Bar Region
| Part of a series on |
| Punjabis |
|---|
 |
 Punjab portal |
The Bar Region, or the Bars (Bāṛ) (Punjabi: بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [bɑːɽ]),[1] is an area in Punjab, now part of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. The area consists of agricultural land that was cleared in the nineteenth century for the then 'new' canal irrigation system that the British were developing at the time.[2] The soil of the Bar Region is fertile.[3] The plains of fertile land have been created by the stream deposits driven by the many rivers flowing from the Himalayas. The nomadic tribes who originally inhabited the Bar spoke Jatki, a dialect of Western Punjabi, and the same dialect is still spoken throughout the Bar region today.[4]
The area stretches from the river Sutlej to the river Chenab and down to the junction of two rivers Jhelum and Chenab. The word bar in Punjabi language refers to a threshold, an outer space, an area away from human settlement, a barrier between populated areas and wild forests, a natural jungle. So the area between two rivers that formed a natural barrier between two different settlements was called bar. All the 'Bar Regions' had and still have almost the same or similar culture and language or dialect with slight variations.[5]
Sub-regions of the Bar Region
The Bar region of Punjab, Pakistan, is traditionally divided into distinct sub-regions, each formed between major river systems, known for their fertile agricultural lands. Below are the main sub-regions.
Sandal Bar (Punjabi: ساندل بار) is located between the Ravi and Chenab rivers, covering the southern part of Rechna Doab. It includes the present-day districts of Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chiniot, and other areas. The region is named after Sandal, grandfather of the 16th-century Punjabi chieftain Dulla Bhatti, known for his rebellion against the Mughal Empire. Sandal Bar remained sparsely populated until the late 19th century when irrigation systems were introduced.
Neeli Bar (Punjabi: نیلی بار) lies between the rivers Ravi and Sutlej. It includes the districts of Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, and surrounding regions. The region is famous for its fertile land and the Nili-Ravi buffalo breed, and it was also a hub of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, with Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal emerging as a local hero during the uprising.
Ganji Bar (Punjabi: گنجی بار) lies between the rivers Sutlej and the dry riverbed of the Hakra or Ravi. This region was home to Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The region is characterized by its fertile soil, ideal for agriculture, particularly after the introduction of irrigation systems. Ganji Bar is situated in present-day districts of Sahiwal, Okara, Pakpattan, and other areas.
Kirana Bar or Gondal Bar (also spelt Karana; Punjabi: کرانہ بار) is located between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. It comprises the central and southern parts of Chaj Doab and corresponds to the present-day districts of Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Gujrat, along with tehsils such as Lalian (from Chiniot) and parts of Jhang District. The region is named after the Kirana Hills, a mountain range located in the area, and is also referred to as Gondal Bar after the Gondal Punjabi Jat clan that dominated the region in the 18th century. The region's land is known for its agricultural richness, particularly after the introduction of canal irrigation. [6]
Districts of the Bar Region in Punjab
The indigenous people of these areas share a similar culture and speak the Jatki dialect of Punjabi, which includes sub-dialects such as Jhangvi and Shahpuri. Dhani is also a sub-dialect of Jatki, though it is not spoken in the Bar region.[7]
The following districts are classified as Bar:
| Bar districts of Punjab, Pakistan |
|---|
| Faisalabad |
| Jhang |
| Toba Tek Singh |
| Hafizabad |
| Okara |
| Vehari |
| Khanewal |
| Pakpattan |
| Sargodha |
| Chiniot |
| Nankana Sahib |
| Bahawalnagar |
| Mandi Bahauddin |
| Sahiwal |
| Bahawalpur (only Hasilpur and Khairpur Tamewali) |
| Khushab |
| Sheikhupura (only Safdarabad and Sheikhupura) |
See also
References
- ^ Grierson, George A. (1916). Linguistic Survey of India. Vol. IX Indo-Aryan family. Central group, Part 1, Specimens of western Hindi and Pañjābī. Calcutta: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India. p. 607.
- ^ "The Bar Region: A Historical Perspective". Dawn. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Same reference as above for soil fertility
- ^ Sir William Wilson Hunter. Imperial Gazetteer of India. p. 128. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
The language of the nomadic tribes who originally inhabited the Bar is called Jangli, a form of Western Punjabi.
- ^ Same reference as above for cultural aspects
- ^ "The Bar Region: A Historical Perspective". Dawn. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Geo-political history of Punjab region
