GUJRAT

Lying on the western bank of the Chenab river, Gujrat has been inhabited since the Indus Valley Civilisation. The Maurya and Gupta empires ruled over the area during the classical period which diversified the culture of the region. Islam spread in the region during the medieval period by Mahmud of Ghazni, and was established by the Delhi Sultanate.

In the 16th Century with the rise of the Mughal rule, Gujrat saw great developments in architecture, alongside diversification in its culture, and administrative changes by the new empire. Specifically, it was under the reign of the Emperor Akbar when Gujrat officially became part of the subah - a term that refers to a province in the Mughal empire.

During the time of the Sikh confederacy, Gujrat was controlled by the Bhangi Misl, but the shift in power dynamics between the misls led to Ranjit Singh of the Sukerchakia Misl gaining control and joining the area to the newly founded Sikh empire.

The early 19th Century annexation of Gujrat to the Sikh empire also bought about the development of new infrastructure that reflected the Sikh administration.

Following the second Anglo-Sikh war in 1849, Gujrat came under the British Colonial rule who also introduced their systems - administrative tactics, and infrastructure. It was during the British rule that Gujrat transformed into an agricultural powerhouse increased their produce output significantly.

Partition affected Gujrat in a similar way to the other Punjabi cities with significant changes to the demographic makeup.

Today, Gujrat is specifically known for its production of rice and sugarcane crops. It is also known for pottery and textiles.

Until our paths cross in Bahawalpur - Trish Saab