- Originally, a Dogra Rajput named Lachman Das, was born at Rajouri (village in Poonch District of Kashmir) on 27 October, 1670. Fond of hunting, once he shot a pregnant doe with his arrow. The suffering of the doe fighting against death touched his heart and he became a bairagi and roamed from place to place. Guru Gobind Singh visited his hut in 1708. Guru Gobind Singh convinced him that a when righteousness (Dharma) was in danger, he could do more services as a warrior rather than as an ascetic. Banda agreed to fight out the tyranny and bigotry of Mughals. He was given a Sikh name, Gurbaksh Singh, but he preferred to be called Banda – the epithet used by him at his first meeting with Guru Gobind Singh.
- On reaching Punjab, Banda got a large following of armed Punjabis. He gave crushing defeats to Mughal forces one after the other battle. He succeeded in liberating the entire eastern and southern Punjab from the Mughal yoke and established an independent state. In this way he was the first person to lay down the foundation of an independent Punjab in 1710. Banda’s boldness and fierceness made the Emperor Bahadur Shah outlaw the Sikh community. In December, 1715, he was besieged by the Mughal forces near Gurdaspur and starved to surrender. He alongwith his followers was beheaded publicly.
- For sometime the Sikhs disappeared from the Punjab as a political force but again to reorganize their ranks. In 1757 the Sikh raiders occupied Lahore for a brief period, but withdrew with the advance of the Durrani invaders. When Afghans returned home, they reoccupied Lahore in 1761. Abdali attacked them and once again in February, 1763 he routed them completely. This defeat is still remembered as `Ghallu Ghara’ or the Great Massacre.
- Inspite of the crushing defeat at the hands of Durrani the Sikhs did now show any signs of weakness. Sikhs this time organized themselves under twelve Misis or confederacies.
The Sikh Misls[4]
- (1) Ahluwalia Led by Sardar Jassa singh ahluwalia, area of Jullundar Doab and army of 10,000 regular horsemen. Their held territory in the neighborhood of Kapurthala, in the Jalandhar doab, and some villages in Majha such as Sarhali, Jandiala, Bundala, Vairowal and Fatehabad.
- (2) Bhangi Led by Sardar Hari singh Bhangi, so called Bhangi as they liked Bhang. ( They were also called Dhillon Sardars) Area between Beas and Ravi and Ravi and Chenab, so called Bari and Rachna Doabs. Approximately, 10,000 regular horsemen. The Bhangis owned Sialkote, Gujrat, Multan, Amritsar, Tarn tarn and Lahore.
- 3) Dalewalia Led by Gulab singh Dalewalia. Later under their leader Tara Singh Ghaiba they held Rahon, Mahatpur, Nawanshaher and Phillaur. Approximately 5000 regular horsemen. They were always ahead of others. Dalewalias were continuously moving and helping other Misls on the command of supreme commanders Nawab Kapur Singh and later Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
- (4) Faizalpuria. Led by Nawab Kapur singh virk. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. The territories held were Jalandhar, and the villages of Banur, Ghanauli, Manauli and Bharatgarh, in the Malwa.
- (5) Kanaihya. Led by Jai singh Kanaihya. This regiment ruled the area of riarki around Batala approximately 8,000 horsemen.
- (6) Karor singhia. Karora singh Dhaliwal established this Misl, Their territory was Hoshiarpur and its surrounding areas. His successor Baghel singh Dhaliwal subdued the force less Mughal Emperor Shah Alam I of Delhi, and located and constructed the Gurudwaras in Delhi, in the memory of Seventh Guru, Ninth Guru and others.
- (7) Nakai Led by Hari singh Nakai. This band ruled the area between Ravi and Ghara, Naka Area. Approximately 7,000 horsemen. They ruled over the country South of Lahore, between Ravi and the Sutlej.
- (8) Nishanwala Led by Dasaundha singh. So called Nishanwala cause they carry the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag in the battle. Approximately 2,000 horsemen. Their territory was Ambala, Ropar, Anandpur Sahib, several hill chiefs paid tribute to this misl.
- (9) Ramgarhia Led by Nand singh Sanghania, so called as they extended fort of Ram Rauni at Amritsar which was later called Ramgarh. Riarki Area around Batala Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territory was parts of Amritsar, Qadian, Batala and Sri Hargobindpur, in the Bari doab and Miani, Sarih, and Urmur Tanda in the Jalandhar Doab. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was a great Sikh warrior of times of Nawab Kapur Singh and Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
- (10) Sukerchakia Led by Nodh Singh, Ranjit singhs Misl. Area of Gujranwala, they often carried their arms beyond Jhelum. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territories were Gujranwala and parts of Pothohar (currently Rawalpindi, Islamabad, etc.) Charat Singh, Ranjit singh's grandfather was one of the commanders with Nawab Kapur singh and then with Jassa Singh Ahluwalia.
- (11) Shaheed. They drew their name from their Baba Deep Singh ji Shaheed, custodian of Damdama Sahib Gurudwara. This misl was in charge of Malwa part of Punjab which is current day Ludhiana. Approximately 5,000 horsemen. Their territories were also in some districts in Ambala (parganah of Shahzadpur) and district of Saharanpur.
- (12) Phulkian. Misl is the only misl that was kicked out of the Dal Khalsa due to its anti Sikh policies in the time of Baba Deep Singh and Nawab Kapur Singh. This misl was founded by Baba Ala Singh.
- All these Misls or bands together were called Dal Khalsa. They met at least twice a year at Amritsar for Sarbat Khalsa. So called Sarbat Khalsa as the whole community of the Sikh Panth (panth means path) gets together. The leader of the Dal Khalsa was to be head of the both Sikh state and "Church".
Rise of Raja Ranjit Singh
- In one of these Misis, the Suker Chakias, Ranjit Singh was born on November 2, 1780 at Gujranwala who was destined to build a mighty edifice of Sikh kingdom. As a great warrior and organizer, he brought all the Misis under his control. “His greatest achievement consisted in affecting a marvelous transformation of the warning Sikh states into a compact national monarchy”. In his time the Sikh Kingdom extended from Khyber pass to the Sutlej and from Sind to Ladakh.
- His reign (1778-1839), though not long, is significant because of its concept of dharma entwined with the practice of secularism.
- Ranjit Singh encircled himself with an array of strong generals and soldiers. They were men from different clans, castes and regions and religions.
- These included: Hari Singh Nalwa, Dewan Mokham Chand, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and his son Fateh Singh Ahluwalia, Ghaus Mohammad Khan, Shaikh Elahi Baksh, Veer Singh later Jallaha of Gurdaspore, Sawan Mal, Sardar Sangat Singh Saini, Sher Singh, Zorawar Singh, Chattar Singh Attariwalla, Balbhadra Kunwar - Gorkhali General who served for Ranjit Singh after the Anglo-Gorkha war (1814-1816), Mahan Singh Mirpuri
- Among his European Mercenary Generals were: Jean-François Allard, Jean-Baptiste Ventura - Italian (Modena), Paolo Di Avitabile - Italian (Naples), Claude August Court - French
- The only American mercenary was: Alexander Gardner
- “After Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death (in June, 1839) his achievements began to crumble rapidly owing to the incompetence of his successors and the intrigues of his generals and ministers. One weak ruler after another was deposed in quick succession, till in 1843 Dalip Singh, a minor, was acknowledged as king with his mother, Rani Jindan, as regent. The final collapse came almost as a result of the two Anglo Sikh Wars, which followed each other in succession and the Punjab was at last annexed by Lord Dalhousie in March, 1849”.
First Anglo Sikh War
- ANGLO-SIKH WAR 1, 1845-46, resulting in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom, as the outcome of British expansionism. It was near-anarchical conditions that overtook the Lahore court after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June 1839...
Second Anglo Sikh War
- ANGLO-SIKH WAR II, 1848-49, which resulted in the abrogation of the Sikh kingdom of the Punjab, was virtually a campaign by the victors of the first Anglo-Sikh war and since then the de facto rulers of the State finally to overcome the resistance of some of the sardars
Role of Punjab in India's freedom struggle
- Punjab’s struggle for the freedom from the foreign rule began soon after the defeat of the Sikhs in the first Anglo-Sikh War. One of the first indication was the "Cow Row" affair. This incident took place in Lahore on the 24th of April 1846, when under protest the businessmen of Lahore closed their shops against the British guard stationed outside the Masti Gate of the City.
Punjab and revolt of 1857
- Punjab was annexed into British Empire in 1849. Punjab Governer was Sir John Lawrence (1853 to 1859). He introduced many Economic, and administrative reform. He also initiated many Public Welfare Works to win the hearts of people. When nation broke into revolt Punjab response was lukewarm.
- Britishers did elaborate arrangement to stop revolt in Punjab e.g. They disarmed Indian soldiers in Montgumari, took control of Gobindgarh part into its own hands.
- Almost all native kings (Rajas) supported Britishers e.q. King of Jind, Raja Saroop Singh Supported 13th British Regement. Maharaja Kapurthala, Randhir Singh sent his forces to Jalandhar to establish peace.
- In spite of odd circumstances, people of Punjab responded to the voice of revolt of 1857. The people of Ferojpur led by Sham Das, enter into revolt against British. Apart from this, people of Ludhiana, Sialkot, Gujrat, participated into Violent Activities. But unfortunately this activities were suppressed by alert Britishers.
Kuka Movement
- Kuka movement also known as Namdhari movement had special place in history of Punjab. It represents a reform movement. They were known as Kuka because they use to cry in high loud in the name of God.
- Baba Ram Singh was pioneer of this movement. He hails from village BHANI ARAYAN in district Ludhiana. He was born in 1816 in same village. During his days of puberity he came under influence of Baba Balak Singh. Baba Balak Singh was deeply concerned with social evils in Sikh religion. He also preached simple life young Ram Singh began to preach religious reforms under his influence.
- Baba Ram Singh started Namdhari movement which slowly came to be known as Kuka movement. It was a socio religious reform movement. They accepted Sri Guru Granth Sahib as their Guru. They had strict code of conduct to be followed.
- British adopted policy to suppress Kuka movement. However it increased the popularity of Baba Ram Singh. Slowly Kukas too became martial, they began to lead aggressive movement against Britishers. They also launched movement against butcher who use to kill cows. They attacked Malerkotla but british too launched a aggressive movement against Kuka in Malerkotla. They were killed mercilessly.
- The movement for the first time, highlighted the need for swadeshi as also for non-violence; it sacrificed 66 kukas, in 1872, who were brutally blasted by canon, placing them literally at the gun-mouth one by one.
NIRANKARIS
Baba Dayal Das (1783-1855) was the founder of this movement of purification and return. In the 1840s he called for the return of Sikhism to its origins and emphasized the worship of God as nirankar (formless). Such an approach meant a rejection of idols, rituals associated with idolatry and the priests who conducted these rituals. Stressing the importance of Guru Nanak and of the Adi Granth, he prohibited eating meat, drinking liquor, lying, cheating, using false weights etc. Before his death Dayal Das named his son, Baba Darbara Singh (1814-1870), as his successor). Determined to cut all ties with Hinduism, Darbara Singh began to issue hukamnamas (statements describing both doctrine and approved rituals). Under him the Nirankaris had their most rapid period of expansion; for in fifteen years he opened forty new subcentres.
Rattan Chand, younger brother and successor of Darbara Singh also established new centres and appointed biredars (leaders) for each congregation or sangat. They provided a tie between the head of nirankari movement and its members. Between 1909 and 1947, Baba Gurdit Singh, son and successor of Rattan Chand, headed the movement.
The Nirankaris laid emphasis on Guru Nanak and on Sikhism before the establishment of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind singh at Anandpur. In this they pursued a path open to both orthodox Sikhs, kesadharis, and to the non-baptised ranks of the sahajdhairs, but drew members mainly from the urban non-jat section of the Sikh community. Their dependence on Guru Nanak and early Sikhism for their model of pure religion separated them from another movement, the Namdharis.
SINGH SABHAS
AMRITSAR SINGH SABHA
Shaken by Namdhari unrest, the speeches of Shraddha Ram of Arya Samaj and by Christian conversions, a small group of prominent Sikhs decided to form the Singh Sabha of Amritsar, Which held its first meeting on 1 October, 1873. Thakur Singh Sandhawalia became its president and Giani Gian Singh its secretary. The aims of the Sabha were:
- Restoring of Sikhism to its purity
- Publishing historical religious books, magazines and journals
- Propagating knowledge using Punjabi
- Returning Sikh apostates to their original faith; and
- Involving high placed Englishmen in the educational programme of the Sikhs.
It was joined by members of the landed gentry, the aristocracy and by various types of temple servants – pujaris, granthis, mahants, gianis and descendants of the gurus. One of the main activities of the Sabha was the preparation of a definitive text of the Dassam Granth. When this task proved very demanding, a separate organization, the Gurmat /granth Pracharak Sabha, was founded to finish it. The Sabha published numerous tracts and books and in 1894 organized the Khalsa Tract Society to popularize Punjabi, the gurmukhi script and to issue monthly tracts on the Sikh religion.
LAHORE SINGH SABHA
Soon the Amritsar Sabha was emulated and rivaled by a new organization, viz. the Lahore Singh Sabha, which held its first meeting on 2 November 1879. The later was led by Prof. GurumukhSingh and Bhai Ditt singh. It announced goals similar to those of the former. The first president of the Lahore Sabha was Diwan Buta Singh and Bhai Gurumukh Singh served as its secretary.
Differences between the two societies soon came to the forefront. The Lahore Sabha was more democratic and accepted members from all castes including untouchables. Their programme of purifying Sikhism directly opposed the vested interests of the Amritsar Sabha. The career of Bhai Ditt Singh illustrates the type of friction that erupted between the two societies. Ditt Singh, coming from a low caste, wanted to remove the evils of caste system and the institution of guru from the Sikh community. His tract, Sudan Natak, ridiculed the religious establishment and resulted in a court case.
The Lahore Sabha expanded with local branches in many of the Punjab towns. The Amritsar Sabha developed its own societies, but its growth was far slower than the Lahore Society.
OTHER SABHAS
In 1880 a General Sabha was founded at Amritsar to provide a central organization for all Singh Sabhas. On 11 April 1883, this was renamed the Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar. It included 36 to 37 differnet Singh Sabhas as well as the Lahore association. But this effort at unity was short-lived. In 1886 the Lahore Singh Sabha created its own Khalsa Diwan (Sikh Council). Only the Sabhas of Faridkot, Amritsar and Rawalpindi allied with the original Diwan; the rest turned to the Lahore leadership and its radical ideology of social and religious change. The Lahore Khalsa Diwan received assistance from the Maharaja of Nabha as its patron, while Sir Attar Singh served as its president and Bhai Gurmukh Singh as its secretary.
The Singh Sabhas continued to expand, new branches were founded that at times created their own distinct ideas and programmes. The Bhasur Singh Sabha became a hub of Sikh militancy under the leadership of Bhai Teja Singh. It was aggressive in its missionary zeal and extreme in its ideology. In time it developed into the Panch Khalsa Diwan and competed with other Khalsa Diwans. Not all deviation or enthusiasm by local Singh Sabhas proved as controversial.
The low-caste Sikhs, particularly the Rahtias (untouchable weaver) from the Jullundhar Doab, demanded that the Singh Sabhas remove their social and religious liabilities, caste system. Since the Singh Sabha leaders did not respond to their pleas, they turned to the Arya Samaj, which welcomed them and conducted public ceremonies of shuddhi for Rahtias.
Thus, in the 20th century the Singh Sabhas were overwhelmed by other organizations in the first decade by the struggle for control over the Sikh places of worship.
Singh Sabha Movement
- In July 1873, Thakur Singh Sanathawaliya called upon a meeting of influencial peoples of Punjab. Its purpose was to form a association so that Sikh Community can be organized properly. So a association named “Sri Guru Singh Sabha Amritsar.” Came into existence on July 28, 1873.
- Singh Sabha movement came into existence because of certain causes like, evils prevailing in Sikh Community, Activities of Chritchen missionaries, as they were alluring for conversion and activities of Arya Samaj. It was said that “Satyarth Parkash” book written by Soami Daya Nand, had disrespect for Sikh religion. British divide and rule policy also contributed to the origin of Singh Sabha movement.
- Soon many Singh Sabha movements came into existence. Two most important movements were Singh Sabha movement Amritsar and Singh Sabha movement Lahore. Both role had ideological clash. e.g. Amritsar Singh Sabha use to give membership to Sahijdhari Sikhs also which was not permissible in Lahore Singh Sabha movement.
Khalsa Diwan
- Both Singh Sabha movements indulged into criticism of each other. Both left the reform programmes and began to throw mud upon each other. Some Senior leaders in both association wanted both to join hands to carry forward reforms.
- It resulted into establishment of Khalsa Diwan in Amritsar. It was a controlling body to all Singh Sabha. However, the difference between both could not be subsided even by Khalsa Diwan. In 1902 again attempt was made to bring down the difference between both the Singh Sabhas. On November 30, 1902, chief Khalsa Diwan was established in Amritsar. Soon chief Khalsa Diwan began to establish control over all Singh Sabhas across country including both Lahore & Amritsar Sabhas.
Jallianwala Bagh massacre
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha against the black Rowlatt Act found a popular support in Punjab. His arrest on 8 April, 1919, at Palwal, on way to Punjab, evoked widespread demonstration to crush which O’Dwyer, the Punjab Governor, let loose a reign of terror under the army general, Dyer, Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Amritsar on 13 April, 1919, the Baisakhi day, which proved a turning point in the history of not only of Punjab but also of India.
Gurdwara movement
- In October 1920 A.D., a congregation was held at Dharowal, District Sheikhupura for reform in Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in which the leaders revealed to the gathering of devotees, the misdeeds being committed inside the Gurdwara. Gurdwara Nankana sahib was highly revered as it is the birth place of Guru Nanak, a city named Nankana Sahib came up around the Gurdwara which is now in Pakistan.
- At meeting ,it was unanimously resolved that the Mahant be asked to mend his ways. When Mahant Narian Dass was asked to reform himself, he started making preparations to oppose the Panth (Sikh community) instead. He did not feel it necessary to pay heed to the suggestions of the Committee. He was the owner of the estate attached to the Gurdwara with an income of one hundred thousand rupees besides the offerings of the Gurdwara.
Babar Akali Movement
- A section of Sikh Community had no belief in Gandhian non violent methods. They were follower of Ghadarist. They began to emulate Ghadarist activities. They organized themselves with weapons. They targeted corrupt Mahants of Gurudwaras and Britishers who were supporting them. In 1921, there was bloodshed in Nankana Sahib Gurudwara. Such organized group began to be known as `Babar Akali’. Babar Akali called “Sikh Education Conference” in 1921 in Hoshiarpur.
