| Firozpur | |
| — city — | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Punjab |
| District(s) | Firozpur |
| Population | 95,451 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 182 metres (597 ft) |
Firozpur (Punjabi: ਫ਼ਿਰੋਜ਼ਪੁਰ) (abbreviated: FZR) (alternatively Ferozepur) is a city on the banks of the Sutlej River in Firozpur District, Punjab, India, founded by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1309–88), a Muslim ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. The Manj Rajputs say the town was named after their chief, a Rajput of the Bhatti clan called Feroze Khan, in the middle of the 16th century.[1] Firozpur is called ‘Shaheedon ki dharti’ (the land of martyrs).[2]
Ferozpur today is a transportation and administration center and an ancient city. It is a border town on the Indo-Pakistan border with memorials of India's freedom fighters.[3] Three martyrs in India's struggle for freedom, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, were hanged in Lahore for their revolutionary activities against the British Government on March 23, 1931. They were cremated and their Samādhi is located in Hussainiwala on the Sutlej river bank.
Ferozepur also holds a historic place in Indian history as it was there that British Raj established control over much of North-West India as well as what is now Pakistan through the Anglo-Sikh Wars that were fought in this region. Today it is the headquarters of a brigade of the Northern Corps of the Indian Army. Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engineering and Technology is located at Moga road in Ferozepur. It is a government Engg. College and has an excellent reputation.[4] Firozpur Cantonment is adjacent to and south of the city; during British times it was one of the largest cantonments in the country.
Ferozepur has easy access by road and rail to other places such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Delhi, and Chandigarh; the city is a center of numerous holy shrines and historic places. At the nearby city of Zira, a Jain Swetambar Temple with ancient brass icons and wall murals is located.
In addition to cotton and grain cultivation and agriculture-related services, Firozpur has some light manufacturing. Commercial progress has been restricted by its vicinity to the border with Pakistan. Normalizing relations between the two nuclear nations promises to raise the city's profile as a potential trade hub. Ferozepur is the oldest British district of the Punjab, established in 1833 as district headquarters even well before Ludhiana and Amritsar became districts. Ferozepur district even after partition included many areas which were later reorganised to be a part of the Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar and Bathinda Districts. The per hectare wheat yields of this district are comparable to the best in the world and they matched wheat yields per hectare of Ontario Province in Canada.
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Ferozepur is believed to have been founded by Ferozeshah Tughluq in the 14th century. Another version claims that it was founded by a Bhatti chief called Feroze Khan. However, the first version is more widely accepted as Ferozeshah Tughluq had a passion for building new cities and renaming old ones especially after his own name. He claimed, "Among the many gifts which God bestowed upon me, His humble servant, was a desire to erect public buildings. So I built many mosques, colleges and monasteries, that the learned and the elders, the devout and the holy, might worship God in these edifices and aid the kind builder with their prayers."
The influence of the Sikhs in the region started from 1758, when they defeated Adina Beg, the Afgan Mughal Governor of Lahore. Three years later, when Hari Singh, chief of Bhangi misl, captured Kasur and nearby areas, one of his sardars, Gurja (Gujar) Singh, along with his brother Nushaha Singh and his two nephews — Gurbakhsh Singh and Mastan Singh — took possession of Ferozepore. Later, Gurja (Gujar) Singh gave Ferozepore to his nephew, Gurbakhsh Singh. The Ferozepore territory then contained 37 villages.
In 1792, Gurbakhsh Singh, while dividing his possessions among his four sons, gave the fort and territory of Ferozepore to his second son Dhanna Singh. In 1819, Dhanna Singh died, leaving his widow Lachman Kaur. In 1820, Lachman Kaur went for a pilgrimage to the shrines of Haridwar, Gaya and Jagannath after having placed her father-in-law, Gurbakhsh Singh, in charge of the territory.
During Lachman Kaur’s pilgrimage, her husband’s nephew, Baghel Singh, gained admittance to the fort under the pretext of visiting his grandfather, and occupied it. After about three years in 1823, on her return from the pilgrimage, Lachman Kaur made an appeal to the British authorities against the occupation by Baghel Singh. Capt Ross, the Deputy Superintendent of Sikh Affairs, represented her case to the Lahore agent. Maharaja Ranjit Singh recalled Baghel Singh, and allowed Lachman Kaur to rule Ferozepore. When Lachman Kaur, who was issueless, died in December, 1835, the estate came under the possession of the British Government. In July, 1838, Chanda Singh and Jhanda Singh, the two brothers of Baghel Singh (he died in 1826), made a claim to inherit the estate. But the case was decided against them.
The economy of the town was on the decline at the time of the British annexation. In 1838, the population of Ferozepore town was 2,732. In 1841, it rose to 4,841, mainly due to efforts of Sir H. Lawrence, who built a market place towards the east of the old fort, which is now no more. The main market was also completed under his supervision.
