Gujranwala District

Gujranwala District (Urdu: ضلع گوجرانوالہ) is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The city of Gujranwala is the capital.

History

Gujranwala (Urdu: گوجرانوالہ), the capital of Gujranwala District, is a city in the northeast of the Punjab province in Pakistan. It borders the districts of Sialkot, to the north and east, Shiekhupura, to the south, Hafizabad, to the west and south, and Gujrat district to the west, on the other side of the Chenab river. The district is in the ancient region of Punjab, known as Sandal Bar, between the rivers of Chenab and Ravi.

The southern area of Gujranwala district is known as the Virkyat region or Virk territory, were the Virk Jatts held their territory, independently. The Chatha Jatts never got on with the Sikh Sardars, there were wars all the time. until the reign of Sher-e-Panjab. Before the arrival of Sikhs, into Gujranwala area, it was mainly held by local Muslim tribes, while Gujranwala, Garjakh, Qila Mian Singh, Botala Jhanda Singh, Butala Sham Singh, Eminabad, Kamoke, Qila Didar Singh, Ruriala, Mari Thakran, Ladhe Wala Waraich, Wazirabad, Dhounkal, Wadala Cheema, Mughal Chak were the only, that were under local Sikh Rule. In 1738, Panah Bhatti, a very powerful, Chieftain, had the whole of western Punjab, from Hasan Abdal, Attock, to the banks of the River Ravi, at his mercy, Gujranwala area, was to under his influence, but was defeated, by the Muslim Mughal Governors, of Lahore. Panah Bhatti, was captured and killed.

Sardar Amir Singh, was a very old Sikh Chieftain of Gujranwala, belonging to the Waraich Jat Clan. He had two sons Gurbakhsh Singh and Dal Singh, and two daughters including, Desan Kaur (d. 1778), Mai Desan in 1756, was married to Sardar Charat Singh Sukerchakia (d. 1770), who was from Amritsar District of Punjab, crossed the river Ravi, with a large Sikh army, and Occupied Gujranwala, establishing his independent State. Mai Desan, gave birth to Sardar Mahan Singh Sukerchakia (d. 1792), who expanded his territories, and fought against the Chatha Jats, who he defeated. He married Mata Raj Kaur, the daughter of Rajah Gajpat Singh, a Sidhu Jatt, ruler of Jind Sikh State, in about 1777, who later gave birth to Maharajah Ranjit Singh Sher-e-Panjab in 1780, in Gujranwala Haveli (Mansion), the biggest and tallest building in Gujranwala and fortified, at that time, where the great Sikh Chieftains lived. From 1792-1801, Gujranwala remained the capital of Ranjit Singh, until he captured Lahore in 1799, from Sardar Chet Singh Bhangi, a weak Sikh Chieftain of Lahore. Sardar Hari Singh Nalua (1791-1837), was also born in Gujranwala, to Sardar Gurdial Singh, and Mata Dharam Kaur, a Uppal Khatri, who was also the commander and general of the Sikh army during the Sikh times, family was originally from Amritsar. He has been credited for having rebuilt the present city of Gujranwala.

Ranjit Singh, brought all the independent Muslim states of Gujranwala, under his rule. During the later Sikh rule, the Hindu's of Gujranwala, played a great role, in those days. Maharajah Ranjit Singh, having, great tolerance, built many Durgahs of Sufi Saints, such as Mastan Shah, near Gujranwala, according to the local legends of Gujranwalia's. Who is said to have met the maharajah during his childhood. He Visited Dhounkal village, near Wazirabad city, in Gujranwala, where the shrine of mystical Sakhi Sarwar stands.

It has been recorded that a small number of the total Sikh population, of Gujranwala district, were from Eastern Punjab, who started settling in Gujranwala, during the occupation of the area, by the Sikh chief, Charat Singh. Sardar Jhanda Singh, also in between 1760-1799, migrated to Gujranwala, where he established his own Authority, and later founded the village of Botala Jhanda Singh. Other Sikh Sardars such as the Maan Jatt Sikh Sardars of Mughal Chak, and the Waraich Jatt Sikh Sardars of Ruriala in Gujranwala, were also from Amritsar District. Most of the Lahore Sikh royal family members, were from mainly Gujranwala, Sialkot, and some from Amritsar district. There are hundreds of old Islamic Tombs, Forts, Canals, Villages, Gurdwaras, Temples, Mansions, old Villages, Mosques, Baradari's and city walls, which are in ruins, scattered throughout Gujranwala countryside.

The second Anglo Sikh Wars were fought in 1848-49, between the Sikh Empire and British East India Company. were fought at Ram Nagar, also in Gujranwala, where it was Sikh Victory. In 1847, the district had come under British influence. two year later it was under British rule in 1849.

In 1947, Gujranwala District, was awarded to Pakistan, because of Muslims being a majority forming about 75%, while the Sikhs were 10% and the Hindus were about 15%. Plunder, masses of Looting, Force Conversion, Genocide, destruction, and rioting took place in Gujranwala, during 1947, August time. It has been recorded that Sikhs, also protected their villages, in Gujranwala, along with the Hindus, and many died fighting, against the Muslim looters. All the Sikh and Hindu population, left for Eastern Punjab. While the Muhajir Muslims, from the Indian States of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi, in en masse, migrated to Pakistan, a good number of them settled in the Gujranwala region. Today Gujranwala, has the largest population, along with other districts, The Tribes of Gujranwala, are mainly Jatts, Rajputs, and the Muhajirs.

List of some famous villages

* Alipur Chattha

Ahmad Nagar Chattha
Amin Pur Saidan
Aujla Kalan
Badokhi Sekhwan
Banka Cheema
Bhai Ke Aulakh
Bharoki Cheema
Bhatti Mansoor
Bhoman Bathh
Bhuppra Goraya
Budha Goraya
Chahal Kalan
Chak Gill
Chak Roop Chand
Chak Sadu Virkan
Chak Waraich
Chalaki Virkan
Dehla Chattha
Dadwali Sharif
Dapai Mehtab Singh
Dargahiwala warraich

Dhair Virkan
Dhariwal
Dhindsa
Dhounkal
Fazal Pura
Garhjakh
Ghaya Wala Cheema
Gill Wala
Gondalan Wala
Hameedpur Kalan
Hazrat Kalianwala Sharif
Hardo Saharan
Jaffar Kot
Jalalpur Chattha
Jam Wala Chattha
Jukhyan Chattha
Kalaske Cheema
Khewaywali
Kot Amar Singh
Kot Inayat Khan
Kotli Nawab
Ladhe Wala Cheema
Ladhewala Waraich
Langian Wali
Leel Virkan
Maan
Madrassa Chattha
Maju Chak
Manchar Chattha
Mandyala Waraich
Mangoke Virkan
Manzoorabad
Mari Khurd
Matta Virkan
Mattu Bhai Ke
Melu Virkan
Mokhal Sandhua
Mughal Chak
Muraliwala
Nathoke
Noinke Sandhua
Pathanwali
Phaloki Cheema
Pindori Kalan
Pipnakha
Qila Mian Singh
Radyala Waraich
Ramdas
Sado Goraya
Sadu Virkan
Saharan Chattha
Salhoke Chattha
Shera Kot
Sohian
Talwandi Khajoor Wali
Thakar Ke Waraich
Thatha Gulab
Thatha Hayer
Tokrian
Tung Kalan
Udday Virkan
Ugo Bhinder
Ugo Chak
Verpal Chattha
Wadala Cheema
Wandala Virkan
Nokhar
Kot Kesho

Administration

The district is composed of 4 tehsils: