Know Delhi's localities named after Pak migrants' cities

New Delhi: The partition of India in 1947 was the largest forced migration in human history of almost 10 million people. While both the countries, India and Pakistan won the independence, civilians had to leave their homes and settle in refugee camps or migrate to their respective countries. Many Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan, from the North West Frontier Province and West Punjab made India's capital their new home. Delhi received the largest influx of people and the population increased from nearly 1 million to 2 million during 1941-51.These refugees began to live in housing colonies. Many colonies were named after the Pakistan migrants' cities, some of them are listed below: 1. Gujranwala, Pakistan and Gujranwala Town in India Gujranwala is an industrial town in Pakistan's Punjab Province. The city is also called ‘city of wrestlers'. Before partition, the place was inhabited by Sikhs and Hindus; there is a history behind it. After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Gujranwala. The Sikhs dominated Punjab after the death of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. The town became important during the rules of the father and grandfather of Ranjit Singh, who were born in the city. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who himself was born here, became the most powerful of all the Sikh rulers. Hari Singh Nalwa, the military commander of the Sikh army, was credited with having built the 'new' city of Gujranwala.The predominantly Muslim population of this city supported the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled in the Gujranwala district. Gujranwala developed rapidly and is now a leading industrial and commercial city of Pakistan.The refugees from the Gujranwala district in Pakistan then formed Gujranwala Town in Delhi. Gujranwala Town which is now built into three parts, is a colony near the Gurudwara Nanak Piao located on the Grand Trunk Road. It is close to Delhi University, Model Town and Civil Lines area. 2. Derajat region in Pakistan and Derawal Nagar in India Derajat is a small region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The region is divided into three districts: Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Fateh Khan. The people of Derajat region are called Derawals and their dialect is Derawali.The Hindu and Sikh Derawals migrated to India at the time of the partition of India in 1947 which can be found in Derawal Nagar, Delhi, while the Muslims stayed in Pakistan. 3. Kohat in Pakistan and Kohat Enclave in India Kohat is a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The place was inhabited by the Kohatis who spoke Punjabi language. Bangash, Kohati Hinkown, Orakzai, Khattak, Shenwari, Afridi are the tribes in the region. The Sikhs and Hindus who were in minority had to leave the region in 1947 and migrated to Delhi forming the Kohat Enclave. The place is in the North West Delhi district of Delhi. 4. Mianwali in Pakistan and Mianwali Nagar in Delhi Mianwali district is in the Northwest Pakistan on the eastern bank of Indus river. Two prominent migrant clans namely Niazis (Pashtuns) and Awan (tribe). Over the years some Baloch made Mianwali their home and Awans.After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Sikh invaded and occupied Mianwali district.The British had made the towns of Mianwali and Isa Khel tehsil headquarters of Bannu District then part of Dera Ismail Khan Division of Punjab province.The migrants from the region made the Mianwali Nagar in West Delhi which is an upper middle class residential suburb. There are notable apartment complexes in the area.

Know Delhi's localities named after Pak migrants' cities

New Delhi: The partition of India in 1947 was the largest forced migration in human history of almost 10 million people. While both the countries, India and Pakistan won the independence, civilians had to leave

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