Tarn Taran district

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Tarn Taran district

| settlement_type = District of Punjab

| image_skyline = {{Photomontage

|size = 250

|photo1a = The Sarovar besides the GurudwaraTarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, India.jpg

|photo2a = Birds at Harike Wetland.jpg

}}

| image_caption = Top: Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib
Bottom: Birds at Harike Wetland

| image_map = Tarn Taran in Punjab (India).svg

| image_map1 =

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location in Punjab

| pushpin_map =

| coordinates = {{coord|31|27|36|N|74|55|48|E|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_type2 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Emblem of Punjab (India) on a white background (1).png}} Punjab

| subdivision_name2 = Majha

| established_title =

| established_date =

| named_for = Pool of salvation

| seat_type = Headquarters

| seat = Tarn Taran Sahib

| leader_title = Administrator of District

| leader_name = Harmesh Singh Pabla

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_total_km2 = 2,414

| elevation_footnotes =

| elevation_m =

| population_total = 1,119,627

| population_as_of = 2011

| population_footnotes = {{cref|‡}}

| population_density_km2 = auto

| demographics_type1 = Languages

| demographics1_title1 = Official

| timezone1 = IST

| utc_offset1 = +5:30

| postal_code_type =

| postal_code =

| blank1_name_sec1 = Literacy

| blank1_info_sec1 = 69.4%

| website = {{URL|http://tarntaran.gov.in/}}

| demographics1_info1 = Punjabi

}}

Tarn Taran district is one of the districts in the Majha region of Punjab, India. The main cities are Tarn Taran Sahib, Bhikhiwind, Khadur Sahib and Patti. The City of Tarn Taran Sahib is a holy place for Sikhs. Tarn Taran's Sikh population makes it the most heavily concentrated administrative district of Sikhs in India and the world.

Tarn Taran district was formed in 2006 out of Amritsar District. The declaration to this effect was made by Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, during the celebrations marking the martyrdom day of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji. With this, it became the 19th district of Punjab. It has four tehsils, which are Bhikhiwind, Patti, Khadur Sahib and Tarn Taran Sahib. The District Headquarters is headed by the Deputy Commissioner, along with a Senior Superintendent of Police, Civil Surgeon, district Education Officer, Improvement Trust and a Municipal Council. The district judiciary is headed by the District and Session Judge, aided by several Additional District and Sessions Judges, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, and other officials.

Location

Tarn Taran is located in the state of Punjab, in far northern India. It is surrounded by district of Amritsar in the north, district Kapurthala in the east, district Ferozepur in the south and Pakistan in the west.{{cite web | url=https://tarntaran.nic.in/history/ | title=History | Welcome to District Tarn Taran,Govt. Of Punjab | India }}

=Coordinates=

Taran taran district lies between 31 0 05’, and 31 0 30’ 05 north latitude 74 0 30’ and 75 0 15’ 05“ east longitudes. The area falls in Survey Of India topo sheet Nos 44-I & 44-M.

History

The foundation of Tarn Taran city was laid by fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev in 1596. The area of Tarn Taran Sahib later came under the control of the Bhangi Misl ruled by a powerful Sikh family of Dhillon clan from 1716 to 1810.

During the 1965 India–Pakistan war, the town of Khem Karan was captured by the Pakistan army during early September 1965. The Pakistani forces were later defeated during the battle of Asal Uttar, that was fought from 8 to 10 September. At that time, it was the largest tank battle since the Second World War.{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/ChanakyaCode/battle-of-asal-uttar-1965-annihilation-of-the-pak-army/ | title= Battle of Asal Uttar 1965: Annihilation of the Pak Army – Times of India| newspaper= The Times of India| last1= Pradhan| first1= S. D.}}, by SD Pradhan, September 8, 2022{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/battle-of-asal-uttar-when-indian-troops-took-on-mighty-pattons-of-pakistan-and-won-9953181.html |title=Battle of Asal Uttar: When Indian troops took on mighty Pattons of Pakistan and won |date=September 10, 2021 |website=www.firstpost.com |publisher= Firstpost |access-date= June 22, 2024 }}{{cite web |url= https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/key-battles-memorials-war-stories-keep-asal-uttar-alive/ |title=Big Picture: Key Battles – Memorials, war stories keep Asal Uttar alive |date =August 23, 2015 |publisher= The Indian Express| author =Man Aman Singh Chhina

