The history, heritage, and important archaeological sites of Dijkot

Описание: #dijkot#faisalabad #historyfacts



𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗜𝗝𝗞𝗢𝗧
(ڈجکوٹ)
(𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗞𝗢𝗧)
(ڈچکوٹ)
Research and Compilation by:

𝗠𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗜𝗹𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝘇𝗮
• MA Punjabi, MA History, MA Political Science, MA Urdu,
• M.Ed (Education)

𝗖𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗵𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗷𝗷𝗮𝗿
• Former Chairman, Faisalabad Stock Exchange (2005–2014)
• Former President, Pakistan Peoples Party (2005–2015)

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 – 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲)


The present-day town of 𝗗𝗶𝗷𝗸𝗼𝘁 ڈجکوٹ*, situated at an elevation of approximately *200 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹, with a population of around 90,000, covers an area of 572 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 and 2 marlas. It lies on the 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗱–𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱, at a distance of 25 km from Faisalabad and 20 km from Samundri.

This town consists of eight settlements:
1. Bhukh Pura (modern population)
2. Hashmi Town
3. Manzoorabad
4. Marzi Pura
5. Manko
6. Mohalla Sheikhān (formerly Chamālṛi)
7. Rehmat Pura
8. City of Dijkot
9. Model Town and many more under construction development towns &
10. Royal Farm Houses planned at More Jahangir on Canal Road going to Gojra and Samundri Road.

1. 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻

In ancient times, this city was known as The “𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗞𝗢𝗧” (ڈچکوٹ)
The original settlement was located at the site 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 covering 95 𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 13 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗮𝘀, sheltering those who have departed this world.

Various theories exist regarding the etymology of “𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗞𝗢𝗧.” (ڈچکوٹ)
However, based on our understanding and supported by historical evidence, the name “𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗞𝗢𝗧” (ڈچکوٹ) is derived from the “𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛” (ڈچ) 𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗨 tribe, while “𝗞𝗢𝗧” in the local language means fort or fortified city.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 (ڈچ) was an intensely warlike community.
Their frequent mention is found in the folk traditions of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗿.

According to one tradition, the famed Sandal Bar hero “𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹” was killed by members of this very tribe. Hence, it can confidently be stated that the Dutch tribe was among the original inhabitants of Sandal Bar.

2. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

To substantiate this claim, we refer to the 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗶 (𝗦𝗶𝘃𝗶) State mentioned in the 𝗥𝗶𝗴 𝗩𝗲𝗱𝗮, dating back to approximately *1200 BCE*, which historians place in the vicinity of Jhang.

It is a well-established fact that Dijkot remained administratively linked with Jhang for a long period.

** [𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘙𝘪𝘨 𝘝𝘦𝘥𝘢; 𝘊𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘮, 𝘈𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢]

[𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗝𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀, three ancient cities of the Shivi Kingdom are mentioned, all of which held great political, cultural, and civilizational importance and successively served as capitals:
1. Shivapura
2. Arthapura
3. 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮
The early Shivi kings, including 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗮 and his successors, ruled first from Shivapura and later from Arthapura.
However, among the later rulers—such as 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮—𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮 was made the capital.

According to researchers, the mound near Shorkot corresponds to ancient Shivapura, while Arthapura lay in the present-day Jhang region.
We believe that “𝗗𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗨𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮” was 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗷𝗸𝗼𝘁.

** [𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘉𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘑𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦; 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘮]

3. 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Excavations conducted at the ruins of ancient Dijkot and the present cemetery reveal 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀.
The first major destruction occurred in 326 BCE, during the 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁. His deputy commander 𝗘𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘂𝘀 launched such a fierce assault—using fire and stones—that the defensive walls were torn apart. At the time, the population was approximately 5,000. The Dutch tribe fought valiantly to preserve their freedom; very few fled, and only a handful were taken captive.
Those who survived gradually returned and rebuilt their devastated city.

** [𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘈𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯, 𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳]


4. 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱

Upon its re-establishment, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗿𝘆𝗮 (c. 322–316 BCE) granted Dijkot a central status, annexing surrounding villages such as:
Thikriyan (present-day Mazhabī Wala)
Ratti Batti (Sheikhupura)
Pakki Maari (Maari Taari)
Pakka Anna

The town was fortified so that it could serve as a refuge during warfare.

** [𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘒𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘺𝘢, 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢; 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳]

5. 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱

In 712 CE, after conquering Sindh within a brief period of eighteen months, 𝗠𝘂𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗻 𝗤𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗺 advanced toward Multan. His vanguard commander Abu al-Aswad conquered the settlements between the 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝘃𝗶 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, attacking Chiniot from two sides—one contingent.
Following a change in the Caliphate, the new governor of Iraq, Yazid bin Muhallab, appointed Yazid bin Abi Kathir as governor of Sindh and Punjab. Upon arrival, he arrested Muhammad bin Qasim. Historians differ on the exact location of the arrest. Al-Baladhuri states it occurred in Rechna Doab, in whose center Dijkot lies—making it possible that the arrest took place nearby.

** [𝘙𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦: 𝘈𝘭-𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘪, 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘩 𝘢𝘭-𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘢𝘯]