Shahbad

Shahabad Markanda
—  town  —
Shahabad Markanda Location of Shahabad Markanda in Haryana and India
Coordinates	30°10′N 76°52′E
Country	India
State	Haryana
District(s)	Kurukshetra
Population	37,130 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Codes • Pincode • 136135 • Telephone • +01744

Shahbad is a city and a Municipal Committee in Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana.

Demographics

As of the 2001 India census, Shahbad had a population of 37,130. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Shahbad has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 69%. In Shahbad, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Location

Shahbad lies 21 kilometres south of Ambala on the Ambala - Delhi section of the historical Grand Trunk Road, or GT road as it is locally known. It is some 22 kilometres to the north of Kurukshetra. Shahbad is on the national highway NH-1 and it also has a railway station on the Delhi - Ambala line. It lies on the banks of the river Markanda, a tributary of the Ghaggar, and supposed to be a part of the ancient Vedic Saraswati River basin system. There is a large temple on the banks of the river, which is called Markandeshwar, after the name of the famous Maharishi Markandeya.

There is also a road from Panchkula, via Ramgarh and Dosarka, that comes out near Shahbad. There are direct roads to Ladwa and Radaur as well as Yamunanagar from Shahbad. Pipli, near Kurukshetra, Nilokheri and Karnal are the other nearby towns south of Shahbad on the G.T. road. Patiala Original authentic and old Historic Shiva Temple is situated in the city Shahabad Markanda. Same is being well managed and maintained by the Shri Markandeshwar Mahadev Shiv Mandir Sabha Shahabad Markanda which is registered body under Society Registration Act 1860.

Economy

It is a significant agricultural market for procurement of agricultural products. The market yard in Shahbad is a major procurement market or Mandi. The area being on a river bank is fertile and is used for paddy as well as wheat and vegetables. The yield is very high, and the belt till Karnal has a large number of rice mills to pick up the high quality grain. Shahbad also has a government sugar mill which is leading sugar mills in India.

Sports

In the Field Of Hockey Shahabad Donned lot of Players in Mens Hockey Like a Sanjeev Kumar Dang Former Olympian now Serving in Punjab & Sind Bank There is Lot of other player Gurdip Singh Bhuller{custem}Baldev Singh Attari{Railway}Dr.N.K Sharma Natniol {Insurance}Jatinder singh {signel}Dayanand madan H Police Ganshyam das signal Bhupinder singh Bhindi P & S Bank There is lot of other players they settled out of country Sumandeep singh Rana Prubhdeep singh.Of late Shahbad has produced a large number of women Hockey players. He is also a good hockey coach or he is also belong to shbd. The current national women's Hockey team has 12 women from Shahbad. For the last decade Shahbad has produced a large number of women Hockey players who have donned Haryana , Railways or Indian team colours. It has got the epithet of Sansarpur Former Indian Woman Player Bhupinder Kaur Rail coach Factory, Sandeep Kaur Railway she played a world cup, Asia cup, she playing as a captain of Indian woman hockey 7 years, Women's hockey. Current national team representatives from Shahbad are :- Suman Bala, Nutan, Meenakshi, Simarjeet Kaur, Balwinder Kaur, Kiran Bala, Gurpreet Kaur, Jasjeet Kaur, Rajni Bala, Rajwinder, Gagandeep Kaur and Surinder Kaur.Narender Singh of Bibipur Block Shahabad have climbed Mount Everest and created a new record by staying on the hilltop for an hour without Oxygen

