Sheikhan

"Sheikhan" village is situated in tehsil Chiniot of Jhang in Punjab province of Pakistan.

Geography

Southern Side:

The village Sheikhan is situated in some distance about 2.5 km from the right bank of river Chenab (Chanhan) in Utar region which flows in south east of village. A rain pond is also located at some half miles distant from village in southern side called Sangar.

Northern Side:

In North Side, a canal flowing from river Jehlum (Vehat) provides water to village lands for cultivation. Most of the population lives in old villages while a colony was also settled by prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 70s for non landowning people, and also a number of population is living in north side crossing the canal after the development of a link road between Jhang and Lalian which is called Adda Sheikhan.

Adjoining Villages:

Adjoining Villages in West are Ratta Matta, Sahdipur, Tibbi Nalera, TindianWala, Kot Sultan, Inayatpur and Thatta Shah Jamal whole across the river Thatta Muhammad Shah. Other several hamlets (wells) are part of the village and are also populated place like Chah Rustlliwala,Mundi ber, Jhalar Nathu Shah. As before the canal irrigation system each 50 acre land was cultivated with the help of wells, so there are several wells existing in village lands like Gulabewala, Rariwala, Ameerwala, Hari Singh Wala, Kohluwala etc.

Geology

Being an agricultural area most of the land is plaughed but still waste land can be found here specially near the river banks. Different kind of trees, grasses and shrubs are found here. Trees Kikar, Talhi, Jand, pippal, Bohar, Vann.

Shrubs: Karil, Akk etc

Grasses: Lunak, Dhaman etc

Herbs: Hermal

People

Most of the People living here belong to Bukhari Sadat tribe descendants of Shah Sheikhan who was a descndant of Hazrat Imam Ali Naqi the ninth Imam of Shi'a Muslims and also 8th in the pedigree tree of Hazrat Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, while other leading tribe is Chadhar whose three families from wejhwa sub tribe of chadhar live here are Ramzan Ke, Zamme Ke, Ghamme Ke and Dargahi Ke. Other tribes also live here in small number like Sial, Khokhar, Bhutta, Dhudhi etc.

Pre Partition:

Before the partition of Punjab in 1947 some castes of Bania and brahmin lived here who were called Khatri and kirar. They were all traders and own Hatti.It is told that if they had not left here they might have the landlords these days like there is a saying that if they credit a "lachi" (Cardamom) to someone they wrote in their "wai" (Ledger) "Dachi" (camel), and landlords used to feed jalebis (spiral shaped sweet made of refined flour and sugar) to their horses which they baught from kirars.Those kirars belonged to Ahuja,Aneja,Chawala and Arora castes.The famous kirars as heard by elders were Bhag Kirar, Pyar-e-Ram, Bahadur Chand, Gyano etc.

Celebrities, honoured this land:

Shaheed Quaid Allama Syed Arif Hussain Al-Hussaini, Allama syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, Allama Muhammad Hussain Najafi (Dhakku), Allama Nazar Hussain tiwana also known as Nazar Qutbi, Allama Nazir Hussain Dhakku, Allama Syed Iftikhar Hussain Naqvi Al-Najafi the principal Jamia Imam Khomeini Mari Indus, Allama Syed Mazhar Kazmi the principal Jamiatul Baeathat of Rajoa Sadat.

Politics:

Syed Fakhar Abbas Shah Bukhari (Currently Naib Nazim), Syed Hasnain Trimzi, Syed Naseer Sh., Muhammad Saeed Akhtar, Mazhar Abbas

Poet and Scholar:

Khan Ghulam Abid Baloch Pen Name "Mumtaz" (Blessed), Nazar Muhammad Taseer, Riaz Hussain Jaffery

Students in:

Engineering (Naval, Nuclear, Telecommunication, Chemical and Civil etc), Space Technology, Medicine, Business, Education and almost in every field of the modern age.

This small but the most fertile homeland is proud of her sons having exposure of European Education and Research System.

Khan Ghulam Abid (Urdu: خان غلام عابد) (Deceased) was a primary school teacher by profession. He used to be called Mumtaz in his kalam. He actually belonged to the village Bullo (known as Bullo Balocha(n)) situated at the right bank of river Jehlum. He was posted by education department at the primary school Adda Sheikhan as a teacher, but he fell in love with the soil of Sheikhan and chose this land as his homeland and started living here even after his retirement, still his family lives here. He was the teacher and spiritual father of two generations. Being an excellent natured personality, people of all age groups loved him very much. He in fact, tried his best to accommodate/support all the needy people. He urged the community to enhance their moral, social, economical and educational growth. He was the first person on this land who made the people realise their sense of self respect and educated them to attain the real freedom from feudal lords. This was the only way of life, acceptable for the free nations, he enlightened awareness. He proved himself with his actions, to be an ideal teacher, the best father, an excellent scholar/historian, poet, speaker and simply Master of ALL Trades. His teachings about life are really worth following. He spent much time of his mature age in the company of religious scholars, political leaders, poets, excellent teachers and the reflections of grasped excellent features were expressed on so many occasions by him and his students are trying to opt his practices in their lives. May his soul rest in peace (Ameen)

