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Bar Region
Region in Punjab, Pakistan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Baṛ Region, or the Baṛs (Bār) (Punjabi: بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [bäːɾə̆]), is an upland plain region historically uncultivated tracts between rivers located between the Jhelum and the Sutlej in the Punjab region of Pakistan.[1][2] It includes several subregions such as Kirana Bar, Sandal Bar, Ganji Bar, and Neeli Bar.[3][4][5]
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.[6] The soil of the Bar Region is fertile.[7] The plains of fertile land have been created by the stream deposits driven by the many rivers flowing from the Himalayas.
The region is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Punjabis, with various local Punjabi tribes. Punjabi is the dominant language, with major spoken dialects including Jhangvi, Shahpuri, Dhanni, and Majhi.[8] The origin of the Punjabi folktales of Heer Ranjha and Mirza Sahiban also lie in this region.
The natural boundaries of the Bar region stretch from the Jhelum River in the north to the Sutlej River in the south. It is divided into sub-regions: the Kirana Bar between the Jhelum River and the Chenab River, the Sandal Bar between the Chenab River and the Ravi River, the Ganji Bar between the Ravi River and the old bed of the Beas River, and the Neeli Bar between the old bed of the Beas River and the Sutlej River.
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Etymology
The term Bar in Punjabi refers to land beyond settled areas, typically describing wilderness or uncultivated plains.[9] Some suggest it may derive from the Arabic word barr, meaning barren land, though this origin is considered doubtful.[10]
The term "Bāṛ" is commonly linked to the Sanskrit root "Vri," meaning "to cover" or "to enclose," which relates to terms like "Bár (fence)," "Bári (garden)," and "Bir (forest)."[11] These terms are associated with boundaries, enclosures, or spaces that separate cultivated land from natural areas.
Some have suggested an Arabic origin from the word "Barr," meaning barren or uncultivated land, but this connection is considered uncertain.[12]
Overall, "Bāṛ" refers to a boundary or enclosed space, often separating human settlements from wilderness or uncultivated land.
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History
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The Bar Region, located in present-day Punjab Province of Pakistan, has a history that dates back to the time of the Harappan Civilization, with its earliest settlements dating to around 2600 BC. Over time, the area evolved through various cultural and agricultural phases, and today remains an important part of Punjab, known for its fertile lands and historical significance.[13][14]
The Bar region was historically a sparsely populated tract of land between Punjab's rivers. Due to low rainfall, pastoral nomadism was supported by herding goats and camels. Communities moved seasonally between riverine areas in the dry months and the Bar and Thal lands after the rains, remaining within the Punjab plains year-round—unlike the nomads of Balochistan and Afghanistan.[15][16][17][18]
Many tribes of the region embraced Islam during the medieval period. According to the Jawahir-i-Faridi, Jat clans such as the Khokhars, Bhattis, Dhudhis, Hans, Johiyas, and Wattus converted during the time of Baba Farid.[19][20]
Over time, some of these tribes established their Muslim-ruled polities, including the Sial dynasty, the Pakpattan State, and the Johiyas, who ruled parts of the Jangladesh region.[21][22][23][24]
During the 18th century, the Bar region witnessed upheaval during the Nader Shah invasion of 1739. The Gondal chiefs resisted his forces and helped prevent the devastation of Gondal Bar. In both Gondal and Sandal Bars, his army encountered small but organized local resistance.[25][26]
In the colonial period, the Bar region remained a center of resistance to British authority. Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, a prominent chieftain of the Kharal tribe from Jhamra in Sandal Bar, led a major rebellion during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Several Bar tribes, including the Watto, Fatyana, Baghela, Kathia, and Johiya supported him.[27][28]
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The British established a network of canal colonies across the Bar region. These projects transformed the landscape and attracted settlers from other parts of Punjab, turning the area into a fertile and agriculturally productive zone.[29][30]
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Demographics
Punjabis are native people of the region and speak Jatki dialect, along with closely related subdialects such as Jhangvi and Shahpuri. [31][32][33]
The major tribes of the region include: Bhattis, Bullas, Chadhars, Chaughtas, Gondals, Johiyas, Kathias, Khokhars, Kharals, Ranjhas, Sials, Tarars,Wattus and Thaeems.[34][35][36][37]
Sub-regions of the Bar Region
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Kirana Bar (Kɪrāṇā Bār; Punjabi: کرانہ بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [kɪɾɑːnɑː bɑːɾ]) or Gondal Bar (Gōndal Bār; Punjabi: گوندل بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [ɡəndəl bɑːɾ]) is located between the Jhelum River and the Chenab River. It includes the central and southern parts of Chaj Doab and includes the modern-day districts of Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Gujrat (southern parts), and the western parts of Chiniot (such as Lalian), along with parts of Jhang District. The region is named after the Kirana Hills, a mountain range located in the area,[38] and is also referred to as Gondal Bar after the Gondal Punjabi Jat clan that dominated the region.[39] The land is known for its agricultural richness, particularly after the introduction of canal irrigation.
Sandal Bar (Sāndal Bār; Punjabi: ساندل بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [ˈsændəl bɑːɾ]) is located between the Chenab and Ravi rivers, covering parts of Rechna Doab. It includes the modern-day districts of Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Vehari, Toba Tek Singh, and parts of Sheikhupura (specifically Safdarabad and Sheikhupura). The region is named after Sandal, the grandfather of the 16th-century Punjabi chieftain Dulla Bhatti, known for his rebellion against the Mughal Empire. Rai Ahmad Khan Kharal, a Punjabi Muslim chieftain of the Kharal tribe, hailed from this region and led the resistance against British rule. He was a prominent figure in the Sandal Bar, and after his martyrdom, he became a folk hero in Punjabi literature.
Neeli Bar (Nīlī Bār; Punjabi: نیلی بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [niːlī bɑːɾ]) is located between the old bed of the Beas and the Sutlej River. It includes the modern-day districts of Vehari, Pakpattan, and Okara (specifically the Dipalpur tehsil).
Ganji Bar (Gaṅjī Bār; Punjabi: گنجی بار (Shahmukhi); Punjabi pronunciation: [ɡənʤī bɑːɾ]) is located between the Ravi and the old bed of the Beas River. This region includes the modern-day districts of Khanewal, Sahiwal, and the cities of Okara (Renala Khurd and Okara, including parts of the Dipalpur tehsil of Okara District). The area is known for its fertile soil, which became suitable for agriculture after the introduction of irrigation systems.
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Districts of the Bar Region in Punjab
The indigenous people of the Bar region speak the Jatki dialect of Punjabi, which includes sub-dialects such as Jhangvi, Shahpuri, and Dhani. While Dhani is not spoken in the natural Bar region, areas outside its boundaries that speak the Dhani and Shahpuri sub-dialects are still considered part of the Bar due to cultural and linguistic ties.
The following districts are classified as Bar:
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See also
References
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