Bathinda is a city and municipal corporation in Punjab, India. The city is the administrative headquarters of Bathinda district. It is located in northwestern India in the Malwa Region, 227 km (141 mi) west of the capital city of Chandigarh and is the fifth largest city of Punjab. It is the second cleanest city in Punjab after Mohali.[1]
Bathinda | |
|---|---|
City | |
    Top: Qila Mubarak, Hockey Stadium Bathinda, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant across Bathinda Lake | |
  Bathinda  Bathinda | |
| Coordinates: 30°13′48″N 74°57′07″E / 30.23000°N 74.95194°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Punjab |
| District | Bathinda |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Body | Bathinda Municipal Corporation |
| • Commissioner | Sh. Sawan kumar |
| • Member of Parliament | Harsimrat Kaur Badal (SAD) |
| • Mayor | Smt. Raman Goyal |
| Elevation | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 285,813 |
| • Rank | Punjab: 5th, India: 161st |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Punjabi |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 15100X |
| Telephone code | +91-164-XXX XXXX |
| Vehicle registration | PB-03 |
| Railways Stations in City | Bathinda railway station |
| Website | bathinda |
Bathinda is home to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Central University of Punjab and AIIMS Bathinda. The city is also home to two modern thermal power plants, Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant and Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant at Lehra Mohabbat.[2] Also located in the city is a fertiliser plant,[3] two cement plants (Ambuja Cements and UltraTech Cement Limited), a large army cantonment, an air force station, a zoo,[2] and a historic Qila Mubarak fort.[4]
History
edit
Bhatinda was changed to Bathinda to conform to the phonetical expression as locally pronounced.[6] According to Henry George Raverty, Bathinda was known as Tabar-i-Hind (Labb-ut-Twarikh) or Tabarhindh, which roughly translates as ‘Gateway to India’. The earliest mention of Tabar-i-Hind occurs in the Jami-Ul-Hakayat written about 607 Hijri or 1211 AD.[7]
In 1004, Mahmud of Ghazni besieged and captured the local fort, which was located on the route from the northwest into the rich Ganges valley. In 1190, Muhammad of Ghor attacked and occupied the fort of Bathinda. Prithviraj Chauhan, the ruler of this region, managed to recover possession of the fort thirteen months later in 1191 after the First Battle of Tarain. However, Prithviraj Chauhan was killed in the Second Battle of Tarain and the fort of Bathinda once again came under the control of Muhammad Ghori.
The 3rd-century semi-legendary monarch Rao Bhati is credited with establishing the modern town of Bathinda in the Lakhi jungle area.[8] In 14th century, present region of bathinda was ruled by Bhati and Bhanot rulers of that time. 1488, Bathinda was conquered by Rao Bika, son of Jodha of Mandore (founder of Jodhpur) and became part of Bikaner princely state.[9] Bathinda was an important fort in the area from Delhi to Lahore during the time of the Delhi Sultanate.
As per Ain-i-Akbari, Bathinda was included in the sarkar of Sirhind in the Subah of Delhi. In 1634, a battle named Battle of Lahira (at Lahira in Bathinda) was fought between Guru Hargobind and Mughals. The town had become an important trade and commercial centre under Mughal rule and the Mughal Emperors such as Akbar and Aurangzeb undertook many projects to enhance the fort of Bathinda.
In circa 1754, the town was conquered by Maharaja Ala Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala and since then it followed the history of erstwhile princely state of Patiala. With the dawn of independence and merger of Patiala and East Punjab States into a division called Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Bathinda became a full-fledged district with headquarters at Bathinda city.[6]
Demographics
editPopulation
editAs per provisional reports of Census India, population of Bathinda city in 2011 is 285,813; male and female are 151,782 and 134,031 respectively. The sex ratio of Bathinda city is 868 females per 1000 males. The number of literate people in Bathinda city are 211,318 of which 118,888 are males while 92,430 are females, average literacy rate is 82.84 per cent of which male and female literacy is 87.86 and 77.16 per cent respectively. Total children (ages 0 to 6) in Bathinda city are 30,713: 16,472 boys and 14,241 girls. Child sex ratio of girls is 865 per 1000 boys.[10]
Religion
editHinduism is the majority religion in Bathinda city with 62.61% people following the faith. Sikhism is the second most popular religion in the city which is followed by 35.04% of the people. Minorities are Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Jains. Sikhs count for 70.89% of the population in Bathinda District on a whole in spite of not being a majority in the city.[11]
Geography and climate
editBathinda is in the northwestern region of India and is a part of the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plains. The exact cartographic co-ordinates of Bathinda are 30°12′N 74°57′E / 30.20°N 74.95°E.[13] It has an average elevation of 201 metres (660 ft).