"Casue of Fame"

Besides being an affectionate teacher he was known for his poetry specifically a type of poetry called Noha. Noha is a type of poetry in Punjabi Language in which the miseries (masaaieb) of Ahle Bait specifically Imam Hussain (A.S) in the tragedy of Karbala are stated. He created famous nohas of his time.

Language

The dominated language is Jhangochi dialect of western Punjabi language while a minority of immigrants speak doabi (A dialect of Eastern Punjabi) and Rohtaki (May be a dialect of Urdu Language).

Culture

The dominating culture of the region is a civillized form of Bari Culture i.e the culture of Sandal Bar area though phisiclly this area is not the part of Sandal Bar region. Sandal Bar is some mile away from here across the river Chenab.

Calendar

Along with the modern Gregorian Calendar the traditional Bikrami calendar and the in religious matters Islamic Hijri Calendar are followed here.

Religious events like Births and Deaths of Masoomen (A.S) are followed according to Islamic Hijri Calendar while official events like school exams etc are performed according to Gregorian calendar but Bikrami Calendar is popular and has its roots in people.

Sports

*Cricket
*Volley Ball
*Kabaddi
*Gully Danda

Dress

Men

Men tie a petty coat called Majhla on waist and it goes to ankles while wear a kurta which covers upper part of body usually it drops to knees.Majhla is apiece of cloth usually 6 meters long and 1 and 1/2 meter broad.Men tie a turban at their heads.But while visiting houses of syeds men donot wear turban for due respect to their status of being descendants of Holy Prophet.

Women Women also wear the same dress but there is difference in tying the majhla and that style is called "Dhudder" and by this style the part is covered in such a way there is no chance of uncovering any part of lower body.Women keep a scarf on their heads.It is said that some decades ago women used to wear choli on upper part of body that is a part of Rajasthani Culture.

Shoes The traditionl shoes are called Khussa which are made of pure cow leather and is decorated with Tilla a glden or silver shining stuff. Jewellery Jewellery called "Toomb" in local language includes "Mundri", "Chhalla", "Choorian", "Kangan", "Panjangla", "Tikka", "Nath", "Hamel", "Kantey"," Gulooband" etc.

Modern Era Changes in Dress With the advent of modern age young genaration usually donot wear custom dresses and use to wear Shalwar (A loose Trouser) Qameez (A Loose long Shirt) and English Trouser Shirt.

Food

Meal is taken thrice a day which consists ofTukkar

"Tukkar", Phulka or Roti is the local name of bread. It is mostly baked in Desi Oven called "Tandoor". In past it was only baked at tnadoors owned by "Dayas" but this tradition is gradually vanishing and even it is replaced by the stove baked bread."Loon" or salt is the essential part of flour prepared for bread.Paratha is a kind of bread whose flour is prepared with Oil or "Desi Gheu".

Bhaji Is the local name of curry.

Chawal Lassi
Lassi is produce from milkTow types of Lassi1- kachi Lassi2-Pakki Lassi

Bhaji Also called Salen is basically a mixture of Red peppers,Salt,water,Vegetables,Ghee,Beef or Mutton,Taken along with Chapaties to have Lunch or Dinner

Dudh Dhudh also called dhoodh is milk of Cows, Buffalows, Goats, Sheeps and Female Camels,Favourite of JATT peoples.

Local Cuisine

*Saag
*Tikrey
*Vraech
*panjeeri

Judiciary System

Parhen: Even today's fastest world, Parhen or Parheais working well towards the solution/decision of all social issues generated among the people.

Thana Barana Located at Muhammad Wala, is the nearest ultimate FIR destiny.

Religion

Almost 90% of the population belong to Shi'a Ithna Ashri Muslims, who believe in 12 imams being Hazrat Hujjat Ibn al Hassan al Askari (A.F.S) the last 12th Imam appearing in end of times.All the people became the followers of shietteism when a person named Chaghatta belonging to Zamme Ke family of Wejhwa Chadhar tribe started preaching shietteism almost 150 years before. The other 10% Sunni Muslims are enjoying peaceful life without the concept of being minority.

