Zira, Punjab facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zira
City
Zira
Jain Swetamber Temple, Zira
Zira Location in Punjab Show map of Punjab Zira Location in India Show map of India
Country	India
State	Punjab
District	Firozpur
Government
• Body	Nagar Palika
Population
• Total	36,732
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	142047
Telephone code	01682
Vehicle registration	PB-47

Zira is a town and a municipal council in the Firozpur district of Punjab, India. It is a place with a long history and has seen many changes over the years.

History of Zira

For many years, Zira was mostly empty land. Then, in 1508, a person named Ahmad Shah came from Gugera and founded a new settlement called Zira Khas.

Later, Ahmad Shah was driven out by Sher Shah Suri. During Sher Shah Suri's time, many villages in this area were established. After that, Mohar Singh took control, but he was also driven out by Diwan Mohkam Chand. Mohkam Chand was a general for Ranjit Singh, a powerful ruler. The area then became part of the Lahore kingdom.

The Zira area was later split into two parts. The eastern part kept the name Zira and was given to Sarbuland Khan. The western part was named ilaqa Ambarhar and was given to Kanwar Sher Singh, who was Ranjit Singh's son. Eventually, Sher Singh gained control of the entire area and got rid of the Ambarhar subdivision.

It's not completely clear when Zira became a municipality. Some records say it was in 1876, while others suggest 1867.

Zira and the Partition of India

Zira was one of two areas in Punjab that faced a big debate during the partition of India in 1947. The other area was Ferozepur. Sir Cyril Radcliffe was in charge of drawing the new border, called the Radcliffe Line, between India and Pakistan.

A first draft of the border plan suggested that Ferozepur and Zira would go to Pakistan. At that time, Zira city had more Muslim residents (51%) than Sikhs (35%) or Hindus (14%). Even though there was violence in other parts of Ferozepur, the Zira area remained peaceful. Many residents, including Sikhs and Muslims, were very close and didn't want to leave. However, due to the wider problems, many Muslim families had to move.

In the end, the final border plan gave Zira and Ferozepur to India. This made Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, upset. He felt the decision was unfair, but he agreed to follow it. The disagreement was finally settled in 1960 between the governments of India and Pakistan.

After the partition in 1947, almost all the Muslim families living in Zira moved to Pakistan. They settled in places like Pakpattan, Khanewal, Vehari, Sahiwal, and Muzaffargarh. They worked in farming, business, and government jobs. Many of them added "Zirvi" to their names, showing their love for their original homeland. They often remember the good times in Zira and how peacefully people lived together before the partition.

Zira Bomb Case (1930)

During the time when India was fighting for its freedom from British rule, there were many acts of protest. One such event in the Ferozepur District was the Zira Bomb Case in October 1930. This incident showed how people were reacting to the harsh ways the British tried to stop the freedom movement. The Zira Bar Association, a group of lawyers, was also formed in the same year.

Population in Zira

As of the 2011 Census of India, Zira had a total population of 36,732 people. About 52% of the population were males, and 48% were females.

Zira has a good literacy rate, which means many people can read and write. The average literacy rate in Zira was 63%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%. For males, the literacy rate was 66%, and for females, it was 59%. About 13% of the population in Zira was under 6 years old. In 1853, Zira's population was much smaller, with only 2,702 people.

The table below shows the number of people from different religious groups living in Zira city, based on the 2011 census.

Education in Zira

Zira has several schools and colleges that help students get an education. Here are some of them:

• Bhai gurdas mal school for girls
• Shree Atam Vallabh Jain Vidyapeeth Society
• Ambrosial Public School
• Government College Zira
• DPD College
• Doon Valley Cambridge School
• Paradise Public Senior Secondary School
• Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya
• Jawan Mall Government Senior Secondary School
• Shri Guru Nanak Sahib Public High School, Zira.
• Sh Tara Chand Aggarwal Sd Sikhsha Sadan Zira.
• My Tuition academy zira

See also

In Spanish: Zira para niños