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Bathinda's climate corresponds to semi-arid with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Average annual rainfall is relatively low, in a range of 20 cm to 40 cm.[14]
In recent times, Summer temperatures of 49 °C (120 °F)[15] and winter temperatures of 1 °C (about 33 °F)[16] were not unknown in Bathinda, lowest being -1.4 °C (29.48 °F) in the winter of 2013[17]
Suburbs
edit- Bhucho Mandi 15 km
- Goniana 14 km
- Maur Mandi 69 km
- Rampura Phul 30 km
- Talwandi Sabo 69 km
- Raman 42 km
- Sangat, India 69 km
Environmental issues
editThere has been increasing incidence of various types of cancer in and around Bathinda. It is attributed to the presence of polluting industries and the indiscriminate use of modern pesticides and other toxic materials in farming. A 2007 epidemiological study found that the surface waters of Bathinda are contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, selenium and mercury primarily due to the discharge of untreated waste water from surrounding industries. Unscientific farming practices, that emerged after the introduction of Green Revolution, are also alleged to be a reason for growing incidence of not just cancer but also, high rates of spontaneous abortions, reproductive ailments, genetic deformities, anaemia, diarrhoea, vomiting, fluorosis and a host of skin ailments including rashes and boils. Many young couples are also reported to be migrating out to save their children from adverse effects. Hence the government has completely banned the use of ground water in the city for drinking purposes.[18]
In the cleanliness survey, conducted by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, Bathinda scored an all-India rank of 79 and number 1 rank in Punjab.[19]
Government and politics
editBhatinda city is governed by Municipal Corporation Bhatinda. The administrative wing is headed by Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill,[20] while the elected wing is headed by Mayor.
Transportation
editBhatinda Railway Station has connectivity to most of the major cities in India. Four national highways: NH 7 (Fazilka - Badrinath National Highway), NH 54 (Kenchiyan, Hanumangarh - Pathankot National Highway), NH 148B (Bathinda to Kotputli) and NH 754 (Bathinda to Jalalabad, Fazilka) pass through/near the city.[21]
Education
editCollege education
editColleges within Bathinda include:
Notable people
edit- Manny Aulakh, Canadian international cricketer
- Sunny and Inder Bawra, composer duo
- Parduman Singh Brar, shotputter, Asiad gold medallist
- Balwant Gargi, writer and dramatist
- Rajinder Gupta, businessman, founder of TridentGroup
- Baba Ratan Hindi, who claimed to be the first Indian Muslim
- Amrit Maan, actor, singer and lyricist
- Kuldeep Manak, singer
- Harbhajan Mann, actor and singer
- Mayank Markande, cricketer
- Mehar Mittal, actor and producer
- Mehreen Pirzada, actress
- Riaz ur Rehman Saghar, Pakistani poet and lyricist
- Janmeja Singh Sekhon, politician
- Avneet Sidhu, Commonwealth games gold-winning shooter
- Balkar Sidhu, singer
- Kul Sidhu, theatre artist and actress
- Gurdial Singh, novelist
- Gurpreet Singh, artist
References
edit- ^ "Bathinda cleanest city in state for 3rd year in a row; slips nationally". Hindustan Times. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Places to Visit". Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ "Industry". Archived from the original on 7 June 2005.
- ^ "Bhatinda - district of Punjab - North India Online". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
- ^ "Raziya Sultan". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ a b "District at A glance". Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
- ^ "Bhatinda History". Government of Punjab.
- ^ Sir Roper Lethbridge, The golden book of India: a genealogical and biographical dictionary, page 112
- ^ Gupta, Jugal Kishore (1991). History of Sirsa Town. Atlantic Publishers & Distri.
- ^ "Census 2011".
- ^ "Bathinda District Population Census 2011, Punjab literacy sex ratio and density".
- ^ "Bathinda City Population Census 2011 - Punjab".
- ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Bhatinda, India".
- ^ https://www.mapsofindia.com/ maps/india/annualrainfall.htm
- ^ under the section 'historical monthly average for may', subsection 'temperature', https://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/India/Bhatinda/climate-profile.aspx?month=5
- ^ under the section 'historical monthly average for Jan', subsection 'temperature', https://www.myweather2.com/City-Town/India/Bhatinda/climate-profile.aspx?month=1
- ^ A news report, "Bathinda records region's lowest temperature at -1.4°C - Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ Sharma, Vrinda (6 September 2011). "Cancer Bathinda's dubious distinction". The Hindu.
- ^ Service, Tribune News. "Bathinda cleanest in Punjab, but slips to 79th ranking". Tribuneindia News Service. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
- ^ "Municipal Corporation Bhatinda".
- ^ "National Highways of India" (PDF). National Highway Authority of India. Wayback Machine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
- ^ "State Government Affiliated Institutes of Hotel Management | NCHMCT". National Council For Hotel Management and Catering Technology. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
External links
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