Fazilka

Fazilka, also known as Bangla, is a city and a municipal council in Punjab, India. In 2011, it was made the headquarter of the newly created Fazilka district. The Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline (TAPI) project originating in Turkmenistan will have its last station in Fazilka.

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Fazilka district.

Fazilka

Bangla
City
From top clockwise: Fazilka TV Tower, Raghuwar Bhawan, Fazilka Clock Tower, Asafwala War Memorial and Khuranj Haveli
Locations of Itarsi Jn
Nickname(s): 
FZK, FJK
Fazilka
Location in Punjab, India
Fazilka
Fazilka (India)
Coordinates: 30.403°N 74.025°E / 30.403; 74.025
Country India
StatePunjab
DistrictFazilka
Founded byJ.H Oliver
Named forMian Fazil Watoo
Government
 • TypeDemocratic
 • Member of ParliamentSukhbir Singh Badal (SAD)
 • Member of Legislative AssemblyDavinder Singh Ghubaya (INC)
Elevation
177 m (581 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total76,492
Demonym(s)Bangla, Fazilpuria
Languages
 • OfficialPunjabi
 • DialectMalwai and Bagri
 • OtherHindi, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
152123
Telephone code01638
Vehicle registrationPB-22
Sex ratio897/1000
Literacy79.53%
Lok Sabha constituencyFirozpur
Vidhan Sabha constituencyFazilka
Planning agencyPUDA
Major HighwaysNH7 SH20 SH40
Precipitation923.9 millimetres (36.37 in)
Websitefazilka.gov.in
Population history of Fazilka

History

The municipality of Fazilka was formed with Punjab Government Notification No. 486, on 10 December 1885. The town was added to the Ferozepur district in 1884. On 27 July 2011, Fazilka was declared a District by the Government of Punjab with Gazette Notification No. 1/1/2011-RE-II(I)/14554.

Fazilka, like many towns on the Indo-Pakistani border, has suffered difficulties dating back to the Partition of India in 1947. The Radcliffe Line, the border recommended by departing British colonial authorities, divides natural resources, houses, and people. The Satluj River, which is a common source of water, is a border between the two countries.

Before partition, 50% of Fazilka's population was Muslim. All of them left India for Pakistan in 1947. Most of the villages around Fazilka were dominated by Muslim families, mainly the Bodla, Watto, Sahoo Rajpoot, Kalya Rajpoot and Chistis clans.

Many people from Fazilka pay an annual visit to Katasraj — a Hindu holy city in Pakistan — usually in August.

Demographics and geography

As of the 2011 Indian census,[1] Fazilka had a population of 76,492. Males constitute about 52% of the population and females 48%. Fazilka has an average literacy rate of 70.7%: male literacy is 74.6%, and female literacy is 66.4%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Languages

Punjabi is language of Fazilka. Punjabi is spoken by a most people followed by Hindi, English with some Punjabi accent.

Regional dance

Fazilka is known for a style of jhumar dance promulgated by 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 jhumar which was referred 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 movements.[2]

Climate

The climate of the Fazilka District is, on the whole, dry and is characterized by a very hot summer, a short rainy season, and a bracing winter. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season is from November to March. This is followed by the summer season which lasts until about the end of June. The period from July to mid-September constitutes the south-westerly monsoon season. The latter half of September and October may be termed the post-monsoon or the transition period.

Transport

Railway

The first railway line through the town was set up in 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the ascension to the throne by Queen Victoria. Fazilka was connected by railway to McLeod Ganj (now in PakMandi 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 removed.

Fazilka Junction railway station is connected to Ferozepur and Bathinda junctions of Northern Railways. A new 43 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 railway line to Abohar began running in July 2012. An express train started between Sri Ganganagar and Firozpur via Abohar and Fazilka in November 2012 on this track.[3]

Roads

National Highway 7 passes through Fazilka. NH 7 connects to NH 9 at Malaut which leads to Delhi via Hissar and Rohtak. The state highway runs from Fazilka to Ferozepur and from Fazilka to Malout. Both are good roads.

Air

Amritsar international airport and Bathinda domestic airport are the nearest, about 90 km away.

Intra-city-Ecocabs

Fazilka have a public bus transport system. Cycle rickshaws are the available means of transport in the city.[4] These rickshaws are now dispatched by Fazilka Centre.[5]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  2. Dr. Nahar Singh (1988). Panjaabi Lok-Naach: Sabhiaachaarak Bhoomika te Saarthakta ["Punjabi Folk-Dance: Cultural Role and Significance"], Lokgit Prakashan. Translated, with editorial remarks, by Gibb Schreffler (2003)
  3. "Abohar-Fazilka railway link operational - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  4. Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Cycle rickshaws now just a phone call away in Fazilka". Youtube.com. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.