Tarn Taran district is one of the districts in the Majha region of Punjab, India. The main cities are Tarn Taran Sahib, Bhikhiwind, Khadur Sahib and Patti. The City of Tarn Taran Sahib is a holy place for Sikhs. Tarn Taran's Sikh population makes it the most heavily concentrated district of Sikhs in India and the world.

Tarn Taran district
Location in Punjab
Location in Punjab
Coordinates: 31°27′36″N 74°55′48″E / 31.46000°N 74.93000°E / 31.46000; 74.93000
Country India
StatePunjab
RegionMajha
Named forPool of salvation
HeadquartersTarn Taran Sahib
Government
 • Administrator of DistrictHarmesh Singh Pabla
Area
 • Total
2,414 km2 (932 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[‡]
 • Total
1,119,627
 • Density460/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialPunjabi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Literacy69.4%
Websitetarntaran.gov.in

Tarn Taran district was formed in 2006 out of Amritsar District. The declaration to this effect was made by Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, during the celebrations marking the martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. With this, it became the 19th district of Punjab. It has four tehsils, which are Bhikhiwind, Patti, Khadur Sahib and Tarn Taran Sahib. The District Headquarters is headed by the Deputy Commissioner, along with a Senior Superintendent of Police, Civil Surgeon, district Education Officer, Improvement Trust and a Municipal Council. The district judiciary is headed by the District and Session Judge, aided by several Additional District and Sessions Judges, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, and other officials.

Location

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Tarn Taran is located in the state of Punjab, in far northern India. It is surrounded by district of Amritsar in the north, district Kapurthala in the east, district Ferozepur in the south and Pakistan in the west.[1]

Coordinates

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Taran taran district lies between 31 0 05’, and 31 0 30’ 05 north latitude 74 0 30’ and 75 0 15’ 05“ east longitudes. The area falls in Survey Of India topo sheet Nos 44-I & 44-M.[1]

History

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The foundation of Tarn Taran city was laid by fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev in 1596. The area of Tarn Taran Sahib later came under the control of the Bhangi Misl ruled by a powerful Sikh family of Dhillon clan from 1716 to 1810.[1]

During the 1965 India–Pakistan war, the town of Khem Karan was captured by the Pakistan army during early September 1965. The Pakistani forces were later defeated during the battle of Asal Uttar, that was fought from 8 to 10 September. At that time, it was the largest tank battle since the Second World War.[2][3][4] Khem Karan remained under Pakistani occupation for about six months till the signing of Tashkent agreement between India and Pakistan on 10 January 1966.[5]

During the war, the people of the area had to leave their houses and go far away. Many houses, crops and railway tracks were destroyed. In the areas occupied by Pakistan, many houses were looted by Pakistani troops. Even the doors and windows were removed.[6]

During the Insurgency in Punjab, India, Tarn Taran was a humble stronghold of well-funded armed groups of resistance. Several key separatist leaders trace their origins to Tarn Taran, including but not limited to Sukhdev Singh Babbar, co-founder of Babbar Khalsa, Avtar Singh Brahma, co-founder of the Khalistan Liberation Force, Labh Singh of the Khalistan Commando Force, and Gurbachan Singh Manochahal founder of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan.

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901422,024—    
1911363,045−1.49%
1921383,090+0.54%
1931460,470+1.86%
1941576,325+2.27%
1951485,947−1.69%
1961524,117+0.76%
1971626,166+1.79%
1981728,142+1.52%
1991806,944+1.03%
2001939,057+1.53%
20111,119,627+1.77%
source:[7]

According to the 2011 census Tarn Taran district has a population of 1,119,627,[8] roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus[9] or the US state of Rhode Island.[10] This gives it a ranking of 413th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 464 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,200/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.28%. Tarn Taran has a sex ratio of 898 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 69.4%. Scheduled Castes made up 33.71% of the population.[8]

Religion in Tarn Taran District (2011)

  Sikhism (93.33%)
  Hinduism (5.40%)
  Christianity (0.54%)
  Islam (0.34%)
  Others (0.38%)

Languages of Tarn Taran District (2011)[11]

  Punjabi (98.95%)
  Others (1.05%)

Religion

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Religion in Tarn Taran district (2011)[12]
Religion Percent
Sikhism
93.33%
Hinduism
5.40%
Christianity
0.54%
Other
0.73%

The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Tarn Taran district.

Absolute numbers of different religious groups in Tarn Taran district[13]
Religion Urban (2022) Rural (2022) Urban (2001) Rural (2001)
Sikh 1,63,976 10,15,876 1,04,728 9,40,175
Hindu 44,876 12,786 34,146 26,358
Christian 1,710 2,535 1,675 4,420
Muslim 560 4,658 495 5,051
Other religions 920 2,980 751 3,519

Tarn Taran district has the highest % share of Sikhs among all the districts of Punjab followed by Moga district (as of 2011 census).[14]

Health

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As of 2018, the number of registered doctors in Taran Taran district were 84 and registered nurses were 3,378.[15][16] That means that the average population served per doctor in the district was 15,210 in that year, which was the highest in the state.[17]

The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Taran Taran, as of year 2020.

District nutrition profile of children under 5 years of age in Taran Taran, year 2020 [18]
Indicators Number of children (<5 years) Percent (2020) Percent (2016)
Stunted 22,372 24% 23%
Wasted 10,626 11% 10%
Severely wasted 3,426 4% 4%
Underweight 13,525 14% 14%
Overweight/obesity 4,254 5% 3%
Anemia 59,640 71% 53%
Total children 94,120

The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Taran Taran of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years, as of year 2020.

