty in the NEFA and Ladakh campaigns against the Chinese aggression in 1962. Seventy-six persons were reported to have killed or missing.

 

            Among those who showed significant courage, determination of a high order and devotion to duty, special mention may be made of following:-

 

            (1)       Major Gneral Rawind Singh Grewal, (Mahavir Chakra, Vishisht Seva Medal Class I) of village Bahadarke, tahsil Ludhiana. Major General Rawind Singh Gerwal was commissioned in 1937. He served in South East Asia Command during World War II and was award the Military  Cross and also mentioned in dispatches two occasions. He was transferred to the Army Ordnance Crops in 1951 and held the appointment of Brigadier AOC, Western Command. He was transferred to the Infanty in July, 1958, and posted as Provost Marshal at Army Headquarters. He held command of three Infantry Bridades in jammu and Kashmir before being promoted as General Officer Commanding of an Infantry Division.

            After taking over command of Brigade in Ladakh, in December, 1960, he carried out a number of reconnoitering operations in difficult terrain and extreme climatic conditions. His personal efforts, timely action and the valuable information brought by him helped in the establishment of our forward posts and situation in Ladakh. His personal example, cheerfulness and courage infused in his troops the determination to maintain their position in difficult conditions. His conducted was commended to have been a model of sacrifice, courage and devotion to duty.

            (2)       Major Ajit Singh (Mahavir Chakra), of Ludhiana.- With overwhelming Chinese Build up opposite Hotspring and the post at Nulla June having fallen to the enemy, Major Ajit Singh was     asked to fall back to Tsogsaula in order to the organise a more co-ordinate defence there. He, however, asked that he and his men be given an opportunity to fight and retaken the post at Nulla June. He was permitted to execute his Plans. Nulla June was reoccupised by his men. The hotspring post was also defended and continued under our control. It was only when he was subsequently ordered to withdraw from these posts in view of the continued enemy build-up opposite Hotspring and reports of enemy infiltration into Marsmilkla that Major Ajit Singh left hs posts to take up defensive positions in the rear.

            Major Ajit Singh displayed great courage and leadership during these operations

            (3)       Lance Nasik Sarwan Singh (Sena Medal), of village Begowal, tahsil Ludhiana. -  On 18the November, 1962, the Chinese forces attacked Gurung Hill in overwhelming strength.  Lance Naik Sarwan Singh was attached to the Artillery Observation Post which controlled and conducted the defensive fire from our guns.  The Observation Post Office was wounded and many other personnel were either killed or wounded in action.  Undaunted by these casualties, Lance Naik Sarwan Singh continued to perform his duty with great courage in the face of heavy enemy fire.  This enabled the Observation Post to bring down effective fire from our own artillery on the attacking enemy.

            During this action, Lance Naik Sarwan Singh displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

            Ludhiana district displayed remarkable zeal and enthusiasm during the Indo-Pakistan conflict of August, 1965 also.  Like people all over the State, the response to the call of the nation was spontaneous and substantial.  Fullest support was given to the authorities in the war effort and the public showed commendable example of solidarity and spirit of service and sacrifice for the country.

            The following heroes from the district distinguished themselves during the Indo-Pakistan Conflict :-

 

1.  Lieut.-General Joginder Singh Dhillon

‘Padma Bhushna’ XI Corps Commander, village and Post Office, Bairsal, District Ludhiana.

2.  Major-General Joginder Singh

‘Vishishta Sewa Medal Class I’ Chief or Staff, western Command, village Malhipur, Post Office Doraha, District Ludhiana

3.  Major General Amrik Singh

‘Vishishta Sewa Medal Class I’ Army Headquarters, Village and Post Office Machhiwara, District Ludhiana

4.  IC-8041 Lieut.-Col. Sampuran Singh

Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra’ Punjab Regiment, Village and Post Office Bassian, District Ludhiana

5. IC-4466 Major Bhupinder Singh

‘Maha Vir Chakra’ (Posthumous) 4th Hodson Horse, village Harnampura, Post Office Sahewal, District Ludhiana

6.  JC-5234 Ris. Achhar Singh

Vir Chakra’ (Deccan Horse 9th Horse) village Kaila, Post Office Halwara, District Ludhiana

7.  JC-18114 Ris. Kartar Singh

‘Vir Chakra’ (Posthumous) Armoured Corps, village and Post Office Nathowal, District Ludhiana

            The total number of military personnel from Ludhiana district killed during Indo-Pakistan Conflict was eighty-seven.

