Sargodha District

ضِلع سرگودها
district
Sargodha District

Location of Sargodha district in West Punjab
Country Pakistan
Province Punjab
Headquarters Sargodha
Area
 • Total 5,864 km2 (2,264 sq mi)
Population (1998)
 • Total 2,665,979
 • Density 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Number of Tehsils 7
Website http://www.sargodha.gop.pk/

Sargodha District (Urdu: ضِلع سرگودها‎), is a district of Punjab, Pakistan. The capital of the district is Sargodha. It is an agricultural district, wheat, rice, and sugarcane being its main crops. The Sargodha district and region is also famous for citrus fruit; kino is a newly developed variety. The district has an area of 5,864 km2.[1]

Administration

Sargodha District is administratively divided into Seven Tehsils, which contain a total of 161 Union Councils,[2] population according to the 1998 census of Pakistan:[3]

Tehsil Population No. of Unions
Bhera 100,000 (Estimated] 16
Bhalwal 820,000 16
Kot Momin 420,000 30
Sahiwal 236,000 14
Sargodha 1,081,000 62
Shahpur 274,000 16
Silanwali 255,000 16

Language

As per the 1998 census of Pakistan, the following are the demographics of the Sargodha district, by spoken language:

Demography

The population of Sargodha grew rapidly with the arrival of Muslim refugees from northern India, fleeing from the religious violence that followed the partition of India and the independence of Pakistan in 1947. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan the district had a population of 2,665,979 of which 27.96% lived in urban settlements.[5] The predominant ethnic population in the Sargodha District is Punjabi with small communities of Ranghars, Muhajirs and Pashtuns. The people of Sargodha district are Muslims, with an overwhelming Sunni majority.

Etymology

It is believed that there was an old pond in the middle of the town where an old Hindu monk or sadhu (godha) used to live. The Hindi word for pond is "ser".[6] Since the town had a modest population, people would refer the place as sergodha, the place where that famous Sadhu resided next to the pond.[7]

History

The Sargodha District was an agricultural region with forests during the Indus Valley Civilization. The Vedic period is characterized by Indo-Aryan culture that invaded from Central Asia and settled in Punjab region. The Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Madras, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas and Kurus invaded, settled and ruled ancient Punjab region. After overrunning the Achaemenid Empire in 331 BCE, Alexander marched into present-day Punjab region with an army of 50,000. The Sargodha was ruled by Maurya Empire, Indo-Greek kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Kushano-Hephthalites and Shahi kingdoms.

In 997 CE, Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, took over the Ghaznavid dynasty empire established by his father, Sultan Sebuktegin, In 1005 he conquered the Shahis in Kabul in 1005, and followed it by the conquests of Punjab region. The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Empire ruled the region. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to conversions patronized by Muslim kings effected both forcefully and by missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs dot the landscape of Punjab region,

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Sialkot District. The Muslims faced restrictions during the Sikh rule. Just over a century ago, there was a well owned by a Hindu named Goodha, the well was known as "Gool Khuuh" (round well), and travellers used it as a resting place. There is a market at the place where Gool Khuuh used to exist and a grand mosque above the market and it is known as "Goal Chowk", which is the center of downtown Sargodha today.[6][7]

The 1965 war with India on September 6, 1965 meant the city was a prime target for India, due to the city close proximity with the neighbouring rival. The citizens of Sargodha supported the Pakistan Army against the advancing of the Indian Army into Pakistan. In 1966, recognising this bravery, the Government of Pakistan awarded the city of Sargodha as well as Sialkot and Lahore with the award of Hilal-E-Istaqlal.

The city also has a Pakistan Air Force base within its city. The PAF Base Sargodha now known as PAF Base Mushaf, named after the late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, a former Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. The strategic location of the base has allowed the Air Force to carry out experimental work within the city.

Until divisions were abolished as part of government reforms in 2000, Sargodha was divisional headquarters of Sargodha Division. Sargodha division was composed of the following districts:

  1. Sargodha District
  2. Khushab District
  3. Mianwali District
  4. Bhakkar District

Media

References

  1. ↑ District Wise – Sargodha
  2. ↑ Tehsils & Unions in the District of Sargodha – Government of Pakistan. Nrb.gov.pk. Retrieved on 2012-07-01.
  3. ↑ 1998 Census figures. pportal.punjab.gov.pk
  4. ↑ http://sargodha.dc.lhc.gov.pk/?page_id=1335
  5. ↑ Urban Resource Centre. urckarachi.org
  6. 1 2 Portrait of Pakistan. Ferozsons. Retrieved 2007-12-31. The district derives its name for the headquarters town of Sargodha, which is a combination of "Sar" and "Godha". "Sar" is a Hindi word which denotes a water...
  7. 1 2 Pakistan tourism directory. Holiday Weekly. Retrieved 2007-12-31. Sargodha is a colony town established in 1903, but its origins are older. Sargodha is a combination of the words "Sar" meaning a pond and "Godha"...

Dhudhi

Coordinates: 32°10′N 72°30′E / 32.167°N 72.500°E / 32.167; 72.500

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