# Talhan

Talhan is a village in Jalandhar district, near the Jalandhar Cantonment, in Punjab, India.

## History

The village was founded by Jats However, they all left the village during Baba Banda Singh Bahadur's time and later joined forces of Baba Baghel Singh Dhaliwal during the Battle of Delhi 1783 and the original inhabitants settled in western Uttar Pradesh. Subsequently, the village was inhabited by people of Sahgal got who sold the land to Randhawa Jats and Bains Jats of Bahowal, Mahilpur who later inhabitated the village. During the colonial period Talhan housed the zail headquarters, which covered 21 villages, headed by a Bains Zaildar family from 1871 until the Government of India abolished the Zaildari feudal system by in 1952 by abolishing the oppressive feudal legislation. It is mentioned that the zaildar in 1923 was Sham Singh and last zaildar was Zaildar Jagat Singh

## Demographics

According to the 2001 Census, Talhan has a population of 2,946 people. The village has 369 acres (1.49 km$^2$).

## Baba Shaheed Nihal Singh

Talhan is famous for its Shaheedi Jor mela, which is held annually in the memory of Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh. The mela is a big attraction in Jalandhar. The 58th Jor Mela was held on 20–21 June 2009.
Baba Nihal Singh belonged to the neighbouring village of Dakoha. Baba Nihal Singh made pulleys for drinking water wells. He served the people by installing the pulleys at the base of the well. Local people believe that as the Baba was divine, no matter which water well Baba installed a pulley, the water wells never dried up and the water remained sweet.
On one occasion, the Baba met with a fatal accident, while installing a pulley and the Baba became a martyr while serving the people.
The people of Talhan constructed a shrine (Samadh) in Talhan. The shrine was looked after by the Baba Nihal Singh's associate, Harnam Singh. After Harnam Singh's death, the followers cremated him next to the Baba's Samadhi.
The two shrines have now become a grand Gurudwara. An annual Mela is held to mark the death anniversary ("Barsi") of the Baba. This Mela is a grand event in Jalandhar. There are sports events like Kabbadi, volleyball and tug-of-war. Gatka (Sikh martial arts) displays are held.
Mela is held each year in the month of june

## Religion

Talhan has a mixed population of Sikhs and Hindus. The village also has one Muslim family whose Iqbal Bibi is the sole caretaker of the "mazaar" (dargah) of Pir Baba Fateh Shah Qadir. The "mazaar" is located in the north-west of Talhan and is about a kilometre from Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh. The "mazaar" includes three graves, a "tomb" and the care taker is Baba Paramjit Singh Bains. The village participates in the annual urs or Mela where Qawwali's and folk singers perform. There is an annual Mela which is celebrated by Sehgal's. This Mela is celebrated at their holy place known as the Jathere of Sehgal family.

## Talhan caste conflict

The Talhan conflict is a very important event in the assertion of dalit rights in Punjab. 60% of the population is from the scheduled caste and are mainly from the chamar caste. In June 2003, Talhan hit the headlines when a dispute broke out between Chamar and Jat sikhs of talhan chamar community also wanted a share on the governing committee of the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurdwara. Though the Chamar community form more than 60 per cent of Talhan's 3,000-strong population, they were denied a share in the committee.As a result of a protracted dispute between the villagers, at last the Gurudawara management went under District Collector of Jalandhar District.

## General

Neighbouring villages include Parasrampur, Kotli Than Singh, Bhakriana, Semmi, Salempur Masanda, Dhanowali, Dakoha, Dhilwan and Puranpur.
The village has many castes with surnames such as Bains, Sander, Bhogal, Sandhu, Chahal, Bal and Randhawa. The Bains families are divided into two "pattis" (family divisions): Burha Phaggu and Burha Deepa and claim ancestry from Baba Tula who was originally from Bahowal village near Mahilpur.
The village Gurudwara is also famous as Visa Request Gurudwara as devotees bring aeroplane replica to request an approval of VISA applications.
The village has shops, two banks, Jathera, a Secondary School, a Mosque, temples, a Post Office and four Gurdwara's
* Gurdwara Singh Sabha Talhan
* Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Harnam Singh ji Talhan
* Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh ji Talhan
* Gurdwara Sri Ravidas ji Talhan