 

APPENDIX

GHADAR REBELLION OF 1915

Revolutionaries belonging to Ludhiana District tried and convicted by Special Tribunals133

 

133.  Khushwant Singh and Satindra Singh, Ghadar (1915), (New Delhi, 1966), pp. 61-94.

 

Persons tried in the First Lahore Conspiracy Case and sentenced to death with forfeiture of property.  Their death penalty was, however, commuted by the Viceriy into life imprisonment :

 

No.

Name

Village

Penalty

1

       2

3

4

1

Nand Singh

Kaila

..

2

Rulia Singh

Saraba

..

 

                       Revolutionaries awarded life imprisonment and sent to the Nicobar and Andaman Islands.  Their assets were also forefeited by the Government :

 

1

     2

 

3

4

1

Bhan Singh

..

Sunet

..

2

Chuahar Singh

..

Lilan

..

3

Gurmukh Singh

..

Lalton

..

4

Inder Singh

..

Mallah

..

5

Kharak Singh

..

Bopa Rai

..

6

Kirpal Singh

..

Bopa Rai

..

7

Puran Singh

..

Lsewal

..

 

 

            Persons who received varying terms of imprisonment :

 

No.

Name

 

Village

Penalty

1

         2

 

    3

   4

1

Deva Singh

..

Nandpur

4 years’ R.I.

2

Kishan Dass

..

Baharpur

Until rising of the court

 

            Person awarded death sentence with forfeiture of property in the first Supplementary Lahore conspiracy Case and hanged :

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Uttam Singh

..

Hans

..

 

            Persons, accused of the Second Labore Conspiracy Case, sentenced to transportation for life with forfeiture of property :

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Arjan Singh

..

Jagraon

..

2

Dalip Singh

..

Phullewala

..

3

Harbhajan Singh

..

Chawinda

..

4

Harnam Singh

..

Gujarwal

..

5

Inder Singh

..

Sheikh Daulat

..

6

Jagat Singh

..

Gujarwal

..

7

Karam Singh

..

Kotala Ajner

..

8

Lal Singh

..

Narangwal

..

9

Mohinder Singh

..

Majri

..

10

Mastan Singh

..

Narangwal

..

11

Nahar Singh

..

Gujarwal

..

12

Ram Singh

..

Phullewala

..

13

(Sant) Randhir Singh

..

Narangwal

..

14

Sajjan Singh

..

Narangwal

..

15

Surjan Singh

..

Gujarwal

..

 

            Person sentenced to various terms of imprisonment in the Second Lahore Conspiracy Case :

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Kahan Singh

..

Hasanpur

4 years’ R.I.

 

            Person awarded death sentence with forefriture of property in the Second Supplementary Lahore Conspiracy Case and hanged :

 

1

2

3

4

1

Hafiz Abdullah (of Manila)

Jagraon

..

 

            Revolutionary awarded life imprisonment with forfeiture of property in the Second Supplementary Lahore Conspiracy Case :

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Kehar Singh

..

Sahnewal

..

 

            Ghadarites awarded death sentence with forfeiture of property in the Madalay (Burma) Conspiracy case and hanged :

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Chalia Ram

..

Sahnewal

..

2

Narain Singh

..

Sangatpura

..

3

Pala Singh

..

Sherpur

..

 

 

            Persons awarded life imprisonment with forfeiture of property in the Mandalay Conspiracy Case :

 

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Kapoor Singh

..

Mohi

..

2

Hardit Singh

..

Lamma

..

 

 

            Person awarded death sentence with forfeiture of property in the Second Mandalay Conspiracy Case and hanged :

 

 

1

2

 

3

4

1

Amar Singh

..

Sherpur Kalan

..

 

 

CHAPTER III

PEOPLE

v    Population

v    Total Population

v    Social Life

 

 

 

PART A

Population

 

            (a)       Introductory – Territorially Ludhiana forms a part of the Malwa region (the situated between ancient Saraswati or modern Ghaggar and the Satluj) and its people are, therefore, known as Malwais.  The name has come down from early times and has got an interesting origin.  While describing the present day people of Ludhiana it will be pertinent to give a brief sketch of the people, their manners, customs and special characteristics as have been gleaned from ancient religious books and literature.  According to Panini, the famous Sanskrit Grammarian, the Kashtrya rulers of Janpadas in ancient India generally gave their names to the regions where they lived.  Thus the name of the region Malwa or that of the people Malwai is derived from the aristocracy, which ruled over the people settled there.

