Once Mandi Bolawali, now thriving as Mandi Sadiq Ganj

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05-11-2023 (Date of Visit)

Mandi Sadiq Gunj is a town with a rich history situated in the Bahawalnagar district of Pakistani Punjab. Once called Mandi Bolawali, it used to be home to lively Hindu and Sikh communities until the partition of Hindustan in 1947 changed the population.

The town's story began in 1904 when Nawab Sadiq Abbasi, while hunting, got the happy news of his son's birth. To celebrate, he built a grand gateway called 'Babe Sadiq,' marking the start of the town's growth following careful planning.

The town became even more important when a railway station called the 'Mac Leod Ganj Road Junction' was constructed in 1892. This railway, managed by the Southern Punjab Railway, aimed to connect Karachi to Delhi directly. The opening of the Delhi-Bhatinda-Samasatta line in 1897, passing through Mandi Sadiq Gunj, was a big deal. The beautiful architecture of the Mac Leod Ganj Road Junction showed off the town's beginning, now known as Mandi Sadiq Ganj to honor Nawab Sadiq V.

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.

Between 1922 and 1933, during the Sutlej Valley Project, Mandi Sadiq Ganj became a lively place for business. It became famous for its crops market, linking to eighty-four nearby villages. Known as the second-largest chickpea market in Punjab, its goods even reached Delhi before the 1947 partition, thanks to the flourishing train routes.

Formerly part of Minchinabad Tehsil, Mandi Sadiq Gunj saw the growth of Sheik Qasim Ali Missu's successful workshop, which played a big role in the local economy. The town values its culture and holds two yearly festivals, the Khawaja Abul Hakeem Urs Shareef and the Sunder Mela, celebrating a revered local saint. These events bring the community together, promoting cultural exchanges and traditional sports like kabaddi.