Sopore
Sopore | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Jammu and Kashmir |
| District | Baramulla |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 66,963 |
| • Rank | seventh |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Urdu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Sopore,{sə(ʊ)ˈpɔ:} (Hindi: सोपोर) known as Suyyapur in antiquity,[1] is a prosperous apple town in the Baramulla district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is 35 km (22 mi) north-west of Srinagar, the summer capital of the state and 16 km (10 mi) south-west from Baramulla City. Sopore is a trading centre and is surrounded by a large number of hamlets. It also is a large fruit trade centre.
History
Sopore was founded by the famous Utpala engineer and irrigation minister Suyya during the peaceful reign of king Avantivarman in 880 CE.[2] As such the name of the city is Suyya-pur, which has been shortened to Sopore.[2] When the engineer Suyya was working in Sopore no people were coming forth to plunge themselves in gushing water.[2] The king, Avantiverman, thereupon ordered that a part of treasury may be thrown into the water; consequently, a large number of people plunged into the river to get as many coins as they could.[2] The skill of Suyya worked and the river was cleared of silt.[2]
Till the end of 14th century the town did not observe any significant growth.
Some Pashtun tribesmen such as Mehsud and Afridi from mountainous region of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of the newly formed state of Pakistan invaded the Kashmir valley on 22 October 1947.[3]
A new bridge about 3 km downstream of the site of old bridge was constructed and agglomeration of Administrative Offices brought radical change in the overall development of the town. The rapid urban growth of the town can be attributed mainly to its locational advantage as the centre of the valley, its rich and fertile soil which is good for agriculture, the abundance of water, potentially supportive for the rearing of a rich variety of fish due to the proximity to Wular lake and several forest resources.
In 1989, Sopore became a focus of the separatist activities and continues to be a highly politicized hotbed of separatist activity with frequent spontaneous protests and strikes ("bandhs" in local parlance). On the morning of 6 January 1993, a group of 7–8 armed JKLF militants attacked a platoon of Border Security Force soldiers at Baba Yousuf Lane near Sopore and killing at least one.[4][5] It was alleged that after this the Indian troops fired at local residents and set fire to local homes and businesses.[6] Witnesses claim that Indian troops attacked a public coach killing the driver and at least 15 passengers as well as attacking and burning three other cars. Some residents were burnt alive as Indian troops set fire to their homes and businesses. While the Indian government claims that the civilian deaths happened as a consequence of shootout between militants and security forces.[4]
Sopore outskirts
There are many prosperous hamlets consisting of many prosperous villages in the outskirts of the sopore town. The national highway leading to kupwara from sopore touches many of these villages such as seelu, wadoora and nathipora. These villages are well known for producing delicious tasty apples. There is also a famous agricultural college in wadoora.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] census,[7] Sopore had a population of 58416 and area of 61 km² making it the sixth largest town after Srinagar, Jammu, Anantnag, Udhampur and Baramulla. But as per the census of 2011 the population of Sopore town was recorded as 66,963 and occupied seventh position in the state as Khatua emerged as sixth populous town in the state. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sopore has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: Male literacy is 63%, and female literacy is 46%. In Sopore, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The majority of old Sopore's population resides on the banks of Jhelum River which passes through the township. These localities are marked by homes with old style of architecture. New Sopore consists mainly of civil lines areas.[citation needed][clarification needed]
Religion and politics
The majority of Sopore's population practices Islam, although there is a significant Hindu population. The important Muslim shrines include: Khan-kah Shah-i-Hamdan and Jamia Masjid. Besides there are numerous little shrines (locally called 'Astans') spread all over the place. Frequented by people from many areas, some of these spiritual places include: Baba Shukur Din Watlab Sopore, Shiekh Hamza Makhdoomi Tujar, Syed Fatullah Haqani Bomai, Saed shahib Darapora Zainagir, Daid Mouj Mundji, Arza sahib takya khan zainagair, Hathi-Shah Sahib, Rahim-Sahib Armpora, Hab Shahib Hathlangoo, Shah-Dargah Sahib, Syed Jamal-Din Sahib, Khuj Sahib-Shiva and Baba Sahib Botingoo.Mir Sahib, Saad Sahib both Astan's Situated in Village Duroo just 7 km from sopore town.
There also exist several old Hindu shrines including Rishi peer Mandir (Batpora), Shiv Mandir, Bhairon Mandir and Kali Mandir. Historically, many in Sopore used to venerate the local Peers (holy men) as in the past, the township was home to several of these holy men. The more famous ones are: Ahad Sahib, Lassa Sahib Arm, Ama Sahib Gaknoo, Aziz Sahib Vandhome, aak sahib
Transport
Sopore has a railway station on the Kashmir Railway line.
See also
- Botingoo
- Government Degree College Sopore
- Government Higher Secondary Institute Botingoo
- Panchayat Cricket Ground
- Sopore massacre
References
- ^ Jyoteeshwar Pathik. Glimpses of History of Jammu & Kashmir. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
The original name of Pulwama was Panwangam, which comprised four local namely, Malikpora, Dangerpora, Chatpora, Dullpora.
- ^ a b c d e Jyoteeshwar Pathik. Glimpses of History of Jammu & Kashmir. Anmol Publications Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
Avantiverman (855-844 A.D.) belonged to Utpala dynasty emerged as a powerful King. He was most sagacious king. He built temples at Avantipur after his name. His Minister Suyya was a great genius. His court had a pride on two poets-Ranakar and Ananvardhana. During his time price of paddy showed a deep decline from 36 to 20 dinars. Suyya who was a great engineer is said to have drained a large chunck of wasteland during his regime. His memory is commemmorated by Suyyapur or Sopore, a township in Baramulla district. It is said that when this great engineer was working in Sopore no people were coming forth to plunge themselves in gushing water. The king thereupon ordered that a part of treasury may be thrown into the water, a large number of people plunged into the river to get as many coins as they could. The skill of Suyya worked and the river was cleared of silt.
Cite error: The named reference "Jyoteeshwar Pathik — History" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page). - ^ http://www.kashmir-information.com/KoshSam/Kashmir_Affairs.html The Story of Kashmir Affairs - A Peep into the Past
- ^ a b "India – Human Rights Developments". Human Rights Watch.
- ^ "Blood Tide Rising". TIME Magazine. 18 January 1993.
- ^ MCGIRK, TIM (8 January 1993). "Outcry in Delhi over Kashmir massacre". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 10 April 2009.
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.