 

            In the later Vedic period a tribe called Madra dominated the Punjab.  The name, however, does not occur in the Rig Veda.  Panini mentioned two sections of Madras, Upper Madra, inhabiting the Gujrat distrit between the Jhelum and the Chenab, the Purva Madra, settled in the Gujranwala and Sialkot districts between the Chenab and the Ravi.  Their capital Sakala (Sialkot) was situated on the bank of Apaga or the present Ayek.  Their social organisation was merked by unrestrained intermixture of classes.  Among them a barber could become a Brahman and a Shudra could become a Kashtrya and vice versa.  There was no hard and fast distinction between a free man and a slave.  The above description is given in Mahabharata, where Karana assails them for their low morals and crude practices.

 

            The Madras, who ruled in the Punjab to the west of the Ravi were believed to be people of Iranian extraction. Their strange costumes, banners and armaments and outlandish chariots and conveyances further showed that they did not very well fit into the traditional Indian way of life. In due course of time the name Madra became changed into Bhadra, because Panini treats them both as synonymous.  In the Prakrit form both the words Madra and Bhadra seem to have been converted into Malla and Bhalla.  Malwa is a popular variant of Malla.  The connection between the Madras and Malwas is proved by the tradition of their descent from the Madra King As hvapati, as recorded in the Mahabharata.  The Mahabharata has placed the Malwas in the east Punjab or the area situated between the rivers Satluj and Yamuna.  There is evidence to show that the Malwas dominated the Cis-Satluj area, which has eversince assumed the said name.  The Greek writers described the Malwas as Malloi.  Curtius observes that they were usually at war with each other but, in the face of the Macedonian invasion “drew together in the presence of the common danger”.  It is added that they “cemented their alliance with other peoples by inter-marriage, each nation taking or giving in exchange 10,000 of their young women as wives”.1.

 

1.    Glimpses of Ancient Punjab by Dr. Budha Parkash, page. 37.

 

            In the Mahabharata the Malwas are described as formidable warriors.  Their main body joined the Kaurvas and vanguard fought on many crucial occasions.  They are mentioned as the vanguard of the army supporting Bhisham Pitama.  In the Darona Parva they are shown to be in fornt of Daryudhana and in the rear of Karna.  The great epic is replete with the accounts of the valour, heroism and military skill of the Malwas.  According to Mahabharata the Malwas not only excelled in the use of arms but also cherished high moral standards, which are clear from the dialogues which princes Savitri had with Yama on the death of her husband, Satyavan.

 

            With the rise to power of the Paurvas in the region between Jhelum and the Ravi in about fourth century B.C. the Mallas or the Malwas were concentrated in the south Punjab.  At the time of Alexander’s invasion they along with their kith and kin shifted to the areas between Ravi and Satluj and extended as far as the junction of the Satluj with the Indus in the neighbourhood of Uch.  The territory became the stronghold of the Mallas and came to be known as Mallusthan, the name which subsequently seems to have changed to Multan.

 

            The Malloi or the Mallas gave a tough fight to Alexander when he invaded this region.  After taking the citadel of Kot Kamalia, Alexander continued his march, traveling a great distance in the ninght, and arrived on the bank of the Ravi at day-break.  He crossed the river and pursued the fugitive Mallois who took shelter in the fortress of Rulamba near Kot Kamalia the high road to the Malwa capital of Multan.  Though defeated against the superior generalship and military strategy of Alexander, the Mallois injured Alexander in the fierce fight inside the citadel.  It was a Malwa marksman “who short an arrow which burst through Alexander’s breast plate into his ribs above the pap.  A gush of blood sallied from his chest and Alexander collapsed in a swoon”.  The account of the war between Alexander and the Malwas clearly shows that the people were brave, warlike, freedom loving and of uncommon height and dignidied bearing.  “Riding glittering chariots and wearing robes of linen embroidered with inwrought gold and purple they looked like personifications of gallantry and heroism” but they were so much isolationists and self-contented that they could not organise any effective defence until the Macedonians had pounced upon them.

