Geography

Southwest of Kanwari is desert, but the rest of the surrounding area is fertile plains. Kanwari has three large ponds: Bada Johad, Jharna, and Mundhala Johad. The fields are irrigated by the Sunder sub-branch extension of the Hansi-Butana branch of the Western Jamuna Canal.

The aeolian deposits at the Southwest of Kanwari comprising accumulation of sand blown from Thar desert of Rajasthan are mostly confined to south-western part of the Bidhwan. These sand accumulations occupy vast stretches of land and occur in the shape of sandy flats, mounds and ridges at places attaining dunal shapes over the sandy flats.^[13]

SEISMICITY According to tectonic map, Kanwari lies on Delhi-Lahore Ridge which is bounded by thrusts. No earthquake of any significance has originated in the zone in the past. It has, however, experienced earthquakes originating in the great Himalayan boundary fault and the, Hindukush region. The maximum intensity experienced was VI M-M and the Kanwari has been assigned to zone II in seismic zoning map of India where the maximum seismic intensity may reach VI MM.^[13]

Demographics

As per a July 2010 official report,^[10] Kanwari has 1,147 households with a total population of 5,733 with 1,196 Scheduled Caste inhabitants.

All of the people living in the village are Hindus. The majority of people living in the village are Jats. There are Brahmins, Lohar, Khati, Balmiki, Harijans, Nai, Baniya, and other Hindu castes.

There were a couple of Kumhar families who converted to Islam during the Mughal Empire era (1526–1858). After the 1947 partition of India these families reconverted to and were accepted into the Hindu religion. Since 1947, Kanwari is a 100% Hindu village.

As per 2001 census, Kanwari had 896 households and a population of 5,119. There were 2,712 males and 2,407 females. 835 people were below the age of 6. The number literate were 2,655, of which 1,739 were male and 916 were female. The working population was 2,581.^[11]

Kanwari is covered by The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and 135 Job cards were issued under this legislation as of July 2010.^[12]

Administration

Kanwari is under Hisar constituency for the Lok Sabha (lower house).

Kanwari is an administrative unit and has a democratically elected panchayat samiti (local council). Kanwari has been assigned to Hansi Tehsil and Hansi-I block, sometimes to Hansi Vidhan Sabha constituency in Hisar District, and at other times Kanwari has been assigned to the 'reserved for Schedule Caste candidates' of Vidhan Sabha constituency in Bhiwani district.

Currently, Kanwari is under Hissar Zilla Panchayat, Hansi-I Intermediate panchayat, and has its own unreserved Gram Panchayat under Gram Panchayat code 25444 ^[6] and census village code 00412900.^[7] As of July 2012, Dhup Singh Son of Sudhan Singh is the Sarpanch of the Kanwari Gram Panchayat ^[8]

There is a Patwari (government land record officer), an ADO (Agriculture Development Officer),^[9] a Rural Health Officer (RHO), and an Anganbadi Worker based at Kanwari.

There is Yuva Mandal (Youth Organization/club) NGO established in 1990 by the youths of the village to spread the social awareness among the villagers about the importance of education, their rights and creation of attitude for a positive change. Currently, Baljeet Jangra is the Pardhan (Chairman) and Sudarshan Sheoran is the Cashier for the same. It received an award for the Best Yuva Mandal in the Hissar district.

History of VILLAGE

Kanwari is an ancient village, existing during the Indus Valley Civilization, Tomara Dynasty, the rulers of Delhi, the Mughals, the Marathas, Jat Sikh rulers, later under British rule and finally in independent India since 1947 mostly ruled under Jat Chief Ministers in a democratic setup. After Independence Kanwari became part of Punjab. Once Haryana was formed as a separate state in 1966, Kanwari became part of Hisar district, Haryana State.

Village is also the location of Indus Valley Civilization archaeological mound.^[3][4]

Kanwari has an old Shiva temple called 'Baba Siri Gir' and an Akhara (abode) for sadhus (Hindu mystics) as well as a temple of the village deity called 'Bua Kanwari' (Virgin Deity) where newlyweds go for blessings before entering the village.

Fauna

Animals and bird of various species are found including Sparrow, large Indian Parakeet, Parrot, Crow, Rat, Rabbit, nilgai, Pied Crested Cuckoo, Koel, Pheasant, kingfisher, Bulbul and Indian Magpie Robin. The national bird of India, the Common Peafowl (Mor) are quite common and is seen in the fields and common village land.^[13]

Reptiles Snakes: The poisonous snakes like Common krait, Russel’s viper, Phoorsa and other snakes like Blind Snake, John’s Sand Boa, Wolf Snake, Rat Snake and Sand Snake are found around the village.^[13]

Lizards: The common lizards can be seen in the houses. Kirla or Girgit is found in the hedges and attracts the attention by changing its colours. Sanda is found in sandy areas.^[13]

Amphibians: Two species of tortoises found are Black Pond Turtle and Three-Striped Pond Turtle in around village and the common frogs found in the village are Indian Bull Frog, Indian Cricket Frog, Indian Burrowing Frog^{[disambiguation needed]} and Common toad.^[13]

Flora

The forest land around Kanwari falls under the category of tropical desert thorn and comprise predominantly of xerophytes. Flora is scanty and sparse. Tree species found in forests, cultivated fields, waste lands and habitations are Aak, Bakain, Bar (Banyan), Ber, Eucalyptus, Jal, Kair, Neem, Jand, Kikar, Pipal, Shisham, Siris.^[15][13] Shisham, kikar, siris, neem, bakain, gulmohar. parkinsonia eucalyptus, etc. have been planted along rail, road and canal strips and in other private areas. Eucalyptus is also planted in agricultural and under farm forestry scheme.

Common shrubs found are Hins, Bansa, Panwar, Babool, Mallah, Karir, Phoa, Khip, Ak (Aak) and Dhatura.

The important grasses are Anjan, Dhaman (Cenchrus_setigerus), Dub, Kana and Dabh. Anjan, dhaman and dub which are palatable fodder grasses are dwindling on account of uncontrolled grazing. The grasses in waste lands are poor in quality, and quantity.

Seven Villages

Despite its geography, Kanwari is not a part of the seven-village grouping called Saat Bas Khap ("brotherhood clan of seven villages"). Umra and Sultanpur were originally considered one village, hence the name "Seven Villages". Members of the Khap brotherhood or clanship are considered to be siblings and can not marry within the clan. Seven Village of Sat Baas are 1. Gujrati 2. Sultanpur 3. Muzadpur 4. Ramayan 5. Dhanderi 6. Depal 7. Maman pura The village is subdivided into various 'Panna' (पान्ना) or subsectors, such as 'Parla Panna' or Sheoran Panna (the upper sub-sector), 'Nichla Panna' (the lower subsector) and 'Bahrla Panna' (the outer subsector), each having their own community center called paras (परस) or chaupal (चौपाल).