- The conference was organized by basically foreign returns. From now onwards, Babar Akali concentrated their activities in doaba region. Babar Akali use to oppose all congress policies, Britishers and corrupt Mahants in Gurudwaras.
- Two of its worker Bela Singh and Ganda Singh were arrested on Lahar Railway Station. They exposed many plans of Babar Akali. It damaged Babar Akali a lot, British adopted all suppressive measures against Babar Akali.
Ghaddar Party
- In 1913, Lala Hardyal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Vaisakha Singh and Jwala Singh formed the Ghaddar Party in USA, with headquarters at San Francisco and branches in Japan, China, Fiji and Malaya.
- Gurdit Singh it was who sponsored the Japanese ship Kama Gata Maru which was illegally disallowed to touch its destination, Canada, provoking a rebellious procession which was fired upon, killing 23 persons.
Komagata Maru
- In the year 1900 the census reported 2050 people from India on the North American continent. The majority of these people were Punjabis who had settled in Canada. They had come with the hope of finding work so that they could improve their economic situation from what it had been in the Punjab. Upon arrival in Canada they encountered numerous hardships and discrimination. Canadians wanted the "brown invasion" to stop. They felt that the growing number of Indians would take over their jobs in factories, mills and lumber yards.
Bhagat Singh
- Bhagat Singh (September 27, 1907 – March 23, 1931) was an Indian freedom fighter, considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement. He is often referred to as Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
- His mentor as a young boy was Kartar Singh Sarabha. He became involved in numerous revolutionary organizations. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) and became one of its leaders, converting it to the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA).
- In the leaflet he threw in the Central Assembly on 9 April 1929, he stated that It is easy to kill individuals but you cannot kill the ideas. Great empires crumbled while the ideas survived.
- Singh gained support when he underwent a 64-day fast in jail, demanding equal rights for Indian and British political prisoners. He was hanged for shooting a police officer in response to the killing of veteran freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai.
Udham Singh
- He was born at Sunam Village, Patiala State, on 23 August 1901,
- Udham Singh was an Indian independence activist, best known for assassinating Michael O'Dwyer in March 1940 in what has been described as an avenging of the Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre.
Kartar Singh Sarabha
- Kartar Singh Sarabha Grewal was born into a Grewal Sikh family at village Sarabha in the district of Ludhiana, Punjab, in 1896. Indian revolutionary who was amongst the most famous accused in the Lahore conspiracy trial. A leading luminary of the Ghadar Party, Kartar Singh was executed at Lahore in November 1915 for his role in the Ghadar Conspiracy in February 1915.
Constitution of the Hindustan Republican Association
- The manifesto of HRA was prepared by S.N. Sanyal towards the end of 1924. It was printed on yellow paper and for that reason it is generally referred to as Yellow Paper.
- Manifesto of Naujawan Bharat Sabha, Punjab was Written by Bhagawati Charan Vohra, dated 6-4-1928. The Sabha was an open organisation of the party.
The philosophy of the bomb
- In December 1929, a bomb exploded under the Viceroy Irwin’s special train, from which he, however, escaped. Gandhiji thanked God for the Viceroy’s narrow escape and condemned in his article “The Cult of the Bomb” the revolutionaries for the act. It was in reply to Gandhiji’s article that this outstanding document was written by Bhagawati Charan in consultation with Chandra Shekhar Azad. It was drafted in the room located above the Soloman Company, Aminabad, Lucknow, which was used as a den exclusively by Azad, Bhagawati Charan and Yashpal.
Madan Lal Dhingra
- Madan Lal was born in 1887 in a prosperous family of Punjab. In 1906, Madan Lal was sent to England to join the University College, London, to study Mechanical Engineering.
- During his stay in London he came in contact with Veer Savarkar and Shyamji Krishna Verma, and the former administered him the oath of allegiance as a member of his Revolutionary Secret Society called "Abhinav Bharat Sanstha". He learnt shooting and decided to work for the liberation of his motherland. He prepared a list of all India-haters, the enemies of his motherland. He grabbed his very first opportunity.
Lala Lajpat Rai
- In 1928, huge Punjab crowds greeted the Simon Commission with shouts of “Go Back” and waving of black flags. Lala Lajpat Rai the lion of Punjab, fell to the murderous police lathi charge, ordered by Saunders. The dying leader prophesied that “each lathi blow on my body would prove a nail driven into the coffin of the British Empire in India”.
Kirti Kisan Sabha
- It was a peasant party formed in 1927. This party was special because it had emmense contribution in Indian Freedom Struggle. This party was formed with inspiration of Ghadar party. It had started a famous paper “Kirti.” Bhai Santokh Singh and Bhai Ratan Singh who came from San Francisco organized Kirti Kisan party and started its own newspaper. However, this party had expressed belief in non violence yet the party was not in line with Gandhi and congress it criticized Gandhian programmes. Master Tara Singh undertook its leadership. He presided over its conference in Layalpur.
After 1930s
- It was at Lahore that Jawaharlal Nehru declared at the Congress Session in 1930 that the goal of India, henceforth would be complete Independence.
- Remarkable contribution was made by Punjab to the Quit India Movement in 1942. During the Second world war, many Punjabi soldiers joined the Indian National Army, INA, started by Subhash Bose, General Mohan Singh, Captain Dhillon are shining names in INA history.
- When the rest of India was celebrating the dawn of Independence, Punjab was burning in the furnace of partition. But, with its courageous fortitude and proverbial resilence, Punjab rose out of the ashes of Partition, like the mystical Chinese bird Phoenix, young and vigorous to take its well earned place of pride among the Indian People.
Historical Remains in Punjab
- Takhat-i-akbari, Kalanaur, Gurudaspur :is actually a masonry platform where Akbar the Great was coronated on Feb,14,1556. Akbari Masjid is close by.
- Masoleums of Ustad & Shagird, Nakodar, Jalandhar:Mohd. Momin Hussaini, the teacher was a musician of Khan-e-Khana-the chamberlian of Emperor Jahangir and Haji Jamal his disciple. These beautiful mausoleums anticipate the architecture of Emperor Humayun’s tomb in Delhi.
- Serai Nurmahal : near Nakodar, Jalandhar is an inn associated with Nurjahan, wife of Emperor Jahangir.
- Mughal Sarai, Shambhu (Patiala) is a Caravan Sarai initially constructed by Sher Shah Suri on the Grand Trunk Road connecting Peshawar to Dhaka (now in Bangla Desh).
- Sarai Amanat Khan , Amritsar:Monuments has an ornamental Mughal gateway embellished with glazed tiles.
- Tomb of Mir-i-Mran Sirhind: 5 kilometers from Aam Khas Bagh connected by a link road. There are two inscribed Sand Stones with inscriptions. Only one of it is readable; “Subhan daughter of Behlol Lodhi who died on Friday, 11 of Safar 901 Hijri.” The other grave, there, should be of Mir-i-Miran, Amir Sayyid, the son-in-law of the King. Built on a square platform, the semicircular dome of the tomb is supported by an octangular neck.
- Sabraon War Memorial: at village Jalawala, in Ferozepur district.40 feet high, rectangular is shape, tapering towards the top and built in English bricks, the memorial was raised in 1850 in the memory of the British soldiers who lost their lives during the first Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46).
- Handira Mausoleum, Sultanpur Lodhi, District Kapurthala located on the banks of the river Kali Bein. It is a fine monument of strength, weight and balance built on an octagonal plan with four gates in cardinal directions.
- Bhir, Ludhiana: has the famous mosque built by Mohammad Ghori, 150 years old
- Khangah of Abdul Rehman Khan, mausoleum of Alawal Khan built during Shah Jehan’s reign, , the tomb of Bahadur Khan with sloping walls,
- 2 storied, double tomb of Husain Khan, Bilwanwali Masjid, mosque of Kamal-ud-din Khan/SARAI DORAHA on the main highway, Ludhiana dates back to Emperor Jahangir’s time.
- The Special traits of its inhabitants (bravery, generosity, courage, spirit of sacrifice), the amalagam of many languages and cultures and religious cooperation are some such characteristics which give the Punjab a separate identity.
- The Punjabis had to face many invaders due to the geographical position of the province. There history is replete with the stories of struggle carried and sacrifice made by the Punjab is made by the Punjabis from time to time. They came into contact with many communities, cultures and languages.
- Thus, they developed the traits of bravery, courage, generosity, sacrifice, tolerance, struggle and hard-work. The Punjab was ever threatened with foreign invasions or internal disturbances gripped it. Thus, they adopted the motto of eat, drink and be merry.
- The Sikh gurus also stressed the importance of pious-family life instead of asceticism. In a way the geographical situation of the area, moulded the Sikh philosophy in a big way.
- Owing to its geographical situation, the Punjab had to come into contact the different cultures, Ideologies, religions, languages and different modes of living. The Punjabi culture is, thus a synthesis of the Indus Valley, Aryan, Greek, cultures & Sufism, and Islam. It has, thus, been a cradle of different civilizations.
- As discussed, Since ancient times the Punjab had to face many invasions. The Persians the Greeks, the Shakes, the Kushans, the Hunas, the Arabs, the Mongols, the Turks and the Afghan invaded Punjab. Many of them settled and established marriage ties with the people. The children of inter-caste marriages were not accepted in their communities due to the rigidity of caste system. So many new castes were evolved. Thus many subcastes of Kashatriyas, Brahmins, Banias, ARoras, Shudras, Jats, Pathans Gokhars, Arains. Gujjars Rajputs Blochs and Syals etc, came into existence.
- Punjab was the Gateway of India and the arena of many battles of foreign invaders. Therefore, it was almost impossible to safeguard, its artistic monuments. The foreign invaders particularly, the Hunas, Mehmud Ghaznavi, Mongols, Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali, destroyed many of its historical building, temples, art-pieces and literary compositions.
- Under these circumstances the Punjabis lost interest in art. Some of the art-pieces remained safe in hilly-areas. Kangra school of paintings is a prominent example of this art.
- The culture of the Punjab has developed inspite of it being the area of many wars. Its main reason is it economic strength. Its people encourage literature, cultural activities and religions. The Vedas, the Geeta, the Mahabharta and the Adigranth were composed here only. Taxila was the culture of higher-education in olden days.
- Culturally Punjab can be divided into three regions, Malwa, Majha and Doaba.
- The Ten Gurus: Traditional Sikhs acknowledge ten historical gurus, beginning with Nanak and ending with Gobind Singh. The guru is viewed as an enlightened being and a manifestation of the Divine. The name Sikh means disciple, since they see themselves as adherents of the ten gurus.
- God: Sikhs are strict monotheists, denying the multifarious images of Gods found in Hinduism. Idols of God are not allowed. God is often referred to as Wahiguru.
- The Divine Name: practice the repetition of the Divine Name of God as a form of meditation.
- Classic Indian Ideas: Sikhs embrace an Indian worldview including beliefs in reincarnation, karma and samsara (the cycle of birth and death).
- The Goal: The spiritual goal of Sikhism is to attain moksha (liberation) from the bonds of samsara and thus return to one’s true spiritual home. This can also be thought of as enlightenment.
- Social Teachings: Sikhs reject the caste system, in that all castes can equally pursue spiritual liberation. The four doors to the Golden Temple reflect the view that all castes are welcome. In Sikh social gatherings everyone eats together and prays together; this is a taboo for Hindus.
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Adi Granth
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The most sacred writings for the Sikhs containing the sayings of the Sikhs gurus and other Sant teachers as well as Muslim and Hindu writings; text is revered as the living guru today receiving the title Guru Granth Sahib
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Dasam Granth
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Religious text with military concerns allegedly written by Gobind Singh
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Khalsa
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Refers to the community of the pure or orthodox Sikhs; members of the Khalsa adhere to the five ks and follow specific prohibitions (no smoking and no eating of Mulsim meat); they also assume the name Singh (meaning lion) for the males and Kaur (meaning princess) for the females.
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Kirtan
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Singing praises to God
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Jaman Sakhis
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Hagiographical accounts of the life of Nanak; lit. translates as "birth testimonies"
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Panch kakke
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Five ks followed by male members of the Khalsa. The five ks are kesh (uncut hair), kara (bracelet), kanga (comb), kirpan (sword), and kaach (briefs)
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Rahit
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Code of behavior followed by Khalsa members
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Sangat
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Congregation of earnest devotees
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Satsang
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Attending a spiritual discourse
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Sikh
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Literally translates as "disciple," referring to a disciple of the guru
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Simran
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Repetition of the name of God in meditation
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Singh
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Last name given to Khalsa Sikhs; it translates as "lion" indicating courage (Kaur or princess is used for females)
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Wahaguru
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Honorific title for God; literally means "Praise to the Guru"; also spelled Wahiguru and Waheguru
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- There is vast religious literature in Gurmukhi at our disposal. Most of its literature is of primacy historical importance like the Rig Veda. A part of it is more prone to mythology and requires a discerning eye to bring out the factual material.
The Adi-Granth
- The Adi-Granth is the most important historical sources and was compeled by Guru Arjan in 1604. Although its main interest is religious, yet many passages in it are pregnant with factual and historical material.
- We learn much about the life and work of the first Gurus from The Tikke Di Var written by Satta and Daiwand. In Gauri Ki Vari I, Bhai Jetha has give a graphic and authentic account of the life and work of Guru Amar Dass. Another authoritative historical work is written by Sunder under the caption SACHNAM DI BANI.
Vachitra Natak
- Vachitra Natak written by Guru Gobind Singh is an equally important and indispensable source of our information. It throws light on the mystery surrounding the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur the early life and career of the author and the social and religious views of the people. Besides providing accurate historical data is a literary specimen of Guru’s versatility and scholarship.
Zafar Nama
- Zafar Nama was a letter written by Guru Gobind Singh to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and is available to the students of history. It throws light on the Mughal-Sikh relations.
The Varas of Bhai Gurdas
- Bhai Gurdas was a talented and prolific writer. His writings cover the periods of Guru Arjan and Guru Hargobind. Although not very reliable historically, yet in more than one way it contains useful information for the students of history.
- Other Similar works which contain useful information are:-
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Janam Sakhi
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Bhai Bala.
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`Gian Ratanavali’
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Bhai Mani Singh
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`Janam Sakhi’.
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Sewa Dass
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`Janam Sakhi’.
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Mehrban
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`Gur Shobha’.
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Senapath
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`Prachin Panth Parkash’
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Bhai Rattan Singh.
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`Panth Parkash’
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Bhai Gian Singh
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`Suraj Parkash’
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Bhai Santokh Singh.
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`Nanak Parkash’
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Bhai Santokh Singh
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`Mehma Parkash’
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Baba Surup Dass Bhalla.
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`Nanak Chandrodya’
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Pandit Ganda Ram
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`Gur Bilas’
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Sukha Singh
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`The Biography of `Guru Nanak’
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Bhai Vir Singh.
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`Vanshawali Nama’
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Kesar Singh Chhiber
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`Kuj Hor Dharmik Lekh’
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Sahib Singh
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`Panjabi Sahit Bare’
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S.S. Kohli and S.S. Uppal.
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`Panjabi Sahit Da Ithas’
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Dr. Gopal Dass
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`Panjabi Sahit di Utpati te Vikas’
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Prof. Kirpal Singh.
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`Nawab Kapur Singh’
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P.S. Hoti
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`Sikhi te Sikh Ithas’
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Shamsher Singh.
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`Sikh Shahid’
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P.S. Datta
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`Banda Buhadur’
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S. Karam Singh.
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`Maharaj Ala Singh’
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S. Karni Singh
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`Jassa Singh Binod’
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R.S. Rao.
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`Maharaja Kaura Mal’
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Dr. Ganda Singh
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Different Types of Sikh Groups[5]
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Amritdhari Sikhs
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Orthodox, baptized Sikhs who follow the five ks and assume the name Singh for males and Kaur for females. five ks: kesh (long hair wrapped in a turban), kanga (comb), kara (bracelet), kaach (short briefs), kirpan (sword).
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Sahaj-dhari Sikhs ( recently in news regarding its meaning)
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Sehajdhari Sikh is a person who performs ceremonies according to the Sikh rites; who does not consume tobacco, katha or halal meat; who is not a patit (apostate) and who can recite moolmantar.
The word Sehajdhari consisted of two words: sehaj which means slowly and dhari which means to adopt. Hence, Sehajdhari Sikhs were those who were born in a non-Sikh family and expressed their desire to adopt Sikhism gradually, adopt its tenets with belief in Guru Granth Sahib and the ten Gurus,"Once a Sehajdhari becomes a keshadhari Sikh, he under no circumstances by cutting or trimming his/her hair, beard or eyebrows can claim to be a Sehajdhari. Similarly, a person born into a Sikh family cannot claim to be a Sehajdhari by trimming or cutting his/her hair, beard or eyebrows in any manner," (SGPC definition)
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Keshdhari Sikhs
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Sikhs who are not baptized in the Khalsa yet do not cut their hair, and may follow the five ks and use the name Singh/Kaur
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3HO Sikhs
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Healthy, Happy and Holy Sikhs who follow the teachings of Yogi Bhajan in 1968, including strict allegiance to the five ks for both males and females and a vegetarian diet.
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Nirankari Sikhs
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Sikhs who follow the teachings of Baba Dayal Das, including the necessity of a living guru and the rejection of external signs, such as the five ks
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Namdhari Sikhs
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Sikhs who follow the teachings of Balak Singh, including allegiance to the Khalsa and the need for a living spiritual guide.
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Udasis Sikhs
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Ascetic Sikhs who trace their lineage back to Nanak’s son Sri Chand.
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- As in the rest of the country Sikh religion is deeply connected with music. In fact a glossary of music and Ragas are given at the end of the Guru Granth Sahib, the tradition starting with Mardana, Who accompanied Guru Nanak on his travels who sang the bani of Guru Nanak with an ‘ektaara’ and the ‘rhubarb’. Classical ragas are used in the ‘shabad kirtan’, gayaki of Punjab. The sixth Guru Hargobind gave patronage to sect of singers who sang only martial songs. Called ‘Dhadis’, they sing at shrines and festivals, ballads, vars, and about the heroic feats of the Sikhs. Along with the “Dhad” the ‘dhadi’ also uses a sarangi, as a musical accompaniment.
- A strong tradition of the ‘kissa sahitya’ of Punjab is very much part the parcel of Punjabi folk music. The legends of Heer Ranjha , Sohni Mahiwal, Sassi Punnu, Puran Bhagat are sung more in a semi classical style. The Punjabi ‘kaffi and kali’ are part of this genre. Related to this is the ‘sufiana kallam’ of Punjab as a result of a strong Sufi tradition in the state. The Heer in particular has a strong sufi base.