|access-date = June 22, 2024 }} Khem Karan remained under Pakistani occupation for about six months till the signing of Tashkent agreement between India and Pakistan on 10 January 1966.{{cite web| url=https://www.academia.edu/113567828 | title = TRANSFORMATION AND DYNAMICS: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF KHEM KARAN TOWN-A STUDY AFTER 1965 INDO-PAK WAR | author =Dr.Ashwani Kumar| website= www.academia.edu| date = January 2023 |publisher= History Research Journal| quote= Volume: 29, Issue: 06, No.3, November – December : 2023}}

During the war, the people of the area had to leave their houses and go far away. Many houses, crops and railway tracks were destroyed. In the areas occupied by Pakistan, many houses were looted by Pakistani troops. Even the doors and windows were removed.{{cite web |url=https://www.academia.edu/99061964 |title= INDO-PAK WAR 1965: A STUDY OF KHEM KARAN TOWN OF PUNJAB| author= Dr.Ashwani Kumar| publisher = History Research Journal| website = www.academia.edu |date= January 2023| access-date = June 22, 2024 | quote = Volume: 29, Issue: 01, January – February : 2023}}

During the Insurgency in Punjab, India, Tarn Taran was the key stronghold of well-funded and armed Sikh separatist groups. Several key separatist leaders trace their origins to Tarn Taran, including but not limited to Sukhdev Singh Babbar, co-founder of Babbar Khalsa, Avtar Singh Brahma, co-founder of the Khalistan Liberation Force, Labh Singh of the Khalistan Commando Force, and Gurbachan Singh Manochahal founder of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan.

In the fall of 1984, the Tarn Taran district was impacted by Operation Woodrose which resulted in the establishment of arms trafficking between Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence and Sikh militants in Tarn Taran, initiated by former Pakistani President Muhammad Zia Ul-Haq. By the end of the 1980s and following Zia's death, Pakistan began to reallocate support for militancy from Punjab toward Jammu and Kashmir. Today, the Tarn Taran district remains one of the most adversely impacted districts for narcotics and arms trafficking from Pakistan.

In the post-independence era, Partap Singh Kairon is among Tarn Taran's most well known residents. Kairon was a freedom fighter during British rule and served as the 3rd Chief Minister of Punjab from 1956-1964. He was assassinated in Sonipat district, now within Haryana, on February 8th, 1965.

Demographics

{{historical populations|11=1901|12=422024|13=1911|14=363045|15=1921|16=383090|17=1931|18=460470|19=1941|20=576325|21=1951|22=485947|23=1961|24=524117|25=1971|26=626166|27=1981|28=728142|29=1991|30=806944|31=2001|32=939057|33=2011|34=1119627|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/A2_Data_Table.html Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901]|align=middle}}

According to the 2011 census Tarn Taran district has a population of 1,119,627,{{cite web |title=District Census Hand Book – Tarn Taran |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/1020/download/3094/DH_2011_0316_PART_A_DCHB_TARN_TARAN.pdf |website=Census of India |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}} roughly equal to the nation of Cyprus{{cite web | author = US Directorate of Intelligence | title = Country Comparison:Population | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613004507/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 13 June 2007 | access-date = 2011-10-01 | quote = Cyprus 1,120,489, July 2011 est.

}} or the US state of Rhode Island.{{cite web|url=http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=2010 Resident Population Data|publisher=U. S. Census Bureau|access-date=2011-09-30| quote = Rhode Island 1,052,567

