Mirpur, Azad Kashmir

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Mirpur
میر پور
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Mirpur
Coordinates: 33°48′N 73°27′E / 33.8°N 73.45°E / 33.8; 73.45
Country Template:Country data Kashmir
District Mirpur District
Government
 - Nazim Alhaj Abdul Qayyum Qamar
Area
 - Total 1,010 km2 (390 sq mi)
Elevation 459 m (1,506 ft)
Population (1998)
 - Total 96,000
 - Density 375/km2 (971.2/sq mi)
Time zone PST (UTC+5)
Calling code 05827
Number of towns 3
Number of Union councils 21
Mirpur District Website

Mirpur (Urdu: میر پور) is the largest city in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the capital of Mirpur District. Mirpur is located at the extreme south of Azad Kashmir at an elevation of 459 metres (1509ft). It is 125 kilometres (68 miles) south east of Islamabad via the Grand Trunk Road and 295 kilometres (183 miles) south of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Contents

[edit] History

Bawli, Old Mirpur

The city of Mirpur was founded in 1052 AH (around 1642 AD) by a Gakhar chief Miran Shah Ghazi. The Imperial Gazetteer of India Provincial Series Kashmir and Jammu (1909) provides this information about Mirpur history as "it is said to have been founded by the Gakhars, Miran Khan and Sultan Fateh Khan"

The area now comprising Mirpur has been historically associated with Pothohar. Though modern demarcation of Pothohar devised by British excludes Mirpur by using Jhelum river as the eastern boundary. By the end of 18th century, Gakhar power in Pothohar had declined. Mirpur had become part of Chibb ruled state of Khari Khariyali with capital at Mangla Fort. With the rise of Sikh power in Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh established his supremacy and set his eyes on the chibh states of Bhimber and Khari Khariyali. In 1810, a force was sent against Raja Sultan Khan of Bhimber and was met with fierce resistance. However, in 1812 another sikh army under prince Kharak Singh defeated Sultan Khan and the Bhimber state was annexed as Jagir on Kharak Singh. Around the same time, Ranjit Singh acquired Gujrat and invaded Khari Khariyali ruled by Raja Umar Khan. Raja Umar Khan made peace with Ranjit Singh. But before a settlement could be made, he died and Ranjit Singh confiscated the state and Mirpur became part of Ranjit Singh's territories.

In 1816, Ranjit Singh annexed Jammu state and in 1820 awarded Jammu to his commander Gulab Singh who hailed from Jammu and was under the service of Ranjit Singh for the past eight years. Between 1831-39 Ranjit Singh bestowed on Gulab Singh the royalty of the salt mines in northern Punjab, and the northern Punjab towns including Bhera, Jhelum, Rohtas, Mirpur and Gujrat. Gulab Singh kept on expanding his kingdom and in 1840 Baltistan was made subject to Jammu and Gilgit fell to a Sikh force from Kashmir in 1842. The state of Kashmir was annexed by Ranjit Singh in 1819. However the rebellion in Hazara in the beginning of 1846, compelled the country to be transferred to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu as well.

Shrine of Meeran Shah

As an aftermath of the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Lahore, The Treaty of Amritsar was signed between the British Government and Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu on March 16, 1846. This treaty transferred him all the hill states between Ravi and Indus. The transfer included Kashmir Valley, Hazara and the southern hill states (including former Khari Khariyali). Thus sealing the fate of Mirpur with the new state of Jammu and Kashmir. [1]

[edit] Early Mirpur

Since Mirpur lies at the point where the Jhelum River breaks out of the heavily forested foothills of the Pir Panjal mountains into the plains of the largely treeless Punjab. It was an ideal spot for the construction of the boats used to carry goods down the five rivers of the Punjab to the Indus River and onto the seaports in the Indus delta. Traders have been operating from there across the Indian Ocean for over three thousand years. Most of the crew on the boats trading up and down the Punjab and Indus River system were drawn from Mirpur, as training as a boat-builder was a necessary prerequisite for becoming a boatman.

[edit] British rule

With the arrival of British rule however, the thriving river trade was decimated due to the construction of railway lines from Bombay and Karachi into the interior of the Punjab. Moving goods by rail was both cheaper and quicker, and hundreds of Mirpuri boatmen found themselves out of a job.

