ParmarRajputs established ancient city of Jalandhar in the 7th century, which is presently known as Jalandhar district. The City consistently had to deter invasion, which were endeavours of invaders.
Jalandhar was the site of the KatochRajput kingdom of Jalandhara, also known as Trigartta. The date of its founding is unclear, but its presence is observed by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang in the seventh century, and Kalhana records the defeat of Prithvi Chandra Raja of Trigartta by Sankara Varmma of Kashmir towards the end of the ninth century.[2]
The sack and plunder of Delhi by Timur in 1398 gravely weakened the Delhi Sultanate and ushered in a period of lawlessness in the country. In 1416, the governor of Jalandhar, Malik Tughan assassinated the governor of Sirhind, and later rebelled against Khizr Khan, before being defeated.[2] In the following years Jasrath Khokhar led a series of raids across Jalandhar as he challenged the authority of the Sultan.[2] In 1441, Jalandhar came under the authority of Bahlol Lodi who was appointed governor of Lahore province. Lodi made peace with Jasrath, rebelled and in 1450 became sovereign of Delhi.[2]
Early modern
Mughal
When Babur invaded northern India in 1524 he granted the jagir of Jalandhar to Daulat Khan Lodi at whose instigation he had come.[2] The following year Lodi revolted and was defeated by Babur. In 1540, Babur's son Humayun was expelled by Sher Shah Suri and Jalandhar became part of the Sur Empire. On Humayun's return in 1555, Jalandhar was occupied by his general Bairam Khan and later Akbar. Whilst Akbar had moved east to fight Hemu, Sikandar Suri defeated Khizr Khan, governor of Lahore, at Chamiari in the north of the district.[2] On Akbar's return to Jalandhar, Mughal hegemony was re-established.
With the regaining of Humayun lot of Muslim tribes such as Baloch, Syed and Arain (the descendants of Arab invaders accompanied with Muhammad Bin Qasim were settled in Sindh and Balochistan fetch up in Jalandhar Doaba region.
During Akbar's reign, the city of Jalandhar became one of his mint cities. In 1594, the town of Kartarpur was founded by Guru Arjan on land granted by Akbar.[3] The reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan saw significant improvements to the region's infrastructure, and many villages were founded.[2] The town of Phillaur dates from this period, when it was selected for one of the serais on the Delhi to Lahore road, whilst the town of Nurmahal was re-established by Jahangir's consort Nur Jahan, who is believed to have been raised there. Mughal administrative authority in Jalandhar lasted into the reign of Muhammad Shah, evidenced by the significant number of land grants in the district issued by the Emperor.[2]
Durrani
Nader Shah's invasion of India, culminating in the sack of Delhi in 1739, effectively ended Mughal imperial power. During his fourth invasion, Nurmahal was plundered and its inhabitants slaughtered.[2] In 1756, Adina Beg, Arain (descendants of Arab invaders accompanied with Muhammad Bin Qasim via Sindh later in 15th century) settled in Jalandhar, assisted militarily by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, defeated Sarbuland Khan, the Afghan general and captured Jalandhar. In 1758, the Mahrattas, at the instigation of Adina Beg, invaded the Punjab, defeating the Afghans, and installing Adina Beg as governor of the entire province.[2] Adina Beg died in 1759, and in 1761 the Afghans returned, taking control of the Punjab, and driving out the Mahrattas.[2]
Sikh
The death of Adina Beg coincided with the start of increasing Sikh influence in Jalandhar, with many sardars dating the acquisition of their estates from 1759.[2] The Dallewalia Misl, one of twelve Sikh Misls that came to dominate the Punjab during this period originated in the southern extremities of the district. In 1766 the Faizullapuria Misl of Khushal Singh captured the town of Jalandhar and thereafter entrenched their power in the district.[4]
In 1811, Ranjit Singh despatched Dewan Mokham Chand to annex Faizullapuria dominions in Jalandhar. By August that year, Budh Singh, son of Khushal Singh, had fled and Jalandhar came under the control of Lahore and part of the Sikh Empire.[4] The petty sardars of the district were gradually ousted from their estates, and were replaced by the direct management of the Sikh governors.[4]
