Exploring Mandi Sadiq Ganj Junction: A Historical Visit

 

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05-11-2023 (Date of Visit)

During a recent excursion to the border villages of Minchin Abad in Bahawalnagar to capture the wildlife of the area, I had the opportunity to visit the historic Mandi Sadiq Ganj Junction Railway station. This station, established in 1892 during the British colonial era, was an essential part of our journey's culmination.

Origin and Naming

Originally named 'Mac Loed Ganj Road Junction,' this railway station is situated 12 kilometers south of Mac Loed Ganj town. Both the town and the junction were named after Sir Donald McLeod, a distinguished British colonial administrator who served as the lieutenant governor of the Punjab in British India from 1865 to 1870.

Sir Donald McLeod's Background

Sir Donald McLeod's roots trace back to Fort William in Calcutta, then a part of the Bengal Presidency. His father, Duncan McLeod, a Scotsman, later became a lieutenant general of the Bengal engineers and achieved recognition for designing the Hazarduari Palace. His mother, Henrietta Friell, belonged maternally to the Boileau of Castelnau family.

Southern Punjab Railway (SPR)

The Southern Punjab Railway (SPR), operating on a 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge, was established to create a more direct route from Karachi to Delhi. It linked with the original Indus Valley State Railway at Samasata, bypassing the North Western Railway loop via Lahore. The Delhi-Bhatinda-Samasatta line was inaugurated by the Southern Punjab Railway Co. in 1897, passing through Muktasar and Fazilka tehsils. This line provided a direct connection to Karachi through Samma Satta (now in Pakistan). The extension from the Macleodganj (later renamed Mandi Sadiqganj and now in Pakistan) railway line to Ludhiana was opened by the same company in 1905. The 42 km (26 mi) new 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) wide broad gauge line between Fazilka and Abohar was opened in 2012.

Development and Connections

Initially, the rail service introduced by the Southern Punjab Railway Company spanned 257 kilometers, connecting Delhi, Bhatinda, and Samma Satta. One part of the track extended from Samma Satta to Amrooka at the Pakistan-India border, linking various stations like Baghdad-ul-Jadeed, Khairpur, Tamewali, Qaimpur, Hasilpur, Chishtian, Bahawalnagar, and Mandi Sadiq Ganj to Ferozpur and Amrooka stations through multiple lines.

Additionally, another railway track was laid between Bhatinda and Hindumal Kot in the Indian state. Before the subcontinent's partition, this railway line served as a crucial route connecting Delhi and Karachi, playing a significant role in transportation and trade.

The Mac Loed Ganj Road Junction stands as an exemplar of colonial-era architecture, featuring an elegant Colonial-style building that remains remarkably well-preserved. Its establishment marked the genesis of the adjacent town, Mandi Sadiq Ganj, named after Nawab Sadiq V. During the era of the Sutlej Valley Project from 1922 to 1933, Mandi Sadiq Ganj emerged as a vibrant center for commerce and business activities.

The Samarsata Bathinda-Delhi railway line played a pivotal role in enhancing connectivity between regions, fostering trade, expediting the movement of agricultural produce and goods, and contributing significantly to socio-economic development. The Mac Loed Ganj Road Junction, existing prior to Bahawalnagar and Minchinabad and serving numerous railway lines, boasted distinctive features, including two water towers with cast iron water tanks supplying steam engines. Traces of the intricate valve systems of the pipeline leading to these tanks are still visible. Adjacent to these towers, a sizable pond exists, rumored to be the site where a jet plane crashed during the 1971 Pakistan-India war, with its debris never recovered.

Historical records document notable personalities who visited or stayed at this junction, including Quaid Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who purportedly spent a night here before Pakistan's inception. The site once accommodated a guest house and staff colony and found mention in the works of acclaimed writer Intezar Hussain.

Despite the cessation of train services on these tracks since July 26, 2011, the building remains in its original condition, cherished by local residents as a heritage site. Locals express a shared desire to preserve this historical station, considering conversion into a museum or town hall to safeguard its rich heritage.

At its zenith in 1935, the Railways Junction served as a crucial link connecting Karachi, Delhi, and Lahore, witnessing regular freight train operations from Quetta to Delhi. In 1970, the local Chairman, Moulvi Abdul Aziz, renamed it Mandi Sadiq Ganj.

Preserving such historical treasures ensures the remembrance and acknowledgment of our heritage, representing pivotal moments in our history. Not only should their protection be prioritized, but their original names should remain unchanged, as it serves as another way of understanding and learning history.