- Later in the eighteenth and nineteenth century there started in Punjab a strong school of classical music centering around Patiala known today as the Patiala Gharana. The founders of this gahrana were Ustaad Ali Bux and Ustaad Fateh Ali who were great singers in the Patiala Darbar. Their disciples and admirers were numerous. Notable amongst them were Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali and his brother Barkat Ali who brought the Patiala Gharana on the forefront of Khayal gayaki. And thus started the ‘chau-mukhia’ style, which included dhrupad, khyal thumri and the taraana.
- Each of these styles too have their particular flavour, the energy and zest of the soil of Punjab. Highly decorated, Ustaad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan compossed numerous ‘bandishes’ or compositions under the penname of Sabarang. Parallel to this was the growth of a gharana of tabla playing which is also known as the Punjab style, of which Alla Rakha the great tabla maestro belongs.
- The instruments used in Punjabi folk are typical to the region. The ‘toombi’, ‘algoza’, ‘chheka’, ‘chimta’, ‘kaanto’, daphali’, dhad’ and ‘manjira’ are some of the popular traditional folk instruments.
- There are songs which are specific to death. Called ‘Siapah’, there are different kinds of ‘siapah’. Special to individuals, the song of mourning deal with the loss of a brother, sister, mother, father, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and are sung in a particular format.
Bhangra
- Bhangra celebrates the harvest and is associated with the festival of Baisakhi (April 13) To the accompaniment of large drums called dhols, he and his fellow villagers circle round and round in a leaping, laughing caper. At marriages, parties, or celebrations of any sort, it is quite common for men to break out in Bhangra.
Gidda
- Women have a different but no less exuberant dance called gidda. The dancers enact verses called bolis, which represent folk poetry at its best. The subject matter of these bolis is wide ranging indeed – everything from arguments with the sister-in-law to political affairs figure in these lively songs. Aside from the drums, the rhythm of this dance is set by the distinctive hand-claps of the dancers.
Jhumar
- This dance has originally come from Sandalbar (now in Pakistan), but is now very much a part of Punjab folk heritage. It is a dance of graceful gait, based on specific Jhumar rhythm. Dancers circle around the drummer, and keep up a soft, sibilant chorus as they dance.
Luddi
- Luddi is a victory-dance recognizable by the swaying movements of the head. Its costume is a simple loose shirt. The performers place one hand at the back and the other before the face; the body movement is sinuous, snake-like. This is also danced with the drummer in the centre.
Julli
- This dance associated with Muslim holy men called pirs and is generally danced in their hermitages (khangahs). This dance is mostly performed in sitting posture, sometimes it is also danced around the grave of a preceptor. A single dancer can also perform this dance. Normally the dancer wears black.
Dankara
- Also called the gaatka dance, this is a dance of celebration. Two men, each holding colourful staves, dance round each other and tap their sticks together in rhythm with the drums. This dance is often part of marriage celebrations.
Dhamal
- Similar to bhangra and is danced by men in a circle.
Jaago
- Literally, “wake up!” When there’s a marriage in the house, girls dance through the village streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and singing jaagu songs. The theme of song in the ‘Jago’ is social and typically a bit of teasing (often aimed at elders) goes with the song.
Kikli
- This dance is performed by women in pairs. They cross their arms, hold each other’s hands and whirl around singing folk songs. Sometimes four girls join hands to perform this dance.
Gaatka
- Martial dance of Nihanh Sings.
- Punjabis are renowned for their utmost interest in arts and crafts
- Women used to weave wollen attire for everybody in the family. “Phulkari” is recognized worldwide for its intricate work. Shawls in silk are carefully hand-woven using traditional motifs as designs.
- Other famous crafts of the region include lacquer work, wooden work, Calico painting, paper mache` and many more.
- Wooden furniture is beautifully crafted by artisans with exquisite craftsmanship. Venetian lanterns known as “Fanoos” by Muslim artisans are a great display of craftsmanship.
- Festivals of Punjab mark fervour and happiness. Every festival is marked with music bringing the family together.
- Some of the major festivals are Lohri, Baisakhi, Holla Muhalla, Guru Nanak Jayanthi and Maghi. Lohri is celebrated as harvest festival on the solar equinox when the sun moves to Uttarayan position, by burning huge bonfires
- Baisakhi is another important festival marked with the birth of Khalsa. This is celebrated in the month of April, as three days celebration.
- Holla Mohalla (Holi) is celebrated with great fervour using colours to mark the onset of spring season.
- Guru Nanak Jayanthi: birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib is celebrated on Karthik Purnima, with utmost devotion by the whole Sikh community.
- The Punjab was predominately, a Punjabi speaking territory. Besides no less than six other languages were spoken and the dilects were numerous.
- Lahndi or western Punjabi was the prevailing dialect in the Hazara, Dera Ismail Khan Multan, Jhang district, Doabi in Jullundur Doab, Malwai in Majha, Majhi in Majha, and Bangru in Haryana. Pushtu was the common language in Peshawar, Kohat and Bannu, Rajasthani was the collective name for the dialects of Rajputana which overflowed into the Punjab, occupying a strip along the southern frontier from Bahawalpur to Gurgaon. There was also infiltration of English words and phrases into the languages of the province.
- During the period 1923-47, the Unionists, Muslim League. Indian National Congress and the Akalis took prominent part in the Punjab politics.
Unionist Party
- The Unionist Party was established by the landholders. Sir Fazl Hussain and Sir Chhoturam were the twin founders of this great party. Though predominantly a Muslim organization it had also among its members Hindu and Sikh landholders and agriculturists. The landholders, apprehensive of these eviction in competition with the commercial class, united to form the Unionist Party to safeguard their interests and privileges.
- The Unionists dominated the political scene in Punjab from World War I to the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947.
- The Unionists shared a common constitution with the Muslim League and followed a common policy and agenda for national issues. But the Unionist organisation and activities in Punjab were virtually independent of the League.
- The Unionists were virtually an independent political party in the 1920s and 1930s, when the Muslim League was unpopular and divided into feuding factions.
- The links improved after Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the League's president in the mid-1930s.
- However, the rule of Unionist leader Sir Sikander Hyat Khan was undisputed in the Punjab. Sir Sikander served numerous terms as Punjab's chief minister, often forming alliances with the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal despite Jinnah's opposition to both parties. Sir Sikander remained the most popular and influential politician in Punjab during his lifetime, preventing both Jinnah and Sir Muhammad Iqbal from gaining the support of a majority of Punjabi Muslims.
Punjab Congress
- The Punjab Congress membership mainly and from the urban Hindus and the Sikh peasantry who were influenced by the Gaddhar and Kirti Kisan movements.
- The urban and Arya Samaj bias of the Congress in the Punjab kept the Muslims a loof from it. The Akali Party Stood interests of the Sikhs. But this party by and large followed a policy of co-operation with the Indian National Congress almost uptil the eve of partition of the Punjab.
Muslim League
- The Muslim League had no popular base in the Punjab till 1937 but 1946, it had become the most powerful party of the Muslims mainly due to efforts of Mr. Jinnah.
Communal Strife and proposals for Partition of the Punjab
- The introduction of the Montague-Cheimston Reforms sharpened communal strife in India. In the Punjab, it was a triangular struggle between the Muslims, Hindu and Sikhs.
- Though the Hindus and Sikhs were in minority. They enjoyed a position of great advantage over the Muslims in educational and were minority in every other sense
- Consequently, they strongly advocated separate electorate and weightage for the Muslims for otherwise they could not secure seats in the legislature proportionate to their numerical strength.
- The Hindus and Sikhs opposed the separates representation granted to the Muslims. Punjab was the only province where the majority community had been given separate electorate.
- The Common Award gave a statutory majority of 51 per cent to the Muslims in the Punjab legislature. The Sikhs demanded that they should get substantial weightage, as enjoyed to the Muslims in the provinces where they were in a minority.
- The Hindus and Sikhs demanded that the Muslims be given less than 50% seats so that no community should be able to rule over the other.
- In order to solve the communal tangle in the Punjab, various proposals were put before the Round Table Conference, Sir Geoffrey Corbett served as the Financial Commissioner Punjab and was the Secretary of Indian Delegation.
- The climax came in the Pakistan demand made by the Muslim League as its Lahore session in March 1940. It passed the resolution that, “the area in which the Muslims are numerically in majority as in the North-West and Eastern Zones of India should be grouped to constitute Independent State in which the constituent units shall be autonomous.”
- The proposed state was to consist of geographically contiguous units, demarcated into regions was such a territorial adjustment as may be necessary.” Territoral adjustment clearly meant the spliting of the Punjab. The whole of the Punjab could not apparently be included in Pakistan. It had certain areas where Muslims were not in majority some of them were not contiguous with the Muslim majority areas.
- A Sikh delegation led by Master Tara Singh put before the Cabinet Mission, a scheme of an independent Sikh state (Sikhistan). Giani Kartar Singh and Sardar Baldev Singh also proposed different schemes
Political Struggle 1937-1947
- The elections of 1937 resulted a majority of the Unionst Party. The Muslim League could secure only two seats and one of the members resigned as soon as the Assembly met and joined the Unionist Party. The Punjab Muslims had thus given a decisive verdict against the Muslim League. But Mr. Jinnah was anxious to secure the support of Punjabi Muslims who were a majority in the province. He realized that the demand for Pakistan could not materialize unless the Muslim members in the Punjab Assembly owed their exclusive allegiance to the Muslim League.
- In pursuance of this policy, he invited Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, the Punjab Premier, to Lucknow to attend the session of the League in October 1937 and the Sikandar-Jinnah Pact came into existence. T
- The Pact covered the Muslim members of the Unionist Party into Muslim League. All Muslim members of the Unionist Party who were not member of the Muslim League were to sign its creed and join it. This, however, did not effect the continuance of the Unionist Party.
- The Punjab ministry thus became a coalition of the Muslim League, Hindu agriculturists, Sikhs, Depressed classes, Indian Christians and Europeans. Sikandar Hayat thus divided his loyalty between the Unionist Party and the Muslim League. By joining the League, he greatly enhanced its power and prestige.
- Though Sir Sikandar had joined the Muslim League, he had fundamental differences with Jinnah as to the future constitution of India. Under Coupland’s inspiration, Sikandar Hayat framed a scheme for an Indian Federation. In a meeting of All India Muslim League Working Committee in February 1940, he suggested to Mr. Jinnah and his Muslim League Colleagues not to press for a formal division of Indian into two states, but ask only for the creation of Hindu and Muslim Zones within an Indian Federation with a weak centre.
- But Jinnah rejected Sikandar’s scheme on the ground that the Muslim League should confine its demand to the Muslims only and not to the whole of India.
- Sikandar Hayat never reconciled himself to Jinnah’s objective of Pakistan. Sikandar resigned from the Muslim League Working Committee in 1942 some months before his death. Sikandar’s death in December, removed from the field to Muslim politics, the only if any figure, who could have successfully helped to modify at least some of Jinnah’s extreme theories.
- Jinnah was adamant on installing a League ministry in the Punjab. In March 1944, he came to Lahore and asked Sir Khizar Hayat Khan, the Premier of Punjab, to persuade all Muslim members of the Assembly to owe allegiance to the Muslim League and not the Unionist or any other party to ask his non-Muslim colleagues to join the Muslim League Coalition, Khizar considered Jinnah’s deamdn as an attempt to disintegrate the Unionist Party and refused to make any compromise with him on this issue.
- At the Simla Conference (June-July 1944) Khizar strongly opposed Jinnah’s claim for the League to nominate all Muslim members for inclusion in the Vicerory’s Executive Council. Consequently, the Muslim League members of the Punjab Assembly whose strength had increased from 1 to 22, deserted Khizar Hayat just before the elections of 1946.
- Meanwhile, the British Labour Ministry sent the Cabinet Mission to solve the Indian problem. The Cabinet Mission plan was accepted both by the Muslim League and the Congress though with mental reservations. A constituent Assembly elected by the members of the provincial legislatures in 1946 was to be set up to frame the Constitution of India under a three tier plan. The existing Punjab Legislative Assembly was dissolved and new elections were held.
The victory of League
- In the general elections of 1946, the Muslim League fared much better in the Punjab than in 1937 because a large majority of the Muslims voted for the League. It managed to captured 79 seats of the total of 175. Though the League secured more seats than any other single party, It was still majority in the House of 175. So, the only alternative for the League was to come to terms with the Sikhs and Congress.
- The League could, however, secure their support only if it could assure them adequate safeguard. This the Muslim League leaders were unwilling to do and relied on the Governor to come to their rescue by taking over administration under Section 93 of Government of India Act 1935. The Governor, however, refused to take this unconstitutional step when Khizar Hayat Kha, the leader the Unionist Party was willing to form a ministry with it support of the Congress and the Sikhs.
- After their failure to form ministry, the Muslim League leader were on the look out for an opportunity to wage their war on the Coalition Government of Khizar Hayal Khan. They started a bitter compaign against the ministry and son after the passing of Direct Action Resolution at Bombay, provincial Committee of Action was appointed in the Punjab. Muslim lawyers were sent to mobilize the masses in anticipation of the coming struggle. A programme of Direct Action containing detailed instructions for stabbing no. Muslims, setting on fire their houses and terrorizing them was received from Calcutta.
- After the Calcutta riots, the sense shifted to Punjab where in the districts of Rawalpindi and Jehlum the Muslims killed a large number of Hindus and Sikhs and burnt them alive. During December 1946-January 1947, squads of Muslim League volunteers known Muslim National Guards were parading the streets of Lahore, shouting provocative slogans.
- By the end of 1946, Khizar’s Coalition ministry was fighting a losing battle against the moutning tide communal passion. On January 24, it passed the orders banning private armies including the Hindu Rashtrya Swaym, Sewak Singh, the Akalis and the Muslim National Guards.
- The R.S.S. submitted to the orders by the Muslim League National Guard took up a refractory attitude. The situation in the province became so tense that Government had to withdraw the ban placed on the Muslim National Guard, the R.S.S. and the Akalis. But the reaction to this was an open definance by the League, and the war of nerves was accelerated.
- The agitation was ostensibly against the Khizar Ministry but as it was supported by the Congress and Akalis, it assumed a communal colour. The Muslims denied orders banning meetings and processions. Masses with Women and students in front made wild demonstrations before the Government House, Legislative Assembly and the Secretariat. One day a procession of Muslim students invaded the High Court building and hoisted the Pakistani flag there. Provocative slogans were shouted e.g., Leyke rehangya Pakistan….. Jaise liya ha Hindustan, Khizar Kanjar Hai Hai. Unionist Ministry Mudabad.
Resignation of Khizar Ministry
- In February 1947, the British Government announced its decision to transfer power to Indian hands by June 1948. This announcement made the position of anti-Muslim League ministry in the Punjab more precarious. Khizar Ministry could not longer hope to curb the violence of the Muslims when it was evident that the power would definitely pass on to the Muslim majority which almost certainly meant Pakistan. On 3 March, 1947, Khizar Hayat tendered his resignation. As the League again failed to form ministry the Government took over the administration of the province under Section 93 Government of India Act 1935.
- Next day serious riots broke out in Lahore and spread to other places including Amritsar, Rawalpindi and Jalandhar. Unrest and lawlessness spread further and conditions bordering an utter anarchy prevailed in the Punjab.
- The ghastly events of March 1947 and the League’s efforts to wreck the interim Government at the centre convinced the Congress leaders that there was no way out of the impasses except the partition of India. The Congress Working Committee, in a review of the situation observed. “These tragic events have demonstrated that can be no settlement of the problem in the Punjab by violence and coercion. Therefore, it is necessary to find out a way which involves the least amount of compulsion. This would necessitate a division of the Punjab into two provinces, so that predominantly Muslim part may be separated from the predominantly non-Muslim part.
- The demand for the partition of the Punjab and Bengal upset Mr. Jinnah’s plans. He denounced it as “a sinister move actuated by spite and bitterness” as by this the Muslims would get “truncated, mutilated and moth-eaten Pakistan.” Mr. Jinnha tried to distrupt the Hindu-Sikh unity by making the offer of an autonomous Sikh province within the state of Pakistan. But his negotiations with the Sikhs failed.
June 1947 Statement
- On 3rd June, Lord Mountbatten, the Governor General, announced a plan for the partition of the provinces of Bengal and Punjab, if their legislatures decided that way. The plan was accepted to Congress, Muslim League and Akalis.
Partition
- The Punjab Legislative Assembly which met in an atmosphere of communist tension and under a strong police guard decided in favour of partition of the Punjab. The Government of India appointed a Boundary Commission with Lord Radcliffe, as the Chairman and Mr. Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan. Mr. Justice Teja Singh. Mr. Justice Mohd Munir and Mr. Justice Din Mohd, as members. As the members of the commission held quite divergent views regarding the demarcation of the boundary, the Chairman gave his award on the basis of which the Punjab was partitioned between India and Pakistan.
- While the Boundary Commission was holding its deliberations, an unproclaimed “civil war” was going on in the province. Ever since the March riots, militant organizations of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims had been busy recruiting and procuring weapons from every possible source. It became obvious that as soon as dividing line had been drawn, law and order situations may further deteriorate and there will be an exchange of population.
- A Partition Council was established to handle the problem. A Boundary Force under Major General Rees (Joint Commander on behalf of both the Dominions) assisted by Brigadier Digambar Singh Brar and Col. Ayub Khan consisting of two and a half divisions assumed the task of escorting Muslims to Pakistan and Hindus to the other side of the border. But the Boundary Commission utterly failed to protect the minorities. “Attacks by Muslims in West Punjab were followed by counter attacks by Sikhs and Hindus in the East Punjab Reprisal followed retaliation till the whole province was one seething cauldron of hate and bestial passion.”
- Nearly five million Hindus and Muslims were evacuated from Punjab (West Pakistan), Baluchistan, N.W.E.P and Sindh within a few months from September to December, 1947 and resettled in various parts of India.
Establishment of Punjabi Suba
- India got independence on August 15, 1947. On same time, India faced horrifying experience of Partition. Punjab was partitioned in between India and Pakistan. The Punjab which came into India consisted 13 districts and 8 Princely States Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Kalsia, Malerkotla and Nalagarh.
- Accordingly on July 15, 1948, PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) came into existence. In 1956, PEPSU was dismentaled and 8 Princely states were merged into Punjab.
- There were many factors which contributed to Punjabi Suba formation before and after independence e.g. Singh Sabha movement, Gurudwara movement communalism in Punjab, Activities of Akali Dal, Nehru Committee report, Communal Award of 1932 Sikh demand of Azad Punjab and cabinet mission plan etc. There were certain factors which caused Punjab Suba formation after independence also, as follows.
