Chakswari
| Chakswari | |
|---|---|
  Chakswari Location in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan | |
| Coordinates: 33°15′50″N 73°46′59″E / 33.264°N 73.783°ECoordinates: 33°15′50″N 73°46′59″E / 33.264°N 73.783°E | |
| Country |
 Pakistan |
| Province | Azad Kashmir |
| Population | |
| • Estimate () | 20,000 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Number of Union councils | 25 |
Chakswari (چكسواڑي) 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.
Society and Culture
Main Article Ethnic Groups of Azad Kashmir
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 Balouch Jatt, Rajput & other castes, with strong cultural links to the Pothwar region of Pakistan.
Geography
Chakswari comprises partly plain and partly hilly areas. Chakswari has pleasant scenery and the climate is generally arid, characterised 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 was named after its early name as the village "Chak" and a certain elder Sawari Khan, a Jat Rajput belonging to the Tial and Bhati clan. He is now buried in the Chakswari village Panyam
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 himself 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.
The early history of Chakswari is closely related to Panyam, Dokh Chodrian (Muqaddam) whose residents such as Ch. Fazal Elahi (Zaildar) and Ch. Karam Dad (Speaker of Azad Kashmir Parliament) were instrumental to sorting local issues to the Mirpur area and the villages around Chakswari in essence the fore runner of Azad kashmir parliament began here.
Dokh Chodrians, Panyam, Chakswaris recent resident Ch. Arif, who was also a resident of Woking, England, came back to his roots in Panyam, Chakswari and up lifted the old tradition of bull racing.
Notable People
- Rani Taj is a British Pakistani dhol player whose family originate in the Chakswari region of Kashmir
Outlying villages
A most famous area of Chakswari is Panyam, which has a long history associated with Chakswari, being the residence of the prominent politician Fazal Elahi. The family of the current Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Abdul Majeed also reside in this area.
The Chakswari area is surrounded by the numerous villages of Nagyal, Dheri Dhamial, Nakha Dhamial, 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), Barwan, Merah, Barooti, jeevan village, Ban Dhamali, Pinda Colony, Pukka Dullarh, Essar, and Khanabad. Over the bridge to the south of Barootian lie the villages of Kanayli and Rarah with Islamgarh (Akalgarh) and Chak Haryam further south.
Gallery
Susral
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Kalyal Mosque, Chakswari
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Chakswari New Mosque
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Houses of Kalyal
See also
References
Zahid Noor
TCS Express Centre Chakswari .