 

After the retreat of Alexander the  Malwas readily joined the upsurge that swept off the Greek rule from the Punjab and led to the establishment of the Mauryan empire.  After the break up of the Mauryan empire, the greeks living in Bactria once again invaded and occupied the Punjab in the second century B.C.  The Malwas appear to have been divided and under their pressure migrated from south Punjab to Rajasthan in the Jaipur- tonk area as has been proved by a large number of Malwa coins discovered in the area.2  In their new home they jealously guarded their freedom against the inroads of the Scythians.  From first century B.C. to about third century A.D. they resisted the invasions of these people and at times won significant successes.  They most probably started the Krta era which came to be known as the Malwa era in commemoration of some great triumph against the Sakas.3  Not content with defensive actin alone they explanded towards Gujrat at the cost of the Saka satraps of the place.4  As a result of their conquests and settlement, the valley of the river Mahi in Gujrat (Kathiawar) also came to be known as Malwa.  Later on this region became known as Malwas.  Even now-a-days some ‘Gotras’, such as Sekhon, Bal, Deol, Aulakh and Chime trace their ancestry to the Parmars.

 

2.            D.C.Sircar Ancient Malwa And the Vikramditya Tradition. P. 9

3.            The town of Malaudh, a corrupted form of ‘MallUday’-rise of the Mallas, perhaps owes its establishment along with the fortress to some such great victory of the Mallas against the foreigners.

4.            D.C.Sircar, Ancient Malwa And the Vikramaditya Tradition, p.7

 

            The rise of the Imperial Guptas brough about political changes of considerable significance.  Samudragupta put an end of the Saka rule from Mathura to Vidisa, as proved by his coins discovered here.  The whole of East Malwa was annexed to the Gupta empire.  His successor chandragupta II vikramaditya, extripated Saka rule from west Malwa as well.  A Verman ruling House, which used the Krta era, was set up there.  The fact goes to the credit of the Malwas, who stuck to their old tradition and continued the use of their era, dress, manners, styles and standards.  Towards the close of the fifth century A.D. the guptas replaced the Verman ruling house by the Vardhana kings.  In the beginning of the sixth century A.D. the Hunas invaded this region and conquered it along with east Malwa.  Their advance was effectively checked by Yashodharman Vardhana, who occupied the whole area from Kalinga to Kashmir.  The Vardhanas continued to use the Malwa or Karta era.5

 

5.            Ibid, p. 17

 

            From the brief introductory account it will be abundantly clear that the names malwa and Malwai come down to us from very ancient times.  They had settled to the east of the Ravi and occupied the Cis-Satluj region, which is still known as Malwa.  As such, the people of the region came region, which is still known as Malwa.   As such, the people of the region came to be known as Malwais.  With the advent of the Muslim rule once again large scale dispersal of population and settlement of the new comers in the district took place.  Still the name of the region and the people has got its own historical significance.  The indigenous stock has retained come tradional characteristics-tall stature, well-chiselled features and special interest in physical prowess continued to be the distinguishing features of the typical Malwa people. 6

6.            The word ‘Mall’ used to be suffixed to the names of persons because it signified extraordinary physical strength and the man was taken for a ‘Pahlwan’ or a great ‘Mall’.

 

           

(b)       Total Population. – The census figures of the district give its population in 1881 as 6,18,835.  In the year the district comprised four tahsils, viz., Ludhiana, Jagraon, Samrala and Pakhowal.  The number of tahsils was subsequently reduced to three by incorporation of Pakhowal areas with the others.  In 1948, the district lost an area 65.88 square miles (168.65 sq. kms.) along with population numbering 16,841 to erstwhile Pepsu in pursuance of the Enclaves Act, 1948.  Recently adjustment of area was again made has been included in Ludhiana tahsil.  An area of 89 square miles (227 sq. kms.) with population of 75,249 thus stands added to the district from November, 1963.  for administrative convenience the status of Payal as sub-tahsil has been retained as hithertofore.

 

            The following table gives the population and variations in the district for the last sixty years. –

 

Year

 

Persons

Decade variation

Net variation

1901

..

6,51,937

..

 

1911

..

5,03,842

-1,48,095

 

1921

..

5,53,200

+49,358

 

1931

..

6,56,660

+1,03,460

 

1941

..

8,01,093

+1,44,433

 

1951

..

8,07,418

+6,325

 

1961

..