- (1) Partition of Punjab & formation of PEPSU – Partition changed the demographic structure of Punjab Earlier Muslim were 50% Hindu were 30% and Sikhs were 13% but later, Hindu became 70% Sikh become 30%. In July 1948, PEPSU was formed, by amalgamating eight Punjabi princely states: Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Kapurthala, Faridkot, Kalsia, Malerkotla and Nalagarh.
- Maharaja Patiala, Yadwinder Singh was made Raj Parmukh of PEPSU. Since, majority of its population was Sikhs people began to form opinion to form a state with Sikh majority.
- After the formation of the state, Sardar Gian Singh Rarewala became its first chief minister on 13 January, 1949.
- Sardar Raghbir Singh’s became the next Chief Minister on 23 May, 1951, and Brish Bhan became the Deputy Chief Minister.
- The residents of the state elected a 60-member state legislative assembly on January 6, 1952. On April 22, 1952 Sardar Gian Singh Rarewala became the Chief Minister, On March 5, 1953 his government was dismissed and the President's rule was imposed. In the mid-term poll, Congress secured the majority and Sardar Raghbir Singh became Chief Minister on 8 March, 1954. On his death, Brish Bhan became the Chief Minister on 12 January, 1955 and remained in office till 31 October, 1956.
- (2) Sikh demands for constitutional Safeguards – In 1940-50s Sikh organization, began to demands. Constitutional safeguards e.g. Reservation for Sikh in state and union legislature. Akali party gave memorandum to Constituent Assembly putting forward some demands like 50% seat reservation in East Punjab and Reservation in Delhi.
- (3) Akali party demand for Punjabi Suba – In April 1949, Akali party led by master Tara Singh, launched Punjabi Suba morcha. They demanded Suba of people speaking Punjab.
- (4) Sachar formula – Punjab was declared Bilingual state with Punjabi and Hindi as official language. But Sikh community in general did not welcome the formula. They argued to form Hindi speaking state separately. In order to resolve language formula & C.M. Bhim Singh Sachar gave Sachar formula. He divided Punjab into two zones, one Punjabi speaking and other Hindi speaking. Some areas like Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla were declared Bilingual.
- Sachar formula was given warm welcome by Sikh community. It was concedered first step towards Punjabi Suba. However it led to conflicts in Punjab Lala Jagat Narayan & S. Partap Singh Kairon left Bhim Singh Sachar. Soon Sachar became all alone. It payed the way for chief ministership of Gopi Chand Bhargav.
- In 1953, Union Government constituted Fazal Ali Committee for reorganization of state based on language. However, this committee refuse to reorganize states based on language. It led to bad law and order situation in Punjab. Punjab government imposed ban on certain slogan which led to launching Morcha by Akali dal.
- In 1955, State reorganization commission, rejected the demand of Punjabi Suba. It was reacted against by Akali Dal led by Master Tara Singh. Meantime, Union Government put forward regional formula, which formed one Punjab.
- The Akal Takht played a vital role in organizing Sikhs to campaign for the Punjabi suba. During the course of the campaign, twelve thousand Sikhs were arrested for their peaceful demonstrations in 1955 and twenty-six thousand in 1960-61.
- Punjabi Suba Agitation under Fateh Singh – In 1960s Sant Fateh Singh provided leadership to Punjabi Suba morcha.
Formation of Punjabi Suba
- The long struggle for Punjabi Suba culminated into formation of Punjab in November 1966. Haryana state was carved out of Punjab. J.C. Shah Committee was constituted to draw the boundary between Punjab and Haryana.
Later events
- In 1961, first movement to establish Punjabi speaking state supported by Akali Dal and led by Master Tara Singh and by Sant Feteh Singh was launched.
- In 1970, Indira Gandhi award decided Fazilka, Abohar to be given to Haryana alongwith Rs. 10 crore
- In August 1982, the Akali Dal under the leadership of Harcharan Singh Longowal launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha, or the “battle for righteousness.” Bhindranwale and the Akali Dal united; their goal was the fulfillment of demands based upon the Anandpur Sahib Resolution[6]. In two and a half months, security forces arrested thirty thousand Sikhs.
- In 1981, Sikh political leaders led a series of mass civil disobedience campaigns against the Indian government. The Akal Dal, defenders of Sikh orthodoxy, made a series of demands to Indira Gandhi.
- In 1984, Bhindranwale[7] and Shabeg Singh placed ammunitions and militants in the temple following which, troops were sent into the Golden Temple to combat Sikh fundamentalism head on.
- On 31 October 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot-dead by two Sikh security guards (Satwant Singh and Beant Singh) in New Delhi
- Rajiv-Longowal Accord, 1985 accord recognised the religious, territorial and economic demands of the Sikhs that were thought to be non-negotiable under Indira Gandhi's tenure. The transfer has allegedly been delayed pending an agreement on the districts of Punjab that should be transferred to Haryana in exchange. Implementation of Anandpur Sahib Resolution (ASR) seeking greater autonomy to states was referred to Sarkaria Commission Report . Chandigarh was to be transferred by January 1986. Punjab to compensate Haryana with equivalent territory for a new capital. Other territorial disputes to be settled by commission.
Sharing of Ravi-Beas Waters by non-riparian states was to be decided by a tribunal headed by a Supreme Court judge to adjudicate. July 1985 consumption as a baseline. Prosecution of those responsible for November 1984 Anti-Sikh Pogroms was referred to Mishra Commission. Religious Autonomy was to be ensured through Enactment of an all-India Gurdwara act, which has not been done so far.
- Three commissions (Matthew/ Venkatarmiah/ Desai) fail to provide an agreement amidst Strong opposition from Haryana.. Union government suspended the transfer for an indefinite period.
- In 1989 , Punjab is opened again to Western travelers, since the violence in the region seemed to partially diminish.
The Indus Waters Treaty
- The Partition of Panjab on 15 th August 1947 resulted in a conflict over the waters of the Indus River basin.
- The two countries, India and Pakistan, could not decide how to share and manage a previously cohesive and interconnected irrigation network.
- The dispute was finally resolved in September 1960 by the World Bank using engineering and technical principles with the Indus Waters Treaty and the creation of a permanent Indus Waters Commission. Under the terms of the Treaty, the waters of the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) were allocated to India and those of the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) to Pakistan.
Diversion of River Waters to states
- Based on the Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966, India's share of the waters of the three Eastern rivers in Punjab state were allocated to different states.
- This was detailed in the Eradi Tribunal award in 1986 on the waters of Ravi and Beas rivers. As a result, Punjab state is allocated less than 25 % of the waters from its rivers. The remainder is being diverted to the states of Haryana and Rajasthan through the Bikaner, Sirhind, and Bhakra Main Line Canals.
- This has led to a lot of resentment by the Panjabis and the need for a greater share has been a demand by local people and regional political parties since 1966.
- Moreover, as per International Riparian and Environment Law, Punjab claims that it has the inalienable right to fulfil its own requirements and only surplus to its needs should be supplied to other regions. Whereas other state claims that rights being the successor states as the Indus treaty was for undivided Punjab. Clause 78 inserted in the Punjab Re-Organisation Act, 1966, empowering the Centre to adjudicate between Punjab and Haryana
- The diversion of the river waters to other states has resulted in a shortage in meeting Punjab state’s need for irrigation water.
- The Bhakra Dam and the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal were planned to divert water from the rivers in Punjab state to Rajasthan and Haryana.
- The controversy reagrding the sharing waters continued
- During the pendancy of the case in the Supreme Court, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 15, 2002, ordered the completion of the SYL canal within a year responding to a suit under Article 131 of the Constitution
- The Punjab Termination of Agreements Act ,2004 was passed by Punjab abrogating water-sharing agreements with neighbouring states. Even under the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act the allotment of 1.62 MAF of Beas waters to Haryana has been protected which Haryana is drawing through the Bhakhra main line.
Shivraj Vishwanath Patil
- Appointed Punjab governor and the Administrator of Union Territory of Chandigarh assumed office on nd January, 2010. Previously he had been the Speaker of the 11th Lok Sabha and served the Manmohan Singh cabinet as the Union Minister of Home Affairs. He has also served the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi cabinets as the defence minister during the 80's. He resigned from the post of Home-Minister on November 30, 2008 following widespread criticism raised after terrorist attacks on Mumbai. He resigned taking the moral responsibility for the attacks.[
EXTENSION AND BOUNDARIES OF PUNJAB
- Broadly speaking, the ancient and medieval Punjab extended from river Sarasvati in the south-east to the Himalayas in the north and from Sulaiman and Kirthar mountains in the west to Sind and Rajputana deserts in the south. Punjab, during this period, had not been a single political unit. Its boundaries and extension had been fluctuating. The boundaries of Punjab have been altered substantially in the recent times also. The boundaries have thus been contracting and expanding through various periods of its history.
- The history of community, country or nation depends on its Geographical and Physical features. The soil, climate rivers, mountains and plains not only influence the Civilization, Culture, Philosophy, Ideology, Literature and Politics events but also shape them. Similarly, the geographical and physical features of the Punjab, since ancient times, have greatly influenced its history and politics.
Shape and Size
- Punjab is triangular in shape. The base lies in the south along Haryana border. The western side is formed by Pakistan border and Himachal Pradesh border forms its eastern side. The apex lies in the north in the Dharkalan block of district Gurdaspur. Punjab is one of the small states of India. It has an area of 50362 square km. which is 1.6% of the total area of India.
- Amongst the 28 states of India in 2005, size-wise it comes at 10th rank. Its area is about 1/8th of the area of Rajasthan which is the largest state of India.
- Uttar Pardesh can contain 5 Punjab in its territory. But it is slightly larger than Haryana and smaller than Himachal Pardesh, our two neighbours. Goa, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland are much smaller than Punjab.
- For administration the state has been divided into four division ; namely,
- Jalandhar,
- Patiala,
- Ferozeppur and
- Faridkot.
- These are the regional administrative units. But the most important administrative unit is the district. The state has presently 20 districts. They are : Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Firozpur, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurudaspur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Mohali, Muktsar, Nawan Shahr, Patiala, Rupnagar, Sangrur and Tarn Taran
- On November 1, 1966 there were 11 districts in Punjab. The twelfth district Faridkot was created in 1978 out of the areas of Firozpur and Bathinda districts. On 13th April, 1992 two more district : namely, Fatehgarh Sahib and Mansa were formed. Fatehgarh Sahib was formed by adjusting the territories of Ropar, Patiala and Ludhiana district and Mansa District was carved out of the territory of Bathinda district.
- On November 7, 1995 two more districts, namely Nawanshehar and Muktsar were created. District Nawanshehar was formed by merging Balachaur tehsil of Hoshiarpur district with Nawanshehar tehsil of Jalandhar district and separating the area as new district. Muktsar tehsil of district Faridkot was taken out of the jurisdiction of Faridkot district and formed as a separate and new district Muktsar. On 24th November, 1995 Moga tehsil of Faridkot district was also separated from Faridkot district and was declared a new district Moga. Thus, on 24th November. 1995 there were 17 districts and 4 divisions in Punjab. The creation of new districts and tehsils etc. has created some problems, especially in the comparison of data and publication of maps.
- In February 2006, Punjab Govt. announced the formation of the 18th district of Punjab under the name Mohali (Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar) district. It comprises Kharar and Mohali tehsils Roopnagar district and Dera Bassi tehil of Patiala district.
- Formation of the 19th District of Punjab, namely Tarn Taran was announced later by the Punjab Govt. It came into existence on 16th June 2006. It comprises Taran Taran, Patti and Khandoor Sahib tehsils of Amritsar district.
- 20th district of Punjab namely Barnala has been formed recently.
- Each district has been divided into a number of tehsils and sub-tehsils. At present there are 72 tehsils in Punjab. Each tehsil has been further divided into blocks. Blocks form the basic planning units. There are now 141 blocks in Punjab. Each block comprises a number of villages. A village is the smallest and the basic unit of administration.
- There are 12672 villages in Punjab according to 2001 census of which 12278 were inhabited.
- According to 2001 census the state had 14 cities of one lakh or more population and 145 towns of various sizes.
Facts about districts
- Ludhiana gets its name from the Lodhi Dynasty, which is believed to have founded the city in 1480.
- Earlier Barnala was part of Sangrur district , but now Barnala is a separate district.It is a centrally located district bordered by Ludhiana district on the north, Moga district on northwest, Bathinda district on west and by Sangrur district on all other sides.
- Bathinda district is bounded by Faridkot district on the north, Mukatsar district on the west, Barnala and Mansa districts on the east, and the state of Haryana on the south. Bathinda is cotton producing belt of Punjab.
- Firozpur, is believed to have been founded by Firuz Shah Tughluq from which the district obtains its name. It has the district of Amritsar to its north. In the south are Fazilka and Abohar.
- The name 'Faridkot' is derived from Baba Farid, a god-lover who wanted see the God.
- District of Fatehgarh Sahib derive its name from Sahibzada Fateh Singh, the youngest son of 10th Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked alive by the orders of Suba Sirhind, Wazir Khan in 1705
- Gurdaspur district is situated in the northwest part of India. Two main rivers Beas and Ravi passes through the district. The Mughal emperor Akbar is said to have been enthroned in a garden near Kalanaur, a historically important town in the district.
- Hoshiarpur formed part of the old kingdom of Katoch in Jalandhar.
- Nawanshahr district except the Balachaur sub-division was part of the original Jalandhar district until the mid 1990's when a separate district of Nawanshahr was created including Nawanshahr and Banga areas of Jalandhar district and Balachaur area of Hoshiarpur district.
- Kapurthala District is one of the smallest districts of Punjab in terms of both area and population,Most significant historical event of this region is the Enlightenment of Guru Nanak sahib in the year 1499, while bathing in the Bein rivulet, in the little town of Sultanpur Lodhi.
- Moga was the sub-division of Faridkot district.
- Muktsar district is known for its many Sikh temples (gurudwaras), including Darbar Sahib, Shaheedi Gurudwara, and Tibbi Sahib.
- Nawanshahr district has been renamed as Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar district
- Patiala having a population of 1,844,934 is the 6th most populated district
- The town of Rupnagar (formerly known as Rupar or Ropar) is said to have been founded by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen.
- Punjab forms western part of the northern plains of India. At a general look at the physiographic map of India, it appears as if the whole of Punjab is monotonously plain also shows that Punjab is predominantly alluvial plain.
- On a closer look it becomes clear that the whole state is not a flattish alluvial plain. Towards the east and north-east the plain rises to form hills-the outer flanks of the Himalayas and towards the south-west it becomes uneven due to the presence of a large number of sand duenes and sand flats.
- Within the plain also the low lying flood plains of various rivers passing through the state are separated from the main plain by bluffs (Dhaiyas). The charge from flattish alluvial plains to Siwalik hills is not abrupt, it is rather slow and gentle, through an uneven dissected and rolling edge called Kandi. Thus, seemingly monotonous topography of Punjab can be said to have the following main variation or physiographic sub-divisions:
- The Siwalik Hills
- The Kandi
- The Flattish Alluvial Plains
- The South Western Dune Studded Plain
The Siwalik Hills
- In the extreme north-eastern parts of the state, running from north-west to south-east along the Himachal Pradesh border, is the hill tract of Punjab. It is called the Siwalik Hills. It extends between river Ravi in the north and river Ghagghar near Chandigarh, in the south for about 280 Km. In between Ravi and Ghagghar rivers the continuity of the Siwalik is broken by river Beas and river Satluj.
- This sub-division covers only 2.6% of the total area of the sate. Its width ranges from 5 km to 12 in various parts. The tract spreads over the eastern parts of the districts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshehar and Ropar. The Siwalik hills rise abruptly alon the western flanks from the 400 mtrs. contour line to about 600 mtrs. Heights in the central ridge of the range. The Siwaliks of Punjab are in the form of two ranges separted from each other by river Satluj in district Ropar.
The Kandi
- The Siwalik hills, on their west and to their east in Nurpur Bedi block of Ropar district, degrade into a dissected, rollomg and porous and coarse grained material formed upland plain called the Kandi.
- The Kandi lies roughly between countours of 300 and 400 metres above sea level. It extends in the form of a narrow and long belt along the entire length of the Siwalik hills under different names, such as Kandi, Ghar and Changar. On the whole this dissected upland plain lies roughly to the east of Pathankot-Hoshiarpur-Ropar –Chandigarh road, with gaps formed by the flood plains (bet) of river Beas and Satluj upto the Siwalik hills proper.
- The average width of this sub-region is 10 to 15 km and it comprises parts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshehar and Ropar districts. This unit occupies about 8.5% of the total area of the state.
- The region slopes primarily south-westwards and numerous choes, on the average one choe per kilometre distance pass through the region from the Siwaliks towards the alluvial plains of Punjab. Many of the choes disappear in the area without joining the major stream or river. As a result, the region is badly dissected with numerous choes (seasonal and ephemeral streams) and khads (sandy beds of streams) devasting this region with sand and pebbles and shifting courses. The region is akin to Bhabbar, a piedmont plain resulting from coalescence of several alluvial fans at the foot of the hills (Siwaliks). The despotis in the alluvial fans and in choe beds are coarse textured, mainly sand mixed with gravels and or pebbles at places and relatively finer (clay or sany clay) in other areas. The deposits are young and highly stratified. Because of rough, porous or coarse nature of deposits, various choes disappear in this sandy tract. The plain has convex slope towards the Punjab plains. It is a dry upland region. The settlements lie on the outer margins of the fans where underground water is relatively nearer and better soils help cultivation.
The Alluvial Plains
- It is the most important and most extensive physiographic region of Punjab. To the west of Punjab Kandi, the terrain becomes subdued, almost monotonous and flattish over an extensive area including the western parts of Ropar, Nawanshehar and Hoshiarpur districts, most of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala districts, large parts of Sangrur and Moga districts and northern parts of Faridkot and Firozpur districts.
- It is intercepted by the flood plains of Satluj, Beas and Ravi rivers and ultimately joins the sand dunes ridden region of South-West Punjab. The greater monotony of the flattish nature of the region gives an all-encompassing name of Punjab Plains to the entire state of Punjab. The region covers nearly 70% of the total area of the state.
- The region includes the three well recognised areas, sub-regions, folk regions or alluvial plains namely Majha (Upper Bari Doab), Doaba (Bist Doab) and Malwa.
- Plains of Majah:- The plains between Ravi and Beas rivers called plains of Majah. It consists of district Amritsar and Batala tehsil of district Gurdaspur.
