Sopore
Encyclopedia
Sopore known as Suyyapur in antiquity, is a prosperous town in the Baramulla district of Jammu & Kashmir, India
. It is abbr=on 35 north-west of Srinagar
, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir
and 16 kilometers south-west from the District headquarters of Baramulla
. Sopore is a trading center and is surrounded by a large number of hamlets. The town is famous for its apples which are considered among the best in Asia.It is also known as the APPLE TOWN OF ASIA. .
Till the end of 14th century the town did not observe any significant growth. It was after the independence of India
, that Sopore saw a rapid rise in population and expansion of the town. After independence, a new bridge about 1.5 miles downstream from the site of old bridge was constructed and agglomeration of Administrative Offices brought radical change in the overall development of the town. The rapid urban growth of the town can be attributed mainly to its locational advantage as the center of the valley, its rich and fertile soil which is good for agriculture, the abundance of water, potentially supportive for the rearing of a rich variety of fish due to the proximity to Wular lake and several forest resources.
, Sopore had a population of 58416 (2001 census) and area of 61 km² making it the fourth largest town after Srinagar
, Jammu
and Anantnag
. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sopore has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: Male literacy is 63%, and female literacy is 46%. In Sopore, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The majority of old Sopore's population resides on the banks of Jhelum River
which passes through the township. Main areas in old Sopore include:Chankhan Khushalmutto, Muslim Peer, Kralteng, Baba Yusuf, Sofi-Hammam, Khankah, HathiShah, Arampora, Maharajpora, Jamia qadeem, Peer mohala and Batpora. These localities are marked by homes with old style of architecture. New Sopore consists mainly civil lines areas like iqbal nagar, New Colony, Badambagh, Noorbagh, Gousia Coloney,Ashpeer sahib, Sideeq Colony, Shalimar Colony, Moominabad, Jalalabaad,Naseerabaad,New light Colony,shah kirman colony(consisting of baba raza,bagh-e-islam,al-kousar,nigeen bagh,alamdar mohalla) Model town and many more. Sopore has quite a population inhabiting several satellite areas.
, although there is a significant Hindu
population. Sopore is also dotted by many places of religious significance. The more important ones include: Khan-kah Shah-i-Hamdan and Jamia Masjid. Besides there are numerous little shrines (locally called 'Astans') spread all over the place. Frequented by people from many areas, some of these spiritual places include: Baba Shukur Din Watlab Sopore, Shiekh Hamza Makhdoomi Tujar, Syed Fatullah Haqani Bomai, Saed shahib Darapora Zainagir, Daid Mouj Mundji, Arza sahib takya khan zainagair ,Hathi-Shah Sahib, Rahim-Sahib Armpora, Hab Shahib Hathlangoo, Shah-Dargah Sahib, Syed Jamal-Din Sahib, Khuj Sahib-Shiva,Baba Sahib Botingoo
to name a few.
There still exist several old Hindu shrines including Rishi peer Mandir (Batpora) , Shiv Mandir,Baron Mandir and Kali Mandir. Historically, many in Sopore used to venerate the local Peers (holy men) as in the past, the township was home to several of these holy men. The more famous ones are: Ahad Sahib , Lassa Sahib Arm, Ama Sahib Gaknoo, Aziz Sahib Vandhome.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is abbr=on 35 north-west of Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
and 16 kilometers south-west from the District headquarters of Baramulla
Baramulla
Baramulla , known as Varahamula in antiquity, is a city in the Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir state in northern India...
. Sopore is a trading center and is surrounded by a large number of hamlets. The town is famous for its apples which are considered among the best in Asia.It is also known as the APPLE TOWN OF ASIA. .
History
Sopore was founded by the famous Utpala engineer and irrigation minister Suyya during the peaceful reign of king Avantivarman in 880 AD. As such the name of the city is Suyya-pur, which has been shortened to Sopore. When the engineer Suyya was working in Sopore no people were coming forth to plunge themselves in gushing water. The king, Avantiverman, thereupon ordered that a part of treasury may be thrown into the water; consequently, a large number of people plunged into the river to get as many coins as they could. The skill of Suyya worked and the river was cleared of silt.Till the end of 14th century the town did not observe any significant growth. It was after the independence of India
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, that Sopore saw a rapid rise in population and expansion of the town. After independence, a new bridge about 1.5 miles downstream from the site of old bridge was constructed and agglomeration of Administrative Offices brought radical change in the overall development of the town. The rapid urban growth of the town can be attributed mainly to its locational advantage as the center of the valley, its rich and fertile soil which is good for agriculture, the abundance of water, potentially supportive for the rearing of a rich variety of fish due to the proximity to Wular lake and several forest resources.