}} This gives it a ranking of 413th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of {{convert| 464 |PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}}. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.28%. Tarn Taran has a sex ratio of 898 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 69.4%. Scheduled Castes made up 33.71% of the population.{{Pie chart|thumb=right|caption=Religion in Tarn Taran District (2011)|label1=Sikhism|value1=93.33|color1=#e9ce1e|label2=Hinduism|value2=5.40|color2=coral|label3=Christianity|value3=0.54|color3=deepskyblue|label4=Islam|value4=0.34|color4=green|label5=Others|value5=0.38|color5=lightgrey}}{{Pie chart

| thumb = Right

| caption = Languages of Tarn Taran District (2011){{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Punjab |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10219/download/13331/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0300.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

| label1 = Punjabi

| value1 = 98.95

| color1 = turquoise

| label2 = Others

| value2 = 1.05

| color2 = deeppink}}

=Religion=

{{bar box

|title=Religion in Tarn Taran district (2011){{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Punjab |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11389/download/14502/DDW03C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India}}

|titlebar=#Fcd116

|left1=Religion

|right1=Percent

|bars=

{{bar percent|Other|black|0.73}}}}

class="wikitable sortable" ! rowspan="2" \|Religion by tehsil ! colspan="2" \|Sikh ! colspan="2" \|Hindu ! colspan="2" \|Christian ! colspan="2" \|Muslim
Pop !% !Pop !% !Pop !% !Pop !%
Khadur Sahib \|180,065 \|{{percentage bar\|95.88\|width=50}} \|5,774 \|{{percentage bar\|3.07\|width=50}} \|373 \|{{percentage bar\|0.20\|width=50}} \|735 \|{{percentage bar\|0.39\|width=50}}
Tarn Taran \|462,591 \|{{percentage bar\|93.71\|width=50}} \|25,064 \|{{percentage bar\|5.08\|width=50}} \|2,499 \|{{percentage bar\|0.51\|width=50}} \|1,849 \|{{percentage bar\|0.37\|width=50}}
Patti \|402,247 \|{{percentage bar\|91.80\|width=50}} \|29,666 \|{{percentage bar\|6.77\|width=50}} \|3,223 \|{{percentage bar\|0.74\|width=50}} \|1,271 \|{{percentage bar\|0.29\|width=50}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! rowspan="2" |Religion by tehsil

! colspan="2" |Sikh

! colspan="2" |Hindu

! colspan="2" |Christian

! colspan="2" |Muslim

Pop

!Pop

Khadur Sahib

|180,065

|{{percentage bar|95.88|width=50}}

|5,774

|{{percentage bar|3.07|width=50}}

|373

|{{percentage bar|0.20|width=50}}

|735

|{{percentage bar|0.39|width=50}}

Tarn Taran

|462,591

|{{percentage bar|93.71|width=50}}

|25,064

|{{percentage bar|5.08|width=50}}

|2,499

|{{percentage bar|0.51|width=50}}

|1,849

|{{percentage bar|0.37|width=50}}

Patti

|402,247

|{{percentage bar|91.80|width=50}}

|29,666

|{{percentage bar|6.77|width=50}}

|3,223

|{{percentage bar|0.74|width=50}}

|1,271

|{{percentage bar|0.29|width=50}}

The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Tarn Taran district.

class="wikitable sort" \|+Absolute numbers of different religious groups in Tarn Taran district{{cite web \| url=https://punjab.data.gov.in/catalog/district-wise-population-religion-punjab \| title=Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India \| date=21 January 2022 }} !Religion !Urban (2022) !Rural (2022)!!Urban (2001)!!Rural (2001)
Sikh \|1,63,976 \|10,15,876	1,04,728	9,40,175
Hindu \|44,876 \|12,786	34,146	26,358
Christian \|1,710 \|2,535	1,675	4,420
Muslim \|560 \|4,658	495	5,051
Other religions \|920 \|2,980	751	3,519

Tarn Taran district has the highest % share of Sikhs among all the districts of Punjab followed by Moga district (as of 2011 census).{{Cite web|url=https://tarntaran.nic.in|title=Welcome to District Tarn Taran,Govt. Of Punjab | An effort of District Administration Tarn Taran to provide updated information | India}}

Health

As of 2018, the number of registered doctors in Taran Taran district were 84 and registered nurses were 3,378.{{cite web | url=https://data.gov.in/resource/districtwise-registered-number-doctors-punjab-1968-2018-april-march | title=Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India | date=21 January 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-registered-nurses-punjab-1968-2018-april-march | title=Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India | date=21 January 2022 }} That means that the average population served per doctor in the district was 15,210 in that year, which was the highest in the state.{{cite web | url=https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/districtwise-population-served-doctor-punjab-1968-2018-april-march | title=Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India | date=21 January 2022 }}