- (ii) Plains of Doaba:- The plains between Beas and Sutlej rivers constitute Doaba Plains. The area included Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur districts.
- (iii)Plains of Malwa:- It covers the area of the south and south-west of river Sutlej. The towns of Ludhiana, Patiala, Nabha, Sangrur, Sirhind, Faridkot and Bhatinda are located here.
- This plain is an aggradational surface and has resulted from the infilling of a foredeep warped down between the peninsular block and the advancing Himalayas. It is composed of sediments (massive beds of clay, silt and sand) brought down by various rivers during the Pleistocene and recent times and which have completely shrouded the old land surfaces to a depths of hundreds of metres. The region slopes south-westward. The direction of flow of various streams and rivers and various spot heights indicate it. The slope is very gentle. It is about half metre per kilometre. The general elevation ranges from 300 m. near the Siwalik hills to about 200m above sea level in the southwest.
- Although over greater part of plains, the general relief is without high prominences yet the topography may be defined as slightly undulating. The existing or the former course of the rivers provide somewhat lower areas which are intercepted by the interfluvial regions of slightly higher elevations called upper terraces.
- At places sand dunes or sand ridges occur in these interfluvial regions. Therefore, the important elevational or topographical change in relief is the edge or bluff called Dhaiya which separates flood plains (bet) of various streams from raised plains (interfluvial regions). While coming from Ludhiana City by road towards Jalandhar side one comes across such a change in the form of Dhaiya as one crosses the river Satluj bridge and enters the town of Phillaur. One can see such a Dhaiya along the right bank of river Satluj extending westward from the neighbourhood of Balachaur town passing through Rahon, Aur, Phillaur. The elevation of Dhaiya ranges from one metre to nearly 6 metres from the adjoining flood plain. The bluffs are badly gullied. The flattish alluvial plains have, therefore, two variations or land-form sub-regions: Bet and Doaba (upper terrace).
- Georaphically plains of the Punjab[8] can be divided into five Doabs. `Doab’ stands for the land situated between two rivers. Each Doab has been named with the synthesis as the first letter of the rivers, for example, the first letter of the Beas and Sutled form of the world `Bist’.
- (i) Doab Bist Jalandhar:- The land between the Beas and the Sutlej is called `Doab Bist Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara and Kapurthala are also located here.
- (ii) Bari-Doab:- The region between the Beas and the Ravi is known as Bari Doab. It is also called `Majha’ since it is in the middle of the Punjab. The famous historical towns of Amritsar and Lahore are situated in this part of the Punjab.
- (iii) `Rachna Doab’ is the area between Ravi and Chenab: The Towns of Shekupura and Gujranwala (now in Pakistan) are located in it.
- (iv) Chaj Doab: The famous town of Gujarat, Bhera and Shahpur are located in this region.Chaj Doab is between the Chenab and the Jhalum.
- (v) Sindh Sagar Doab:- It is located between the rivers Indus and Jhelum, it has less rainfall. Thus, it is less fertile as compared to the other Doabs.
South-Western Sand Dune Studded Region
- The south-western districts of Punjab have a semi-arid climate and they border the Thar desert of Rajasthan where wind action is a prominent feature of topographical variations. Thought the whole of this region is plain and it forms part of the Flattish Alluvial Plains, yet the frequent occurrence of sanddunes and sand ridges has necessitated its separate study. Therefore, it has not been included in the third sub-division (Flattish Alluvial Plains).
- The larger parts of Bathinda, Faridkot, and Firozpur districts, whole of Mansa and Mukatsar districts and parts (southerns) of Sangrur and Patiala districts are studded with sand dunes. They form important topographical feature of the lie of the land of these districts. They stand out as low or high hills.
- These are believed to have developed due to the braiding action of the Satluj and Ghagghar rivers and their tributaries or seasonal rivulets and reworking of the fluviatile deposits by constant wind action. They are locally known as ‘tibbas’. These have assymetrical slopes correlating with the dominant wind direction in the dry season.
- The Three Major Rivers (Perennial Streams)
- Before partition in 1947, Punjab had five important rivers namely, Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum. Presently the state has three important rivers, the remaining two are in Pakistan Punjab. The three important rivers of the state are of great physiographic, economic and cultural importance to the state.
River Satluj
- The Sutlej or Setlej (the Sittoda, Satadru, or Sutrudra in Sanskrit) the Hesudrus of the ancients, is the most easterly of the rivers of Punjab.
- It roughly divides Punjab into two parts – northern and southern. It is not a mere inter-state but rather an international river.
- The river rises in the distant high lands of Tibet and enters India near Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh, it emerges from the mountains at Bhakra gorge in Naina Devi Hills and here its water have been dammed to impound the Gobind Sagar reservoir.
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- The fall of the Sutlej from Shipki to Rapur in Bashar is nearly uniform. A little below Bilaspur it takes a north westerly course. A few miles above Ropar it emerges in plain of Punjab. Pursuing its course to Harika Pattan, it joins Beas. The united streams joins the Chenab at Uch to form the Panjnad at their junction with the Indus.
- It is an old river, older than the mighty Himalayas. It is an example of antecedent river.
- Downstream at Nangal the river enters the plain area. At Nangal also a dam has been erected across its course to bringout Nangal Hydel Channel along which power houses have been built at Kotla and Ganguwal. In the words of Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru : “this new temple of India (Bhakra Nangal Multipurpose Project) built like ancient shrines on the bank of a river is bound to revolutionize our socio economic conditions and promises prosperity for the entire nation in its grab”. It was a river of the treaty between the English and Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1809.
- “The Black Bein and the White Bein, both the tributaries of the Sutlej are important streams flowing on the surface of Doaba. The White Being emerges out of the submountainous area near the town of Hoshiarpur. It courses towards Jalandhar cantonment and meets the Sutlej nearly 10 K.M. short of its confluence with the Beas. The Black Bein enters Punjab Plain in the North-West of Dasuya town (District Hoshiarpur) in the form of Choe. It travels in a parallel bed to the Beas river and reaches Sultanpur Lodhi. Here it gains sufficient water and courses towards Sutlej. Beas confluence where it falls in the combined waters of these two mightly rivers”. (Sukhdev Singh Chib. This Beautiful India – Punjab)
River Beas
- Beas was known as ‘Hyphasis’ to the Greeks. It is mentioned as ‘Arjikuja’ with Sanskrit derivative Vipasa in the Vedas. The Beas (called Vyasa in Sanskrit, being the name of a Rishi or Sage, celebrated in the classical literature of Hindus) is another important drainage line of Punjab. It rises in Himachal Pradesh from Beas Kund which lies on the southern face of Rohtand Pass of Dhouladhar Range at an altitude of 4060m above sea level.
- It flows through the famous Kulu Valley and along the famous towns of Manali, Nagar, Kulu and Mandi in the hills. At Pandoh in Mandi district, a barrage has been constructed across the river to divert a large part of the river water into river Satluj by a tunnel-cum-canal system. It enters Kangra district at Sandhol with an altitude of 630m. In Himachal Pradesh its left bank tributaries are Parbati and Suketri rivers. The famous Manikaran Gurdwara is located on the bank of river Parbati. The right bank tributaries are Uhal and Lambudag rivers.
- The Beas joins the river Sutlej at Hari ka Pattan and Haryana and there after the combined waters are known as Sutlej river only. It functions as International boundary between India and Pakistan and then enters Pakistan.
- River Ravi. The river was known as ‘Hydraotes’ to the Aryans. It was known as ‘Parushni’ in the Vedas and was known as ‘Irdvati’ to the classical Sanskrit scholars. The literal meaning of Ravi is ‘sun’.
- The river has its source on the northern side of the Rohtand pass at an altitude of 4116m in Himachal Pradesh. It traverses the Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal ranges and later passes through Chamba and Dalhousies hills of Himachel Pradesh.
- The Ravi enters Punjab at chaundh village on Chamba border. Then it flows south-west ward and forms the boundary between J&K State and Punjab State. During its course below village Baheri Bazurg, it throws off three main branches which join the parent stream at a point where the river leaves Pathankot tehsil.
- The three branches are the Shingarwan Nadi, which flows near Narot town, the Masto Nadi which passes near Kathlaur and the Bhattiya Nadi. Now most of the water of the river flows in Masto Nadi.
Draft of water policy, 2008
- Punjab will set up an appropriate regulatory authority to control, manage and regulate water resources for its judicious and equitable utilisation.
- The state government will also formulate a new comprehensive and unified legislation on the management and administration of canals and drains in the state.
- These proposals are part of the State Water Policy-2008, the draft of which was approved in may, by the State Water Resources Committee,
- Tough measures against those involved in polluting various water bodies and to introduce systemic irrigation reforms.
- The most significant part of the policy is to link agriculture and industrial production with per unit of water.
- There is a proposal for water charges for the utiliation of water for various purposes in such a manner that they cover at least the operation and maintenance costs of providing the service to users.
- While protecting riparian rights of the state, greater emphasis will be given on reliable and scientific assessment of demand and supply of surface water for the basin states.
- The water policy states that against the estimated demand of 50 million acre feet (maf), Punjab gets only 17.37 maf water out of the total surface water of 34.34 maf of three rivers.
- Owing to the non-availability of surface water, the continuous increase in demand of water due to the growth of population, urbanisation, industrialisation, sowing of water-guzzling crops, high cropping intensity has resulted in over-exploitation of groundwater resources in 103 blocks out of 137 in the state.
- Encouraging the scientific water management, farm practices and sprinkler and drip irrigation system is part of the policy.
- Evolving of the appropriate administrative and legal measures to avoid overexploitation of groundwater is also part of the policy. Besides preparing master plan for flood control, there will also be modification in the reservoir regulation policy.
- Climate is the average weather of a place or a region observed over a long span of time. Punjab lies in the north-western part of India. Broadly speaking it has continental monsoon type of climate. According to Koeppen’s classification Punjab falls within Cwg type of climate (warm temperate monsoon climate with winter dry). Thornthwaite includes large (central) part of Punjab in D type of climate (Semi-arid) with dry sub-humid in eastern hill and semi-hill region and arid in the south-western districts.
Major Climatic Regions
- Arid and Semi-Arid & Hot Region.
- Semi-Arid & Less Hot Region
- Sub-Humid to Humid & Less Hot Region.
Arid and Semi-Arid & Hot Region
- This region includes Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar and Southern Firozpur districts. The region is hot with mean monthly temperature for nine months above 20 degree (C). Mean winter temperature for the representative town Abohar is 16.1 degree (C) and mean summer temperature is 33.5 degree (C).
- The mean normal rainfall is below 400 mm and for Abohar it is 268.5mm. There are nine months in a year when the rainfall is less than 30 mm in each month. The region has no seasonal water surplus. In no month the rainfall received is more than needed. There is a long and continuous dry period from October to June. For most of the year, the soils remain dry. The three rainy months of July, August and September at Abohar have a total rainfall of 190mm which in nearly 70% of total annual rainfall.
- On the whole, the region has hot and dry climate which is close to desert climate. Annual range of temperature is high. The variability of annual rainfall is about 57 per cent and the monthly variability ranges between 90 and 262 per cent. Moderate to severe draught conditions prevail during about 44 weeks of the year.
Semi-Arid and Less Hot Region
- It is the largest climatic region of Punjab which covers nearly three-fourths of the state. This region includes Sangrus, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Nawanshehar, north-Central Firozpur, Moga and Faridkot southern Gurdaspur and western parts of Hoshiarpur and Ropar districts.
- It is a less hot region. There are seven to eight months with mean monthly temperature of more than 20 degree (C). The representative cities of Firozpur, Patiala, Ludhiana and Amritsar have mean summer temperatures ranging from 31.4 degree © to 32.5 degree © and mean winter temperatures from 13 degree (C) to 15.2 degree (C). January, the coldest month, has mean temperature of 11.8 degree (C) to 13.6 degree (C). Annual rang of temperature is about 21 degree (C).
- The region receives annual rainfall from 400 mm to 800mm. The region has also no water surplus. On the average there are five to seven months when mean normal rainfall for each month is below 30mm. The region has two dry seasons, the first extends from March to June and the second from October to November. From December to February, there is some cyclonic rainfall which is quite useful for the winter crops. The rainfall increases north-eastward. The annual rainfall at Firozpur is 426.7mm, at Patiala 674.2 mm, at Ludhiana 680mm and at Hoshiarpur, it is 875.5mm. The annual rainfall for Amritsar is 663.1 mm.
- It is the region of worm temperate contimental monsoon climate. Annual range of temperature is high. Therefore, the climates continental also. The variability of annual rainfall is about 50% and monthly variability ranges between 65 and 220 per cent. Moderate to severe drought conditions prevail during 25 to 30 weeks of the year.
Sub-Moist to Humid and less Hot Region
- The region includes north-eastern part of the state including major parts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Ropar districts. It also includes some eastern parts of Patiala district. The region is less hot. There are 8 months when the man monthly temperature remains above 20oC. The main summer temperature is 31.4 degree C and mean winter temperature is 13.8 degree C. Mean June (the hottest month) temperature for Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Pathankot (representative towns) ranges from 31.3 degree C to 33.3 degree (C) and mean January temperature for Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur and Pathankot (representative towns) ranges from 12.6 degree (C) to 12.0 degree (C).
- The mean normal annual rainfall is more than 80 cm and it goes upto 150cm. The mean annual rainfall at Hoshiarpur is 875.5mm., Gurdaspur 886.7 mm and at Pathankot 1162.7mm. There are only five dry months with rainfall below 30mm in each month. Thereis water surplys for two to three months. Rainfall exceeds evaporation and transpiration during the summer rainy season and winter rainy months. The Pathankot area of Gurdaspur district has a humid and less hot climate. The region has water surplus for about four months.
- The region has hill temperate monsoon type of climate. The annual range of temperature is about 20 degree (C) or below. The variability of annual rainfall is about 46 per cent and ranges between 65 and 130 percent. Moderate to severe drought conditions prevails for about 10 weeks or less in Pathankot and Dhar Kaldn tehsils and for about 17 weeks in the year in other parts of this climatic zone.
Rainfall
- The rainfall decreases from north and north-east to south-east. Most of the rainfall is received from the summer monsoons from July to September.
- During winter Punjab received rainfall from “Western disturbances” – though rainfall is scanty but very useful for rabi crops. Often January is the rainiest winter mouth. But sometimes rainfall continues in March and April and proves harmful to the ready wheat crops. Strong hot and dusty winds blow practically throughout the days in the months of May and June. These hot winds called `looh’ disrupt the outdoor activities between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sometimes there are dust storms also. The rainy months of July, August and September are muggy as well as moist.
- Soil is the end product of the parent material resulting from the consistent influence of climate, topography and the natural vegetation over a long period of time. In Punjab the soil characteristics are influenced to a very limited extent by the topography, vegetation and parent rock. The variation in soil profile characteristics are much more pronounced because of the regional climatic differences.
- Punjab can be divided into three distinct regions on the basis of soil types.
South-Western Punjab
- This region covers the tehsils of Fazilka, Muktsar, Bhatinda, Mansa and parts of Ferozepur which border Haryana and Rajasthan states in the south-west. The soil is predominantly calcareous, developed under hot and arid to semi-arid conditions. The pH value ranges from 7.8 to 8.5 which shows that the soil is normal in reaction. Grey and red desert, calsisol, regosol and alluvial soils are found in this zone. The soil of south-western Punjab can further be sub-divided into two categories.
- A) Desert Soil: The soil covers Fazilka tehsil of Ferozepur district and south-western fringes of Muktsar tehsil of Faridkot district. The soil is deficient in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Wind erosion is a serious problem specially during the hot summer.
- B) Sierozem Soil: This soil is found in Bhatinda district and Faridkot and Muktsar tehsils of Faridkot and most parts of Ferozepur tehsil. The texture of the soil is sandy loan to silt. The soil is deficient in nitrogen, phosphorous and potash. In some irrigated tracts, alkalinity and salinity pose a problem. Wind erosion is again a serious matter in areas where this soil group is predominant.
Central Punjab
- The soil of this zone has developed under semi-arid condition. The soil is sandy loam to clayey with normal reaction (pH from 7.8 to 8.5). The soil covers the districts of Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Amristar, parts of Gurdaspur, Ferozepur and fringes of Kharar tehsil of Ropar district. Problem of alkalinity and Salinity is quite accute, especially in districts of Amristar, Sangrur, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Patiala. The soil of the central zone, generally recognised as alluvial, falls into two categories.
- A) Arid And Brown Soil: This soil is found in Amristar district (except in the north-eastern half of the Amristar tehsil) in most of Sutlanpur tehsil of Kapurthala, Zira and northern parts of Ferozepur, Moga, Rampur tehsil of Bhatinda, Barnala, Sangrur and Sunam tehsils of Sangrur district and Samana tehsil of Patiala district. The texture is sandy-loam and the fertility is from medium to high. The soil is calcareous and lacks nitrogen but contains a fair amount of phosphorous and potash.
- B) Tropical Arid Brown Soil: This soil covers parts of Amristar, the south-western half of Gurdaspur tehsil, Batala tehsil, Kapurthala district except Sultanpur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and the Malerkotla tehsil of Sangrur district. Some parts in the south-west of Ropar district also fall in the zone. The soil is deficient in nitrogen, potash and phosphorus.
- Water-logging, alkalinity and salinity pose serious problems. The texture of the soil is sandy loam in south-western half and in the flood plains of the rivers but in the north-western half the texture becomes clayey. The fertility of the soil varies from medium to high.
Eastern Punjab
- The soil has developed in the sub-humid foothill areas bordering Himachal Pradesh covering eastern parts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Ropar and north-eastern fringes of Patiala district. Because of the undulating topography and fair amount of rainfall, normal erosion is quite common. The fertility of the soil is medium to low and the texture is loamy to clayey. Two soil types are recognised in the zone.
- A) Grey Brown Podzolic Soil: This soil is found in the Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur and north-eastern parts of Ropar and Kharar tehsils. Because of surface run-off, the soil is not influenced by leaching, hence profile development is poor. Since the rainfall is heavy, gully erosion is a serious problem. Acidity is from medium to high. The Soil lacks in phosphorous, calcium and zinc. Phosphorus fixation in the soil is high.
- B) Reddish Chestnut Soil: The soil is found in a region covering Hoshiarpur, Ropar and some parts of Gurdaspur tehsils. The carbonates are leached down to the lower layers. The soil is moderately acidic and neutral in reaction (pH 6.5 to 7.5) and is deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. However, it is free of any accumulation of salt and calcium carbonate.