10,22,519

+2,15,101

-3,70,582

 

            (Source : Ludhiana District Census Handbook, 1961, p.161).

 

            According  to the cunsus figures of 1961, out of the total population of 10,22,519 in the district 5,51,304 were males and 4,71,215 females.  Following is the tahsil wise break up of population of the district :-

 

Name of tahsil

 

Persons

Males

Females

Ludhiana

..

5,62,411

3,05,273

2,57,138

Samrala

..

2,17,446

1,18,295

99,151

Jagraon

..

2,42,662

1,27,736

1,14,926

Payal (Sub-tahsil, attached in 1963)

 

75,249

40,840

34,409

 

            Causes of population fluctuations :- Diseases and famines have in the past been largely responsible for high fluctuatins in the population.  Punjab had a  very severe famine in 1783-84 which is popularly known as ‘chaurasia kal”.  The whole stretch of country from Satluj to Allahabad was affected.  Famines again occurred in 1833-34, 1837-38, 1860-61, 1869-70, and 1877-78.  Out of the famines of the 19th century none except that of 1833-34 appears to have affected the population of the district in any marked manner.  Ther scarcity of food in 1860-61 was mainly due to the unstable conditions then prevailing in the district as a result of the ‘Great uprising of 1857’ which caused great restlessness in the area.  Epidemics also wrought havoc to the pople quite often.  The plague, which had appeared for the first time in the Punjab in 1901 greatly reduced the population in the first decade of the 20th century.  In the second, decade too, plague, cholera and influenza affected the growth of population.  The details of the heavy toll taken by the epidemics are not available, but the figures of the heavy mortality caused by plague in the opening years of the 20th century are on record.  The figures given below would clearly show the effect of plague on the population of the district from 1901-04 :

 

Popualtion in 1901 (march Ist to the end of the Year)

6,73,097

Add:-

 

Births in 1901  (march Ist to the end of the Year)

19,656

Births in 1902  (march Ist to the end of the Year)

24,714

Births in 1903  (march Ist to the end of the Year)

28,752

 

73,122

Total

7,46,219

Deduct :-

 

Deaths in 1901  (march Ist to the end of the Year)      

31,323

Deaths in 1902  (march Ist to the end of the Year)

69,615

Deaths in 1903  (march Ist to the end of the Year)

36,972

 

1,38,210

Population on January 1, 1904

6,08,009

 

                      

The second decade of the present century witnessed steady inrease in the population  despite the epidemics of cholera and influenza. The third decade was without the outbreak of any eidemic. In the fourth decade the partition of the country took place. Muslims of the district migrated enmasse of west Pakistan and similary Hindu and Sikh displaced perosons from West Pakistan migrated t India. The number of these migrants in the district was not equivatent to the number of the Mohammandans who had gone out of district. The displaced persons who have settled in this district  numberes 1,69,267. There were only 3360 Muslims lefts in the district in 1951 against the Muslim population of 3,02,482 in 1941 . In this decade the boundaries of the district were also reduced from 1399 squae miles to 1279 square miles due to the transfer to certain areas to the Patiala district of erstwhile Pepsu. The fifth decade witnessed the steady increase in Population both in rural as well as urban areas.

 

            Density of Population.- The increase in the population was I percent durigthe decade 1941-51. The increase in the population during the decade 1951-61, however, has been about 2.7 percent per annum. The Followingtable shows the density of population in the district:-

                                                                                

Year

Density of Population per sq. mile

1881

422

1891

464

1901

510

1911

394

1921

433

1931

514

Year

Density of Population per sq. mile

1941

627

1951

632

1961

773

 

(Source: Census of India, 1951, Vol. III, part 1-A, p.9 and Census of India 61, vol, XIII, Punjab Part II-A)

 

            The notable feature in this regard is that towns of Ludhiana district are, on the whole, twice as congested as those in rest of Punjab, the urban density of district being 18,246 as against 9,476 of Punjabi. Rajkot has the highest density of 33,056. Next comes Ludhiana with the figure for 33,152. Khanna is the least congest with density of 3,221.

 

            The proportion between rural an rural and urban population in 1961was 69.2 and 30.8 against 75 and 25 in 1951. It indicates the general trend of the population to settle in the urban areas. Rapid industrialisation of Ludhiana, among other reasons, is the main factor responsible for this steep rise. The allurement of jobs for the artisan classes and more profits in industry for enterprising tradesmen are great stimulants for the rural population to shift to the urban areas.

