Why nawab of Bahawalpur give free land|Cholistan story |British in india

Описание: Why did the Nawab of Bahawalpur give free land to people coming from Punjab? Was it a necessity or generosity?

Before the partition of India and Pakistan, there were around 300 princely states in the subcontinent, each ruled independently with their own laws and governance. Among them was the State of Bahawalpur, through which the rivers Sutlej and Beas flowed.

When the British entered the subcontinent, they gradually took control over most of the states. However, Bahawalpur remained independent because of the friendship between the Nawab and the British.

Bahawalpur mostly covered the Cholistan Desert, where local people lived a nomadic lifestyle — grazing camels, sheep, and cattle, and selling them for their livelihood. At that time, the annual revenue of Bahawalpur State was 5.5 million rupees.

The British suggested to Nawab Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan that canals could be dug from the rivers Sutlej and Beas to irrigate the Cholistan Desert. When the Nawab asked about the cost, the British estimated 3.3 million rupees. Since the state’s annual income was much higher, the Nawab agreed and paid for the project.

After the completion of canals, the Nawab announced:
“Now, this barren desert is ready to be cultivated. Anyone can come and get free land to farm.”

But the local people of Cholistan were not very interested in farming, as their lifestyle was centered on livestock. Then, some Punjabi ministers in the Nawab’s court advised him:
“If you allow, we can invite Punjabi families to settle here and cultivate the land.”


And that’s how migration from Punjab to Bahawalpur began, shaping the future of the region.

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