At the same time long-distance ocean trade was shifting from sail to steam. There was a huge demand for men who were prepared to work in the hot, dirty and dangerous stokeholds of the new coal-fired steamers. European seamen avoided such jobs whenever they possibly could. They preferred to work on deck. But in the 1870s Mirpuri ex-river boatmen were desperately searching for a new source of income. Although unfamiliar with stoking coal-fired boilers, they were prepared to learn and quickly gained a virtual monopoly of jobs as engine-room stokers on new steamships sailing out of Karachi and Bombay, a position they retained until coal-fired ships were finally phased out of service at the end of the second world war.

[edit] Post war

After world war two a new set of opportunities opened up. Britain's economy was just setting off on what proved to be a long post-war boom, and there was an acute short of labour in the foundries of the Midlands, and the textile mills of Yorkshire and Lancashire. Now it was the turn of ex-seamen to become industrial workers in Britain. So when the Mangla lake was filled up in 1966, depriving large numbers of Mirpuri farmers of their land, an alternative was readily available: to move overseas to join those of their kinsfolk who had established themselves in Britain.

As a result, Mirpur is one of the principal sources of migration from Pakistan to Europe, and especially to Britain, so much so that close to half a million migrants from this area now live in the United Kingdom. Although it is widely believed that the principal reason for this outflow was the construction of the Mangla Dam, this is only partially true. Whilst the construction of the dam undoubtedly reinforced the scale of the outflow, since the waters of the lake swamped most of the best land in the District, emigration from this region began long beforehand.

[edit] Mirpur City

Mirpur city is situated at 459 meters above sea-level and is linked with the main Peshawar-Lahore Grand Trunk road at Dina Tehsil. It is the headquarters of Mirpur District, which comprises three sub-divisions, Mirpur, Chaksawari & Dadyal[3]. The building of the new city in late sixties paved the way for New Mirpur situated on the banks of Mangla lake. In fact the remains of the old city (old Mirpur) are underneath the waters of the Mangla Lake, during colder months the water level decreases such that you can see the tops of minarets from the first mosques, and also the remnants of a Sikh gurdwara as well as a Hindu mandir possibly dedicated to the "mangla mata" (mangla mother goddess).This is a glimpse of pre-independence times when there were many faiths co-existing in Kashmir as a whole, but however after partition the Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs fled to India. Mirpur was well planned and the buildings are mostly of modern design, in addition there is significant inward investment from expatriates now living in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, & the Middle East. The city has a number of hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and other urban facilities.

[edit] Industry

As Mirpur adjoins the industrial cities of Pakistan, the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has successfully endeavoured to develop it as an industrial place and promote private investment for establishing, Foam, Polypropylene, Synthetic yarn, Motorbikes, Textile, vegetable ghee, logging and sawmills, soap, cosmetics, marble, ready-made garments, matches, rosin, turpentine and scooter industrial units in the area. However, much of the infrastructure still needs further development in order to compete on a national level. As part of the relief/compensation package in the wake of Mangla Dam Raising Project, a New City is being developed along the southeastern outskirts of Mirpur. Civil works at huge scale are going on around the whole district, by the Pakistani & Chinese contractors for raising the dam. Four towns in the district have been planned besides the new city, to resettle the population affected by the project.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Buses

Mirpur has the biggest & busiest bus network in Azad Kashmir, running from early hours of the morning to late night. Daily routes includes Dadyal,Bhimber District, Dina, Gujrat, Jhelum, Kharian & Kotli District. The new flying coachs in Mirpur travel to larger cities of Pakistan including Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi & Sialkot.

[edit] Auto rickshaw

Auto Rickshaws are very popular mode of transport for short routes within the city. Many of the new rickshaws in the city use Compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of the petrol engines as CNG is environmentally clean and cheaper compared petrol.

[edit] Air

The nearest airport is the Islamabad International Airport, which is approx 80 Miles (130Km) by road from Mirpur city.

[edit] Shopping

Known as the shopping capital of Azad Kashmir, Mirpur has a large and diverse shopping area, centred around Chowk Shaheeda & Mian Mohammed Road. There are many stores, plazas, shopping malls & markets in these thoroughfares, selling everything from hand made pottery to international brands. The under construction Nosha Shopping Centre will be one of the largest shopping centres of the city when completed.