- Punjab is not fortunate in having a large forest cover. The arid and semi arid climate of the state is not favorable for the growth of forests. However, the state has a total forest cover of 3054.28 sq. km which is 6% of the total geographical area of the state. Forests are the source of income for rural people. It also adds little economy to the state. Various products obtained from the forests are of medicinal as well as of industrial use.
- The total Shivalik area covers 1137 sq km out of which dense forest, open forest & scrub forest comprises 6.4%, 11.64% & 0.98% area respectively.
- The natural forest categories which are found in the state are as follows: Tropical Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests, Northern Tropical Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests, Dry Deciduous Scrub Forests, Dry Grasslands, Khair & Dalbergia sissoo, Shivalik Chir Pine Forests.
FOREST COVER[9] IN PUNJAB
|
Sr.No
|
Category of area
|
Area in million hectares
|
% age of area of Punjab
|
|
1
|
Total land area of Punjab province
|
20.630
|
|
|
2
|
Public Forest lands including Range lands
|
3.200
|
15.50
|
|
3
|
Public Forest lands excluding Range lands
|
1.289
|
6.25
|
|
4
|
Planted area in Public Forests
|
0.285
|
1.38
|
|
5
|
Range lands in Public Forests
|
2.680
|
12.99
|
|
6
|
Farm land planting under Farm Forestry Programmes of Punjab Forest Department
|
0.486
|
2.36
|
|
|
Forest and Range Cover of Punjab
|
0.771
|
3.74
|
Punjab Forestry Sector Policy 1999
- To streamline the long term planning and development in the sector, the first Punjab Forestry Sector Policy 1999, was approved by the Punjab Cabinet on 16.12.1999. The policy has been formulated to address the emerging challenges with most recent approaches. The salient features of the policy are:
- Enhance tree cover in watersheds, farmlands and wastelands.
- Proper land use planning and land capability classification of lands.
- Rationalize forest users’ rights according to carrying capacity.
- Ensure irrigation for irrigated plantations for sound planning.
- Adopt Joint Forest Management (JFM)
- Commitment of stakeholders and decision makers/politicians.
- Tenable forest management and legal cover for communal and private forests.
- Development of Agroforestry with market oriented incentives.
- Adopt Ecosystem Management approach for integration of multiple land uses.
- Habitat Management, Ecoreserves, in-situ and ex-situ conservation of local flora and fauna.
- Adopt EIA[10] for all developmental activities.
- Improve marketing, utilization and industrialization of forestry sector products.
- Develop and follow forward planning and formulate long-term perspective and master plans for development of sector resources.
- Planned HRD and continuing education may be started.
- Amend forestry sector legislation to meet the emerging challenges.
- Bring forestry sector on concurrent lists of subjects.
Legal Categories of Forests
- Reserved Forests: The public forest lands that have been declared as Reserved Forests Under section 20 of the Forest Act (XVI) 1927 are generally without rights and privileges.
- Protected Forests: The forests, which have been declared as Protected Forests under the provision of the Forest Act 1927, have some rights and concessions of grazing, grass cutting, and collection of dry wood etc.
- Unclassed Forests: The public forestlands under the control of Forest Department that are neither Reserved Forests nor Protected Forests are known as un-classed Forests.
- Chos Act Forests: Lands requisitioned by the Punjab Forest Department, -for the purpose of soil and water conservation under the Punjab Land Preservation (Chos) Act (Act II) 1900.
- Resumed Lands: Lands taken over by the Government under various land reforms and Martial Law & regulations and managed by the Forest Department.
- Guzara Forests: The communal forest areas, which are the joint property of villagers and are managed by the Forest Department through Guzara Committees.
- Section 38 Areas: Privately owned lands voluntarily and temporarily put under the control of Punjab Forest Department, for conservation and preservation of soil and vegetation.
- The mineral resources of the state include mainly the salts like rock salt, lime stone, sand stone, gypsum, chloride of sodium and red tenacious clay.
- Apart from these, the state has some Petroleum deposits.
- Due to less availability of metal deposits in the state there is no such heavy industry running in Punjab.
- According to final results of 2001 census ,the population of Punjab as on 00.00 hours of Ist March ,2001 ,is 24,358,999(12,985,045 males and 11,373, 954 females). It constitute 2.37% of total population of the country. During the last 10 years (1991-2001), the population of Punjab has gone up by 40.77 lakh, thereby, registering a decennial growth rate of 20.10%.
- As per the SRS bulletin, 2002, the crude birth rate and crude death rate figures are as under
|
|
Rural
|
Urban
|
total
|
India
|
|
crude birth rate
|
22.70
|
18.60
|
21.60
|
25.80
|
|
crude death rate
|
7.90
|
5.90
|
7.40
|
8.50
|
- The sex ratio in Punjab has declined from 882 in 1991 to 484 to 876 in 2001. The density of population gas risen from 403 in 1991 to 484 in 2001 .The Literacy rate as per 2001 census is 69.7%.
- It took more than 70 years for Punjab’s population to double from 75.45 lakh in 1901 but from 1971 it look less than 30 years for the population to become three times of the level three times of the level in 1901.During the first 50 years of the 20th century,viz,1901-51,there was an addition of only 16.16 lakh while during the remaining 50 years of the 20th century ,viz, 1951-2001, there was an addition of 151.98 Lakh to the population i.e more than 9 times.
Population Growth
- During the decade 1991-2001, population of Punjab has grown by 20.10%,which is less than the growth rate of previous decade 1981-91 by 0.71% 21 states and U.Ts have registered a growth rate higher than Punjab while 13 states and U.Ts have registered a growth rate less than Punjab .As compared to the growth rate of neighboring rate States
- U.Ts of Punjab, Chandigarh has recorded highest growth rate of 40.28% followed by Jammu Kashmir with growth rate of 29.43%, while himachal Pradesh and Haryana have recorded a growth rate of 17.54%and 28.43% respectively. Amongst all states and U.Ts of India, Nagaland has recorded highest growth rate (64.53%) while Kerala has recorded a lowest rate (9.43%)
|
Census
|
Population
|
rate
|
|
1961
|
11,135,000
|
21.5%
|
|
1971
|
13,551,000
|
21.7%
|
|
1981
|
16,788,915
|
23.9%
|
|
1991
|
20,281,969
|
20.8%(30th rank)
|
|
2001
|
24,289,296
|
19.8%(22nd rank)
|
District wise Distribution of population
- Punjab has 20 district. The average population of district in Punjab is 12.18 Lakhs. However, there are wide variations in the size of population of districts. Ludhiana with a population of 30.32 lakhs remains to be the most popular district and is followed by Amritsar with population of21.57lakhs.These two district together contain about 20% of the state’s population .In contrast,Fategarh Sahib is the smallest district together constitute about 45%of state’s population ,the bottom five constitute only 12% of state’s population.
Density of Population
- The density of population is the average number of persons per Sq.km Punjab with a population of 24,358,999 over an area of 50,362sqkm has a density of 484 as per 2001 census.
- The area of the state remaining same, the increase in state’s population in past decades has naturally resulted in higher population density. The density of population varies considerably from district to district.
- Ludhiana with a density of 805 is the most dense district in the state while Muktsar with a density of 297 is least dense district.
- Districts which have a density higher than the state average are : Jalandhar (746) ,Amritsar (804) ,Gurdaspur (590), SAS Nagar(635) and Patiala (505).
- Punjab occupies 10th rank in term of Population density.
- The state /UTs which are more densely populated than Punjab are: Delhi, Chandigarh, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep, Daman& Diu, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala and Uttar Pradesh.
Infant Mortality rate: (2000)
|
|
India
|
Punjab
|
|
Total
|
68.
|
52
|
|
Urban
|
43
|
38
|
|
Rural
|
74
|
56
|
Sex ratios
- In Indian census, sex ratio is defined as number of females per 1000 males. A significant feature of Punjab population is the preponderance of males over females. Out of total population 24,358,999 in the state,12,985,045 are males and 11,373,454 are females, resulting in an overall sex ratio of 876,which is significantly lower than the national average of 933.
- Amongst the states an U.Ts Punjab ranks 28 in terms of sex ratio. Only on state (Haryana) and five U.Ts have sex ratio lower than that of Punjab .Kerala state has highest sex ratio (1058) while Daman & Diu has the lowest sex ratio of (710). Amongst States, Only Haryana has the lowest sex ratio (861).
- Fatehgarh sahib district had the least sex ratio at 874, followed by Ludhiana 877. Highest sex ratio is 932 in district Hoshiarpur.
- Fatehgarh sahib district had the least Juvenile sex ratio(0-6 years) at 766, followed by Patiala 777. Highest Juvenile sex ratio is 822 in district Ferozpur.
|
|
1971
|
1981
|
1991
|
2001
|
|
Females per '000 males
|
865
|
879
|
882
|
876[11]
|
- Any Person who is able to read and write with understanding in any language is recorded as literate. The literacy rate in Punjab is 69.7 %( census2001) which is slightly higher than the national average of 64.8%. However, there are 96 Lakh illiterate in Punjab.
|
Literacy Rate As per Census 2001
|
Male
|
Female
|
|
Total
|
69.95(16th rank)
|
|
General
|
75.63%(25th) rank)
|
63.55%(14th rank)
|
|
SC / ST / OBC
|
49.82%
|
31.03%
|
- District wise figures of literacy rate are depicted below :-
- Hoshiarpur remains to be the most litrerate district in the state (81.01%). In Hoshiarpur 4 out of every 5 persons is literate.On The contrary, Muktsar with a little over one –half (50.67%) of the population is placed at the bottom in terms of literacy rate. Besides Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar(76.5%), Jalandhar (78.0%), Nawanshar(76.4%) and Ludhiana(76.5%) are the other districts having atlest three-fourths of their population as literate
|
State/
District
|
Literacy Percentage 2001[12]
|
|
Total
|
Males
|
Females
|
|
Punjab
|
69.95
|
75.63
|
63.55
|
|
Hoshiarpur
|
81.40
|
86.97
|
75.56
|
|
Rupnagar
|
78.49
|
84.43
|
71.74
|
|
Jalandhar
|
77.91
|
82.37
|
72.93
|
|
Nawanshar
|
76.86
|
83.67
|
69.52
|
|
Ludhiana
|
76.54
|
80.19
|
72.11
|
|
Fatehgarh Sahib
|
74.70
|
78.85
|
68.60
|
|
Gurdaspur
|
74.19
|
80.44
|
67.31
|
|
Kapurthala
|
73.56
|
78.66
|
67.90
|
|
Patiala
|
69.96
|
76.13
|
62.94
|
|
Amritsar
|
67.85
|
73.58
|
61.41
|
|
Moga
|
63.94
|
68.40
|
58.96
|
|
Faridkot
|
63.34
|
68.92
|
57.09
|
|
Bathinda
|
61.51
|
68.31
|
53.76
|
|
Firozpur
|
61.42
|
69.55
|
52.33
|
|
Sangrur
|
60.04
|
65.97
|
53.29
|
|
Mansa
|
52.50
|
59.12
|
45.07
|
|
Muktsar
|
50.67
|
65.94
|
50.57
|
Religious composition
|
Religion
|
% of total
|
|
Total population
|
100%
|
|
Sikhs
|
59.91%
|
|
Hindus
|
36.94%
|
|
Muslims
|
1.57 %
|
|
Christians
|
1.20 %
|
|
Buddhists
|
0.17 %
|
|
Jains
|
0.16 %
|
|
Others
|
0.04 %
|
Caste composition
- There are thirty-seven Scheduled Castes notified in the State of Punjab. All of them were enumerated at census 2001. The Scheduled Caste (SC) population of Punjab is 70,28,723, which constitutes 28.9 per cent of the total population of the State. The State has the highest proportion of SC population among all the States and Union Territories. In absolute numbers, Punjab holds 10th rank and accounts for 4.2 per cent of the total SC population of the country. The growth rate of the SC population during the decade of 1991-2001 at 22.4 per cent is higher by 2.3 per cent if compared to the overall growth rate of the total population.
- The Scheduled Castes in the State are predominantly rural, as 75.7 per cent of them live in villages. District-wise distribution of the SC population shows that they are mainly concentrated in the districts of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Sangrur, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur and Patiala. These districts account for 62.5 per cent of the total SC population. The newly formed districts of Muktsar, Moga, Nawanshar and Mansa have 14.6 per cent of the SCs, while the remaining districts account for the residual 22.9 per cent of the SC population of the State.
- Out of thirty-seven Scheduled Castes, Mazhabi, Chamar, Ad Dharmi, Balmiki and Bazigar together constitute 86.8 per cent of the total SC population. Mazhabi is numerically the largest SC, having a population of 2,220,945, constituting 31.6 per cent of the total SC population, followed by Chamar (26.2 per cent), Ad Dharmi (14.9 per cent), Balmiki (11.2 per cent) and Bazigar (3.0 per cent). Remaining thirty two (32) SCs along with the generic castes constitute the residual 13.2 per cent of the total SC population. While seven SCs, namely Sapela, Dhogri, Bhanjra …down to Nut have below 5,000 population, Darain, Sanhal, Sanhai ….down to Pherera, the eight castes are very small having a number less than 1,000.
- The Percentage of Urban population has increased from 12.39% in 1901 to 21.72% in 1951 and further to 29.55% in 1991 and 33.92% in 2001.
- Although ,growth rate of population in Punjab during 1991-2001 was 20.10 percent ,punjab’s urban population grew by 37.86 percent during this as against 12.65percent growth rate for the rural population .The growth rate of rural population came down from 17.69 per cent during 1981-91 to 12.28 percent during 1991-2001.
- Ludhiana with 55.84 percent of its population living in urban areas is the most urbanized district in the state. Taran Taran with only 11.98 percent of its population living in urban areas is the least urbanized district in the state.
- With the addition of Amritsar, the number of million plus cities in Punjab has risen from on e in 1991 to town 2001.
- 13.97% of the urban population (4.74%) in the states is residing in slums.
- The average population of town in Punjab is about 52000.
Level of urbanization
|
|
1971
|
1981
|
1991
|
2001
|
|
Rural (in crores)
|
1.03
|
1.20
|
1.43
|
1.60
|
|
Urban(in crores)
|
0.32
|
0.47
|
0.60
|
.82
|
|
Total (in crores)
|
1.35
|
167
|
2.03
|
2.42
|
Principle cities
|
Name
|
Population
|
|
Ludhiana
|
1,398,467
|
|
Amritsar
|
966,862
|
|
Jalandhar
|
706,043
|
|
Patiala
|
303,151
|
|
Bathinda
|
217,256
|
|
Pathankot
|
157,925
|
|
Hoshiarpur
|
149,668
|
|
Batala
|
125,677
|
|
Moga
|
125,573
|
|
Abohar
|
124,339
|
|
S.A.S. Nagar
|
123,484
|
Principal Agglomerations
|
Name
|
Population
|
|
Ludhiana
|
1,398,467
|
|
Amritsar
|
1,003,917
|
|
Jalandhar
|
714,077
|
|
Patiala
|
323,884
|
|
Bathinda
|
217,256
|
Towns by Size Class of population
|
|
1991
|
2001
|
|
Class I(100,000+)
|
10
|
14
|
|
Class II(50,000-99,999)
|
18
|
18
|
|
Class III(20,000-49,999)
|
25
|
36
|
|
Class IV(10,000-19,999)
|
46
|
54
|
|
Class V(5,000-9,999)
|
14
|
28
|
|
ClassVI(below 5,000)
|
7
|
7
|
- The location of the Punjab also affected the economic condition of the people in many ways:-
- The rivers emerging from the Himalayas have been depositing layers of fertile soil on the plains of the Punjab. As a result, of favourable climate and sufficient rainfall helped in large agriculture production. People became prosperous and trade & commerce flourished.
- Thus, agriculture is the main occupation of the Punjabis. The availability of useful means of irrigation through canals, wells have made it a profitable activity. Thus, majority of the people are engaged in this occupation either directly and indirectly.
- India had trade relations with countries across the north-western frontier through the Punjab. Ferozepur, Amritsar, Lahore, Multan and Peshawar were major centers of this trade, Harrapa and Mohanjodaro of Indus-Valley civilization were the centres of this foreign trade in ancient times.
- In terms of percentage distribution [13]of gross state domestic product by economic activity at 1999-2000 prices , Primary sector contributed 31.09%, secondary 25.75% and tertiary sector contributed 43.16%. Agriculture constitute of 20.09%, livestock 10.4% of GSD.Manufacturing sector contributes 15.54% of GSD.
Recent developments
- According to the India State Hunger Index 2008, Punjab has the lowest level of hunger in India. Less than one-fourth of children below the age of five are underweight, although Punjab was below countries like Gabon and Vietnam on the index.
- Punjab has the best infrastructure in all of India The Indian National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has ranked Punjab's infrastructure as the best in India. Its road, rail, air and transport system is rated best in the country with ranking of 210 points compared to the national average of 100 in NCAER’s infrastructure index.
- It has highest per capita generation of electricity in India, which is 2.5 times the national average. Although it has a huge shortage of electricity due to high demand.
- All of Punjab's villages have been electrified and connected to the state electrical power grid since 1974.
- There are two main harvests in the year. Rabi (hari) and Kharif (Sawani). The rabi or spring harvest consists of wheat, gram, barley and some oil seeds, fodder crops, potatoes and winter vegetables. The Kharif or autumn harvest consists of rice, maize, sugarcane, cotton, pulses other than gram and peas, bajra, jowar and vegetables like chillies, onions and gourd.
- Wheat, maize, rice and bajra are the important cereals. Wheat dominates not only among the cereals but in the overall crop pattern. The distribution of rice and bajra is localized. Rice is an important crop in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Kapurthala districts. Elsewhere it is either grown in the flood plains or in the clay-soiled tracts. Bajra is completely localized in the south-western quadrant of the state, mainly in Batinda, Ferozepur and Sangrur. Among pulses, gram is the outstanding one and covers around 6.6 per cent of the cropped area. Cotton, groundnut, sugarcane and potatoes are the principal cash crops of the state. The distribution of these crops is highly localized.
- Cotton leads in this set of crops and covers around 7.4 per cent of the cropped area of Punjab. The state contributes about 15 per cent to the total production of the country. Ferozepur and Batinda, both account for around 69 per cent of the cotton area of the state. Groundnut, with 4.2 per cent of the cropped area, is the second most important cash crop of Punjab and contributes five per cent to the total groundnut production of India.
- Sugarcane covers about three per cent of the cropped area and is mainly grown in the eastern half of the state. Among oilseeds, the dominance is that of rape, mustard and sesamum. The acreage is, however, insignificant as compared to other crops.
- Rape and mustard are mainly grown in the drier south-western Punjab, whereas 90 per cent of the sesame crop is localized in the districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar.
