Faridkot district

Faridkot district is a district lying in the South-Western part of Punjab, India with Faridkot city as the district headquarters.
Etymology
The district is named after its headquarters, Faridkot city, which in turn is named in the honor of Baba Farid, who was a Sufi saint and a Muslim missionary. The town of Faridkot was founded during the 13th century as Mokalhar by Raja Mokalsi, the grandson of Rai Munj, a Bhatti Chief of Bhatnair, Rajasthan. According to popular folklore, the Raja renamed Mokalhar to Faridkot after Baba Farid paid a visit to the town. It remained the capital during the reign of Mokalsi's son Jairsi and Wairsi.
History
The region was a self-governing princely state during the British Raj period. Prior to independence, a large part of the district was under the rule of the Maharaja of Faridkot and later it became a part of the Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU ) in 1948. Before independence the Muslim population was 35% mainly from Jat, Mochi, Arain and Tarkhan castes who migrated to Pakistan and settled mainly in Okara, Kasur, Pakpattan and Bahawalnagar Districts. Faridkot was carved out as a separate district on 7 August 1972 out of the areas of erstwhile Bathinda District(Faridkot Tehsil) and Ferozepur District(Moga and Muktsar Tehsils). Further, in November 1995 the Faridkot District was trifurcated when two of its subdivisions viz. Muktsar and Moga were given the status of independent districts.
Government body
Prior to independence large part of the district was under the princely rule of Sikh Maharaja of Faridkot and later it became part of the Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU ) in 1948. Faridkot was carved out as a separate district on 7 August 1972 out of the areas of Bathinda District (Faridkot Tehsil) and Ferozepur District (Moga and Muktsar Tehsils). However, in November 1995, the Faridkot District was trifurcated when two of its subdivisions viz Muktsar and Moga were given the status of independent districts.
Faridkot district is surrounded by district Ferozepur in the North-West, Muktsar in the South-West, Bathinda in the South, and Moga in the West. The District covers an area of 1469 km2. which is 2.92% of the total area of the State and accommodates a population of 552,466, which is 2.27% of the total population of the State. It has three Subdivisions/ Tehsils namely Faridkot, Kotkapura and Jaito and a Sub Tehsil namely Sadiq comprising a total of 171 villages. Faridkot District has two development blocks namely Faridkot and Kotkapura.
In 2020, Faridkot has been made new police division. Earlier, Faridkot was part of Ferozepur police division. Moga and Mukatsar districts were also attached with Faridkot police division.
Politics
Overview
The Faridkot district contains 2 Cities Faridkot, Kotkapura. More than 7 towns/villages are quite notable in the Faridkot area such as Jaitu, Bajakhana, Panjgarain Kalan, Deep Singh Wala, Golewala, Jhok Sarkari, Doad, Ghugiana, Sadiq, Chand Bhan, etc. Faridkot is a hub for premier educational institutions. North India's only Medical University, also named after Baba Farid is in Faridkot besides Medical
- Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Engineering and Dental Colleges.
List of villages
Ahal
Arayanwala Kalan
Arayanwala Khurd
Aulakh
Bagiana
Bajakhana
Bargari
Beguwala
Behbal kalan
Behbal khurd
Bhag Singhwala
Bhagta Bhai Ka
Bhagthala Kalan
Bhagthala Khurd
Bhairon-Ki-Bhatti
Bhana
Bhilewala
Bholuwala
Bir Bholuwala
Bir Chahal
Bir Sikhanwala
Burj Jwahar singh
Burj Masta
Buttar
Chahal
Chak Dhudi
Chak Kalyan
Chak Sahu
Chak Seman
Chak Shama
Chambeli
Chand baja
Chaina
Chet Singhwala
Chugewala
Dabrikhana
Daggo Romana
Dalewala
Dana Romana
Dawareana
Deep Singhwala
Deviwala
Dhab Sher Singhwala
Dhaipai
Dhilwan Kalan
Dhilwan Khurd
Dhimanwali
Dhudi
Dhurkot
Dod
Faridkot (Rural)
Ghaniewala
Ghoniwala
Ghuduwala
Ghugiana
Ghumiara
GONDARA
Golewala
Gurusar
Hadialana
Hari Nau
Hariewala
Hassan Bhatti
Jalaleana
Jandwala
Janerian
Jeonwala
Jhakhar Wala
Jhariwala
Jhok Sarkari
Jhotiwala
Kabalwala
Kamiana
Kanianwali
Kaler
Kauni
Khara
Khemuana
Khilchi
Kingra
Koharwala
Kotha Guru
Kothe Kehar Singh
Kot Sukhia
lambwali
Malla
Matta
Machaki Kalan
Machaki Khurd
Machaki Mal Singh
Madahar
Mallewala
Mandwala
Mani Singhwala
Maur
Mehmuana
Midu Maan
Mishriwala
Moranwali
Mumaru
Nangal
Naraingarh
Nathalwala
Nathewala
Pakhi Kalan
Pakhi Khurd
Pakka
Panjgrain Kalan
Pehluwala
Phide Kalan
Phide Khurd
Pindi Balochan
Pipli
Qila Nau
Rajowala
Rattirori
Rupianwala
Sadhanwala
Sadhuwala
Sadiq
Saideke
Sandhwan
Sangatpura
Sango Romana
Sangrahoor
Sarawan
Sher Singhwala
Sibbian
Sikhanwala
Simrewala
Sirsari
Sukhanwala
Tehna
Thara
Virewala kalan
Virewala Khurd
Wander Jatana
Wara Daraka
Rorikapura
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Faridkot district has a population of 617,508, roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands or the US state of Vermont. This gives it a ranking of 519th in India (out of a total of 640).
The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.18%. Faridkot has a sex ratio of 889 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 70.6%. Scheduled Castes made up 38.92% of the population.
Religions
The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Faridkot district.
Note:- The separation of Moga and Muktsar district from Faridkot in 1995 caused significant changes in the population numbers after that year.
Languages
At the time of the 2011 census, 91.79% of the population spoke Punjabi and 6.91% Hindi as their first language.
References
External links
Official website
Faridkot district
Districts of Punjab, India
1972 establishments in Punjab, India