Mendhar Tehsil

Mendhar (Jammu and Kashmir)
Mendhar (Dharamsal)
Tehsil
Mendhar (Jammu and Kashmir)
Mendhar (Jammu and Kashmir)

Location in Jammu and Kashmir, India

Coordinates: 33°36′N 74°07′E / 33.60°N 74.11°E / 33.60; 74.11Coordinates: 33°36′N 74°07′E / 33.60°N 74.11°E / 33.60; 74.11
Country  India
State Jammu and Kashmir
District Poonch
Languages
 • Official Urdu اردو
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 185211
Telephone code 911965
Vehicle registration JK-12

Mendhar (Urdu:تحصیل مینڈھر) is a tehsil in the Poonch district of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in the foot-hils of Pir Panjal range within the Himalayas. Mendhar Tehsil headquarters is Mendhar town . It is located 60 km towards South from District headquarters Poonch and 210 km from State winter capital Jammu.

History

As per the "History of India" by R.K Mukherji and "2500 years of Budhism" by P.V Bhapat one Greek Governor Menander I (known in Indian Pali sources as Milinda (165 BC-130 BC) was the ruler of Punjab. Mendhar also included the western foothills of PirPanchal that Formed part of his kingdom. Menander initially a Governor of the Greek empire had revolted and declared himself as an independent ruler.Since the entire population of Menander's kingdom were believers of Budhism, hence, his interest in the faith became natural. He, however, had many questions in his mind about Budhism. He interacted with a number of Budhist scholars and monks seeking clarifications about his concerns regarding the faith but none could convincingly respond to his quarries, the Malinda Panha. In the process he happened to meet a Budhist monk by the name Nagasena who is believed to have answered all his questions. At the end of this discussion Menander became a disciple of Nagasena.

Mr. A Koul in his book 'Budhism in Kashmir' writes that the discussion between Nagasena and Menander was held in the southern side of Kashmir valley about 20 yojans from the valley. P. V. Bapat writes that Menander had build a monastery in memory of his discussion with Nagasena and named it as Menander Vihara.

The famous book on Budhism "Malinda Panha" written by King Menandra refers to his intimate knowledge of Kashmir and its surrounding areas. Jyotisher Pathic, a renowned writer of Jammu writes in one of his articles published in "Sheraza" Urdu that the discussion between Nagasena and Menandra was held is present Mendhar valley of Poonch. It is believed that the discussion between King Menandera and the monk took place at Sakhi Maidan, at site nearly 3 km north of Mendhar town, however, another account supported mostly by the local legend narrates that the meeting between Menander and Nagasena had held at Chhatral, a place nearly 10 km from the town. The legend further narrates that a memorial was later erect by the king at Chhatral known as "Dherra" which still stands so high bearing testimony to the historic event. The architecture of this structure is Indo-Greek in style and unique in look. It also believed that subsequent to it, King Menander constructed a monastery Menandra Vihara at Sakhi Maidan which served as a Budhist center of learning for a long time to follow. Both these monuments have indistinguishable architectural similarities a tell the tales of thousands of years of rich history of the place. It is plausibly believed that the place was initially named as Menander Vihara which with the passage of time came to be known as Menander or Mendhar.

Poonch principality

In 850 AD, when Poonch principality was established by Nara, Mendhar was a part of this principality. The principality remained intact up to 1452 AD when Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin captured the outer hills of Pir Panjal region and established a new outer hill state Poonch-Nowshera under the name of Bhaya Desa Vinah. Mendhar also became a part of this new principality. In 1596 AD, a newly converted Muslim Saraj-ud-Din Rathore became the Raja of the Poonch principality by order of Emperor Akbar. Mendhar area came under his control. From 1596 to 1819 AD, Poonch remained the principality of Rathore Rajas and Sangu Gujjar Rajas and Mendhar was the part of this principality.

British Empire

In 1852 AD, Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu and Kashmir nominated his nephew Mian Moti Singh as the Raja of Poonch. Moti Singh came to Poonch and established a new principality. Mendhar valley became a part of this principality along with Thakiala Prava area of Kotli. C. E. Bates writes in his book 'The Gazetteer of Kashmir' that in 1872 AD, Mendhar was a township and known as Dharamsal with hundred houses on the left bank of Mendhri stream having a mixed population. In 1905 AD, Captain R. E. A. Hamilton completed the first settlement of Poonch. On administrative grounds, he divided the principality into four tehsils and Mendhar became the largest tehsil of the principality. It was a large grain producer in Poonch up to 1947.

Mendhar and Freedom Movement of Kashmir

In the wake of the incident of 13 July 1931 AD in Kashmir, the uprising also started in Poonch area especially in Mendhar tehsil where several Lambardars objected to Raja's insistence on Muslim's participation in his hunting expeditions for herding animals including pigs for his convenience. They also stopped submission of the weekly mail/information bags to the court of the Raja, which he took as revolt. On 2 January 1932, the people of Thakiala Prava of and other parts of Mendhar revolted against the state government and marched towards Poonch under the leadership of Sardar Fateh Mohammed Khan, Sardar Diwan Ali Khan and Sardar Sakhi Walayat Khan of Narol. Raja Jagat Dev Singh of Poonch, with the help of Muslim Suddans of tehsil Plandri succeeded in quelling the revolt but the movement of Kashmir had given birth to a strong political leadership in Mendhar headed by Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan Karelvi. Sardar Mohammed Sher Khan, a teacher in Government High School Poonch developed animosity with the Raja and joined hands with Allah Rakha Sagar, Sardar Budh Singh, Allah Rakha Sagar and other Muslim Conference leaders of Kashmir and took the center-stage of the freedom movement of Poonch. He was however, poisoned to death in AMU, Aligarh campus hostel by the police Sargent Pt. Gauri Dutt at close aide of the Raja of Poonch. (Aqwam-e-Pakistan ka Encyclopedia p. 532 ISBN 978-969-9396-00-7). In 1932 AD, on the recommendations of Glancy Commission, a 75-member Legislative Assembly had come into existence under the name of Praja Sabha. Three seats were allotted to the Poonch principality.

