Khemkaran
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2009}}{{Infobox settlement
| name = Khem Karan
| native_name =
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| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
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| pushpin_map = India Punjab
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| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Punjab, India
| coordinates = {{coord|31.145|N|74.545|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Punjab
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Tarn Taran
| subdivision_type3 = Region of Punjab
| subdivision_name3 = Majha
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| unit_pref = Metric
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| population_total = 13446
| population_as_of = 2011
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| population_density_km2 = auto
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Punjabi
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
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| postal_code = 143419
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Khem Karan is a town and a nagar panchayat in Tarn Taran district of Patti tehsil of the Majha region of the Indian state of Punjab.
It was the site of a tank battle in 1965.{{cite book|title=Societies and Military Power: India and Its Armies|author=Stephen Peter Rosen|date=28 April 1996 |publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=0-8014-3210-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/societiesmilitar00rose/page/246 246]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/societiesmilitar00rose/page/246}} The Battle of Asal Uttar was the second largest tank battle of the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. The battle led to the creation of Patton Nagar (or Patton City/Graveyard) at the site of the battle viz, Khem Karan.
History
Khem Karan is an old town. It was visited by Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675). Previously in Lahore District before the partition of British India. It became a part of Amritsar District afterwards.
Many of the town's residents migrated from nearby villages between 1947 and 1965, such as Nathuwala, Qadiwind, Rohiwal, and Sehjra. The town's Muslim residents migrated primarily to the city of Kasur, 8 km away in Pakistan.
The town used to be accessible to the city of Kasur, Pakistan 8 km away, and to Ferozepur 35 km away until India and Pakistan enacted border controls in 1953 and further restricted travel in 1965. The residents of Khem Karan were essentially cut off from both towns - Kasur lies in Pakistan, while the road to Ferozepur cuts through Pakistan, creating a 70 kilometre detour.
=India-Pakistan war of 1965=
On 8 September, the Pakistani 1st Armoured Division and 11 Infantry Division under the command of Maj Gen Nasir Khan pushed an offensive towards Khem Karan, with the intent to capture Amritsar (a major city in Punjab, India) and the bridge on River Beas to Jalandhar.{{cite book |last=Gupta |first=Hari Ram |title=India-Pakistan war, 1965 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jAxNbn1tkEC |year=1967 |publisher=Hariyana Prakashan |asin=B0006FFBK8 |edition=1st |volume=1 |access-date=25 August 2020 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207173041/https://books.google.com/books?id=3jAxNbn1tkEC |url-status=live |pages=158–159}} India then launched a counter-offensive. After India breached the Madhupur canal on 11 September, the Khem Karan counter-offensive was halted, affecting Pakistan's strategy substantially.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} The Pakistani forces engaged with a far advanced and much numbered Indian force comprising only the 2nd Independent Armoured Brigade commanded by Brig Thomas K. Theogaraj, who formed a defensive horseshoe formation to counter the Pakistani force.{{Cite news |last1=Dandapani |first1=Vijay |date=18 January 2015 |title=Unsung hero |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sundaymagazine/unsung-hero/article6797696.ece |newspaper=The Hindu}}{{cite web |title=Brigadier Thomas Theograj |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Galleries/Wars/1965/XI/0100.jpg.html |access-date=2023-07-13}}{{cite web |title=Saga of Strategy & Courage |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Galleries/Wars/1965/XI/6517.jpg.html |access-date=2023-07-13}} But, Khem Karan was captured at last by Pakistan completely.
Demographics
{{As of|2011}} India census,{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2011: Data from the 2011 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2013-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}} Khem Karan had a population of 13,446. Males constituted 55% and females 45%. Khem Karan has an average literacy rate of 61.55%, lower than the state average of 75.84%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 54.85%. In Khem Karan, 12.14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The table below shows the population of different religious groups in Khem Karan town and their gender ratio, as of 2011 census.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Population by religious groups in Khem Karan town, 2011 censushttps://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11389, India - C-01: Population by religious community, Punjab - 2011, Khem Karan (NP) !Religion!!Total!!Female!!Male!!Gender ratio | ||||
| Sikh | 9,103 | 4,276 | 4,827 | 885 |
| Hindu | 3,397 | 1,355 | 2,042 | 663 |
| Christian | 795 | 375 | 420 | 892 |
| Muslim | 73 | 19 | 54 | 351 |
| Buddhist | 4 | 0 | 4| | |
| - | ||||
| Jain | 2 | 0 | 2| | |
| - | ||||
| Other religions | 1 | 0 | 1| | |
| - | ||||
| Not stated | 71 | 31 | 40 | 775 |
| Total | 13,446 | 6,056 | 7,390 | 819 |
Geography
It is located 56 km from Tarn Taran Sahib. It is in Tarn Taran district.
==Politics==
The city is part of the Khemkaran South Assembly Constituency.
Tourism
In this village is the mausoleum (mazaar) of Sufi saint known as Pir Baba Sheikh Brahm. Twice in a year a fair (mela) is held there.
Economy
Khemkaran is mostly an agricultural village.
Gallery
File:Khem Karan Railway Station, Punjab.jpg | Khem Karan Railway Station, Punjab
File:Khemkaran Railway Station.jpg| Khem Karan Railway Station