Barnala

This article is about the city. For the district see Barnala district.

Barnala is a city in the Punjab state of India which serves as the head quarters of the Barnala district. It is situated in the heart of the state. Barnala is well known for textile market in the area.

History and famous people

The common prevalent details reveal that this place was a village named Anahatgarh. In neighboring village Bhadalwadh Rungarh Muslims used to live who indulged in cattle-stealing and plundering acts in surrounding villages grazing cattle in their crops. Following tormentation by Rungarh Muslims, people of Anahadgarh went to Bhadaur for help. Baba Gama was known for his might. When people went to Bhadaur at that time, Baba Gama was not there in his house but his brother Baba Ala Singh came along with them and he forced all Rungarh Muslims to run and started living there planting a tree (it being a Dera at that time marking foundation of a village).

Eminent Sikh historian Giani has recorded the details of setting up of Barnala in the annals of Khalsa in this manner that in the year 1775 Baba Ala Singh after offering Bhadaur (set up by King Padhar Sain) to his brother Duna Singh came to Barnala region which was lying aloof at that time. Setting it up, he made it his capital and took under his control surrounding villages. It too appears that Anahadgarh may be existing before and must have been deserted following attacks of Dharvis.

There are different opinions about the nomenclature of Barnala. Some are of the view, Vaaran being a region because of frequent storms was at that time also called Varna. So Barnala was called a land of too many storms which later on became Barnala because of precision of example. Another view reveals that a fort here is said to be built by Baba Ala Singh in which there was a ‘Baahuli’ (a well which had stairs going down). That too due to precision and Malwai accent was known as ‘Baain’. Thus Baain Wala ultimately became Barnala. Thus these are different views only but no historical detail is available that how name Barnala came into existence. Barnala was named after Baba Ala Singh.Baba Ala Singh left Bhadaur with his elder brother(hometown of Patiala State)and settled at Barnala and conquered many areas with the help of his brothers the Bhadaur Sardars. Though it was a district headquarters in erstwhile princely state system, it was later merged in PEPSU (Patiala & East Punjab States Union) and degraded as sub divisional headquarter. Its restored as a district headquarters .

Punjabi writers Ram Sarup Ankhi, Om Parkash Gasso, Dr Pritam Singh Rahi, Dr Amar Komal, Pawan Parinda all live here. Some of these writers are credited to have translated Bhagavad Gita into Punjabi.

Surjit Singh Barnala(Tamil: சுர்ஜித் சிங்க் பர்னால; Punjabi: ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਰਨਾਲਾ; born October 21, 1925), a Vice-Presidential candidate, is the present Governor of Tamil Nadu, India. He has held this position since November 2004. During his eventful career in Indian politics he has been Chief Minister of Punjab, a Minister in the Union Cabinet twice and Governor of four states. For more Details on Surjit Singh Barnala check Surjit Singh Barnala..Sh. Amar Nath and Sh. Lakhpat rai are founders of development of city barnala. Mr. Deepak Bansal (Sony) young blood of barnala has given moderen development to city includes colonies like Aastha Enclave & Inderlok Avenue.

Demographics

File:Street in barnala.jpg

Sadar Bazar at Diwali time

As of 2001 India census, Barnala had a population of 96,397. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Barnala has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 68% of the males and 62% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Sikhs make up 85% of the population in Barnala, and Hindus make up the other 15%. During the 1947 partition Barnala was hit hard with violence and killing. There are a few Muslim families residing in Barnala but majority of them fled or adopted Sikhism.

a most famous person mr ravinder jit singh bindi who is chairman ajit rural education and social welfare society also live in this city. Barnala has given birth to many famous personalities like Late Pt. Som Dutt Sharma who remained the MLA of Barnala also he was Minister of tourism for sometime but left due to some reasons. He was known for his strong will power and has good influence on nearby villages. Currently Mr Kewal Singh Dhillon of Indian National Congress represent Barnala constituency as an MLA.

Social Organizations

Foremost in the fight for HUMAN RIGHTS, social justice, public welfare, upliftment of the people and consumer protection and social awareness is,"Human Rights Forum (Registered body)

Educational institutions

Barnala has got schools like Dayanand Kendriya Vidya Mandir, Sarvhitkari Uch Vidya Mandir, sacred heart handiaya road , arya Model School, Baba Gandha Public, Y.S. Public, Mother Teacher Public School, Dayanand Kendriya Vidya Mandir School, Gandhi Arya and others along with colleges like S.D. College, Lal Bahadur Shastri Arya Mahila College.

List of educational institutions in Barnala:-

• Akal Polytechnic College,Rureke Kalan,Barnala-Mansa highway,Barnala
• Baba Farid Institute of Computer Science and Information Technology, Barnala
• Barnala Polytechnic College, Barnala
• Dashmesh Institute of Management and Technology, Barnala
• Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Barnala
• Guru Arjun Dev College of Management and Technology, Barnala
• Guru Gobind Singh College of Education, Barnala
• Guru Nanak Dev Nursing Institute, Barnala
• Kings Group of Institutions, Barnala
• LBS Arya Mahila College, Barnala
• Malwa College of Nursing, Barnala
• National College of Nursing, Sidana Hospital, Barnala
• Sacred Heart International College of Education, Barnala
• SD College, Barnala
• SD College of Education, Barnala
• SD College of Pharmacy, Barnala
• SD Sabha Institute of Technology (SDSIT), Barnala
• SSD College of Computer Education, Barnala

For comprehensive list, addresses and contact numbers, please refer to "Website on educational institutions and universities" listed herein below.

External links

• Weather of barnala with 7-days prediction
• Website on educational institutions and universities.
• Website on Hotels and Restaurants.