- Fodder crops grown in the state are many and collectively cover one-sixth of the cropped land. Chari, bajra and gowara in summer, and berseem, senji and lucern in winter are the principal fodder crops.
- Punjab State, with only 1.5 per cent of Geographical Area of the Country, produced 22 percent of wheat, 12 percent of Rice and 23 percent of Cotton of the total produce under these crops in the country. Punjab State produces 1% of Rice, 2% of Wheat and 2% of Cotton of the World.
- Punjab is 1st in average per hectare yield of rice, wheat and cotton. Wheat yield of 42.10 quintals per hectare is a record production.
- All these achievements have being made possible not only with conducive geographical conditions but also due the strategies of Green revolution[14] , which has been most successful in Punjab. Punjab State which has earned the rare distribution of being called the "FOOD BASKET OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY" & the "GRANARY OF INDIA", contributes 31.2 percent of Rice & 69.5 percent of Wheat to the Central Pool for the last two decades.
- As compared to 73 Kg. per hectare utilization of fertilizers at the National level, Punjab is using 214 Kg. of fertilizers per hectare. Punjab State consumes 10 percent of the total Fertilizer Consumption in India.
- The Punjab State topped all other States in India in the Kinnow fruit production.
- Punjab State topped all other states in per hectare yield of grapes.
- Per hectare potato seed production is highest in Punjab.
- Punjab topped all other State in Mushroom production.
- The per capita availability of milk in the State is 939 gms. per day, which is the highest in the country. Punjab Produces 7.16 lakh M.T. of milk annually which is 10 % of the total production in the Country. In addition to the supply of Quality milk, Whole milk, Skimmed milk, Powdered milk, Cheese & butter to the army, Punjab is also supplying 11,000 tonnes of milk worth Rs 100 Crores a year
- Per capita availability of Eggs is the highest in India : Average in India – 35, Average in Punjab - 125
- Punjab is the first State in India to export HONEY to the United States of America.
- Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has been awarded the best Performance Award for propagating the objectives of non conventional and renewable energy sources.
- Punjab is the only State in the country where every village and urban slum areas have Mahila Swasthya Sang.
- Punjab has given a lead to the country by commissioning 160 community and Institutional Biogas Plants which supply clean cooking fuels to over 10,000 families in the State.
Agro climatic zone
- Punjab can be divided in three ago climatic zones.
- (a) Zone 1: The sub-mountainous (Kandi Zone) has undulating topography. The cost of production of wheat has increased six times, cotton seven times and rice ten times during the last three decades. Agricultural production has reached a plateau, the wheat-paddy rotation is a cause of serious concern, agriculture ecology and economy are adversely affected and soil health and water table. A water shed based soil and moisture conservation should be adopted to restore the soil fertility and crop productivity in this area.
- (b) Zone 2: The central (sweet water zone) comprising the major parts of the State is highly productive and has well knit system of irrigation, mainly in terms of tube wells. The wheat-paddy rotation followed in this belt has led to over exploitation of ground water and depletion of water table @.23 cm per year. A shift is cropping pattern is necessary. In this regard efforts are made to divert area from paddy to maize, sugarcane and pulses so that valuable water resources are properly utilized.
- (c) Zone 3: The southern zone popularly known as cotton belt has brackish underground water. The fast declining productivity of cotton due to emerging water logging problem and menace of pests has resulted in shifting the area from cotton to rice cultivation. The high humidity resulting from paddy cultivation and water logging of soils has encouraged the built up of insect-pests endangering the cultivation of cotton in this belt. The introduction of genetically modified (G.M.) varieties of cotton, resistant to pests, is the need of the hour in this zone.
Importance of Agriculture
- Although State has made progress in industrialization during the last 60 years, even then agriculture is the backbone of Punjab economy. The importance of agriculture can be seen from different aspects.
- Share of agriculture at current prices in 2006-07 was Rs. 26076.75 crore (21.12%) in the gross state domestic product. Steadily this share is coming down, but it is source of livelihood to rural population.
- According to Census, 2001, 66.08% of Punjab population lives in the rural areas where agriculture is the main occupation. In the year 2001, 39.4% of the workers were engaged in agriculture as against 55.9% in the year 1961 and 55.2% in 1991.
- In the year 1960-61 Punjab produced 31.62 lakh tonnes of food grains which increased to 253.09 lakh tonnes in 2006-07. It supplies food grins to deficit states in India as discussesd earlier.
- Agriculture provides fodder to sustain 98.6 lakh livestock and 11.45 lakh poultry in the State. Animals and birds are the precious wealth of the State, which provides milk, meat and eggs, which are the source of protective food.
- Agriculture provides raw material to agro-based industries like cotton textile sugar mills, rice shellers, oil crushing, vanaspati mills etc. Fruits and Vegetables processing units are also coming up in the State which again depend upon agriculture for raw materials.
- Major increase in production of wheat and rice helped not only in reducing the imports of food grains in India but has contributed in earning foreign exchange from export of food grains to other countries. Punjab state has not only helped in saving the valuable foreign exchange but helped in earning the same.
- Agriculture sector has made handsome contribution towards State exchequer by way of electricity and irrigation duties, tax on fertilizers and farm machinery, water charges and tariff on commercial crops.
- As a result of increasing trend of agricultural production and rising demand for farm inputs like machinery, tools, implements, fertilizers, pesticides, it has encouraged the infrastructure like banks, storage, warehousing, power, marketing, health, schools, construction of roads in the State.
- Repairs of farm machinery like tractors, harvesters, tube wells etc. has generated employment and income in the rural areas. As a result of agricultural development, there is increase in agricultural income and as a result it has enhanced the saving capacity of the farmer. High rate of saving is helpful in raising the rate of capital formation. Savings helps in financing the development programmes in the State.
- Of late, signs of fatigue are visible in agricultural activities because of:
- Monocropping of paddy and wheat with attended manifestations of stagnating yield, increase in cost of production and low returns.
- Overexploitation of water and soil resources
- Declining public and private sector investments
- Inadequacies of marketing, pricing and processing of vegetables, fruits and other crops.
- Dwindling agricultural research and extension inputs.
- There is need to rejuvenate agricultural development with the adoption of:
- Crop diversification with high yielding, remunerative alternate crops supported by pricing and marketing.
- Soil, water and environmental conservation.
- Efficient management of input use for increasing crop and animal yields
- Facilitation for contract, commercial and organic farming
- Introduction of corporate sector in services and agro-processing sector
- Reorientation of subsidies in the light of WTO
- Strengthening Panchayati Raj and cooperative systems.
- Punjab is not self sufficient in its availability of minerals. Industries are mainly agro based. Industrial growth in recent years has been a major contributor to the state’s economy.
- Excellent connectivity by road, rail and air has paved way for industrial progression. Prime industries are Cotton textile, Sugar, Dairy, Sports goods, Hosiery and Engineering goods.
- As Punjab is a major producer of cotton in the country, Cotton textile industry has reached massivegrowth.
- Sugar industries in the state are mainly run by the co-operative sectors in the state.
- Dairy and its products are produced on a large scale. Most of the dairy consumption is by the household sector.
- Fodder industry has gained importance due to large presence of livestock. Oilseeds for fodder have great demand.
- Jalandhar is renowned for the production and export of Sports goods.
- Engineered goods like Bicycles, Tractors are manufactured on a large scale. Hosiery in particular, is contributing towards a great input of foreign exchange.
- Keeping this in view, the State Government has already notified New industrial policy from Ist April, 2003. This new policy, therefore, has to address itself to the two basic issues, i.e. to promote investment and development in the growth areas of agro based and knowledge based industries, and to rejuvenate and strengthen existing industries, particularly the small and medium enterprises. This policy has also facilitated the private sector participation in industrial parks, multiplexes and tourism projects.
- The Punjab Industrial Facilitation Act, 2005 has been passed to provide for the measures for speedy implementation of industrial projects and to ensure smooth functioning of the existing industries in the State of Punjab by providing single point clearances to the entrepreneurs with a view to provide facilitative environment and for the matters connected therewith.
- For creation of special thrust in the area where Punjab has an advantage in terms of cost & competitiveness, government has notified the Textile Policy 2006.
- Textile Centres Infrastructure Development Scheme (TCIDS) is a part of the drive to improve infrastructure facilities at potential textile growth centers and therefore, aims at removing bottlenecks in exports
- Udyog Sahayak is a the single clearance window scheme launched in 1996 with a view to promoting the growth of Industry in the State, which provides for time-bound sanctions/clearances for setting up industrial units in Punjab.
- Industrial units in the state are namely divided into three:
- Agro-based industrial units:- These may be classified as food products, beverages, cotton, wood and paper industries.
- Machinery units in including bicycles, steel, tractors, combines, automobiles , tools etc
- Chemical units including Pharma, fertilizers, Pesticides, etc
- Some notable industries are:
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Cotton Textile Industry
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The cotton mills are located at Abohar, Malout, Phagwara, Amristar, Kharar and Ludhiana. Malerkotla, Abohar, Malout and Bhatinda are important for cotton ginning and pressing
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Sugar Industry
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The Sugar mills in Punjab are located at Batala, Gurdaspur, Bhogpur, Phagwara, Nawanshahar, Zira, Morinda, Rakhra, Dhuri, Fazilka, Nakodar, Budhewal, Bhatinda and Jagraon.
14 mills,12 are in the Co-operative sector
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Dairy Industry
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In Punjab there are milk plants in the Public Sector, Private sector and Co-operative sector. The plants are mainly located at Verka (Amristar district), Ludhiana, Mohali, Jalandhar, Patiala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Bhatinda, Faridkot, Nabha, Moga, Kot Kapura and Hamira. The plant at Moga, known as Food Specialities, is the biggest plant in the state with a processing capacity of 435 thousand litres of milk.
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Woolen Textile Industry
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Situated at Amritsar, Ludhina and Dhariwal.
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Hosiery Industry
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Most of these units are located in Ludhiana. This industry is a major foreign exchange earner.
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Sports Goods Industry
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Jalandhar is the main centre for the production of sports goods.
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Bicycles
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Main centres are Ludhiana and Rajpura.
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Tractors And Combines
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The state has a tractor plant at Mohali and a combine harvester plant at Bhadson.
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Chemical industries
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situated at Ropar, Mohali, Nangal, Patiala, Sangrur, Bhatinda
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Punjab Industrial Policy, 2003 ![]()
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- The new Industrial Policy of Punjab is based on these concerns, with the following broad objectives :-
- To create a conducive investment climate through infrastructure creation, reduced regulations and general facilitation.
- To rejuvenate and make competitive existing industry, particularly in the small scale sector through improved technology, product quality and marketing.
- To create a special thrust in the areas where Punjab has an edge in terms of cost and competitiveness.
- The main planks of Industrial Policy are :
- Hassle free dealing with Government
- Power sector reforms
- One time settlement scheme
- Industry and business friendly tax administration
- Enhancement of competitiveness of the existing Industry
- Revival of sick small scale industrial units
- Redefining role of PSIDC, PFC and PSIEC
- Industrial Infrastructure Development
- Measures for attracting new investment
Large and Medium Scale Units
- During 2007-08 a number of 651 large and medium units were working in the state with a fixed investment of Rs. 25300 crores, employing 2.35 lakh persons with a production value of Rs. 39000 crores.
- Major Multinational Corporations Working in Punjab include Nestle, Smithkline Beecham, Pepsico, GEC , USA, Ollivetti , Italy, Nippon, Hitachi, OKI of Japan, Kenwood, Motorola, ICI.
Top Four districts[15]
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Sr. No.
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Distrct
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Large Enterprises
Units
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Total
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290
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1.
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Ludhiana
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90
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2.
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S.A.S. Nagar
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51
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3
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Patiala
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21
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4.
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Hoshiarpur
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18
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Top Four districts[16]
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Sr. No.
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Distrct
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Medium Enterprises
Units
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|
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Total
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50
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1
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Ludhiana
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14
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2.
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S.A.S. Nagar
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10
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3.
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Ferozepur
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6
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4.
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Amritsar
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5
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Small Scale Units
- Small Scale units are the backbone of the industrial structure in the state. These units are manufacturing a variety of goods ranging from tiny needles to sophisticated electronic goods. During the year 2007-08 there were 2.06 lakh working units with a fixed investment of Rs. 5700 crores generating employment to 9.30 lakh persons with the production value of Rs. 24984 crores.
Top Four districts[17]
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Sr. No.
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District
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No. of units
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Total
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191639
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11.
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Ludhiana
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42210
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9.
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Jalandhar
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28744
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1.
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Amritsar
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26080
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19.
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Sangrur
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15281
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Indian Companies
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Ranbaxy
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Medicines
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Hero Cycles,Avon Cycles
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Cycles
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Punjab Tractor Ltd.
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Swaraj Tractors and Combine Harvester
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Oswal Woolen Mills
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Monte Carlo , Casablanca
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Oswal Knit India Ltd.
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Pringle
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JCT Textiles, DCM
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Ctv Picture Tube , Steel rope ,Castings
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Birla_VXL(OCM)
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Woolen fabric
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JIL
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Maltova , Viva , range of wines and liquor
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Gujrat Ambuja
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Cement
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Godrej
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Washing Machine
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ACC
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Cement
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SIEL
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Chemicals, Vanaspati
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Abhishek
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Denim Fabric
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Industrial institutions
The Punjab State Agro Industries Corporation
- The Punjab State Agro-Industries Corporation (PAIC) is a nodal agency for developing agro-based Industries in the state. The Corporation has set up two projects based on agriculture and allied activities with an investment of Rs. 21.62 crores providing employment to 225 persons up to Sept., 2005.
The Punjab Information & Communication Technology Corporation
- The Punjab Information & Communication Technology Corporation Ltd. (Punjab Info-Tech), a State Govt. under taking working as nodal agency engaged in the promotion of information technology, information technology enabled services (ITES), electronics and communication industry in the state of Punjab.
- Punjab was not able to attract much investment in this field over the past few year because of competition for established centres like Bangalore, Hyderbad and Chennai. With the saturation of infrastructure at the place ,major I..T companies are looking for alternate destination and Punjab as been on the priority list of many of them .DELL computer have already started their operation from S.A.S Nagar Mohali,TCS and WIPRO are also setting up their facitilites in Mohali.In 2006-07,the corporation has implemented two project with cost of Rs82.00 crore providing employment to 1000 persons.
Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation
- The Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation (PSIDC) plays an important role for the promotion of large and medium scale industries.
- The state government with the help of Govt. of India is also setting up an Export Promotion Industrial Park at Dhandari Kalan in district Ludhiana having a cumulative expenditure of Rs. 1620.54 lakhs up to 31.10.2005 against a Central assistance of Rs. 1030.00 lakhs.
- One project dealing in fresh frozen meat namely M/s M.K overseas Ltd,New Delhi, has been set up in 2006-07 with cost Rs27.00 crore,Providing employment to 250 person..Guru Gobind Singh refinery at Bathinda is joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd Mittal group of industries.It investment in Rs 19,000 crore.
The Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation
- PSIEC is a Nodal agency for promotion of export and nominated agency for the implemention of central government scheme known a assistance to sate for development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities(ASIDE).Goverment of India has notified two (SEZ) Sepical Economic Zones in Punjab one for pharmaceutical at Mohali and another for I.T at Mohali.
Industrial Finance
- The Punjab Financial Corporation (PFC) provides medium and long term loans to the entrepreneurs for assisting small, medium and large scale units for the creation of the fixed assets.
- The Corporation has sanctioned loans amounting to Rs026 crore for one industrial units during 2006-07 .Its target for year 2007-08 is to sanction Rs 60.00 crore.
Industrial Production
- The production items such as baby food, sugar, vanaspati ghee, coffee, cattle feed, milk all kinds, rice bran oil, Indian made foreign liquor, ginned and pressed kapas, urea `N’ content, cycle/rickshaw tyres, auto parts and footballs showed an increase in 2003-04 over the previous year. However, production items viz. milk powder all kinds, mustard oil, woolen hosiery, acid oil, ammonium choloride, rims, handles bars and rolls, polyester yarn, paper all kind and oil cakes recorded a fall during 2003-04 over the previous period.
General Index of Industrial Production
- The General Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for registered working factories for the year 2003-04 (base 1993-94) has been prepared for the State. The general index of Industrial Production has recorded a marginal increase of 0.90(P) percent over the previous year.
Energy
- Energy known as power is one of the prime movers of a economy. Adequate and reliable availability of power is indispensable for sustained growth of the economy. Renewable and non-renewable sources of energy are the two constituents of energy. Renewable sources of energy include hydro-power, fuel wood, bio-gas, solar, wind, geo-thermal and tidal power. Non-renewable is sources of energy includes, coal, oil and gas. As there are no coal mines or oil wells, geo-thermal and tidal power available in the Punjab, the state is dependent mainly on thermal, hydel and solar power.
- Energy in the form of electricity is crucial input in the process of economic development. The performance of all important sectors in the economy ranging from agriculture to commerce and industry depends on the availability, cost and quality of power. The demand for electricity in increasing day by day. To meet this demand, the optimum utilization of the power generated, substantial reduction of transmission and distribution losses, maximizing generation from the existing capacity is utmost necessary. The main source of power in the State all along has been hydro electric power and thermal power. Three perennial rivers flow through the State and these along with falls on the canals are being exploited to generate electricity. For thermal powers, the state had three power stations in Bhatinda, Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat. Rice straw plant of 10 MW at Jalkhari has been leased out w.e.f. 24.7.02. For thermal power, coal has to be transported from distant places. The scope for solar energy is very wide in the State. Bio-gas can meet the requirements of rural people to a limited extent. So there is a need to develop new plants like nuclear power plant and strengthening of solar power system to generate energy.
Electricity
- The installed plant capacity for electric power generation in the State is 4622 MW, in 2006-07
- Thermal power plants are expected to generate a plant load factor of 74.69 percent during 2005-06 as against 77.45 percent during 22004-05.
- During 2005-06 the generation of electricity from hydro and steam/thermal plants has been targeted at 9324 million KWH and 13870 million KWH respectively. By including the anticipated purchase of 10293 million KWH from other power plants.
- Hydel power development constitutes a major thrust area in the energy development programme. In this sector, micro hydel power development is not only economical but also the most environment friendly renewable energy Programme. State is taking advantage of the available mini falls on the canals to tap this source to good effect.
- High yielding varieties of seeds and use of chemical fertilizers have placed a great demand for irrigation facilities. The increasing demand is being met by energizing more tubewells/pumping sets. As many as 31212 tubewells were energized during 2004-05(P) thus bringing the progressive total of energized tubewells to 912889 in the state.
