The Punjab government has recently made a significant announcement concerning the formation of Malerkotla as the 23rd district of the state. This development is in harmony with Section 5 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887, which states that “the State government may, by notification, vary the limits and alter the numbers of tehsils, districts and divisions into which the State is divided.”
Historical Background of Malerkotla
Historically, Malerkotla was a princely state and is the only Muslim-majority town in Punjab. Founded by Sufi saint Sheikh Sadrauddin Sadar-i-Jahan (also known as Haider Sheikh) in the 15th century, it enjoyed greater independence following the decline of the Mughal empire. During India’s invasion by Ahmad Shah Abdali from Afghanistan, Malerkotla’s rulers aligned with him.
In the 19th century, Malerkotla became part of the cis-Sutlej states. However, it maintained its alliance with the neighbouring Sikh states until 1947 when it became the only Muslim-majority Sikh state in East Punjab. After the dissolution of the princely states in 1948, Malerkotla joined PEPSU or Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), which was dissolved in 1954, making Malerkotla a part of Punjab.
About Cis-Sutlej States
The cis-Sutlej states were a collection of small states located between the Sutlej River on the north, the Himalayas on the east, the Yamuna River and Delhi District on the south, and Sirsa District on the west. They were named “Cis-Sutlej” by the British because they were located on the British or southern side of the Sutlej River. These states, including Malerkotla, existed until India’s independence in 1947 and were later absorbed into the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana.
Malerkotla and its Relationship with the Sikh Community
Malerkotla’s history with the Sikh community includes several notable episodes. For instance, Malerkotla Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan’s protest against the execution of Guru Gobind Singh’s youngest sons by Nawab of Sirhind, Wazir Khan in 1705, is remembered at Gurdwara Haa da Naara Sahib in Malerkotla.
Furthermore, during the ‘Wadda Ghallugara’ or the Great Holocaust in 1762, the Nawab of Malerkotla sided with Abdali’s forces against the Sikhs, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of Sikhs. However, a treaty of friendship was signed between Malerkotla and Raja Amar Singh of Patiala in 1769.
Formation of New Districts
State governments hold the power to create, alter, or abolish districts, usually done through an executive order or by passing a law in the State Assembly, as exemplified by the Assam government upgrading the Majuli sub-division to Majuli district for “administrative expediency” in 2016. The Centre, however, does not have a role to play in such alterations; it only intervenes when a State wishes to change the name of a district or a railway station.
Present-Day Number of Districts in India
Based on the 2011 Census, India had 593 districts. This number grew by 46 districts between 2001 and 2011. As of now, there are 718 districts in the country, which has been attributed to the division of Andhra Pradesh into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014.