The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Taran Taran, as of year 2020.

class = "wikitable sortable" \|+ District nutrition profile of children under 5 years of age in Taran Taran, year 2020 {{Cite web \| url=https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2022-07/Tarn%20Taran-Punjab.pdf \| title=Tarn Taran {{!}} Punjab \| website=www.niti.gov.in}} !Indicators!!Number of children (<5 years)!! Percent (2020)!! Percent (2016)
Stunted	22,372	24%	23%
Wasted	10,626	11%	10%
Severely wasted	3,426	4%	4%
Underweight	13,525	14%	14%
Overweight/obesity	4,254	5%	3%
Anemia	59,640	71%	53%
Total children	94,120

The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Taran Taran of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, as of year 2020.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+District nutritional profile of Taran Taran of women of 15–49 years, in 2020 !Indicators!!Number of women (15–49 years)!! Percent (2020)!!Percent (2016)
Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m^2)	43,756	13%	14%
Overweight/obesity	136,624	39%	30%
Hypertension	109,005	31%	18%
Diabetes	42,706	12%	NA
Anemia (non-preg)	216,506	62%	47%
Anemia (preg)	NA	NA	34%
Total women (preg)	18,109
Total women	350,049

The table below shows the current use of family planning methods by currently married women between the age of 15 and 49 years, in Taran Taran district.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+Family planning methods used by women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, in Taran Taran district{{Cite web \| title=National Family Health Survey - 4 2015 -16, District Fact Sheet, Gurdaspur \| page=2 \| url=http://rchiips.org/nfhs/FCTS/PB/PB_FactSheet_50_Tarn%20Taran.pdf}} !Method!!Total (2015–16)!!Rural (2015–16)
Female sterilization	49.6%	50.2%
Male sterilization	0.8%	0.9%
IUD/PPIUD	7.1%	8.1%
Pill	1.9%	1.7%
Condom	17.3%	15.9%
Any modern method	76.8%	76.9%
Any method	80.8%	80.3%
Total unmet need	3.5%	3.8%
Unmet need for spacing	1.6%	1.8%

The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Taran Taran district by year.

class = "wikitable sortable" \|+Road accidents and people affected in Taran Taran district by year{{cite web \| url =https://punjab.data.gov.in/catalog/road-accidents-punjab \| title = Road Accidents in Punjab \| website = punjab.data.gov.in \| access-date = October 1, 2024 }} !Year!!Accidents!!Killed!!Injured!!Vehicles Involved
2022	126	110	96	183
2021	123	126	37	85
2020	97	93	35	122
2019	134	121	87	119

Economy

The income of Municipalities and Municipal corporations in Taran Taran district from municipal rates and taxes in the year 2018 was 54,566 thousand rupees.{{cite web |url = https://punjab.data.gov.in/resource/district-wise-income-municipalitiescorporations-punjab-municipal-rates-and-taxes-punjab | title = District-wise Income of Municipalities/Corporations in Punjab from Municipal Rates and Taxes in Punjab from 1968 to 2018 (As on March) | date = July 8, 2020 | access-date = October 1, 2024 }}

As of 2014–15, there were 452 registered Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) units in the Taran Taran district, which provided employment to 2,717 people. There were 6 Medium and Large industrial units, which provided employment to 609 people.{{Cite web | title=Brief Industrial Profile of District TARN-TARAN | publisher=Ministry of MSME | page=6 | url=https://msmedildh.gov.in/Profiles%25202016/TARN%2520TARAN_16.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj81qPXgu2FAxXKRWcHHf8RB3cQFnoECCwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2fndWkz1J2kP-ci-Cs4Tci}}

Politics

Kashmir Singh Sohal from Aam Admi Party is the MLA from Tarn Taran Assembly Constituency. He was elected in 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election.{{cite news |title=Punjab Assembly: 12 doctors make it to House |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-assembly-12-doctors-make-it-to-house-377306 |access-date=14 March 2022 |work=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}

class="wikitable sortable"
No. ! Constituency ! Name of MLA ! colspan="2" \| Party !Bench
21 \|Sri Tarn Taran Sahib \|Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal \|{{Full party name with color\|Aam Aadmi Party}} \|Government
22 \|Khemkaran \| Sarvan Singh Dhun \|{{Full party name with color\|Aam Aadmi Party}} \|Government
23 \|Patti \| Laljit Singh Bhullar \|{{Full party name with color\|Aam Aadmi Party}} \|Government
24 \|Sri Khadoor Sahib \|Manjinder Singh Lalpura \|{{Full party name with color\|Aam Aadmi Party}} \|Government

class="wikitable sortable"

No.