Literature-

Literary books from Shahabad Markanda The literary work of the writers, poets and Shaayers from Shahabad Markanda have undoubtedly glorified city’s name not only in the state but even at national and international level too. A number of books have been published by the learned writers from this small town and some of them have received awards from various sahitya academies despite the fact that there is no library facility provided in the town. A prominent leading literateur and scholar of this town is, S. Joginder Singh Principal, who received prestigious Baba Farid Award from Haryana Punjabi Sahitya academy in 2006 for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He has four books in prose to his name titled as, Adhi Vaat Da Saath(1979) Je Tu Akal Latif (2003). Manobal Atamvishvas Ate Jitt(2006) in Panjabi and Teer-o-Nashtar(1998) in Urdu. Principal Joginder Singh is basically a philosopher and an accomplished orator. Two of his Punjabi books and the only book published in Urdu were selected in the category of Best Book Awards by Punjabi and Urdu Sahitya academy respectively. Late professor RP.Shokh who was an eminent urdu Shaayar of this town, had written two books- Gamja-B-Gamja (Glance by Glance) and Munnkash-Khandhar-Jabien (Engraved Ruined Forehead) in Urdu. Shokh’s total poetic work has been translated in Hindi by Surinder Bansal an established writer of the town under the title- Jindgi Ke Sheeshe Mein (2001).Surinder Bansal has also translated Anupam Mishar’s Hindi book-Aaj Bhi Khere Hain Taalab in Panjabi named as Aaj Vee Khere Han Taalab (2006). Dr.Desraj Sapra an urdu scholar of the town has written two books in urdu named as – Haryana Ka Urdu Adab(1985) and Urdu Mein Islahe Jubaan Ki Tehreerein(1994)Another book in Hindi Meri Ikkees Kavitayein written by Surinder Pal Singh was published in 2006. Dr.Narender Pal Singh of Shahabad has recently published a book- Lokyaan:Sidhant Te Mulyankan- on the subject relating to the impacts of folklore of Punjab and Haryana at each other. Punjabi sahitya Academy Haryana has given an award of Rs 21000 to Kulwant Chawla Rafique for his poetic work Cheekh Khamoshi Di.Another writer Jaswant singh Nalva have published three books titled as Ithas Ke Paripeksh mein Kurukshetra,Kamboj Kaum Kaam Kurbaaniyo Ka and Atamkatha.An Urdu poet of the town Narender Singh Rafique have published-Kiste-A-Khyaal.Another book on Punjabi poetry titled -sadhran-Da-Sarmaaya(Heritage of desires)was published by Dr.Gurmukh Singh Naaz.Darshan singh have published a story book titled -Lakeerein in 2010.Dr.R.S.Ghumman's research work -Concept of man and God in Sikhism-was published in 2010

History

Historically it was a Muslim majority town, with references made to a fort during Mughal times, and raids as well as sacking of the fort by Banda Bahadur. Significantly it also has a historic Gurdwara of those times and many temples including Shri Shiv Mandir, Balasundri temple, Durga Mandir . After partition most of the Muslims left, and Punjabi's, Sikhs and Hindus from Pakistan were resettled here. This town has given the birth to great freedom fighter Banu Ram Gupta' which together with Mahatma Gandhi helped Mustim to go to pakistan in riots.In 2002 he was awarded Haryana Rattan. In 2005 he was awarded by President Abdul Kalam Azad for his unforgettable contribution in Quit India Movement. In 1960's he dreamt about making college for women which he made it possible by making the college arya kanya mahavidalya . This college is responsible for producing all International hockey players from shahabad. This town has given the birth to great people like Lt. Jagdish Kalra, Olympian Sanjeev Dang, Sandeep Singh,Sandeep Kaur, Surinder Kaur and other numerous renowned hockey players of Indian team. Presently Shri Shiv Mandir is being managed by Shri Markandeshwar Mahadev Shiv Mandir Sabha, Shahabad Markanda, A registered body under Society Registration Act 1860. This society is first ever society in the Haryana, which is fully accountable to the people of the area. And the Official of the society feels proud to give true account of income and expenditure to the people. A notice board depicting actual income and expenditure of every month has been placed in front of the gate of the temple. Beside this every year society produced their signed account to the people on the holy occasion of MahaShivRatri.' Chief Minister of Haryana Bhupender Singh Hooda announced Sub Divisional Status for Shahabad Markanda on 9th of May 2011

National / State Awards holders of Shahabad Markanda BANU RAM GUPTA-"HARYANA RATAN" Squadron Leader Tej Parkash Singh Gill –Veer Chakra Hockey Coach Baldev Singh-Dronacharya Award Surinder Kaur Hockey- Arjun Award Jasjeet Handa-Arjun Award Sandeep Singh Ex-captain Indian Hockey Team---Arjun Award Principal Joginder Singh-Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Puraskar 2008 Principal Joginder singh-Baba Sheikh Farid Award 2006 Dr. R.S.Ghumman Shiksha Ratan,Shiksha Bharti avantika and Kartavya Murti Award Bhim Awards- Bhupinder Kaur,Sanjeev Dang Olympian ,Sandeep Kaur, Surinder Kaur,Gurpreet Kaur, Balwinder Kaur,Simarjeet Kaur, Sumanbala, Jasjeet Kaur Simarjeet Kaur, Sumanbala, Rajwinder Kaur,Joydeep Kaur ( All Hockey Players) Kulwant Singh Virk- Krishi Ratan Award and in Digital photography Rajinder Venus got –Monarch Award Freedom Fighter-Jagir Singh Virk, Narsingh Das Arora,Lala Banu Ram Gupta,Vaidya Shukdev Muni Nagar, Ghanshyam Das.Ajit Singh Ajit

Social Service-Rotary Club, Lions club, Bharat Vikas Parishad and some other societies.Dr Ram Gopal Sharma of the town has donated blood 171 times. late Lala Bhal Singh Gupta Saraf made lot of contribution towards educationg underprivillaged and downtrodden especially women. His financial contributions earned him the title of Daanveer.