When the Indian Rebellion of 1857 began, Jalandhar was strategically important as a main line of communication between the Punjab and Delhi.[2] Incidents of mutiny originated in Jalandhar and Phillaur cantonments, however they were suppressed by the 8th Foot who in turn were strengthened by troops provided by Randhir Singh of Kapurthala, John Nicholson's moveable column and the Tiwana horse under Sher Muhammad Khan.[5]
The first case of the plague in the Punjab was reported in the village of Khatkar Kalan in 1897.[6]
Partition
In early 1947, communal tensions heightened in Jalandhar and across the Punjab.[7] In March riots occurred in the district following speeches made by Congress and Sikh leaders at Lahore.[7] In June 1947, the Indian Independence Act 1947 stipulated the partition of the Punjab, and on 17 August the Radcliffe Line was announced, placing Jalandhar in the new Dominion of India.[8] As Jalandhar had a Muslim plurality at the time (45.23 per cent per the 1941 census)[9] it led to significant demographic change in the district, with the Muslim population becoming refugees in Pakistan, and an influx of Hindus and Sikhs arriving having abandoned their homes in the new Pakistan.[8]
According to the 2011 census Jalandhar district has a population of 21,93,590[22] roughly equal to the nation of Latvia[23] or the US state of New Mexico.[24] This gives it a ranking of 208th in India (out of a total of 640).[22] The district has a population density of 831 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,150/sq mi) .[22] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 11.16%.[22] Jalandhar has a sex ratio of 913 females for every 1000 males,[22] and a literacy rate of 91.4%. Scheduled Castes made up 38.95% of the population.[22]
Gender
The table below shows the sex ratio of Jalandhar district through decades.
Note: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.
Religion in the Tehsils of Jalandhar District (1921)[36]
Note: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.
Religion in the Tehsils of Jalandhar District (1941)[9]
Note1: British Punjab province era tehsil borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to tehsil borders — which since created new tehsils — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases.
Note2: Tehsil religious breakdown figures for Christianity only includes local Christians, labeled as "Indian Christians" on census. Does not include Anglo-Indian Christians or British Christians, who were classified under "Other" category.
At the time of the 2011 census, 88.15% of the population spoke Punjabi and 9.83% Hindi as their first language. Hindi is predominantly spoken in urban areas.[38]
Health
The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Jalandhar, as of year 2020.
District nutrition profile of children under 5 years of age in Jalandhar, year 2020
[39]
Indicators
Number of children (<5 years)
Percent (2020)
Percent (2016)
Stunted
38,536
25%
29%
Wasted
15,967
10%
17%
Severely wasted
6,834
4%
6%
Underweight
25,877
17%
25%
Overweight/obesity
2,827
2%
1%
Anemia
96,595
69%
60%
Total children
155,323
The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Jalandhar of women between the ages of 15 to 49 years, as of year 2020.
District nutritional profile of Jalandhar of women of 15–49 years, in 2020[39]
Indicators
Number of women (15–49 years)
Percent (2020)
Percent (2016)
Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m^2)
85,534
12%
7%
Overweight/obesity
347,827
48%
27%
Hypertension
234,262
33%
12%
Diabetes
128,120
18%
NA
Anemia (non-preg)
412,752
57%
54%
Anemia (preg)
NA
NA
49%
Total women (preg)
35,199
Total women
720,586
The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Jalandhar district by year.
Road accidents and people affected in Jalandhar district by year[40]
Year
Accidents
Killed
Injured
Vehicles Involved
2022
273
197
127
456
2021
354
306
127
415
2020
317
223
155
381
2019
380
322
163
463
Economy
Jalandhar has a major sports items manufacturing industry. It produces around 90% of all sports items produced in Punjab.[41]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqGovernment of Punjab, Punjab District Gazetteers, Volume XIV A. Jullundur District, with maps, 1904, Lahore, Civil and Military Gazette Press, 1908
^Harish Dhillon, Janamsakhis, Ageless Stories, Timeless Values, Hay House, 2015
^ abcSir William Wilson Hunter, The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Trübner & Company, 1885, p.85