Firozpur Cantonment
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Ferozepur Cantonment, also known as Firojpur Cantonment and Firojepur Cantonment, is a
cantonment A cantonment (, , or ) is a type of military base. In South Asia, a ''cantonment'' refers to a permanent military station (a term from the British Raj). In United States military parlance, a cantonment is, essentially, "a permanent residential ...
town in Firozpur district in the state of
Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is located to the south of the city of
Firozpur Firozpur, (pronunciation: ɪroːzpʊr also known as Ferozepur, is a city on the banks of the Sutlej River in the Firozpur District of Punjab, India. After the Partition of India in 1947, it became a border town on the India–Pakistan bor ...
. The cantonment played a key role for the
British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...
during
First Anglo-Sikh War The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company in 1845 and 1846 around the Firozpur district of Punjab. It resulted in the defeat and partial subjugation of the Sikh empire and cession of Jammu ...
. Today, it serves as the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division of the
Indian Army The Indian Army (IA) (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the Land warfare, land-based branch and largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Commander-in-Chief, Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head ...
Firozpur district's key administrative offices and residences, including the district courts and the commissioner's office, are within the cantonment rather than the city. The Mall Road is the main road of the Cantonment and runs through most of its length. All key offices and institutions as well as residences are located on, or in close proximity to, the Mall Road.


Demographics

, Firozpur Cantonment had a population of 57,418. Males constitute 60% of the population and females 40%. Firozpur Cantonment has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%; male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%. In Firozpur Cantonment, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.


History

Firozpur Cantonment was established in the year 1839 when Captain H. M. Lawrence was posted as the Assistant Political Agent of the Northwest Frontier. It is situated east of the
Sutlej River The Sutlej River or the Satluj River is a major river in Asia, flowing through China, India and Pakistan, and is the longest of the five major rivers of the Punjab region. It is also known as ''Satadru''; and is the easternmost tributary of th ...
, and about south of Firozpur city. Firozpur city and Cantonment, being situated on the India–Pakistan border, have not witnessed much industrial or commercial development. Firozpur Cantonment is a Class I Cantonment. The Cantonment is connected to the city by Jhoke Road and to the Sutlej by the
Grand Trunk Road Grand Trunk Road (formerly known as Uttarapath, Sadak-e-Azam, Shah Rah-e-Azam, Badshahi Sadak, and Long Walk) is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads. For at least 2,500 years it has linked Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent. It r ...
. Historically, it was an important Cantonment for the British. It was a vital base for their forces, particularly during the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846), but also over the course of the
Second Anglo-Sikh War The Second Anglo-Sikh War was a military conflict between the Sikh Empire and the East India Company which took place from 1848 to 1849. It resulted in the fall of the Sikh Empire, and the annexation of the Punjab region, Punjab and what sub ...
(1848–1849). It continued as an important base for supporting forward positions in modern-day
Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
. Until
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, it was one of the largest Cantonments in this region. After the
partition of India The partition of India in 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Dominion of India, Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The Union of India is today the Republic of India, and the Dominion of Paki ...
, the Cantonment's importance declined. There is an abandoned airstrip of British-era vintage in the Cantonment. The
Battle of Saragarhi The Battle of Saragarhi was a Last stand, last-stand battle fought before the Tirah Campaign between the British Raj, British Indian Empire and Afghans, Afghan tribesmen. On 12 September 1897, an estimated 12,000–24,000 Orakzai and Afridi trib ...
Gurudwara is a part of the Cantonment's military history as the men in the battle were mostly from adjoining areas.


Profile

Firozpur Cantonment Board is constituted under the provisions of the Cantonments Act, 1924, which was enacted by the Central Government. This Board is under administrative control of Government of India through the Ministry of Defence. General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, (GOC-in-Chief) Western Command, Chandimandir, acts as the local government. The Officer Commanding the Station is the President of the Board. The administration of the Cantonment Board is supervised by the Defence Estates Organisation. An officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) is posted as chief executive officer. Principal Director, Defence Estates, of the level of Additional Secretary at the centre, is posted in each Command, who is advisor to the GOC-in-Chief and is answerable to the Director General Defence Estates and, through him, to the Ministry of Defence. The military units at the Cantonment come under the administrative and operational control of the 1st Armoured Division,
Patiala Patiala () is a city in southeastern Punjab, India, Punjab, northwestern India. It is the fourth largest city in the state and is the administrative capital of Patiala district. Patiala is located around the ''Qila Mubarak, Patiala, Qila Mubar ...
. 2nd Battalion of Madras Sappers, 2 companies of 8th Battalion Bengal Sappers, 2nd and 9th
Garhwal Rifles The Garhwal Rifles, are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became "The Royal Garhwal Rifles" as part of the British Indian Army, and after the Inde ...
, 2/ 9 Gorkha Rifles, 1 Squadron 3rd Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 3 Squadrons of 5th Battalion Scinde Horse, I Battery 34th Medium Artillery Regiment (equipped with 122 mm
howitzer The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...
), D Signals Company of Divisional Signals Battalion and 23rd Field Mobile Ambulance Squadron of the Army Medical Corps are the units stationed at Firozpur Cantonment.


Schools and colleges

* Dass & Brown World School * B.M Jain Sr. Sec. School * Doon Junior School * Guru Nanak College * D.C. Model Sr. Sec. School * Army School * Army Public School * Grammar Model High School * St.Joseph's Convent School * Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School * Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 * D.A.V College * M.L.M Sr.Sec.School * D.S.Public School. * Vivekananda World School


References

{{Firozpur district Cities and towns in Firozpur district Cantonments of India Cantonments of British India