There was a time when the town was used surrounded by a wall, which had 10 gates, namely Delhi Gate, Mori Gate, Baghdadi Gate, Zira Gate, Makhu Gate, Bansanwala Gate, Amritsari Gate, Kasuri Gate, Multani Gate and Magzini Gate, providing protection to people living inside. Five of the gates are now no more, while the existing ones — Kasuri Gate, Multani Gate, Baghdadi Gate, Makhu Gate and Amritsari Gate — are in a state of utter neglect.
Rani-ka-Taalab, named after Lachman Kaur, is now a dry tank. Situated on a campus of an educational institute, it has the samadhis of Lachman Kaur and her husband Sardar Dhanna Singh on its side. The temple of Radha-Krishan and Lord Shiva are also situated near the samadhis.
Old records state that Moti Bazar and Hira Mandi in the town were once big markets selling pearls and diamonds, respectively. Before Partition, Hira Mandi was the abode of singing girls. Most of the town’s markets and lanes do not bear any number. They are named after eminent local personalities and philanthropists. For instance, some of them are called Gali Dugglan, Mohalla Sodhian, Mohalla Baurianwala, Basti Shekhan, Basti Balochan, Hata Khuda Bakhsh, Kuchha Harnam Das and Gali Kumrianwali.
Once the town was surrounded by gardens, including Tulsi Ram Bagh, Gole Bagh, Nishat Bagh, Ram Sukh Das Bagh and Kanshi Ram Bagh. Gole Bagh was the only garden which was under the supervision of the municipality. The remaining gardens were either the property of individuals or trusts. Around 1960, these individuals and trusts started disposing of the garden land as it became difficult for them to maintain it. Gole Bagh, which was once full of fruit trees, is now used to dump garbage.
Ferozepore is an ancient city situated close to the present day Indo-Pakistan border. Ferozepore's strategic position in the northwest of the country has resulted in its being part of many military expeditions in the area. During the first Anglo-Sikh war in 1845, it was due to the negligence of the British commander at Ferozepore that the Khalsa was able to cross the Sutlej unopposed. When Lord Hardinge declared war on the Sikhs, the first battle was fought at Mudki, 20 miles south-east of Ferozepore. In 1838, Ferozepore was the centre from where British troops advanced to Kabul during the first Anglo-Afghan war. Legendary olympian Sanyam Kataria was also born here.
Three martyrs of India's freedom struggle Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his associates Shaheed Rajguru and Shaheed Sukhdev have their final resting place on the banks of the river Sutlej in Ferozepur. On March 23, 1931, despite popular protest, the three men were executed in Lahore and were quietly cremated in the dead of night near Ferozepore. They were executed for terrorism against the British.
Today, a Shaheed Bhagat Singh Memorial marks the spot and every year on March 23, thousands of people gather to pay homage of these freedom fighters. Ferozepore has another historical memorial, the Saragarhi Gurudwara, commemorating the sacrifice of 21 Sikh soldiers who perished at Saragarhi in Baluchistan. On 12 September, every year, people gather here to pay tribute to the heroic soldiers and celebrate Saragarhi Day. The memorial service also provides an occasion for ex-servicemen to have a reunion. Ferozepur city is to the South-West of Amritsar city and located some 109 km from Amritsar. Another nearby city to the North of Ferozepur is Tarn Taran. To the East is Ludhiana about 120 km away. In the West it has Kasur and Lahore in Pakistan across the International Border at Husainiwala/Ganda Singh Wala. Other nearby cities include Fazilka, Abohar, (located to the South-West of Ferozepur) to the North-East of Ferozepur are Nakodar, Kapurthala and Jalandhar, (located North-East of Ferozepur). Jalandhar is 120 km away from Ferozepur. The cities of Muktsar and Faridkot are South of Ferozpur.
Important distances from the city of Ferozepur
1) Amritsar - 109 km
2) Ludhiana - 120 km
3) Jalandhar - 120 km
4) Bathinda - 85 km
5) Abohar - 120 km
6) Chandigarh - 220 km
7) Delhi - 389 km (via Bathinda)
As of 2001 India census,[5] Ferozpur had a population of 95,451, which increased from 78,738 in 1991. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ferozpur has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 68%. In Ferozpur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The town has a number of institutes of importance. The Arya Orphanage was set up here with the blessings of Swami Dayanand, the founder of Arya Samaj, on October 26, 1877. The Swami was invited here by Rai Sahib Mathra Das, an engineer. The institute, which has given shelter to thousands of orphans and destitute, is spread over 21 acres.
Lala Lajpat Rai, who visited the orphanage, called it "the pride of the nation". Lord C.R Attlee, a member of the Simon Commission, who visited the institute on August 17, 1928, observed: "I was most favourably impressed by the excellent work by this orphanage which is an honour to society".
Another important institute here, the Home for the Blind, was established in 1956. The institute has two buildings. The aim of the home is to educate and rehabilitate the inmates. Since its inception, hundreds of blind youth have been rehabilitated. To overcome a financial crisis, some portion of the blind home has been rented out now.
This town has a municipal library and a district library as well. The Army has opened a library, named after Dronacharya, in the cantonment area for Army personnel as well as civilians. It has over 20,000 books on every conceivable subject. Around 50,000 books are expected to be acquired within the next three years. The library also has video games, computer games, and Internet facilities.
