History

Moga was named after Moga Singh Gill, a prominent person of the Gill community. In 1901, when Railway arrived in Moga, a Jagir (Farm land) of Sardar Moga Singh, got converted into a city which become even bigger than its contemporary towns of Salina, Badhni, Zira and Dharamkot in the area. It also became a trading centre for Tea which was transported on Train. That’s why it was called “Moga Chah Joga” meaning Moga only has tea at that time.

District Moga is the 17th District drawn on the map of Punjab State on 24th day of November 1995. Before this, Moga was the sub-division of Faridkot District. Moga town the head quarter of the District is situated on Ferozpur-Ludhiana road. Area of Dharamkot block with 150 villages has been emerged in Moga district vides. Pb. Govt. notification No. 2/36/98-R.E. 2(1) 6408 dated 5-11-99. Moga District falls under the jurisdiction of Ferozpur division. Its boundaries touch the boundaries of Jalandhar district in north, Ludhiana district in East, Sangrur in South and Faridkot & Ferozpur in West. It stretches between longitude 75 degree – 15, 75 degree – 25 east and latitude 30 degree – 35 and 31 degree 15 North. It spreads over an area on 2230 km which comes to 4.42 % of the Punjab State. The average annual rainfall of district was 234.5 mm by the year 1999. In Moga District 63.94 percent population is literate, whereas the rate for male & female literacy is 68.40 & 58.96 respectively. This District has been divided into 2 Tehsil’s and 2 Sub-Tehsil’s Tehsils – Bagha Purana , Nihal Singh Wala and Sub-Tehsils – Badhni Kalan , Dharamkot.

As we know the Moga was the sub-division of Faridkot District and same as our all judicial aspects were also lying under Faridkot’s judicials. But to reduce the growing workload and bring about speedy disposal of cases, Session’s division was formally inaugurated in Moga on Saturday April 28, 2012. Nihal Singh Wala and Baghapurana as Sub-Division under Moga Sessions Division. Along with this Gram Nayalalaya Court is also inaugurated at KotIseKhan. which is being held on every saturday.

Moga was also famous for Padma Shri Rai Bahadur Dr. Mathra Das Pahwa, (1880-1972), a renowned eye surgeon who had worked tirelessly in the field of vision, more so, for cataract surgery, free of cost.

Moga also witnessed many historic incidents like “Moga Goli Kand 1972” also called Mini Jallian Wala Bagh Massacre in Moga, where police opened fire on students who were protesting against Regal Cinema.

Moga was among the first only few cities of India which got their first college before independence. Dayanand Mathra Dass College better known as D.M. College, Moga was started in 1926 by Rai Bahadur Dr. Mathra Das Pahwa, in the sacred memory of the Maharishi Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

The following are the some famous personalities belonging to Moga District.

Sh.Lala Lajpat Rai, Indian freedom fighter
Narinder Singh Kapany, Indian-born American physicist known for his works in fibre optics.
Padam Shri Rai Bahadur Dr. Mathra Das Pahwa, famous eye surgeon.
Subedar Joginder Singh, was an Indian Army soldier, and recipient of the Param Vir Chakra
Sh. Lachhman Singh Gill, Chief Minister of Punjab
Justice Gurbaksh Rai Majithia, former Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, former Acting Chief Justice, Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
Justice Jora Singh, former Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
Sh.Sonu Sood, Indian film Actor
Ms.Harmanpreet Kaur, Indian cricketer and Arjuna Awardee
Sh.Jaswant Singh Kanwal- a famous Punjabi writer