[edit] Demographics

According to the 1998 census Mirpur had a population of approximately 370,000 making it by far the largest city in Azad Kashmir. Mirpuris account for approx 80% of the population followed by Punjabis 15%, Pathans & Afghan refugees 5% The majority of the population in the Mirpur district are Muslim, however prior to partition the district had a high number of Hindus & Sikhs.

[edit] Culture

Mirpur (to the west and south) borders the Punjab province of Pakistan and the ethnicity, language and culture of both Punjab & the Mirpur district are virtually the same. The region has historically been a part of Greater Punjab. Pothohari also refered as Mirpuri is the main languages spoken in Mirpur, whereas Punjabi is spoken in areas bordering Bhimber and Gujrat districts.

[edit] Cultural events

[edit] Saif Ul Malook Festival

The Saif Ul Malook Festival takes place annually in April, usually in the city centre. It is an important event celebrating the anniversary of Baba Pir-e-Shah Ghazi Qalandar (Damrian Wali Sarkar) who was the spiritual guide/teacher of Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, the Legendary Sufi saint & Potwari/Hindko poet famous for his poetic master piece Saif ul Malook.

[edit] Pahari Mushahira

Pahari Mushahira is a literary event in which poets from all over Azad Kashmir present their poems to general audience. Pahari Mushahira are celebrated regularly in Mirpur city as part of the campaign of Alami Pahari Adabi Sangat for the preservation and rehabilitation of the Pahari language and the Culture of Jammu and Kashmir.

[edit] Ethnic groups in Mirpur

See Main article Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir

The people of Mirpur are of three main ethnic groups.

  • Arain - A minority group, mostly engaged in commercial businesses. Migrated to Mirpur from Punjab.
  • Gakhar. They are a Persian tribe which reside mainly in Mirpur city and adjacent areas in size able numbers.
  • Gujjar - One of the three major ethnic groups in Mirpur. Most reside in Mirpur, Islam Gar, Dadyal and New Mirpur. Gujjars in Mirpur are in a minority, compared to Jatt and Rajput, this is mainly due to most of them having emigrated when old Mirpur was flooded following the construction of the Mangla Dam. They are very united and active in politics, enterprise and bureaucracy of AJK. The Gujjar clans are Bania, Bagri, Bajar, Bhumbla, Bjarh, Chandpuri, Chauhan, Chechi, Hans, Khatana,laley, Khepar and Meelu.
  • Jarral - Jarrals are found in size able numbers in New Mirpur.
  • Jatt - Represent one of three majority ethnic groups of Mirpur. Most reside in the traditional Jatt heartlands of Chaksawri, Dadyal, New city of Mirpur and the countryside surrounding Mirpur, which is overwhelmingly Jatt.
  • Kashmiri - Main city clans in Mirpur include Butt, Lone, They are the descendants of Kashmiri pundits,who belonged to the priestly caste of Brahmins. They migrated to the plains of Punjab from the Kashmir Valley in the 16th and 17th centuries.
  • Mughals - Are not involved in active politics, but they are very active in the education sector.
  • Rajputs - Third of the three major ethnic groups in number, they play an active role in politics and bureaucracy. Rajputs are scattered all over the Mirpur District and comprise of many clans.
  • Sheikh - Most people who classify themselves as Sheikhs in Mirpur are descendants of Brahmin, Khatri or Rajput Hindus who converted to Islam.
  • Sayyids - Though a minority group they are a very active people and occupy important positions in all sectors. Sadat's migrated to Mirpur from neighbouring Punjab.

[edit] Development

In recent times Mipur city has seen many new developments. Some of the schemes approved and under construction include:

  • Export Promotion Zone
  • Jinnah Model Town
  • Mangla Dam upraising
  • Mirpur Dry Port
  • Mirpur Grand Rest House
  • Moori Industrial Zone
  • New Industrial Area
  • Quid-e-Azam Stadium
  • Sultan Town
  • Valley Homes Mirpur


[edit] Tourism

Mangla Dam

The government of Azad Kashmir is paying special attention to tourism in AJK & Mirpur, building new theme parks, rest houses, hotels and renovating old forts to attract tourists to the region. Places of interest in Mirpur are:

[edit] Geography and climate

Lying between 33°15’ and 33°34’ latitude and 73°31’ and 73°55’ longitude, Mirpur city is located at the extreme South of Azad Kashmir. Mirpur's topography consists of plains and the foot hills of the Himalayas.