Geography
Sopore is located at 34.30°N 73.47°E. It has an average elevation of 1556 metres (5105 feet). Sopore occupies almost central position in the valley of Kashmir surrounded by Picturesque Lolab valley and Bandipora town in the East-north; on the west by Outskirts Of Baramulla City and on the South by Karewas of tangmarg Tehsil.Demographics
censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Sopore had a population of 58416 (2001 census) and area of 61 km² making it the fourth largest town after Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
and Anantnag
Anantnag
Anantnag , a city and a municipality in Anantnag district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. Anantnag is regarded as the commercial and financial capital of the valley of Kashmir...
. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Sopore has an average literacy rate of 55%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: Male literacy is 63%, and female literacy is 46%. In Sopore, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The majority of old Sopore's population resides on the banks of Jhelum River
Jhelum River
Jehlum River or Jhelum River , ) is a river that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District...
which passes through the township. Main areas in old Sopore include:Chankhan Khushalmutto, Muslim Peer, Kralteng, Baba Yusuf, Sofi-Hammam, Khankah, HathiShah, Arampora, Maharajpora, Jamia qadeem, Peer mohala and Batpora. These localities are marked by homes with old style of architecture. New Sopore consists mainly civil lines areas like iqbal nagar, New Colony, Badambagh, Noorbagh, Gousia Coloney,Ashpeer sahib, Sideeq Colony, Shalimar Colony, Moominabad, Jalalabaad,Naseerabaad,New light Colony,shah kirman colony(consisting of baba raza,bagh-e-islam,al-kousar,nigeen bagh,alamdar mohalla) Model town and many more. Sopore has quite a population inhabiting several satellite areas.
Religion and Politics
The majority of Sopore's population practices IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, although there is a significant Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
population. Sopore is also dotted by many places of religious significance. The more important ones include: Khan-kah Shah-i-Hamdan and Jamia Masjid. Besides there are numerous little shrines (locally called 'Astans') spread all over the place. Frequented by people from many areas, some of these spiritual places include: Baba Shukur Din Watlab Sopore, Shiekh Hamza Makhdoomi Tujar, Syed Fatullah Haqani Bomai, Saed shahib Darapora Zainagir, Daid Mouj Mundji, Arza sahib takya khan zainagair ,Hathi-Shah Sahib, Rahim-Sahib Armpora, Hab Shahib Hathlangoo, Shah-Dargah Sahib, Syed Jamal-Din Sahib, Khuj Sahib-Shiva,Baba Sahib Botingoo
Botingoo
Botingoo is a village in the Zaingair area of Baramulla District in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the largest villages of Zaingair. It is surrounded by many other villages like Mundji, Muqam, Magraypora, Hathlangoo, Watlab to name a few. Besides there is a famous shrine of Baba...
to name a few.
There still exist several old Hindu shrines including Rishi peer Mandir (Batpora) , Shiv Mandir,Baron Mandir and Kali Mandir. Historically, many in Sopore used to venerate the local Peers (holy men) as in the past, the township was home to several of these holy men. The more famous ones are: Ahad Sahib , Lassa Sahib Arm, Ama Sahib Gaknoo, Aziz Sahib Vandhome.
Notable residents
- Syed Ali Shah Geelani(a prominent political leader of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat).
- Farah Pandith(Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the United States Department of State).
- Afeefa syeed(Afeefa Syeed is Senior Advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development Middle East and Asia).
- Pandit S.N. Sopori, veteran musician of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Bhajan Sopori, the famous santoorSantoorThe santoor is an ancient stringed musical instrument, native to Kashmir and Iran. It is a trapezoid-shaped hammered dulcimer often made of walnut, with seventy two strings. The special-shaped mallets are lightweight and are held between the index and middle fingers...
player, who has earned numerous awards, most notably the Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
and the Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
. - Abhay Rustum Sopori, practitioner of Sufiana GharanaGharanaIn Hindustani music, a gharānā is a system of social organization linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style. A gharana also indicates a comprehensive musicological ideology. This ideology sometimes changes substantially from one...
and recipient of the prestigious "Youngs India Award 2006" and "Kalawant Samman 2004."
See also
- BotingooBotingooBotingoo is a village in the Zaingair area of Baramulla District in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is one of the largest villages of Zaingair. It is surrounded by many other villages like Mundji, Muqam, Magraypora, Hathlangoo, Watlab to name a few. Besides there is a famous shrine of Baba...
- Sopore massacreSopore massacreThe "Sopore Massacre" refers to the killing of 55 Kashmiri civilians by the Indian Border Security Force in revenge after militants ambushed a BSF patrol, in the town of Sopore in Kashmir on 6 January 1993.-Background:...
- Panchayat Cricket GroundPanchayat Cricket GroundPanchayat Cricket Ground is a cricket ground in Botingoo Sopore of Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir....
- Govt. Higher Secondary Institute BotingooGovt. Higher Secondary Institute BotingooGovt. Higher Secondary Institute Botingoo is an educational institution located in Botingoo Sopore in the Baramulla District of Jammu and Kashmir, India and is one of the largest institutes in Jammu and Kashmir. The staff of the school is dedicated and hardworking but some of the members are lazy....