- Rahon
RAHON, one of the historical and
famous towns of Punjab is situated at the height of 1012 feet from the
sea level. This town has the memories of a kind hearted Tara Singh
Geba, a cruel ruler Shams Khan, the founder of a democratic sikh rule
Banda Bhadur and also of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
At one time Rahon was a famous
commercial centre and the shoe makers of this town were very perfect
in their work. A shoe maker named Miyan Khaki Shah made a pair of
shoes which are kept in a museum in Lahore even today.
The total area of this town is 6900
Acres. In ancient times this town was known as "RAGHPUR" , "RAGHAVTPUR",
"RAGHO" etc. Later it was called "RAHON". This is situated on the road
from Nawanshahr to Ludhiana.
It is said that this town came in
existence some 2000 years ago. It was founded by king Raghav that's
why it was called "RAGHAVPUR". In 1970 Rahon was Annexed by Sikhs.
After knowing this Samad Khan came from Lahore to fight with sikh
forces. A decisive battle was fought outside the city and Sikhs were
defeated but the Sikhs who were hidden in the nearby jungle attacked
Mughals for the second time and they took Rahon under their possession
once again.
After the death of Banda Bahadur
Rahon was once again lost by Sikhs when farooksiae ruled. In 1748
Gulab Singh Dallewalia annexed it on made it a 'misal ' .He died in
1755. He was succeeded by Gurdial Singh ,who also died next year
.Later when various areas was given to Tara Singh Geba. He made it his
capital. Mehatpur, Nawanshahr , phillaur, Nakodar also came under him.
Tara Singh Geba reconstructed the
fortress of Rahon . He also built a pool ( Sarovar )and named it
Ramsau Sarovae. After him Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled over Rahon .He
built a fort here and named it after Hari Singh Nalwa. After the I'st
Anglo-Sikh war Rahon was annexed by British.
After the division of the country in
1947 the Muslim population of Rahon had to go to Pakistan and the
Hindu and Sikh population that came from Pakistan started living here.
The total population of Rahon
according to census 1991 was 10,813.The famous place of Rahon are
suraj Kund, Shiv Mandir, Mandir Bhumeshwari, Durga Mandir, Shankar
Mandir, The tomb of Tara Singh Geba and the Forts of Hari Singh Nalwa.
- Pojewal Inn
Some 200 years ago when Rahon was
the biggest business centre of this region, people living in mountain
areas used to come here with the purpose of buying and selling. Their
camels, horses used to be loaded. The journey being quite long, they
stayed at their place and rest for some time, then again they started
their journey. There used to be a Berry tree and and old well. In
brief this place was not less than a five star hotel for the people.
Seeing the importance of this place,
A Pandit named Punu Ram Dhaima who belonged to village 'Roarh Majaia '
built an inn here. In forest areas it used to be a best quality rest
house for one forefathers.
Because of this inn a middle school
was opened here. After that Navodya Vidyala came into existence. Today
there is a small market and about a dozen educational institutions and
offices.
- Bhaddi
This village is thousands of years
old. According to an old saying this village was once ruled by king
Yornath in ' Duapai Era '.At that time it was a big empire and its
name was 'Bhadravati Puri'.There used to be a big fort in the
north-east of the village changed from Bhadravati to Bhadiakali and
after thousands of years it used to be called ' Bhaddi '
According to an old saying king
Yornasar had a horse named Shyam Karan. Its colour was white and ears
were black. Because of its unique features this house was valuable for
the king and he employed thousands soldiers to look after it.
It is said that after the war
between Kauraras and Pandaras ' Ashvmedh Yogya' was organized in
Hastinapur, for which Shyam Kaian horse was selected, when Arjun and
Ghatotkuch came to take this horse . King yornasar refused to give it
and said that they could take the horse only after defeating him. He
also ordered the people of his empire to fight for the sake of his
honour and also to save the horse. A fight was fought and king was
victorius , But afterwards, with the help of his metaphysical powers,
Ghatotkuch was successful in getting the horse.
The religious place in Bhaddi
include Baba Kainthal, Baba Goal Tibbi, A temple of Shiva, some
mosques and a Gurudwara.
- Surapur
A famous village of District
Nawanshahr, Surapur was founded by an old man Sura Singh some 350
years ago. He came here from Utter Pardesh and lived here with his
family . In fact Hindus and Sikhs were the victims of the cruelties of
the Mugals and had to move from one place to another for shelter. With
the passage of time some other families came to this place. The
village was named after the old man Sura Singh .
People of different Castes like
saini, Brahman, Nai, S.C. live here. This village is situated at the
distance of Eight K.M. from Nawanshahr and 10 K.M. from Garshanker.
The village is a developed one. Land is cultivated by modern
techniques. There are two Gurudwaras in the village. There is one
Elementry and one Govt. High School. 95 % people have passed middle, 3
% people are sime literate and 2 % are illiterate.Rural dispensary,
Co-operative milk society , Co- Operative agriculture society , mini
post office, food grain market. A modern library etc. are serving the
people of the village.
