or bloodshed in any part of Maler Kotla State. The last Nawab Iftikhar Ali Khan of Malerkotla maintained calm and harmony during the turbulent period. He remained in India and died in the year 1982. His tomb is located in Shahi grave yard situated at Sirhandi gate, Maler Kotla. Many also attribute this peace to the presence of the shrine of Baba Haidar Sheikh, the Sufi saint, who founded the town of Malerkotla more than 500 years ago. A part of the ruling family of Sheikh Sadr-ud-Din Sherwani migrated to Pakistan and lived mostly in Model Town, Lahore, Muzzafargarh, Khangarh. Malerkotla is famous for its vegetables and badge-making industry, besides its poets and monuments. Demographics As per provisional data of 2011 census Malerkotla urban agglomeration had a population of 189,424, out of which males were 82,376 and females were 64,048 . The literacy rate was 70.25 per cent. Malerkotla is the only Muslim-dominated town of Punjab. Education Urdu is taught alongside Punjabi in Malerkotla schools due to the local Punjabi Muslim majority. Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan Institute of Advanced Studies in Urdu, Persian and Arabic is part of Punjabi University, Patiala, and is named after one of the founders of Malerkotla State. It provides facilities for higher research in the languages and literature of Urdu and Persian up to PhD level and additionally runs classes for M.A. (Persian), Certificate courses (Urdu, Persian and Arabic), MSc (IT) two years, MSc (IT) lateral entry, PGDCA (one year), CCA (six months) and M.A (psychology). There are many schools and institutes including Learning Cottage Of Commerce. There are other schools like Sohrab Public Senior Secondary School, Al Falah Public senior secondary School, the town school, Sahibzada Fateh Singh senior secondary public school, Sita grammar school, Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir, Modern Secular school, DAV public school and many more. Almighty Public School on Almighty School road, Jamalpura, Malerkotla is a co-education, English Medium Sr. Secondary School. This school provide Islamic Education for Muslim students. Transportation Rail Malerkotla is situated on Delhi-Jakhal-Dhuri-Ludhiana Railway line. The nearest railway junctions are Dhuri () and Ludhiana ). Air The nearest airports to Malerkotla are: Chandigarh International Airport, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Mohali (about away) Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar (about away) Sahnewal Airport (IATA: LUH, ICAO: VILD), also known as Ludhiana Airport (about (66min) away) Notable residents Iftikhar Ali Khan of Malerkotla (Last Nawab of Malerkotla) Anas