History

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) District is situated on the right bank of mighty river Sutlej. It is situated at a distance of 92 Kms from Chandigarh. It is surrounded by four districts. The west border of the District touches Jalandhar, east border with Roop Nagar, northern border meets with District Hoshiarpur and its southern border touches Ludhiana and Kapurthala Districts. The town ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr)’, is said to have been built during the reign of Alaudin Khilji (1295-1316) by his Afgan Military Chief Nausher Khan. Previously, it was called ‘Nausar’ but with the passage of time, the town came to be known as ‘The Nawanshahr. Nausher Khan had constructed five forts known as Havelis, whose remains still exist. One more belief is that most of the people who were afraid of River Satluj came from Rahon to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) and settled in a small locality and according to folk talk, the area of the present Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) was known as ‘Neevan Vashon’ after that it became famous as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr).

This District was carved out of Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar Districts of Punjab in November 7, 1995 on the auspicious occasion of birthday of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji as the Sixteenth District of Punjab. For administrative purposes, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) District forms part of Jalandhar Division. For the purpose of general and revenue administration, the district on the principal of decentralisation of authority in the administration set up has been divided into two Tehsils viz, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) (including Banga Sub Tehsil) and Balachaur.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the great martyr was born in village Khat Kar Kalan, which is situated at distance of 7 km from the city of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr). In the honour of the Supreme Sacrifice made by him for the nation and to commemorate the memory of this great son of the soil, vide notification No.19/7 (7-L-R-I/7929) dated 29.9.2008 of the Government of Punjab District Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr) has been renamed as Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.