 

Population  of towns in Ludhiana District

 

 

1901

1911

1921

1931

1941

1951

1961

Ludhiana

..

48,649

44,170

61,880

58,586

1,11,639

1,53,795

2,44,032

Jagraon

..

18,760

15,039

17,731

27,108

26,704

24,519

29,617

Railkot

..

10,131

7,510

8,379

11,810

13,777

10,193

11,239

Khanna

..

3,838

3,319

..

6,555

7,941

12,646

24,416

Samrala

..

..

..

..

..

..

4,734

549

 

 

            (Source: Census of India, 1951, Vol. III, part 1-A, Ludhiana District  Census handbook, 1961, DCH No. II, p. 28, LXXXV).

 

            There are five towns in the district. Ludhiana registered an increase of 58.67 percent during 1951-61. During the same period Jagraon, Railkot, Khanna and Samrala registered an increase in population by 20.79, 10.26, 93.7 and 14.8 percent respectively.  The notable increase in population pertains to Ludhiana and Khanna. No new town, however, emerged during the last 50 years. Machhiwara, once having a class II Municipality constituted towards the end of the 19th century has, however been pushed into oblivion due to elimination of transport of goods by river consequent upon the opening of railways and construction of roads.

 

            Emigration and Immigration.- Normally the inhabitants of one district shift to another of service, purchase of land and marriage. The inhabitants of this district have been, in particular, contracting marriage in Ferozepore, Jullandhar, Hoshipur and Amritsar districts. In recent years residents of other districts have also been shifting to Ludhiana on account of its industrial importance. Ludhiana is also attracting labour from adjoining States, particularly Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The decade 1940-50 had an important impact on the district due to partition as it recorded the migration of Muslims of the district to west Pakistan and the settling of Hindus and Sikhs of West Pakistan.

 

            3,02,482 Muslims left Ludhiana district in 1947 and migrated to West Pakistan and it their place 1,69,267 Hindu and Sikh migrants settled in the district. This mass shifting also reduced the density of Population in the rural areas of the district whereas it slightly increased  of persons in the urban areas. Detail information about immigration of persons into the district from various parts of Pakistan after is given hereunder:-

 

Serial  No

District of Origin

Persons

Males

Females

1

Dacca

14

11

3

2

Lahore

11,829

6,368

5,461

3

Sialkot

10,864

5,861

5,003

4

Gujranwala

7,487

4,074

3,413

5

Sheikhupura

7,661

4,362

3,299

6

Gujrat

5,637

3,191

2,446

7

Shahpur

16,099

8,118

7,981

8

Jhelum

2,509

1,407

1,102

9

Rawalpindi

5,909

3,517

2,392

10

Allock

5,447

2,907

2,540

11

Mianwali

851

443

408

12

Montgomery

18,510

9,629

8,881

13

Lyallpur

52,075

27,869

24,206

14

Jhang

7,712

413

3,609

15

Multan

7,045

4,103

3,609

16

Muzaffaragarh

735

408

327

17

Dera Gazi khan

860

409

451

18

Biloch-Frontier Tract

54

24

30

19

Gurdaspur

182

110

72

20

Dadu

29

19

10

21

Hyderabad

44

40

4

22

Karachi

179

110

69

23

Nawabshah

65

60

5

24

Upper Sind Forntier

200

134

66

25

Hazara

433

236

197

26

Mardan

398

227

171

27

Sukkur

206

126

80

28

Tharparkar

40

35

5

29

Sind

77

17

60

30

Peshawar

1,048

486

562

31

Kohat

179

123

56

32

Bannu

88

44

44

33

Dera-Ismailkhan

87

66

21

34

Quetta

179

107

72

35

Bilochistan

6

4

2

36

Bahawalpur

3,488

1,944

1,544

37

Sylhet

1

..

1

38

Burnt Slips

1,040

..

1,040

 

Total

1,69,267

90,645

78,622

 

(Source: Ludhiana District Census Hand Book, 1951DV, P, XXVIII.)

 

            (b)       Language.-  the major portion of the district is known as Malwa.  Only the eastern part is called Pawad.  In the Malwa region Malwai is spoken while the dialect of the eastern part is Pawadi.  Since the number of persons speaking Pawadi is small, it can be said that Malwai is generally spoken in the Ludhiana district.

