Chakswari
Encyclopedia
Chakswari is a Tehsil
(town) in the Mirpur District
of Azad Kashmir
in Pakistan
. It is composed of approximately 25 Union councils
including the New Town of Islamgarh
. Approximately 42 km from Mirpur, it is rapidly becoming an economic hub and commercial area of the district.
The majority of the population speak the Mirpuri dialect of Pothwari, the second most spoken language of Kashmir after Kashmiri. A large number of inhabitants emigrated to the United Kingdom
between the 1950s and 1980s.
The people of this area are agriculturalists belonging to the Jatt, Rajput
& other castes, with strong cultural links to the Pothwar region
of Pakistan.
Chakswari is divided into two parts, the historic old town where the majority of the wholesale shops, for which the Town is known , are located and the newer part – Chakswari Colony which was built for the families who lost their homes following the construction of Mangla Dam. The town is modern and a shoppers paradise. The current population of Chakswari is around twenty thousand. Chakswari boasts the biggest house-building boom after Mirpur. Chakswari is known for its excellent shopping areas and its large shopping plazas for which most of the wholesale shops are located. There are many stores, plazas, shopping malls & markets in these thoroughfares, selling everything from hand made pottery to international brands.
The area is well populated with British Kashmiris who come throughout the year, as they have homes and relatives living there. A major source of income for the local businesses there.
Notable People:
Rani Taj (First Kashmiri-British Female Dhol Player)
(Akalgarh) and Chak Haryam
further south. The most famous village in the history of Azad Kashmir is located in the epicentre of Chakswari widely known as 'Teekhriyan.'
Tehsil
A Tehsil or Tahsil/Tahasil , also known as Taluk and Mandal, is an administrative division of some country/countries of South Asia....
(town) in the Mirpur District
Mirpur District
Mirpur District is a district in the disputed and divided state of [Jammu and Kashmir]. The district is named after the main city, Mirpur. The District of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area of . The district is mainly mountainous with some plains...
of Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It is composed of approximately 25 Union councils
Union Councils of Pakistan
A sherwan or village council in Pakistan is an elected local government body consisting of 21 councillors, and headed by a nazim and a naib nazim...
including the New Town of Islamgarh
Islamgarh
Islamgarh is a Municipal Committee of Mirpur District near Mangla Dam of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located on the southern part of the Panjal Range, about 28 Kilometer in North-East of MirpurAzad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan is situated the talent producing Islamgarh, progressing...
. Approximately 42 km from Mirpur, it is rapidly becoming an economic hub and commercial area of the district.
Society & Culture
Main Article Ethnic Groups of Azad KashmirEthnic groups of Azad Kashmir
The population of Azad Kashmir is composed of many communities and tribes. According to the 1998 Census of Pakistan, the total population of Azad Kashmir was 3,271,000....
The majority of the population speak the Mirpuri dialect of Pothwari, the second most spoken language of Kashmir after Kashmiri. A large number of inhabitants emigrated to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
between the 1950s and 1980s.
The people of this area are agriculturalists belonging to the Jatt, Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
& other castes, with strong cultural links to the Pothwar region
Pothohar Plateau
The Pothohar Plateau is a plateau in north-eastern Pakistan and the western parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The area was the home of the Soanian Culture, which is evidenced by the discovery of fossils, tools, coins, and remains of ancient archaeological sites...
of Pakistan.
Georgraphy
Chakswari comprises partly plain and partly hilly areas. Chakswari has pleasant scenery and the climate is generally arid, characterized by hot summers and cool winters. There is little rainfall.Chakswari is divided into two parts, the historic old town where the majority of the wholesale shops, for which the Town is known , are located and the newer part – Chakswari Colony which was built for the families who lost their homes following the construction of Mangla Dam. The town is modern and a shoppers paradise. The current population of Chakswari is around twenty thousand. Chakswari boasts the biggest house-building boom after Mirpur. Chakswari is known for its excellent shopping areas and its large shopping plazas for which most of the wholesale shops are located. There are many stores, plazas, shopping malls & markets in these thoroughfares, selling everything from hand made pottery to international brands.
History
Chakswari is well known for the existence of The Holy Pir's. Who are also known as Noshahi's as they are descendants of Hazrat Haji syed Muhammad Nosha Ganj Baksh who him self was part of Muhammad's family tree. Haji Syed Muhammad Nosha Ganj Baksh's tomb is located in Ranmal Sharif in Mandi Bahauddin Panjab Pakistan. There are two darbars(shrines)of noshahi family in Ban Dhamali (village near chakswari) In the 90's, they were known for helping the people of Chakswari with things like poverty and religious issues. Till today the Noshahi Pir's enter the villages to meet Their followers.The area is well populated with British Kashmiris who come throughout the year, as they have homes and relatives living there. A major source of income for the local businesses there.
Notable People:
Rani Taj (First Kashmiri-British Female Dhol Player)
Outlying Villages
Within the Chakswari area are the villages of Rachyal,Susral, Kalyal}, Thothal, Palaak, Panyam, Lidder Marri, Dhangri Bahadur, Dhangri Bala (with a famous local mosque), Thangdev, Barootian (on the main road to Mirpur), Ban Dhamali, Pinda Colony, Pukka Dularh, Issar, and Khannabad. Just over the bridge to the south of Barootian are the villages of Kaneli and Rarah with IslamgarhIslamgarh
Islamgarh is a Municipal Committee of Mirpur District near Mangla Dam of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located on the southern part of the Panjal Range, about 28 Kilometer in North-East of MirpurAzad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan is situated the talent producing Islamgarh, progressing...
(Akalgarh) and Chak Haryam
Chak Haryam
Chak Haryam is a village, near Islamgarh in the Chakswari tehsil of Mirpur District of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan.- History :Like many villages in the Mirpur region, many of its residents have emigrated to the United Kingdom....
further south. The most famous village in the history of Azad Kashmir is located in the epicentre of Chakswari widely known as 'Teekhriyan.'
See also
- Mirpur DistrictMirpur DistrictMirpur District is a district in the disputed and divided state of [Jammu and Kashmir]. The district is named after the main city, Mirpur. The District of Mirpur has a population of 371,000 and covers an area of . The district is mainly mountainous with some plains...
- Azad KashmirAzad KashmirAzad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
- British Pakistanis
- Potwari language