MANGRAL RAJPOOT BOOK PART 9

 

SEHNSA

Sahansa is like a valley with Poonch river in the east, wide plain in the west, hills in the north and south. 2262 feet above sea level. It has a population of about 63,000. Sahansa has one town, five union councils and 71 constituencies. The largest union council in Sahansa is the Anti-Mangralan.

The reason for the name Sahansa is that its name is derived from the ancestor of the Mangral tribe, Raja Sens Paul. Raja Sens Paul ruled the area for a long time. When Raja Sens Paul was invited to Islam in 1424 by the Prime Minister of Kashmir, he not only embraced Islam but also brought his subjects into the fold of Islam. Raja Sense Paul did not change his name at the insistence of the people even after his conversion to Islam. His subjects loved him dearly. When Raja Sans Paul encamped here, the area was ruled by the Mehtaras, after which he declared his rule here and made Sainla, west of the present Sahansa city, his capital. The area was later renamed Sahansa after him.

The tribes inhabiting Sahansa include Mangral Rajput, Jatt Chaudhary, Gujjar Chaudhary, Sudhan, Sadaat, Mughal [mason, cobbler, bag], Qureshi Malik and Khokhar. Famous people were born in Sahansa who performed remarkable historical deeds which will be remembered for the rest of the world. These personalities include Subedar Raja Sardar Hayat Ali Khan, Capt. Raja Sardar Khan [OBI Award winner in 1945], Captain Chaudhry Natha Khan [Gujjar], Subedar Sardar Baru Khan, Lt. Raja Wali Dad Khan, Lt. Raja Karam Dad Khan, Zeldar Raja Karam Dad Khan [First Nominated Member of Praja Sabha 1942], Raja Akbar Dad Khan [First Muslim Graduate 1938 Tehsil Kotli], Raja Muhammad Ayub Khan [First State Accountant Member Income Tax Appellate Tribunal].

Some great politicians were born in Sahansa area. Among them are Raja Fazal Dad Khan [three times Member Assembly], Chaudhry Mazhar Hussain [former Deputy Opposition Leader], Raja Munshi Khan, Dr. Mahmood Riaz [Pakhral Rajput], Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub [Gujjar], Syed Ghulam Raza Naqvi, Sardar Bashir Pahlawan. Raja Zia-ul-Hameed Khan, Chairman Raja Mahmood Dad Khan and Raja Abdul Majeed Khan are notable personalities.

The people of Sahansa area also took part in the non-payment of finance movement of 1931-32. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah [President of the National Conference], Maulana Abdullah Siakhvi and Raja Mohammad Akbar Khan the key character of the non-payment of finance movement, also visited here and the people of Sahansa did not spare any effort to welcome them.

The local people became more and more involved against the Maharaja's government. Mujahideen were divided into two parts. A section was commanded by Captain Chaudhry Natha Khan who was associated with the victorious Rajouri Raja Sakhi Dalair Khan. The second division was commanded by Lieutenant Raja Karam Dad Khan, who was attached to Colonel Raja Mahmood Khan and took instructions and took action. When battlefield was in full swing against the Maharaja. Meanwhile, a few Mujahideen were martyred, including Subedar Sardar Baro Khan.

The younger generation, following in the footsteps of their predecessors, is still practically fighting against India. A few soldiers of the area were martyred while fighting against the Hindu army in occupied Kashmir. They include Raja Arshad Mahmood Shaheed, Naseer Ahmed Shaheed and Raja Ashfaq Asim Shaheed.

Revolutionary changes have taken place in the field of education in Shahnasa. The oldest primary school in the Jammu sector in the area was established in 1890. There is also the oldest primary school in Poonch sector. The school was approved by Subedar Sardar Hayat Ali Khan in 1911-16 at Thali. There are now 48 men's primary schools in the area, while the number of women's primary schools is about the same.

The first high school in Sahansa was built in 1963-64 with Maulvi Abdul Shakoor as its first headmaster. The first inter-college was established in 1990 which is now a degree college. Sahansa Girls Inter College was established in 1990 with Chaudhry Muhammad Siddique as its first principal. It became a Girls Degree College in 2003. There are dozens of primary and high schools in the private sector in Sahansa while a few private colleges have also rendered invaluable services in the field of education.

Sahansa was given the status of a tehsil in 1974. Civil and financial courts were also set up. The first Sub-Judge of Sahasa Tehsil was Chaudhry Muhammad Ishaq while the first Tehsil was Qazi Chaudhry Muhammad Bashir. The first Sub-Divisional Magistrate [SDM] of the area was Qazi Muhammad Latif, Tehsildar Mir Ghulam Nabi and Deputy Tehsildar Muhammad Ajmal Khan. Subdivision Electronics was established here in 2009 with Saleem Awan as the first SDO Electronics and Hafeez Butt as the first XEN.

Sahansa was given the status of a town committee in 1984, with Sardar Nazar Mohammad as its first chairman. When it was given the status of a municipal corporation in 1998, its first administrator was Sardar Sarfraz Khan.

While Sahansa has made progress in education and other fields, there is also a Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in the health sector. There are also a few welfare trusts in the area that are playing their part in providing health services. The establishment of the Bostan Trust at THQ Hospital is an important milestone in the field of health.

People are conservative when it comes to customs. They share each other's sorrows and joys. Apart from drums, poetry is also arranged at weddings. Relationships are made in most communities. Most live in England, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Kuwait. The majority of the population is financially stable.

No fruit trees grow naturally in Sahansa. However, guava, mango, apricot and banana trees have been planted in some places. Most of the business people reside in Sahansa Bazaar while some areas from Punjab are also doing business here.

In addition to lawyers, doctors, engineers and the army, many people are also involved in the education sector and are serving the people of the area in their respective professions. Apart from Raja Fazal Dad Khan [late], Raja Abdul Majeed Khan [late] and Chaudhry Mazhar Hussain, the four-time elected MLA and Government Minister Raja Naseer Khan from Constituency No. 3 has also played an important role in the construction and development.

Blogger: Raja Mumtaz Ahmed

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