SIALKOT

Founded by Raja Sul or Sáliváhan in 327 BCE as a fortified city, Sialkot has existed for many millennia. The first Kingdom the city came under was that of Raja Sul. The city was the capital of the Madra Kingdom - an ancient Indo-Aryan kingdom.

In the following years, the city was subject to Greek Influence by Alexander the Great wherein it most likely experienced significanct cultural changes. The next empires that controlled Sialkot were the Maurya, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim empires.

Unlike many other Punjabi cities, before Sialkot became part of the Sikh empire, it came under the Sikh Confederacy as the Bhangi Misl. Governed by Sardar Chajja Singh - who administered the name ‘Bhangi’ because of his cannabis smoking habit, Hari Singh, and Jhanda Singh, the Misl was a strong centre for trade and military logistics. However, it was eventually annexed to the Punjabi Empire in 1799 when Ranjit Singh conquered it and formed the Sikh empire.

The British East India Company, and British Raj both developed Sialkot further. It was in this time that the city’s cantonment was also formed.

During the 1947 partition, Sialkot saw great changed to its demographic make-up where most Sikh and Hindu residents moved to India, and Muslim refugees moved into Pakistan.

Following the partition, Sialkot became an industrial centre and is globally reputed for its sporting goods, surgical goods, and leather products.

Until we meet across the border, and our paths cross in Amritsar. Warmly, Trish Saab