[edit] Surroundings

  • Dadyal is 65km from Mirpur at north, the 2nd largest city after Mirpur in AJK.
  • Bhalot, Mirpur Districts largest and most Populous village.
  • Bhimber is 50 km from Mirpur, the area is very rich in archaeological remains.
  • kotli is 101 km. from Mirpur, the area is hilly and beautiful views of valleys.
  • Chakswari is a Tehsil of the Mirpur District. Approximately 40 km from Mirpur city, it is fast becoming a commercial area of the district.
  • Football Chowk, in sector D4, is situated on the outskirts of Mirpur city. This area is home to a large number of wealthy expatriates, local business men, government and ISI officials. Due to the large number of mansions its locally referred to as Ameer Gar (Millionaires Row).

Islamgarh: Islamgarh is situated in North East of Mirpur city. Travel distance is 30Km.

  • Khaliqabad is 6 km from mirpur its an intersection for the main road leaving mirpur city, this area is home to large Bainse and Jat population
  • Sahalia 70km from Mirpur city.
  • Khari Sharif located 8 km from Mirpur, it is famous for its Sufi shrines.
  • Mangla town is located 16 km from Mirpur, it is situated at the mouth of the Mangla Dam for which it is famous.
  • Mehmunpur Rajgan, Situated 15 km from Mirpur city near Pul Manda.


[edit] Notable people of Old Mirpur

  • Sheikh Fazal Alam, Superintendent of Police, (1908-1971)
  • Abdul Khaliq Ansari - Kashmiri nationalist leader [2]
  • Sheikh Younas Azam - Kashmiri journalist (deceased)
  • Mian Muhammad Bakhsh - Sufi saint
  • HL Bhagotra - retired judge [3]
  • Dr Sansar Chandra - litterateur [4]
  • Sushma Chaudhary - IAS officer [3]
  • Miran Shah Ghazi - founder of Mirpur City [5]
  • Ram Lal Gupta - first accountant General of J&K State [6]
  • Zaildar Raja Sajjawal Khan - Zaildar and Assessor of Khari Sharif in pre-partition era
  • Lieutenant General Raja Akbar Khan - former DG ISI - GOC 12 Division and former Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Mexico (deceased)
  • Raja Sarwar Khan - Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur (1957) [7]
  • Master Roshan Lal - prominent leader of Jammu [6]
  • Judge Harbans Lal - leader of the Mirpuri community in Jammu [6]
  • Arun Prakash - former Chief Admiral of India Navy [6]
  • Pir-e-Shah Ghazi Qalandar - Sufi saint [8]
  • Krishan Dev Sethi - General secretary of Democratic Conference Jammu and Kashmir
  • Ram Prakash Sethi - former chief justice, Karnataka High Court [3]
  • Mahatma Budh Singh - co-founder of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference [3]
  • Raja Jaswant Singh - former Supreme Court Judge [3]
  • Sheikh Fazal Latif, DSP. Led group of four people who Liberated the Mosque in Kotli in 1946. Participated in capture of Mirpur.
  • Sheikh Osama Shaheen, World Record Holder