! Constituency

! Name of MLA

! colspan="2" | Party

!Bench

|Sri Tarn Taran Sahib

|Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal

|{{Full party name with color|Aam Aadmi Party}}

|Government

|Khemkaran

| Sarvan Singh Dhun

|{{Full party name with color|Aam Aadmi Party}}

|Government

|Patti

| Laljit Singh Bhullar

|{{Full party name with color|Aam Aadmi Party}}

|Government

|Sri Khadoor Sahib

|Manjinder Singh Lalpura

|{{Full party name with color|Aam Aadmi Party}}

|Government

Transport

=Air=

There is no commercial airport in the district. The nearest airport is Amritsar International Airport. Direct International flights are available to key cities around the world in the likes of London, Birmingham, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Tashkent and Ashgabat. Domestic connections are available to almost every major city of India.

=Rail=

The rail network provides good connectivity across the district. Amritsar-Khemkaran and Beas-Tarn Taran railway lines pass through Tarn Taran district. Tarn Taran Junction railway station provides cross connectivity between these two lines. A new project of rail line from Patti to Makhu has been approved by railways since 2013 but not started till date due to delay by state government on land acquisition.{{Cite news|date=22 June 2020|title=Patti-Makhu rail link hanging fire for 7 years|work=The Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patti-makhu-rail-link-hanging-fire-for-7-years/story-ar6L73s6YN9lzCMv2py6WM.html|access-date=2 September 2020}}

=Road=

The district is well connected through national highways to rest of Punjab state and nationally. Following national highways pass through the district.

National Highway 54
National Highway 354
National Highway 703B
National Highway 703AA (Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg).{{Cite news|date=17 October 2019|title=Kapurthala-Taran Taran road declared as NH- 703 A A named as Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji Marg|work=All India Radio News|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patti-makhu-rail-link-hanging-fire-for-7-years/story-ar6L73s6YN9lzCMv2py6WM.html|access-date=2 September 2020}}

Towns and villages

The villages and towns of Tarn Taran District include:

Notable people

Gurbaksh Chahal, an Indian-American internet entrepreneur and founder of several internet advertising companies
Kirpal Singh Chugh, an Indian nephrologist and considered by many to have been the father of nephrology in India
Satyavati Devi (born 1905) - Noted Freedom fighter
Deepak Dhawan - State Committee member of CPI(M), President of Guru Nanak Dev University (AISF), and Prominent writer.
Prem Dhillon, Punjabi singer and artist
Krishan Kant - Former Vice President of India
Jaswant Singh Khalra, Prominent Human Rights activist
Nizam Lohar, 19th century heroic rebel of the Punjab
Surender Mohan Pathak, a Hindi-language crime fiction writer
Lala Achint Ram- Noted freedom fighter, Member of the constituent assembly, Later parliamentarian
Mian Muhammad Sharif - Pakistani businessman, father of Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif, former prime ministers of Pakistan
Ritu Singh, a Dalit activist
Praveen Kumar Sobti, an athlete, actor and politician
Mohan Singh Tur, former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Amritsar and Member of Lok Sabha

References

[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V05_327.gif Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 5, page 319 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library]

External links

[https://tarntaran.nic.in/ Official website]
[https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0316_PART_B_DCHB_TARN%20TARAN.pdf DISTRICT CENSUS HANDBOOK TARN TARAN - 2011 Census]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Taran Taran district

| North = Amritsar district

| Northeast =

| East = Kapurthala district

| Southeast =

| South = Firozpur district

| Southwest =

| West = Pakistan

| Northwest =

}}

Category:Districts of Punjab, India