Challenges
of the district : Our research with local communities
Following are the social and developmental challenges
of the district:
· No efforts are taken for maintaining the sanitation of
the district.
· There are no parks for the residents of the district to
have their morning walk, for children to play in a safe area or
spend their leisure time
Brief About Barnala District
Barnala is a district head quarter of Punjab. It is situated in
the heart of the state. Barnala is well known for textiles as
world famous Trident Company is situated here which is recognised
for producing towels etc.
History of Barnala
At one time Baba Ala Singh set up a base of Patiala province approximately
around year 1719. He also laid the foundation of Patiala two hundred
fifty two years ago. Baba Ala Singh conquered Sirhind fighting
his battles from this place. When he overpowered remote areas
then from administrative angle he shifted his capital from Barnala
to Patiala.
In Punjab, at present, there are half a dozen
villages having their names resembling Barnala town. District
Mansa has a village named Khara Barnala. Near Nawan Shehar, there
are places Barnala Kalan and Barnala Khurd. Amritsar district
too has a village named Barnala.
The common prevalent details reveal that this
place was a village named Anahadgarh. In neighboring village Bhadalwadh
Rungarh Muslims used to live who indulged in cattle-stealing and
plundering acts in surrounding villages grazing cattle in their
crops. Following tormentation by Rungarh Muslims, people of Anahadgarh
went to Bhadaur for help. Baba Gama was known for his might. When
people went to Bhadaur at that time, Baba Gama was not there in
his house but his brother Baba Ala Singh came along with them
and he forced all Rungarh Muslims to run and started living there
planting a tree (it being a Dera at that time marking foundation
of a village).
Eminent Sikh historian Giani has recorded the
details of setting up of Barnala in the annals of Khalsa in this
manner that in the year 1775 Baba Ala Singh after offering Bhadaur
(set up by King Padhar Sain) to his brother Duna Singh came to
Barnala region which was lying aloof at that time. Setting it
up, he made it his capital and took under his control surrounding
villages. It too appears that Anahadgarh may exist before and
must have been deserted following attacks of Dharvis.
There are different opinions about the nomenclature
of Barnala. Some are of the view; Vaaran being a region because
of frequent storms was at that time also called Varna. So Barnala
was called a land of too many storms, which later on became Barnala
because of precision of example. Another view reveals that a fort
here is said to be built by Baba Ala Singh in which there was
a 'Baahuli' (a well which had stairs going down). That too due
to precision and Malwai accent was known as 'Baain'. Thus Baain
Wala ultimately became Barnala. Thus these are different views
only but no historical detail is available that how name Barnala
came into existence.
The part pertaining to markets of present Barnala
city is about eighty years old. The initial Barnala belongs to
fort, its surrounding population, Sandhu and Bajwa Pattis. It
was in fact a village. All rulers lived in the fort. The officers
and other respectable lived outside the four-walls of the fort.
The agriculturists inhabited Sandhu and Bajwa Pattis.
Barnala, which at one time was the capital of
province, was District Headquarter when Patiala province came
into existence and Bathinda and Mansa used to be its Tehsils (sub-divisions).
At the time of independence of India, Bathinda became separate
district. After India got freedom, in the year 1954 following
abolition of provinces new state of Pepsu was made. Then too Barnala
was districts headquarter and Rampura Phool and Malerkotla were
its Tehsils (sub-divisions). When Pepsu State with Patiala as
its capital was disbanded and merged in Punjab then status of
Barnala district got degraded. Now it is only a sub-division.
Earlier on, Barnala being a district headquarter had District
and Sessions Judge Court but when Barnala became sub-division,
it was offered Additional District and Sessions Judge Court vested
with all the District and Session Judge Court powers.
The Dera Baba Gandha Singh of Barnala too appears
to be linked with the history of Barnala. Once Bibi Pradhan kaur
(famous with the name of 'Pradhan'), daughter of Maharaja Ala
Singh, reached Mukatsar journey then. She met Baba Langar Singh.
Listening to sermon and seeing serving of meals without any break
left deep impact over her mind. She requested Baba Langar Singh
that a saint of high conduct like him is sent to Barnala who may
start congregation and meal service like this there. Accepting
her request, Baba Langar Singh deemed his learned disciple Pandit
Nikka Singh worthy for Barnala. Maharaja Ala Singh had heard a
lot very well about Baba Langar Singh and Pandit Nikka Singh and
whenever he talked of appointing a talented teacher for Bibi,
then name of Pandit Nikka Singh used to be mentioned in high esteem.
Complying with orders of Baba Langar Singh, Pandit Nikka Singh
reached Barnala then Maharaja Ala Singh provided him with a beautiful
house for residence. Pandit ji started congregation here. In this
way, Dera Baba Gandha Singh came into existence and in fort regular
meal-services were arranged where hundreds of people took meals
and even today hearths of Baba Ala Singh present and Gurudwara
is famous with the name of Baba Chulle (Hearths).
Apart from this, Barnala remained a nerve-centre
of special activities during Praja Mandal movement and S. Seva
Singh Thikriwala was also a prominent Praja Mandal activist who
was born in village Thikriwala just four kilometers away from
Barnala. Every year on January 19, in his memory a three-day fair-cum-festival
is organized where various political parties also host political
conferences.