There are three educational institutions, namely DAV College for Women, Dev Samaj College for Women and Dev Samaj College of Education for Women, exclusively for women. Two other educational institutes — RSD College and Guru Nanak College — are co-educational.
Besides, there are a number of schools, including two government schools, one each for boys and girls. Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engineering and Technology has been set up on the Ferozepore-Moga road. Besides, there are two industrial training institutes, one each for boys and girls, and a government polytechnic.
The key schools in the city and the adjoining Cantonment are :-
Colleges in area :-
Professional College:-
Ferozepur is called ‘Shaheedon ki dharti’ (the land of martyrs). Even today one can see the building in Toori Bazaar which was used as the secret headquarters by the revolutionary trio — Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. On the first floor of the building, the three revolutionaries manufactured bombs, while on the ground floor, one of their associates, Gaya Pershad, practised medicine. When the news of the murder of Saunders, Assistant Superintendent of Police, reached Ferozepore, Dr Gaya Pershad disappeared from the scene. Saunders was shot dead by Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in Lahore on December 17, 1928. Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were sentenced to death in the Lahore conspiracy case and ordered to be hanged on March 24, 1931. But, in view of great upsurge in the country, the Britishers hanged them on March 23, 1931, at 7.30 p.m. The bodies of the three martyrs were cremated under cover of darkness on the banks of Sutlej, about 10 km from Ferozepore. After Partition, the cremation spot went to Pakistan but on January 17, 1961, when India and Pakistan exchanged enclaves, the site came back to India. A Shaheedi conference is held there every year on March 23 to pay homage to the martyrs. The foundation stone of the memorial at Hussainiwala was laid on March 23, 1965, by the then Union Defence Minister. Y.B. Chavan, but its construction could not be undertaken as war had broken out that very year between India and Pakistan. In 1968 the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Lachman Singh Gill, got the memorial completed within a short span of 37 days at a cost of Rs 1.84 lakh.
This memorial was damaged by the withdrawing Pakistani troops in 1972. They also removed the busts of the three national heroes during 1971 war when the area was captured by Pakistani troops. The memorial came up once again in 1973 due to the efforts of the thenPunjab Chief Minister, Giani Zail Singh.
Another monument at Ferozepore — the Barki Memorial — was set up in 1969 in memory of those soldiers of the 7 Infantry Division who laid down their lives on the battlefield in 1965, and paved the way for the fall of Barki, a town situated at a distance of 15 miles south-east of Lahore. The foundation stone of the Barki Memorial was laid on September 11, 1969. It has a pillar in the centre, a Patton tank and a Barki milestone in the south and a water fountain in the north. The pillar is 27 feet high, and is built of red and white sandstone.
Then there is the Saragarhi Memorial at Ferozepore. The Saragarhi Memorial Gurdwara was built in the memory of those 21 Sikh soldiers of the 36 Sikh Regiment who sacrificed their lives while defending the Fort of Saragarhi in Waziristan on September 12, 1897, which was attacked by nearly 10,000 Pathans. The memorial (gurdwara) was declared open in 1904 by Sir Charles Revz, the then Lt-Governor of Punjab.
Under British rule, two historic churches came into existence in the cantonment area. These churches were: Saint Andrew’s Church and Roman Catholic Church. The former is located on the Jhoke Road and the latter on the Church Road. The third church, situated on the NBI Road, was raised by Missionaries of Methodist Denomination during 1925-30.
Hussainiwala - Apart from a lake, it is also the location of Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary colleagues' Samādhi. The Indo-Pakistani border crossing at Hussainiwala and the change of guards ceremony every morning & evening.
Harike waterworks and barrage and its adjoining wetlands.
Ferozeshah, a village some 22 km from Ferozepur, has a museum as well as a memorial raised by the British to commemorate the dead of the Battle of Ferozeshah in the Anglo-Sikh Wars.
Gandhi Garden, a very beautiful rather peaceful place to pass time in the evening, some fun for kids too it has a small amusement park.
Shitala Mata Mandir, a very religious place and a worth seeing statues or sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses. Firozpur Cantonment, is a cantonment town in Firozpur district in the state of Punjab, India. It is located adjacent to and south of the city of Firozpur.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium, a stadium with good facilities and a swimming pool, place to do sport.
The notable places of interest near Firozpur are:
| S. No. | Attraction | Distance from Firozpur |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Retreat Ceremony and National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala | 10 km |
| 2. | Saragarhi Memorial | 2 km |
| 3. | Barki Memorial | 2 km |
| 4. | Gurudawara Zamini Sahib Bajidpur | 5 km |
| 5. | Anglo Sikh War Memorial at Ferozeshah | 21 km |
| 6. | Jain Mandir Zira | 36 km |
| 7. | Pothi Mala at Guruharsahai | 40 km |
| 8. | Harike Bird Sanctuary | 55 km |
| 9. | Asafwala War Memorial Fazilka | 90 km |
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