Sardar Fateh Mohammad Khan Karelvi of Mendhar was elected MLA from Haveli-Mendhar constituency. He was again elected to the Praja Sahba in 1937. (Encyclopedia of Castes of Pakistan page 542. ISBN 978-969-9396-00-7)

Partition of the State and After

During the turmoil of 1947, Mendhar tehsil was captured by the rebel forces and Pakistani Army under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Rehmatulla, a deserter of State Forces. About two thousand Hindus and Sikhs had become hostage to the rebel forces. In this crucial time, Sardar Fateh Mohammad Khan Karelvi played a vital role and protected hundreds of Hindu families and helped them migrate to the Indian side.

In 1948 AD, operation link-up was launched by Indian forces from Rajouri towards Poonch under the command of Brigadier Yadav Nath Singh. The Indian forces, after capturing important hill tops Pir Bardeshwar on 14 October and Pir Kaleva on 26th October in Rajouri area, moved towards Mendhar via Manjakote. Bhimber Gali was taken over on 8 November 1948. At that time Mendhar town was the centre of rebel forces and Pakistan army. But Indian forces continued their advance via Mendhar towards Poonch.

On 20 November, Pir Topa, an important feature in Mendhar, was captured. On 23 November, Indian forces moved via Jhakha Gali, stormed Mendhar town and captured it. In the next few days all the important hill tops of Khandar range from Balakote up to Daruchian were taken and Mendhar tehsil was liberated. Presently, the green valley of Mendhar leads the other areas of Poonch in the overall developmental scenario and political setup. Before partition of the State, Mendhar was represented in the Maharaja's Praja Prashid by Sardar Fteh Muhammed Khan while after segregation of the Surankote Assembly segment, Mendhar elected Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan (thrice) Sardar Nissar Ahmed Khan (twice) and Javed Ahmed Rana (twice) as MLAs. The former two also served as Ministers in the State Cabinet. In the Upper House of the State Legislature Mendhar was been represented by Chaudhary Lal Mohammed Sabir (Minister), Chaudhary Rahim Dad, Sardar Mohammed Akhlaq Khan, Murtaza Ahmed Khan and Javed Ahmed Rana. Mohammed Rasheed Qureshi also served a portion of the six year term pursuant to a court verdict resulting from a litigation between him and Master Tassadaq Hussain of Rajouri who, the court held was wrongly elected to a seat reserved for Poonch district.

The ceasefire line between India and Pakistan runs next to the Mendhar tehsil, which continues to witnesses the exchange of fire between the two armies.[1]

Geography

Mendhar on Jammu and Kashmir map

It is cold in summer. Mendhar summer highest day temperature is in between 19 °C to 43 °C . Average temperatures of January is 11 °C, February is 13 °C, March is 19 °C, April is 24 °C, May is 30 °C.[2]

Demography

The total projected population of Mendhar Tehsil is 112,723 (57,723 males and 55000 females) (2011 census of India) which includes Paharis, Gujjars, Bakerwals and Kashmiris. There are total 50 villages and 50 panchayats in Mendhar Tehsil.[2]

Places of interest

Krishna Ghati

Krishan Ghati is a hilly forest area, located at a distance of 30 km from Mendhar town.[3] The site is famous for its landscapes and natural beauty. The areas near it are most vulnerable due to contnous firing.

Ziyarat Chhote Shah Sahib

Ziyarat Chhote Shah Sahib is located in village Sakhi Maidan of Mendhar tehsil. This Ziyarat was built in memory of Saint Sakhi Peer Chhota Shah who is held in high esteem by Hindus and Muslims alike in the area. Barely few hundred yards from Ziyarat lies the ruins of ancient architecture popularly believed to be of the Pandvas.[4]

Ram Kund

Ram Kund is the oldest temple in Poonch region. It is located in a sleepy village Narol 6 km from Mendhar Town. This temple was built by Lalitaditya between 724AD and 761 AD.[5] In temples courtyard there are three sacred ponds, they are known as Ramkund, Lachmankund and Sitakund. A water spring also emerges from Ramkund.[6]

Villages

Topa (Jammu and Kashmir) is a village located at 4 km from Mendhar town. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, the Battle of Topa was fought here by 5 Gorkha Rifles.

Balnoi is also a big village of Tehsil Mendhar. In 1947 mostly people of Balnoi migrated to Azad Kashmir & Pakistan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Heavy firing by Pak troops in Poonch, The Tribune, 5 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 Mendhar Tehsil, onefivenine.com, Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  3. ↑ Krishna Ghati, Holiday IQ, Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  4. ↑ Muslim religious places, Poonch district government, Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  5. ↑ Ramkund Mandir in Poonch, Kashir Paradise, Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  6. ↑ Hindu shrines, Poonch district government, Retrieved 2016-04-16.
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