Moga sits in the Malwa region of Punjab, in the fertile plains between the Sutlej river and the old Bathinda belt. For centuries it was a farming settlement on the trade routes of southern Punjab.
From village to district
- The town grew around a settlement founded by the Gill families in the 17th century.
- On 7 August 1972 Moga became a subdivision of the new Faridkot district.
- On 24 November 1995 Moga became the 17th district of Punjab.
- In 1999 the Dharamkot block, with about 150 villages, joined the district.
Freedom struggle
Freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, the "Punjab Kesari", was born in Dhudike village in today's Moga district. The area also has links with the Indian National Army.
The Nestlé story
Nestlé opened its first factory in India at Moga on 15 November 1961. On the first day it collected just 511 kg of milk. Over the following decades it helped local farmers with better cattle, veterinary care and steady milk buying, and Moga grew into an important dairy and farming centre.
Sources: moga.nic.in, Moga district court website, Wikipedia.