Martyres Jagdish Kalra sacrificed his life for the country during Indo-Pak war in 1965.The statue of Jagdish Kalra is installed in Jadish Park.Patharan walla bazaar of the town was also renamed as Jagdish bazaar.Khusdev singh.Gurpreet kaur and Gurdeep Singh of this town sacrificed their lives by fighting unarmed with the terrorists on 9th April 1988.The armed terrorists had attacked on the residence of the then M.L.A Dr.Harnam Singh.Five Shorya chakras were awarded by President Of India to the brave family of Dr.Harnam Singh.

Education GOVT School was established in 1897,Arya Putri Gurukul 1909, D.A.V school in 1916, Islamiya School was converted as Khanewal Khalsa school. After partition some private schools were also established here. Ramdutt Ka School,Prince Coaching College Popularly known as Sardaar Ka School(1950-2000)was run by Principal Joginder Singh,National school Of Guruji,Master Teerath Singh ka school played notable role in the field of education here. D.A.V high school has a few of its alumnis graduate from IIT's and some of them settle in USA and abroad. Some of their offsprings are graduates from very prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT etc. and are serving their country of origins, india with NGOs.Parag Gupta, grand son of Lala Bhal Singh Gupta educated at Harvard has set up a NGO named wasteventures.org to uplift the underprivillaged. In higher education Markanda Natiomal College and Arya Kanya Mahavidyalya are important to note.Contributions of Dr. Krishan Gopal Chadha, Lala Bhal Singh Gupta, Lala Kesho Ram were significant in spread of higher education for women and estabilishing AKMV. Vishwas school,Satluj senior secondary School and Chanan Singh Ghumman Memorial college of education Shahabad Markanda run by Principal Dr.R.S.Ghumman are famous for providing quality education. Mata Rukmani Devi school,D.A.V Centenary school and SGNP school are also famous in the area.

Interesting Historical Informations

In 1710 The famous sikh warrior Baba Banda singh Bahdur captured Shahabad.

On 22 May 1791 Baghel singh and Karam Singh Nirmale of Nishanwalia Misal recaptured Shahabad by Killing kiledaar Khalil Khan along with 700 mughal soldiers.The sikh also captured two canons here.

Commissioner of Karnal Major C.R.Buck in 1854 allotted shops to the traders.The market was named as Larkingung.Presently it is known as Gurmandi.

The municipal committee of Shahabad was formed in 1885

The Railway Station and Railway bridge were built in 1930

The name of Shahabad railway station was Khrindwa station

Shahabad was famous for the manufacturing of scissors and musical instruments.

References

Shahabad is an old city with a glorious historical background.After the victory over Prithvi Raj Chohaan, Mohammed gori donated 52000 begha land to his commandar Kut bu din Abak. Mugal emperors Babar. Hamayuoon also stayed here for some time. Situated in kurukshetra district of Haryana on the left bank of the Markanda River, 20 km south of AMBALA Cantonment. During the medieval period it had a fortified serai used by imperial officers and troops moving between Delhi and the northern provinces. It also had a resident garrison to guard the highway. Banda SINGH Bahadur reduced and plundered Shahabad in 1709. Later, when, after the conquest of SIRHIND by the Dal KHALSA in January 1764, the SIKHS started occupying territory, Nishananvali misi, under Dasaundha Singh and SANGAT Singh, took possession of a long and narrow stretch of land south of the Sutlej, extending from Singhanvala in Firozpore district up to Shahabad with Ambala as the headquarters. The territory of Shahabad and Ismailabad fell to SARDAR Mehar Singh. Several attempts were made by the Afghans to dislodge the Sikhs, but they were repulsed every time. It was during this period, between 1770 and 1780, that a magnificent old mosque, said to have been built by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1630, was converted into a gurdwara. The only major change was the demolition of its minarets. The gurdwara was named Mastgarh, this designation being commonly used for giirdwaras converted from mosques. Bhai Prem Singh of Hazur Sahib was appointed the first granthl. Gurdwara Mastgarh is on a high ground in the northeastern part of the town. The original prayer hall, under a high dome is used as the divan hall. The GURU GRANTH Sahib is seated in the centre in front of the mihrab. Bullet marks on the exterior surface of the domes and the walls still bear witness to the turbulence the country went through in the eighteenth century. The Gurdwara is affiliated to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee which administers it through a local committee. 1. Gian Singh, Giani, Twarikh Guru Khalsa, [Reprint]. PATIALA, 1970

External links

Article on hockey in Shahabad [1]