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History of Kamalia

Kamalia is a land of ancient history. The river Ravi flowed through a thick forest 400 B.C. A settlement was peopled with boatmen not with as large population as other castes.Majority of them belonged to Khokhar caste. These people were acknowledged as tenacious, industrious and warriors with peace-loving nature, but undaunted and undefeatable.

This Jungle was to the south west of Sandal Bar, the very place of settlement of Kamalia situated 35 kilometers away in the east from District Toba Tek Singh. In 326 B.C having defeated the Al-exander of  Greek, Raja Porus of Jehlum came to this Jungle to attack Harrappa. But Khokhar chief, Chohar Khan with the help of different tribes faced the Al-exander bravely and Sandal Bar was named after his name.

The Al-exander moved away and the population of this settlement of boatmen began increasing. The scattered wild tribes began to settle there. Thus a thickly populated town came into existence. In the 4^th century, the ruler of this place was Raja Surcup who had managed a boundary wall around his city. This fort was well known after the name of Raja Sarcup, a cruel and cunning ruler. Being player of Chousar, he played with bet of cutting head off. He, through foul play, would defeat his opponent and, cutting head off, hang it on the gate of his fort. Just to keep his terror alive. Raja Risaloo was the son of  Raja Salia. Hun with his ruling period from 375 B.C to 413 B.C. Hearing the fame of Raja Sarcup, Raja Risaloo came to play game of Chousar with him. He defeated Raja Sarcup and cut his head off. Then he made his daughter, Rani Koklan, his wife. Raja Risaloo was very fond of outing and hunting. So he kept Rani Koklan with him. He had got built summer and winter rest houses where Rani Koklan stayed. Once Raja Risaloo went for hunting in the surrounding of Hazara, leaving behind Rani Koklan alone. Raja of attoch, Hodi Bin Bakram happened to pass that way. A chance meeting between Raja Hodi and Rani Koklan drew closer which kept on and on. When Raja Risaloo came to know this romance, he murdered Raja Hodi in the Jungle and, making Kababs out of his flesh, made her eat. When Rani Koklan came to know it, she, jumping out of the window of Rest House, embraced death. Thus, the chapter of the tale of this land came to close.

In the reign of Abraheem Lodhi, Khan Kamal Khan Kharl, aristocrat of area Fateh Noor along with his family left home for Dehli and he met in the Jungle Nawab Rai Hamand of Hindal Nagri who was also Kharl. Being commoner, they drew near each other and Khan Kamal Khan Kharl stayed there for some time. Meanwhile, Khan Kamal Khan presented a sheet of cloth to Hazrat Shah Husain and he predicted the happy news of Ravi Desh for him which came true. Abraheem Lodhi dethroned Hamand because of his being in old age and appointed Khan Kamal Khan the ruler of Hindal Nagri. In 1527 Abraheem Lodhi was killed by Zaheer-ud-Din Babar. These days, Khan Kamal Khan Kharl was also killed by the sons of Rai Hamand. Then, a year later, the son of Khan Kamal Khan took revenge of his father’s murder. Then he, in place of deserted Nagri of Raja Sarcup, founded a settlement Kote Kamal Khan after the name of his father Khan Kamal Khan Kharl, today the same is KAMALIA.

The Tomb of Hazrat Shah Hussain

 After Choudhary Mahabbat Khan, his son, Saa’dat Yar Khan was appointed Nazim-e-Kamalia who enjoyed great popularity in the royal court. Saa’dat Yar Khan was often at quarrel with the Kharls of Jhamra and the Sials of Jhang were also unhappy with him. The aristocrat of Jhang, Sultan Mahmood got murdered the messenger of Saa’dat Yar Khan. As a result, the men of Saa’dat Yar Khan murdered Sultan Mahmood. Then the Sials of Jhang made attack on Kamalia. The seize prolonged, but with the interference of Nawab Muazffar Khan, it was lifted. Then in the reign of Muhammad Shah Rangeela saa’dat Yar Khan died. At this, the Sials of Jhang once again attacked and captured Kamalia. Thus the Sials of Jhang kept on occupying Kamalia till 1759, Then with the interference of Maha Raja Ranjeet Singh, Kamalia was got out of occupation and got under the subordination of “Sikha Shahi”

In the reign of British, Kamalia was also included in the area under English Rule. At that time, when Gogara was upgraded as District, Kamalia was made tehsil. This honour lasted till 1855. In the war of independence 1857, the Nawab of Kamalia, Sarfraz Khan stood by the English instead of freedom fighter tribes of Punjab and obeyed the command of company commander in crushing Mujahidins and finally on October 12, 1863 Nawab Saraf Khan died. Then full century was the century of slavery. Then on August, 1947 the Muslims of India got rid of slavery of the English and Pakistan appeared on the globe as an independent state.

Kamalia is a beautiful city of this independent country and is the main tehsil of District Toba Tek Singh. Its inhabitants are patriot and devotees of Islam. The leading persons of this city of schools, and colleges, are not less country-loving-they are the Kharls, The Rai, belonging to Gojjar caste, Arain or Fatyana family. There is a big Sugar Mills and Khaddr industry. Kamalia is a big seat of learning with distinction throughout Division.

Translated by,

Ch: A. Rehman,

(Retd) Principal.

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