| Fazilka | |
| — city — | |
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|
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Punjab |
| District(s) | Fazilka |
| Population | 67,424 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 177 metres (581 ft) |
| Climate |
• 923.9 mm (36.37 in) |
Fazilka (Punjabi: ਫਾਜ਼ਿਲਕਾ) is a city and a municipal council and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab, India and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.
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The municipality was formed via Punjab Government notification no. 486, dated 10 December 1885. The town was added to the Ferozepur district in 1884. On 27th July 2011, Fazilka was declared a District by Government of Punjab vide their Gazette Notification No. 1/1/2011-RE-II(I)/14554 dated July 27, 2011 .
As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Fazilka had a population of 67,424. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 62%. In Fazilka, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Graduate level courses are available at M.R. Govt. College. Some private institutes give opportunities for diploma and degree level computer courses. Courses are also available for a Bachelor of Education degree. There is one Industrial Training Institute that provides vocational courses. Some private institutes also provide vocational courses.
The economy of the Fazilka is based on agriculture. Before partition, it was a major wool market. Traders used to export wool to Britain via the ports at Karachi in Sindh. By 2007, wool production had decreased to about 10% of the production before partition. The area around the town grows high quality cereals (wheat, rice, and others). A hybrid variety of citrus fruit known as 'Kino' is grown in this region. The surrounding areas also produce guava and cotton.
The town is home to heritage cottage industries such as the production of woven strings (Waan) fabricated from Sarkanda grass acquired from the bank of the river Sutlej. This is a labour intensive low profit cottage industry.
The Fazilka region observes almost all important major festivals of India, including Diwali, Dushehra, Holi, and Gurpurab. Apart from these major festivals, Fazilka hosts the following:
The Fazilians have ethnic groups hailing from Southern Punjab, Rajasthan, Malwa, and Sahiwal with their own specific dialects. The major dialects include the following:[2]
Fazilka is known for a style of jhumar dance propagated by the late Baba Pokhar Singh (1916–2002). Pokhar Singh's family had migrated from the Montgomery district of Western Punjab, and they claimed to represent the "Ravi" style of jhumar. However, Fazilka had its own style of jhummar (which they refer to as the "Satluj" style). Therefore, at least two regional styles were mixed in everyday life, and in his jhummar routine (which was basically the same each time, and which family and friends still perform today), Pokhar identified several other regional actions.[3]
The first railway line through the town was setup in 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the accession of Queen Victoria. Fazilka was connected by railway to McLeodganj (now in Pakistan and renamed Mandi Sadiqganj) on the route to Bahawalnagar and then to Bahawalpur. Fazilka was connected by railway to Amruka (now in Pakistan) through Chaanwala. The tracks from Fazilka to McLeod Ganj and from Fazilka to Chaanwala are now closed, perhaps uprooted.
Fazilka railway station is connected to Ferozepur and Bhatinda junctions of Northern Railways. A new 42 km long railway line to Abohar towards the south has been constructed to shorten the distance to Bikaner by over 100 km. Trains on the new 42km long railway line to Abohar are expected to start in early 2012.[4]
National Highway 10 passes through Fazilka and connects to Delhi via Hissar and Rohtak. The State highway runs from Fazilka to Ferozepur and from Fazilka to Malout And Both Road are very clean.
Amritsar International Airport and Ludhiana Domestic Airport are the nearest airports about 220 km away.
Fazilka does not have a public bus transport system. Rickshaws are the available means of transport within the city.[5] These rickshaws are now dispatched by telephone by the Fazilka Ecocab Call Centre.[6]
Fazilka has six main Hindu temples: Hanuman Temple, Shiv Temple, Parnami Mandir, Ram Mandir, Dayra Baba Balbantgiri Temple, and the Shiv Temple of Kusht Ashram (in Leper colony). The most recent temple is the Shiv Temple of Kusht Ashram, built in 2005 by the Dhawan Family in dedication to the 70th anniversary of the late Dr. Ved Parkash and Lal Devi Dhawan. It is located in the Leper colony based on the vision of the Dhawan family to enable worship by Lepers, who are traditionally shunned from worship at Hindu temples.
Clock towers were placed at the city centres in Fazilka and Lyallpur (Now known as Faisalabad). Both city centres were designed by Captain Poham Young, to imitate the Union Flag when seen from above, with eight roads to the main markets radiating from a centre with a large clock tower. The cities of Fazilka and Lyallpur both came into existence between 1840–1880. Layallpur Clock Tower was built by the British Lieutenant Governor of the Punjab, Sir James Broadwood Lyall, for whom it was originally named Lyallpur. Fazilka Clock Tower was built in the memory of a famous philanthropist of Fazilka, Ram Narayan Periwal, by Rai Sahab Madan Gopal Periwal and Shopat Rai Periwal. The Fazilka clock tower, at an approximate height of 95 feet (29 m), is the tallest clock tower in North India. Fazilka Clock Tower was made by contractor Sh. Narain Singh under the supervision of Mohd. Ch Abdul Shakoor Kareem Malak, who was the sardar of the region. It was inaugurated by Mr. M.R. Sachdev, ESQ, ICS, the then Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur on June 6, 1939 in the presence of Sheepseks Asquire ICS DC Jalandhar and Rai Sahab Lala Vidyadhar PCS SDO of Fazilka. The tower was designed by Architect S.D. Wasan. Fazilka and Faislabad Clock towers were both inaugurated on the same day. Previously it was maintained by the Periwal Trust but since 1991, the Municipal Council of Fazilka has been responsible.[7] The Fazilka Clock Tower was one of the first brick and masonry buildings in Punjab. A picture of Fazilka Clock Tower may be viewed in the Picture gallery of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Chandigarh.[8]
In 1940, A philanthropist Munshi Ram Aggarwal instituted M.R. college for the education of the youngsters of the region. Now it has been taken over by the Punjab Government and renamed M.R. Govt. College.
The Asafwala 1971 Indo-Pak War Memorial was inaugurated by Late President of India Giani Zail Singh. This monument is a tribute to all Indian army soldiers who laid down their lives to save our City. This is under 4 JATT Regiment, who played important role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
The Fazilka TV Tower is a 304.8 metres (1,000 ft) tall free-standing lattice tower situated at Abohar Road. It is used to broadcast the signal of Jallandar and Delhi Doordarshan.