 

            Malwai dialect does not differ much from the standard Punjabi.  Certain rules of grammer of standard Punjabi appear to have been framed keeping in view the Malwai from the dialect.  Only next top Doabi, Malwai dialect resembles very much the standard Punjabi.  Despite this, it has certain peculiarities of its own. The persons belonging to Malwa can be easily recognised on account of the dialect spoken by them.  There are certain words used only in Malwa, some pronounced in a peculiar way even though also used in the standard Punjabi to enable one to tell that the dialect is Malwai.

 

            Consequent upon the partition of the Punjab, displaced persons from Pakistan migrated to Punjab (India).  Their large scale migration has produced marked impact on Malwai dialect in the urban areas of the district.  As a result, both the literate and majority of semi-literate persons comparising about 30 percent population of the district residing in urban areas speak standard Punjabi.  The local population even in urban areas, however, speak Malwai.  The majority of population, i.e. 70 percent reside in the villages, their accent has not, however, much changed and they continue speak Malwai.  The only noteable event after the partition worth mentioning for Malwai dialect is that it has absorbed several words of West Pakistan dialect and of English language.

 

            It is really difficult to mark strictly the area from where the landuage is changed from one form to another.  But still, some broad indications can be given to distinguish the variations in dialects spoken in different areas.  For instance, in Jagraon Tehsil clear Malwai is spoken.  In the Samrala Tehsil some words of Powadi have crept in. In Payal Sub-Tehsil the language spoken contains more words of Powadi spoken in Malwai accent.  There are certain words which are not spoken else where.  In Khanna area of Samrala Tehsil the pronunciation  of some words stands changed form that spoken in Jagran Tehsil.  Despite all these defenses, it is not difficult to recognize the dialect as Malwai and the Malwai speaking persons can follow it without difficulty.

 

            The following few instances distinguish the Malwai dialect from standard Punjabi.  On account of these peculiarities Malwai still enjoys special character.  The principle pecularity of Malwai is that a dental ‘I’ and ‘n’ are substituted and ‘I’ and ‘n’ thus in Ferozpur we have jana ‘not’ jana, to go; hun not hun, now nal not nal with, kol not kol, near.  There are certain words where I is not changed into I. For instance in standard Punjabi the word toli is not changed into toli (group) and koli into koli (dish) in Malwai.  In Malwai dialect it is found that there is some influence of Hindi on Malwai and the words ka, ki, ke of Hindi language are added to Malwai.  For instance Nani ki ghar is changed into nanke, Pyode ghar is chaged into Pioke.  In centain cases vowels are not pronounced in Malwai. Almari, ikatha, akela, akhand path, anand karaj are not pronounced as I mari, katha, kela, nand karaj. In certain cases the word starting with  I is changed into n. In Manjha Iambardar, Lun, langna are changed in nambardar, nun (salt) nangna (pass) in Malwai. Certain words having penultimate alphabet v/w in standard Punjabi are changed into temi (women), jamen (such as) keme (how) and dasma (tenth).

 

            In standard Punjabi Certain words ending with ‘r’ are pronounced in Malwai language without ‘r’. Puter (son), suter (correct or spun cotton), Muter (urine) are pronounced as put, sut and mut. One most notable change in of v into b in Malwai language. For instance vakil, vehra, wehrka are pronounced as bakil (lawyer) as bakil (lawyer) behra (compound) and behraka (calf).

 

            There are certain other peculiarities in standard Punjabi or Doabi. There is tendency to use word il, ul in many words after the standard Punjabi word, i.e., sindul, gittal (derived from Punjabi sind and gita). There are other  words which are only spoken in Malwai. Thoda and sada spoken as tohada (yours) asada (ours) in standard Punjabi, thouthon, tuhade kolon (from you) instead and thoun in Malwai (to you) are not noticed to be in use any where except Nabha. In some cases phural is used in singular form Apan tan mauj karde han (I am enjoying) infact means main tan manj karda han. The standard Punjabi words chuk (to carry), sut (throw) and put (dig) are pronounced as chak, sit and pat in Malwai irrespective of any from  or rule.

 

            Certain words as khora, lowne (how, bring) are used in Malwai. The use of these words is not founding standard Punjabi, Majhi and Doabi.