[edit] Notable people of New Mirpur

  • Prof Dr Mohammad Sharif Chattar - Educationist, Botanist, author, poet
  • Barrister Sultan Mahmood - former Prime Minister of AJK
  • Lord Nazir Ahmed - Member of House of Lords
  • Mohammed Ajeeb CBE - former Lord Mayor of Bradford, UK (1985-1986) [9]
  • Khalid Mahmood - Member of Parliament for Birmingham, UK
  • Karam Hussain - Mayor of Kirklees, West Yorkshire (2008-2009) [10]
  • Tabarak Dar - Captain of Hong Kong cricket team
  • Chaudhary Rsheed Former lord mayor of the Birmingum, U.K.
  • Chaudhry Khurshid Ahmed CBE - Race Relations Commissioner & Pakistan Human Rights Secretary [11]*Dr. Muhammad Nasir Azeem Pathologist, scientist
  • Choudhary Mohammed Azam - Former Deputy Speaker Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1990-1991) also Former Chairman MDA (Mirpur Development Authority)(1991-1996)
  • Dr Mohammed Iqbal Former Director Health CDC - AJK
  • Cllr Shoab Akhtar - Mayor of Oldham (2008-2009) [12]
  • Choudhary Zulfikar Azam - Vice President azad Jammu and Kashmir People Party
  • Cllr Liaquat Ali - Mayor of London Borough of Waltham Forest [13]
  • Cllr Dr Zulfiqar Ali - Justice of the Peace in the London Borough of Newham [14]
  • Advocate Muhammad Azeem Dutt - High Court Advocate, Political Activist & Former President of JKPF[11]
  • Cllr Imran Hussain (Barrister-at-Law) - Deputy Leader Bradford Council Labour Group(2008-Present)[15]
  • Choudhary Altaf Hussain - Former Councillor Bradford U.K (1990-1998) also Chairman All Parties Kashmir Freedom Council U.K
  • Mohammed Iqbal - former Lord Mayor Leeds (2006) [16]
  • Cllr Raja Ghazanfer Khaliq - former Lord Mayor of Bradford, UK (2001-2002) [9]
  • Lieutenant General (Retd) Raja Saroop Khan - former Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)
  • Azmat A Khan -leading Kashmiri independence campaigner, ex-General Secretary JKLF, University Lecturer in the UK [17]
  • Sardar Mustafa Abbai Former Vice President of AJK Chamber of Commerce & Industry Mirpur
  • Mumtaz Khan - Founder and chairman of Mumtaz Food Industries [18]
  • Zarina Khan - BBC Radio presenter [19]
  • Ch Saeed Ahmed, Chairman Azad Group of Companies Mirpur Ltd, and president Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and industry
  • Shams Rehman - Writer, Activist and Presenter
  • Ali Adalat - First Pahari writer
  • Al Haj Abdul Qayyum Qammar, Nazim Mirpur
  • Ashaq Hussain- Cambridge University/Headmaster Aitchison College, Lahore
  • Cllr Raja Mohammad Zarait - Mayor of Slough (2008-2009)
  • Capt. (r) Mohammad Sarfraz Khan - Senior Vice President AJK Muslim Conference, Ex Minister
  • Khan Azam Khan - Judge Supreme Court.
  • Sheikh Fazal Latif. (1927-2001. DSP and Motor Vehicle examiner.
  • Major General Umer Farooq Sheikh. Pakistan Army
  • Commodore M.Mohsin Mirza pak-navy T.B[D.G P&D Bahria University]

[edit] Friendship cities

v • d • e
Sister Cities of Mirpur
Hindu temple purana mirpur-001.jpg

[edit] Gallery

Holiday Inn, Mirpur

Masjid Noor

Mirpur Bazaar

Chowk Shaheedan

Ragu Nath Temple, Old Mirpur

Shivala Temple, Old Mirpur

Quaid-e-Azam Stadium

[edit] See also


[edit] References

  1. ^ History of Panjab Hill States, Hutchison, Vogel 1933
  2. ^ Daily Excelsior Mailbag - Bharat Bhushan Gupta (Former Director of Agriculture)
  3. ^ a b c d e Human Rights Journal of Jammu and Kashmir (24 June 2007)
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Kashmiri Heritage Website
  6. ^ a b c d Daily Excelsior Mailbag - Bharat Bhushan Gupta (Former Director of Agriculture)
  7. ^ Kashmir Affairs.org
  8. ^ Chowk - The Rumi of Kashmir
  9. ^ a b Bradford.Gov pdf list of Mayors (page 3)
  10. ^ Kirklees Council Website - Mayors Office
  11. ^ a b Pakistan Times (01 July 2005)
  12. ^ Oldham.Gov Mayor
  13. ^ Mail online April 2008
  14. ^ Election results Plaistow North
  15. ^ [2]
  16. ^ Leeds.Gov list of Mayors (1626-2007)
  17. ^ geocites London pressbriefing (21 February 2001)
  18. ^ Yorkshire Post interview (10 January 2006 )
  19. ^ Media UK List of Radio presenters

[edit] External links


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