District nutritional profile of Taran Taran of women of 15-49 years, in 2020[18]
Indicators Number of women (15-49 years) Percent (2020) Percent (2016)
Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m^2) 43,756 13% 14%
Overweight/obesity 136,624 39% 30%
Hypertension 109,005 31% 18%
Diabetes 42,706 12% NA
Anemia (non-preg) 216,506 62% 47%
Anemia (preg) NA NA 34%
Total women (preg) 18,109
Total women 350,049

The table below shows the current use of family planning methods by currently married women between the age of 15 and 49 years, in Taran Taran district.

Family planning methods used by women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, in Taran Taran district[19]
Method Total (2015–16) Rural (2015–16)
Female sterilization 49.6% 50.2%
Male sterilization 0.8% 0.9%
IUD/PPIUD 7.1% 8.1%
Pill 1.9% 1.7%
Condom 17.3% 15.9%
Any modern method 76.8% 76.9%
Any method 80.8% 80.3%
Total unmet need 3.5% 3.8%
Unmet need for spacing 1.6% 1.8%

The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Taran Taran district by year.

Road accidents and people affected in Taran Taran district by year[20]
Year Accidents Killed Injured Vehicles Involved
2022 126 110 96 183
2021 123 126 37 85
2020 97 93 35 122
2019 134 121 87 119

Economy

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The income of Municipalities and Municipal corporations in Taran Taran district from municipal rates and taxes in the year 2018 was 54,566 thousand rupees.[21]

As of 2014–15, there were 452 registered Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) units in the Taran Taran district, which provided employment to 2,717 people. There were 6 Medium and Large industrial units, which provided employment to 609 people.[22]

Politics

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Kashmir Singh Sohal from Aam Admi Party is the MLA from Tarn Taran Assembly Constituency. He was elected in 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election.[23]

No. Constituency Name of MLA Party Bench
21 Sri Tarn Taran Sahib Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal Aam Aadmi Party Government
22 Khemkaran Sarvan Singh Dhun Aam Aadmi Party Government
23 Patti Laljit Singh Bhullar Aam Aadmi Party Government
24 Sri Khadoor Sahib Manjinder Singh Lalpura Aam Aadmi Party Government

Transport

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There is no commercial airport in the district. The nearest airport is Amritsar International Airport. Direct International flights are available to key cities around the world in the likes of London, Birmingham, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Tashkent and Ashgabat. Domestic connections are available to almost every major city of India.

Rail

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The rail network provides good connectivity across the district. Amritsar-Khemkaran and Beas-Tarn Taran railway lines pass through Tarn Taran district. Tarn Taran Junction railway station provides cross connectivity between these two lines. A new project of rail line from Patti to Makhu has been approved by railways since 2013 but not started till date due to delay by state government on land acquisition.[24]

Road

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The district is well connected through national highways to rest of Punjab state and nationally. Following national highways pass through the district.

Towns and villages

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The villages and towns of Tarn Taran District include:

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "History | Welcome to District Tarn Taran,Govt. Of Punjab | India".
  2. ^ Pradhan, S. D. "Battle of Asal Uttar 1965: Annihilation of the Pak Army – Times of India". The Times of India., by SD Pradhan, September 8, 2022
  3. ^ "Battle of Asal Uttar: When Indian troops took on mighty Pattons of Pakistan and won". www.firstpost.com. Firstpost. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  4. ^ Man Aman Singh Chhina (23 August 2015). "Big Picture: Key Battles – Memorials, war stories keep Asal Uttar alive". The Indian Express. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  5. ^ Dr.Ashwani Kumar (January 2023). "TRANSFORMATION AND DYNAMICS: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF KHEM KARAN TOWN-A STUDY AFTER 1965 INDO-PAK WAR". www.academia.edu. History Research Journal. Volume: 29, Issue: 06, No.3, November – December : 2023
  6. ^ Dr.Ashwani Kumar (January 2023). "INDO-PAK WAR 1965: A STUDY OF KHEM KARAN TOWN OF PUNJAB". www.academia.edu. History Research Journal. Retrieved 22 June 2024. Volume: 29, Issue: 01, January – February : 2023
  7. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  8. ^ a b "District Census Hand Book – Tarn Taran" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  9. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Cyprus 1,120,489, July 2011 est.
  10. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Rhode Island 1,052,567
  11. ^ "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Punjab". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  12. ^ "Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Punjab". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  13. ^ "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India". 21 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Welcome to District Tarn Taran,Govt. Of Punjab | An effort of District Administration Tarn Taran to provide updated information | India".
  15. ^ "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India". 21 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India". 21 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India". 21 January 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Tarn Taran | Punjab" (PDF). www.niti.gov.in.
  19. ^ "National Family Health Survey - 4 2015 -16, District Fact Sheet, Gurdaspur" (PDF). p. 2.
  20. ^ "Road Accidents in Punjab". punjab.data.gov.in. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  21. ^ "District-wise Income of Municipalities/Corporations in Punjab from Municipal Rates and Taxes in Punjab from 1968 to 2018 (As on March)". 8 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Brief Industrial Profile of District TARN-TARAN". Ministry of MSME. p. 6.
  23. ^ "Punjab Assembly: 12 doctors make it to House". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Patti-Makhu rail link hanging fire for 7 years". The Hindustan Times. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Kapurthala-Taran Taran road declared as NH- 703 A A named as Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg". All India Radio News. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2020.

Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 5, page 319 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library

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