Fatehgarh Sahib district

Overview

Fatehgarh Sahib is a district in the state of Punjab, India. It lies in the south-eastern part of the state and forms part of the Patiala administrative division. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Fatehgarh Sahib, which is associated with the martyrdom of the two younger sons (Sahibzadas) of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, and is among the most important pilgrimage centres of Sikhism.

Key facts

Background

The district was created on 13 April 1992 when it was separated from Patiala district. The name "Fatehgarh Sahib" commemorates Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the youngest son of Guru Gobind Singh, who along with his elder brother Sahibzada Zorawar Singh was executed in 1705 on the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal faujdar of Sirhind. The site of their martyrdom is marked by Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, which forms the spiritual centre of the district.

The town of Sirhind, which lies within the district, was historically a major Mughal administrative centre on the Delhi–Lahore route and the seat of the faujdari that exercised authority over a large area of the Punjab plains. After the rise of Sikh power in the eighteenth century, Banda Singh Bahadur captured and razed Sirhind in 1710 in retaliation for the Sahibzadas' execution.

Geography

Fatehgarh Sahib district lies on the alluvial plains of the Sutlej–Ghaggar interfluve. It is bordered by Ludhiana district to the north-west, Rupnagar district to the north, Patiala district to the south, and Sangrur district to the west. The district lies in the Malwa region of Punjab. Its terrain is largely flat and intensively cultivated, with wheat and rice as the principal crops, supported by a dense canal and tubewell irrigation network.

Administration

The district is administered by a Deputy Commissioner. It is divided into sub-divisions (tehsils) including Fatehgarh Sahib, Bassi Pathana, Amloh and Khamanon, along with a number of community development blocks. Major towns in the district include Fatehgarh Sahib, Sirhind, Bassi Pathana, Amloh, Mandi Gobindgarh and Khamanon.

Mandi Gobindgarh, often referred to as the "Steel Town" of India, is one of the largest steel re-rolling and iron market hubs in northern India and contributes significantly to the district's industrial base.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, Fatehgarh Sahib is one of the smaller districts of Punjab by population. Punjabi is the predominant language, and Sikhism and Hinduism are the most followed religions. Literacy levels in the district are above the state average for rural Punjab.

Places of significance

• Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib – marks the site where the younger Sahibzadas were martyred; major site of the annual Shaheedi Jor Mela held in late December.
• Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup – associated with the cremation of the Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri.
• Aam Khas Bagh – a Mughal-era garden complex built during the reigns of Babur, Akbar and Shah Jahan, used as a halting station on the imperial highway.
• Rauza Sharif – the tomb of the Sufi saint Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi (Mujaddid Alf Sani), a notable site of Islamic pilgrimage.
• Mata Gujri College and educational institutions in Fatehgarh Sahib town.

Economy

The economy of the district rests on agriculture, agro-processing and metals industry. Wheat, paddy and fodder dominate cropping patterns. Mandi Gobindgarh hosts a large concentration of steel rolling mills, foundries and furnace units, while Sirhind and Khanna serve as important grain-market towns in the region.

Transport

The district is well connected by road and rail. National Highway 44 (the Delhi–Amritsar corridor) passes through Sirhind and Mandi Gobindgarh. Sirhind Junction is a