Malwa (Punjab)

Malwa is a region of Punjab and parts of Haryana between the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. This Malwa should not be confused with the Malwa Plateau region of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. The Malwa area makes up the majority of the Punjab region consisting 11 districts.Cities such as Ludhiana, and Patiala located in the Malwa region are the richest cities, and are the most expensive places to live in the Punjab State. Ludhiana is the business centre of Punjab and is also referred to as the Manchester of Punjab. The city is also home to Punjab Agricultural University.Only Malwa region of Punjab had princley states including Patiala, Nabha , Faridkot and Malerkotla. Malwa is home to many NRI residents mostly from the Ludhiana, Sangrur, Moga, Barnala, and Bathinda districts. Ferozepur, which was the largest district and a metro city before the division of India and Pakistan, is part of the Malwa region which is famous for its patriotism as well as martyrdom and for the yield of best quality of wheat and paddy in the world^{[citation needed]}. The Malwa region has been controlling the political power in Punjab and India for decades and the current Chief Minister of Punjab, also hailing from the Malwa region is Parkash Singh Badal who belongs to a Dhillon Jatt family, and is the president of Shiromani Akali Dal.

History

It is one of the Oldest Regions of Punjab Region and the Malva Region is Full of Ancient Punjabi Culture and Folklore and a very Rich History and a Beautiful Punjabi Countryside. The Sutlej River goes through the Northern Parts of the Malva Region.

Guru Arjan Dev ji (1563-1606) added in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib ji in Raag Gauri there is a Raag Known as Raag Gauri Malva. Named after the Malva region of Punjab.

The Region Of Malwa (In Punjabi Known as Malva) Converted to Sikhism in Masses From The time of Guru Ram Das Ji to Guru Gobind Singh ji Times Becoming a Khalsa, and During the Early Sikh Misl Period. Guru Gobind Singh Ji (1666-1708) Traveled throughout the Malva Region of Punjab Preaching Sikhism visiting Village after Village where His Sikh Devotes Lived and Blessed Them.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1539) Came to Malva Region and Preached The Message of God, Guru Angad Dev Ji Was born in the Malva Region in the Village of Sarai Nagaan In Muktsar Sahib District, Guru Amar Das ji (1479-1574) Traveled in Malva, Guru Ram Das ji (1531-1581) time many Malvais Converted to Sikhism, During the time of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606) Like Majha, Doaba Masses of Malvais Converted to Sikhism as well, Guru Hargobind Sahib ji (1595-1644) Visited Malva as He was married in the Village of Droli Bhai in Moga District to Mata Damodari Ji There she gave birth to Baba Gurditta Ji the First son of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji during his tours Large Numbers joined the Sikh Army of Guru. The During the Time of Guru Har Rai Sahib (1630-1661) Hundreds Converted to Sikhism then, Guru Harkrishan Sahib ji (1656-1664) also traveled Through the Malva to Delhi Via Ambala. Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib (1621-1675) also Did a lot of traveling in Malva Area it was once known as Malva Desh (Country) he Preached and many Became Sikhs under him. Malva Region is the only region of Punjab where Guru Gobind Singh Ji Spent more time then other areas as He Traveled Through the Districts of Rup Nagar, Ludhiana, Moga, Faridkot, Firozpur, Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda Districts.

The battle of Chamkaur Sahib took Place here in 1705 against the Mughals.

The Battle of Muktsar took Place here in 1705 in which 40 Sikhs of Guru Gobind Singh ji of Majha Region of Punjab led by Mata Bhag Kaur of Jhabal Kalan Village (Amritsar District) Attained Martyrdom Fighting against The Mughals.

Earliest Malva Sikh Kingdoms or States from were Phulkian Misl, Kotkapura State (Faridkot District), Shaheedan Misl, Nishanwalia Misl, Dallewalia Misl, Singhpuria Misl, and Local Sikh Sardars (Chiefs). in the late 18th Century Jind Kingdom, Kaithal Kingdom and Nabha Kingdom came in to Being in 1762.

Baba Ala Singh (1790-1765) found his own Sikh Kingdom (Phulkian Misl) When he captured Patiala Area and Established himself at Lehal Village a Historic Sikh related Village where he later Built a Magnificent City and named it Patiala after his name Pati-ala and Built a Big Fortress and City walls around his New capital to defend it from Enemy Attacks. He Expanded his Territory up to Bathinda City and to Tohana in Haryana State. He Founded many Villages within his Territory, He built many Gurdwaras which were Related to The Visit of Ninth Prophet Guru Tegh Bahadur throughout Mainly Patiala District. His Descendants Ruled until 1809 When Patiala Sikh Kingdom Chose to Come under British protection as they feared danger from the Northern Sikh Kingdoms of Punjab.

Former President of India Giani Zail Singh also belonged to th Malwa area of Punajab.Since Independence 10 out of 30 Chief Ministers of Punjab have been from Malwa including Captain(Retd.) Amarinder Singh of Patiala, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Harcharan Singh Brar.

Historical figures of Malwa Punjab

• Phulkian Sardars Sidhu-Brar ban
• Bhoopa Dhuri wala
• 15th Ludhiana Sikhs - Most loyal army of British Raj
• 14th King George's Own Ferozepore Sikhs
• Babu Rajab Ali Saho Ke (Moga) - Renowned Punjabi Poet
• Hari Singh Dhillon- most powerful Sikh warrior of the 17th century spreading his empire into Afghanistan
• Jhanda Singh Dhillon
• Banda Singh Bahadur - martyr of Sikh faith
• Bhuma Singh Dhillon
• Maharaja Rajinder Singh
• Maharaja Bhupinder Singh
• Maharaja Yadavindra Singh
• Baghel Singh Dhaliwal-18th century misldar king of karora singhia misl.
• Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon
• Sarabjit Singh Dhillon
• Kartar Singh Sarabha:First Sikh freedom fighter during British time who was hanged at age 18 in Lahore. He was also the mentor of Bhagat Singh
• Bhuma Singh Dhillon:Famous Sikh warrior of the 18th century
• Bibi Sahib Kaur:Sikh Princess
• Bibi Rajindar Kaur:Sikh princess
• Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon:Param Vir Chakra India highest military decoration
• Baba Gurmukh Singh:Freedom Fighter
• Sukhdev Thapar:Hanged alongside with Bhagat Singh on March 23, 1931
• Udham Singh:Assassinated Michael O'Dwyer
• Beant Singh:Chief Minster of Punjab assassinated by khalistani terrorists in Chandigarh, 1995.
• Mohinder Singh Randhawa:Played a major role in the Green Revolution of India

The people of the region are known as Malwais.

The dialect of Punjabi spoken in Malwa is called Malwi.

Compared to Majha (consisting of Amritsar and Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts), Doaba(consisting of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Nawan Shahr districts) and Powadh (comprising Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, parts of Patiala), Malwa comprises 10(parts of some) of the twenty districts of Punjab. Districts in Malwa include:

• Barnala
• Bathinda
• Faridkot
• parts of Fatehgarh Sahib
• Firozpur
• Ludhiana
• Mansa
• Moga
• Muktsar
• Patiala
• Sangrur

During the Mughal era, Malwa was known as Sirhind, since it consisted of the city by that name. Sirhind was the headquarters or the Mughal administration in Eastern Punjab. The city was also the headquarters of the Mujaddidiya branch of the Naqshbandiyya Order of Sufism. The Order was named after Mujaddid Alif Thani also known as Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi.

Malwa, like the rest of the province, was also the scene of many clashes between the Mughals, the Sikhs, the Afghans, the Marathas and the British.

See also

• Doaba
• Majha
• Powadh