80 People of this village fought in
the first and second world war Captain Seva Singh, 4 Subedars and 8
war widows get pension . Dozen of young men of this village are there
on the high posts of Punjab Police, Central and State Government.
- Rattewal
During the Mughal Periad When
Aurangzeb 's cruelties were at their peak, the people of Gujjar Kabila
left their home ( in Delhi ) on the bank of Jamuna river and hide
themselves in Shivalik mountains .This village was founded by one of
those people named ' Ratta Chechi ' .The Population of this village is
more then 7000.There was a time when it used to be the biggest village
divided in dozens of parts.
There are five Government Elementry
Schools, one ' Maharaj Brahma Nand Bhoori Wale Girls College, one
Higher Secondry Schhol, known as Janta High School and two middle
schools. Main crops are Wheat, Peddy, Sugarcane , Corn etc. The chief
of Garib Dasi institution swami Lal Das ji and Chaudhry Balu Ram were
born here.
- Saroya
Village Saroya Tehsil Balachaut ,
Distt. Nawanshahr is situated in Shivalik mountains and known as a
capital for the pople of Kandi area. About one thousand years ago a
Rajput named Sarva lived here. The village was named after him, with
the passage of time Muslims come here and during the reign of Shah-
Jahan they exercised great influence over Hindus. That 's why this
place was named by lton as Shahjahanpura. After 200 years it used to
be called saroya once again.
In 1892 a Primary school was opened
here, which was upgraded and made a High school. This school runs in
the fort built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. An inn was also made in the
fort. Now it is called ' Telu Mal Di Saran', with the passage of time
people belonging to different religious came here and built 8 temples.
Pakistan's former President Zia-ul- Haq was a relative of the Muslims
of this village. After partition Muslims had to go from here. The
people here are well- educated. Many of them are working on high
posts.
Captain Ranjit Singh Minahs has
served as a bodyguard of former president Giani Zail Singh. Brigadier
Kuldip Singh Chanchpuri has got Param Vir Chakra, Charanjit Singh and
Jasjit Singh (both real brothers) have got Vir Chakra. There are many
branches of big banks. There is also a telephone exchange. The land is
fertile. People are religious minded. Saroya which is block
development centre now dreams of being the Sub-Tehsil of District
Nawanshahr.
- Kathgarh
Initially known as Khangarh in
eighteenth century this village was called Kathgarh because of the
abundance of wood here. There is a fort in this village built by
Sardar Jhanda Singh in 1755. There is also a well and its water is
very sweet. Maharaja Ranjit Singhvisited this place in 1831. Sardar
Tara Singh gifted 1000 gold coins and a horse to him. During the
british rule Sardar Bakhtanjar Singh worked as Honorary Magistrate.
Before 1947 the muslim population was more. D.A.V. School is the old
school of the area.
- Sahiba
Village Sahiba was founded by Rana
Sahib Chand in 1522. he was a Rajput. He came from village Charaan (Tehsil
Nawanshahr) to village Sahiba (Tehsil Balachaur) in 1522. Village
Bharapur, Sahdara, Sajawlpur, Uttaal were also part of it.
Village Sahiba used to be a kandi
village. Some fifty years ago a civil dispensary and in 1895 a high
school was built here. This school has now become Senior Secondary
School. There is also a post office and a veterinary hospital. Desi
ghee of Sahiba is very famous and sent to Amritsar, Hosiarpur,
Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Ram Leela, Hola Mohalla is also famous. People
belonging to different religions live here. 80 acres of land is
infertile.
- Balachaur
In 16th century a person
named Raj Dev along with his family came here. He was related with the
family of the king of Jaipur. He started meditating here and named
this place after the name of his son Balraj as Balachaur. Raj dev died
in 1596. People made his tomb here and worshiped him. A committee
named as "Balraj Mandir Committee" was created in 1949 and its
President was Zaildar Balwant Singh. Present President is Rana
Purshotam Singh. In 1539 Sher-Shah-Suri before attacking Himayun took
the blessing of Raj Dev.
- Mandali
This historical village is situated
at some distance on Banga-Phagwara roadand is 7 K.M. away from
Phagwara. There is a religious place in Mandali and is famous with the
name of "Baba Abdulla Shah Kadri Mandali". A fair is held here every
year.
Gurditt Singh Daler who was
sentenced to death in Multan jail in 1939 belonged to this village.
Baba Karam Singh also belonged to this village. Baba Karam Singh
Cheema, baba Bhagwan Singh Dosanjh, Chain Singh Chain, Baba Harbans
Singh Karnana were arrested from Mandali in 1940 by the british.
The present chairman of Jalandhar
Improvement Trust Dr. Lekh Raj belongs to this village. Sh. Chaman
kalyan is serving at a high post in U.K. also belongs to this village.
- Jadla
This village was founded by Baba
Bhoj Singh of Jaipur some 540 years ago. There was a time when this
area was lying abandoned. Perhaps that's why it was called Jadla.
There are 9 wells in the village. The first Primary School of the area
was opened in Jadla. At that time people used to go from Rahon and
Garhshankar to Lahore for higher study.