 

            Some meaningful words of standard Punjabi are sometimes used in Malwai in utter disregard of their correct meaning in casual manner. Sala (brother-in-law) is frequently used. A father would say to his son, sala kam nahin karda 9he does not work0 and similarly would say to his daughter sauhri pardhi nahin (she does not study). The word souhra (father-in-law) mama (maternal uncle) are also similarly used at times.

 

            The words joining systems in Malwai is not same as in Lehndi boli; but still it is significant. Tethon from tere kolon (from you) methon from mere kolon (from me) are such instances.

 

            The words ga, ge (will) commonly used for future tense are sometimes used in Malwai language for past tense. Akhya ta se ga cheti aain (had told him to come early) is an instance where the word ga has been used in past tense.

 

            1,69,267 displaced persons who migrated from west Pakistan settled different districts in 1947-48 in rural and urban areas of the district. As they belonged to different districts in west Punjab, Sind, Bilochistan and upper Sind, they carried with them their own languages and dialects. As such standard Punjabi, Lehndi, Bhattiani, Pothohari, Sindhi, pastho (pukhto) etc., are also spoken amongst the immigrants.  They have also adopted the Malwai dialect.  They use certain words of standard Punjabi instead of their Malwai equivalents.  Their coming to east Punjab has produced definite impact on Malwai dialect ; but has not effected any marked change therin.  Malwai, however, has not been able to replace the dialect spoken in the homes of the new comers.  In rural and urban areas we usually come across migrant cultivators and shop-keepers speaking in their own dialects without resorting to Malwai or its accent.  Their children, however, freely speak Malwai,but at the same time keep alive their own ancestral language and speak their own dialect in their homes and amongst their friends whose parents have also migrated from the same districts.

 

            After the partition the Malwai dialect has adopted many new words from other languages.  The words refuge, allot claim, tampoo, bhapa, etc., from English and Pothohari have been included in the vocabulary.  These are, of course, spoken in Malwai accent.

 

            Bawrias, Sikligars and others from eastern U.P. and Rajasthan speak their own dialects.  The migration of labour from eastern U.P. is of very recent origin.  Influx of persons from Rajasthan into the district is not of recent arigin ; but they do not stick to any particular place.  They are mobile in general and as such their accent stands unchanged.  Bawarias and sikligars speak their own dialects.  Their dialects have been derived from earlier languages.  Their dialect is, therefore, of north Indian origin.  Their prolonged stay in the district has affected their accent.  They speak their own dialects in Malwai accent.  One can easily single out Bawarias and Sikiligars belonging to Malwa immediately by conversing with them in their own dialects.  They have no doubt adopted several Malwai words as well.

 

            The dialect of residents of Payal Sub-tahsil, though originally Malwai, is an admixture of Pawadi.  As already indicated, there is no clear delineation of areas on the basis of dialects.  The border area of one dialect suddenly merge with areas having a different dialect.  Payal sub-tahsil may be said to be border area of Malwai langauage and Pawadi.  Si (was) of Malwai language is changed here into ti of Pawadi language and so on.

 

            The language of the district as a whole is undoubtedly Punjabi.  As the mass propogation of Punjabi is of recent origin the older sections of population, except Sikhs, are not very proficient in the language.  About 50 years ago this language was taught only in Gurudwaras and Dharamsalas.  It has, recently been started as medium of instruction in the entire district.  Though it is the language of overwhelming numbers of the population, it is strange that mostly urdu newspapers are still read in the district.  English and Punjabi newspapers are as yet read on a restricted scale.

 

            The Government administration is carried on in English and inn Punjabi.  At the district level it is run in Punjabi.  Correspondence with Punjab Government is done in english7.  At district level Punjabi has practically replaced urdu.  The Government employees are also required to possess adequate knowledge of Punjabi and to have passed the examination in Punjabi of the prescribed standard.

 

7.        Under the Official Language Act, 1967, Punjabi in Gurmukhi script has become the language of Administration at all levels with effect from 13th April, 1968.

 

            Advertisements by businessmen and cinemas are usually made in English and Urdu. Punjabi is now replacing Urdu since the year generation in the district is unfamiliar with Urdu.  Signboards of the shops continue to be in English and in very rare cases these are written in Punjabi.  As the present trend is towards the Punjabi, the language is gaining rapid popularity as the language of public transactions.  Undoubtedly there are many other factors responsible for the popularity of a language, Government patronage inter alia is an important factor and the Punjabi language has come to enjoy it in full measure in the State.

 

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