Holy Places

There are four Mosques and Imam Bargahs in different points of villages form which two are the oldest ones, one of which is cared by Syeds of village while other is cared by the descendants of chaghatta or Zamme ke family.There is also a Madersa near Adda Sheikhan named Jamia Imamul Asr which is affiliated with Jamia Imam Khomeini Mari Indus. On the other hand, Sunni boys and girls get their religious education in their respective Madrasas situated in the vicinity of Mosques. The excellent and second to none show-up of brotherhood can be seen on the occasion of Ashura every year, when Shi'a Muslims are in processions while Sunni Muslims are making arrangements of "Sabeel" for them.

Production

The area in nature is an agrarian area that's why all production of the village are agro based.

Crops

* Wheat:Wheat which is the essential part of local people's food is major crop of area.

* Rice:Local people don't like rice much for eating as there is proverb in local language
*" Sevian Murath taeen chawal Adhi raat taeen"means
*" Pasta is digested in between reaching up to door and Rice is digested maximum till midnight"

But Rice is major crop of area.

* Cotton:Cotton is grown in the village but that could only fulfil the needs of village people.

* Barley:Barley is grown along with wheat and is cut a month before the wheat. It is used to get satoo by crushong it graining. Satoo is used for drinking mixing in water.

Vegetables Almost all kind of vegetables like Colly flower, turnip, cabbage, lady finger.

Fruits
* Orange:Orange called Malta in local language is the major fruit of area which grows in winter season, starts from October and remains till April.

* Sugar Cane:Sugar cane locally called "Ganna" is also produced here and is supplied to sugar mills and is also used in producing "Gur" that is pieces of brown sugar.

* Water Melon:Water melon is also a major production of area because there is plenty of underground water in Hithar Area at banks of river. its local name is "kalak".

* variety of deep ribbed melon:Another variety of melon whose local name is "Rainndi" is also a major production in Hithari lands of Sheikhan.

Other fruits production of the area include mango, Bair (local name).

Grasses Chhatala, Bersin, Chari Bajra are the local name of grasses produced here as pet animal feed.

Dairy Products
* Milk:As its an agro based area most of people keep cows and buffaloes the milk is a main dairy products of the village which is collected by various milk reprocessing compamies like Nestle, Chaudhry Dairies Limited, Mubarak Dairies.

* Desi Gheu:
Animal fat that is extracted from the cream in milk is called Desi Gheu in local language and is internally traded. It was the major part of daily diest some decades ago and now has been replaced by various kinds of Hydrogenated Fats.

* Yoghurt:Another very delicious milk product (Dahee) extracted condensely, is prepared at home.
* Butter: Being another dairy product is also traded internally.

Business Places

Adda Sheikhan has become a business hub of the area. A branch of Habib Bank is situated at Adda Sheikhan. The crops, urea and other goods are well traded here and people of surrounding villages prefer doing their sale purchase at Adda Sheikhan. A telephone exchange is also fulfilling the communication needs of the entire area since 2005.

Educational Institutions

There are two Government primary schools for boys in the village. One of which has been serving since before the partition, two Government primary schools for girls, while three private secondary co schools namely Jinnah Cadet School set almost 6 years before in year 1998, Science School System and Al-Qamar Science Education System making all possible efforts to cope with the state of the art education.

Communication

Available Mobile Phone Operators In Sheikhan

* Mobilink GSM Pakistan "It doesn't work better except If we get some altitude"
* Ufone GSM Pakistan "It doesn't work better except If we get some altitude"
* Telenor GSM Pakistan "Works better"
* Paktel GSM Pakistan "Works Best"

Telephone Exchange

Some 5 years ago a landline telephone exchange was set up here by Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation Ltd.

Area Code

Area Code for landline numbers is 0477 which is actually for whole of ditrcit Jhang. Most of the numbers of area start with 6600xx and 6601xx total seven numbers.

World Wide Web

Connectivity to world wide web or Internet is available here through Dialup Connection.

Web Page

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikhan

Google Group

Sheikhan Jhanghttp://groups.google.com.pk/group/sheikhan-jhang

Roads and Transport

A road that is a link road between Lalian and Jhang City passess through Sheikhan. The main sources of travelling on this road, are van and buses. Bus system has a long route from Jhang to Lalian but Vans start their route from Sheikhan to Jhang and vice versa.

How To Reach Here

By Air

If one intends to come here by air, he has to pick a flight to Faisalabad where he can hire a car to reach jhang city and then into sheikhan. Or one can avail a public transport that is van or bus from Faisalbad to Jhang and then again have to pick a van or auto bus from Jhang "Lari Adda" (Bus Terminal ) to Sheikhan.

* Pakistan International Airlines "has 2 daily flights to Faisalabad"
* Airblue "has 1 daily flight to Faisalabad"
* Shaheen Air "has 1 daily flight to Faisalabad"

By Railway

location can be reached by Shorkot-Shaheenabad (Multan-Sargodha Mainline) branch line.about 8 Rails run on the track daily.