- Transmission and distribution is an another area special focus is needed. As per estimates of financial resources of Punjab State Electricity Board, transmission and distribution losses (Technical & Non-Technical) were 25.35 percent during 2003-04, 24.27 percent during 2004-05 and are estimates to be 24.00 percent during 2005-06. There is a scope to curb these losses in the state. The energy saved from such losses will increase its availability.
Bio-gas Plants
- Bio-gas plants not only provide energy in a clean and non polluted form in rural areas but also produce nitrogen enriched manure for increasing crop production.
Solar Thermal System
- Solar Energy Programme is aimed at supplementing thermal energy requirements by harnessing solar energy at different temperature by directly converting it into heat energy. 80 Solar cookers, 310 domestic home light system (one fan and one light), 250 solar street lights were installed by Punjab Energy Development Agency during 2003-04.
National Highways
- NH No. 1: From Haryana Border - Rajpura - Khanna - Ludhiana - Phagwara - Jalandhar - Amritsar - Atari upto Pak Border (Length - 254 km)
- NH No. 1A: Jalandher - Dasuya - Pathankot upto J&K Border (Length - 108 km)
- NH No. 10: From Haryana Border - Lambi - Malaut - Abohar - Fazilka - Indo/Pak Border (Length – 72 km)
- NH No. 15: Pathankot - Gurdaspur - Batala - Amritsar - Taran Taran - Zira - Faridkot - Bhatinda - Malaut - Abohar upto Rajasthan Border. (Length - 350 km)
- NH No. 20: Pathankot and upto H.P. Border (Length - 10 km)
- NH No. 21: From Chandigarh Border - Kharar - Kurali - Rupnagar - Ghanauli upto H.P. Border (Length - 67 km)
- NH No. 22: From Haryana Border - Dera Basi upto Haryana Border. (Length - 31 km)
- NH No. 64: From Haryana Border - Banur - Rajpura - Patiala - Sangrur - Barnala - Rampura Phul - Bathinda upto Haryana Border. (Length - 255.5 km)
- NH No. 70: Jalandhar - Hoshiarpur upto H.P. Border (Length - 50 km)
- NH No. 71: Jalandher - Nakodar - Moga - Barnala - Dhanaula - Sangrur - Dogal upto Haryana Border. (Length - 130 km)
- NH No. 72: From Haryana Border upto Haryana Border. (Length - 4.5 km)
- NH No. 95: From Chandigarh Border - Kharar - Marinda - Ludhiana - Jagraon - Moga - Ferozpur (Length - 225 km)
Punjab’s Information Technology (IT) Policy 2009
- Replaced the state’s 2003 IT policy, intends to roll out the red carpet for IT and IT-enabled service (ITES) providers to set up base in the state.
- Starting with free land offers and subsidies on capital investment to exemptions from zoning restrictions, conversion charges, electricity duty, stamp duty and registration charges, the new IT policy has outdone all previous policies in offering incentives.
- It promises to allot land with a 100 per cent rebate on the plot’s cost to those who want to set up a mega IT unit on 10 acre of land with an investment of at least Rs 25 crore and employing 250 persons per acre.
- Gives complete exemption to IT units from the prevailing zoning regulations in the state. This means that an IT unit can now come up virtually anywhere in Punjab; on agricultural, commercial, residential, institutional land and of course industrial land.
- All such units have been exempted from payment of conversion charges, also known as the change of land use charges.
- A capital subsidy at the rate of 20 per cent of the total investment subject to a ceiling of Rs 20 lakh has also been offered.
- Capital subsidy on case-to-case basis would also be offered to mega projects, which are bringing in an investment of Rs 50 crore or would employ 1,000 persons.
- All cases of mega IT units would be taken up by the empowered committee.
- IT units would be exempted to a payment of stamp duty during the setting-up period followed by another three years.
- These units do not have to pay any electricity duty for five years. Such units are exempted from clearances from the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
Punjab Tourism Policy , 2003
- Released in April, 2003
- Tourism projects to be treated on a par with the industry for concessions.
- Single-window clearance scheme for tourism-related projects.
- Licence fee structure to be rationalised
- No entertainment tax on amusement parks — upcoming and existing — for the next five years.
- Soft loans by state financial institutions for new tourism projects and expansion of existing projects
- Priority to projects involving financial, technical or marketing tie-ups with renowned national or foreign brands.
- Modernisation of the Tourism Department.
- Aiming to place Punjab on the global tourism map, the new Tourism Policy of the state includes initiatives to promote the tourism industry in a big way by focusing on religious and heritage tourism and encouraging private participation.
- Focus will be on domestic tourism for which the policy attempts to concentrate on places of pilgrimage, eco-tourism, recreational facilities, heritage sites, food, rural and farm tourism and sports and adventure tourism.
- Attracting NRI investment would be one of the major focus areas in attempts to promote international tourism.
- While religious heritage of Amritsar and Anandpur Sahib will be promoted in a big way, Harike Lake and Ranjit Sagar Dam will be developed as major tourist destinations.
- Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board, under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister has been set up
PUNJAB RIGHT TO SERVICE ACT, 2011
- The Right to Service Act would ensure time-bound delivery of public services to the people as a matter of right came into force in Punjab from Oct., 2011.
- Under the Punjab Right to Service Act-2011 RTS, time-bound delivery of 67 citizen-centric services to the public as a matter of right will be ensured. Besides, a provision for punishing civil servants in case they fail to comply with the prescribed time frame has been incorporated.
- The Act covers services of the departments of local government, transport, housing and urban development, revenue, health, home, social security, food and civil supplies and rural water supply besides the police department.
- The citizens would be able to get:
- Copies of birth or death certificates within 2 days, post-mortem reports within 3 days;
- Certified copies of record within 7 days;
- Demarcation of land within 21 days;
- Attestation of uncontested mutations within 15 days;
- Sanction of building plans within 30 days;
- Occupation certificate within 15 days;
- NOC within 21 days;
- Conveyance deed within 15 days;
- No Due Certificates within 7 days;
- Retransfer of property within 15 days;
- Retransfer of property in case of death within 45 days;
- Permission to mortgage within 7 days;
- Completion certificate within 15 days;
- Sanction of water connection and sewage connection in 7 days.
- Later, two more services were added in May this year taking the number to 69.
AUTHORITIES UNDER THE ACT
- DESIGNATED OFFICER: Under this Act, the govt. shall appoint a Designated Officer in each department, which is subject to RTS. A person eligible to obtain any service under the provisions of this Act shall make an application to the Designated Officer in this regard. The Designated Officer shall accept or reject the application within the specified time period. In case of rejection he/she must duly record the reasons for the rejection and intimate them to the applicant.
- FIRST APPELLATE AUTHORITY: In case of rejection or expiration of time limit, a person can appeal to the First Appellate Authority within 30 days. If the authority finds the grievance genuine, it may ask the Designated Officer to appear before it and give reasons for denial of service. The applicant is also given due hearing. Consequently it may pass an order, accepting or rejecting the application within a maximum period of 30 days. In case of rejection the reasons shall be recorded and communicated to the applicant.
- SECOND APPELLATE AUTHORITY: In case of rejection by First Appellate Authority or expiration of the maximum limit of 30 days, the appeal shall lie with the Second Appellate Authority within 30 days. Second Appellate Authority may either reject the appeal after giving due reasons or direct the Designated Officer to provide the service within the specified period. Opportunity of hearing shall be granted to the applicant and the order shall be communicated to him. The appeal shall be disposed within a maximum of 60 days.
- If the Second Appellate Authority is convinced:
- that Designated Officer or other Officer failed to provide service without any reasonable cause, it may impose a fine of minimum Rs. 500 subject to a maximum of Rs. 5,000.
- that Designated Officer or other Officer has caused undue delay in the delivery of Service, it may impose a fine of Rs. 250 per day subject to a maximum of Rs. 5,000.
- that Designated Officer or other Officer has failed to discharge their duty under this Act, may recommend disciplinary proceedings against them.
- It may also give an amount of compensation to the applicant out of the amount of fine, subject to a maximum of the amount of fine imposed.
- Under this Act, the First & Second Appellate Authorities have the power of a Civil Court in order to summon to Designated Officer and Applicant, production and Inspection of documents and other matters.
- RIGHT TO SERVICE COMMISSION: The Appeal to the orders of Second Appellate Authority shall be made to the RTS Commission or within a maximum of 60 days. The Commission may entertain the Application after 60 days in case of a reasonable cause for delay.
- The commission shall consist of Chief Commissioner and 4 Commissioners appointed by State Govt. in consultation with the Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha.
- The Chief Commissioner shall be a retired Civil Servant of the rank and status of a Chief Secretary while the Commissioners shall be retired Civil Servants of the rank and status of a Secretary. They are appointed for tenure of 5 years subject to a maximum age of 65 years.
- They can be removed on the recommendations of an enquiry committee headed by a sitting or retired judge of the high court. The committee is appointed by the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court after a reference by the state govt.
- The grounds for such reference are:
- Financial Insolvency
- Offence constituting moral turpitude
- Financial or other interest in the proceedings of the govt.
- Abuse of office.
- The RTS Commission has following functions:
- Admitting and disposing appeals to the decisions of the Second Appellate Authority.
- Taking suo-moto cognizance of denial of service and suggest measures
- To make recommendations to state govt. on improving the functioning of RTS infrastructure in the state.
- To present an annual report on the functioning of the RTS infrastructure.
- SC Agarwal is the incumbent Chief Commissioner of Right to Service Commission.
- Recently the Commission recommended that 41 new citizen-centric services shall be included under the purview of the RTS Act.
- Guru Hargobindji had started the tradition of holding wrestling bouts within the precincts of Akal Takht Sahib and it is mostly because of the fillip that he gave and the seal of ethics that he put on them that sports become a proud facet of life in Punjab.
- Almost sixty years ago when the Grewal Sports Association had begun to hold competitions in rural sports at Village Quilla Raipur little would have anyone thought that this tournament will become a movement in Punjab.
- Today in almost 7000 villages in Punjab in one decade or the other rural sports competitions are being held. Rural folk organise them. It is they who extend all hospitality to the competitors also. In fact these village sports have opened the floodgates of village development
- Before Independence in 1947 major importance was given only to Kabaddi and wrestling, after Independence the circle of rural sports also got widened. The rustic "Khido Khoondi" (literally a ball made out of cuttings of cloth and a stick twisted at the end like a flat hockey blade) was replaced by proper hockey and players from villages, having no facilities beyond uneven grounds to play began to dominate in the game. Twelve of our country's greatest hockey players have come out of a single village called SANSARPUR in Jalandhar District.
- Recently not only revival of sports fairs has taken place in Punjab but their number has also increased tremendously. Twenty years ago, for instance, their number was limited to
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Babehali-di-Chhinj,
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Bhaggowal-di-Chhinj,
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Shikar-Macchian di-Parewi,
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Jaura-Chhatra-di-Parewi,
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Bhomey-Wadaley-di-Chhinj,
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Quilla Raipur's sports,
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Shanker-di-Chhinj
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Munun-honey-di-Chhinj etc.
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- Now sports meets are held almost in every significant village in Punjab.
- Following the Kila Raipur Rural Sports meet the Kalgidhar Tournament of Kamalpur has also completed half-a-century. Dhudike's Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Sports Fair has completed three decades. Gujarwal, Mullanpur, Sahnewal, Ghungali Rajputtana Hambla., Dhamto are flourishing. The -small sports meets of Lalto Kalan, Dhurkot, Rauni, Dyalpur, Rurka Kalan, Bhinder Kalan, Duare-ana are gaining stature day by day.
- The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is a Punjabi.
- Two former Indian Prime Ministers include I K Gujral and Gulzarilal Nanda both of whom were also Punjabis.
- Another Punjabi to occupy the topmost post in India was the former President of India Giani Zail Singh.
- Professor Har Gobind Khorana, famous Nobel laureate is a Punjabi.
- The first Indian in Outer space is a Punjabi - Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma.
- World Wrestling Entertainment Super Star and former world, Dalip Singh (The Great Khali) is a native Punjabi.
Baldev Singh (1902-1961)
- Baldev Singh was industrialist politician and the first Defence Minister of India at Independence was born on 11 July 1902, to a Sikh family of Chokar Jatts at the village of Dummna, in Ropar district of the Punjab. In the first general election held under the Constitution in 1952, he was elected to Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) on Congress nomination , but was not included in the Cabinet by Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. He was reselected to Parliament in 1957. He died in Delhi on 29 June 1961.
Bhai Bala Ji
- Bhai Bala who was a life-long companion of Guru Nanak, was the son of Chandar Bhan, a Sandhu Jatt of Talvandi Rai Bhoi, now Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The anecdotes narrated by Bala were recorded in Gurmukhi characters in Guru Angad’s presence by another Sikh, Paira Mokha. The result was what is known as Bhai Bale Vali Janam Sakhi, a hagiographical account of Guru Nanak’s life. Bhai Bala died in 1544 at Khadur Sahib.
Bhai Bhagatu Brar
- Bhai Bhagatu Brar was a devoted Sikh who served the Fifth, Sixth and the Seventh Gurus. He was son of Adam (Uddam in some chronicles), a Siddhu Brar of Malva country. A gurdwara, Bhalana Bhagatu, named after the celebrated Bhai is located near village Gobindpura, about 11 km northeast of Bathinda. An annual fair is held there on the occasion of Baisakhi.
Bhai Kahn Singh (1861 - 1938)
- Bhai Kahn Singh was a celebrated scholar and encyclopaedist, born on August 30 1861 in a Dhillon Jatt family at the village of Sabaz Banera, in what then used to be the territory of the princely ruler of patiala. From the Nabha Maharaja’s private secretary to judge of the High Court, he held several different appointments in the state, serving for a brief interregnum, 1915-17, in the neighbouring Sikh state of Patiala.
- From among Bhai Kahn Singh’s works, Gurushabad Ratanakar Mahan Kosh (1930), an encyclopaedia of Sikh literature, His maiden work Raj Dharam (1884), written at the instance of Maharaja Hira Singh of Nabha, was followed by Nanak Bhavarth Dipika (1888), In 1898, he published Ham Hindu Nahin which set forth forcefully the Singh Sabha standpoint with regard to Sikh identity. The Gurmat Prabhakar, a glossary of Sikh terminology, concepts and institutions, was published in 1898, and Gurmat Sudhakar, an anthology of important Sikh texts, scriptural and historical, in 1899.
- His Guru Chand divakar (1924) and Gur sabad Alankar (1925) deal primarily with rhetoric and prosody employed in the Guru Granth Sahib and some other Sikh texts. His Gur Gira Kasauti answers some of the questions raised by his pupil, Tikka Ripudaman Singh, about the meanings of certain hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib, and his Sharab Nikhedh (1907) is a work stressing the harmful effects of drinking. Among his other works are tikas or exegeses of Jaimant Assamedh (1896), Visnu Purana (1903), Sadu and Chandi di Var (1935). From among his works which were published posthumously, Gurmat Martand (2 volumes) which essentially follows the format of his earlier Gurmat Prabhakar but includes much more explanatory material was published in 1960. A travelogue was published in 1984.
Bhai Puran Singh ji(1904 -1992)
- Bhai Puran Singh ji in undoubtly the single Sikh Hero of this century who worked totally selflessly all his life to provide the last hope to the mentally and terminally ill patients.
- Bhagat Puran Singh, born at Rajewal, Distt. Ludhiana on June 4 1904.,
- He founded Pingalwara in 1947 with a few discarded patients. He was also a writer as well as publisher and an environmentalist. Pingalwara is a very big home of human service.
- His dedication was awarded with heaps of honours by many quarters. Prestigious among these was the Padamshri award in 1979, which he surrendered in the wake of the army attack on the Golden Temple in 1984. He left for his heavenly abode on August 5, 1992.
Bhai Santokh Singh (1787 - 1853)
- Bhai Santokh Singh (1787 - 1843) was a poet and historian, born on 8 October 1787 at Nurudin village, in Amritsar district. Here Santokh Singh wrote Nam Kosh, a versified Hindi translation of Amar Kosa, the famous Sanskrit dictionary (completed in 1821), and Sri Guru Nanak Prakash,
- Santokh Singh is said to have spent some time at Patiala also as an employee of Maharaja Karam Singh before going to Kathal. During his 18-year span at Kaithal, now a district town in Haryana, he wrote Garab Ganjani Tikka (1829), an exhaustive philosophical commentary in Hindi prose on Guru Nanak’s Japu, along with a critical appreciation of its poetic features (the work was meant to be a rejoinder to Anandghana’s tika of the Japu); Valimiki Ramayan (1834), a versified translation of the epic in chaste and refined Braj Bhasa ; translation of Atma Purana in Sadhukari prose; and his magnum opus Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth, a voluminous history of the Gurus in Braj Bhasa consisting of 51,820 verses written during 1835-43.
- The poet died at Kaithal on 19 October 1843, soon after completion of his Gur Pratap Suraj Granth.
Bhai Vir Singh (1872-1957)
- Bhai Vir Singh was a poet, scholar and exegete, a major figure in the Sikh renaissance and in the movement for the revival and renewal of Punjabi literary tradition. For his pioneering work in its several different genres, he is acknowledged as the creator of modern Punjabi literature.
- Born on 5 December 1872, in Amritsar,
- Bhai Vir Singh took active interest in the affairs of Singh Sabha movement. To promote its aims and objects, he launched in 1894 the Khalsa Tract Society. In November 1899, he started a Punjabi weekly, the Khalsa Samachar. He was among the principal promoters of several of the Sikh institutions, such as Chief Khalsa Diwan, Sikh Educational Society (1908) and the Punjab and Sind Bank (1908).
- Interest in corporate activity directed towards community development remained Bhai Vir Singh’s constant concern, simultaneously with his creative and scholarly pursuits. In this engagement and, at the same time, in his eschewal of political activity, the Christian missionary example was apparently his model.
- In literature, Bhai Vir Singh started as a writer of romances which proved to be the forerunners of the Punjabi novel. His writings in this genre- Sundari (1898), Bijay Singh (1899), Satvant Kaur (published in two parts, I in 1900 and II in 1927)- were aimed at recreating the heroic period (eighteenth century) of Sikh history. Through these novels he made available to his readers typical models of courage, fortitude and human dignity.
- Bhai Vir Singh’s quest for new forms of expression continued. Soon after the pubtication of Rana Surat Singh in book form in 1919, he turned to shorter poems and Lyrics. In quick succession came Dil Tarang (1920), Earel Tupke ( 1921), Lahiran de Har (1921), Matak Hulare (1922), and Bijlian de Har (1927). Following at some distance was Mere Salan Jio (1953). In this poetry, Bhai Vir Singh’s concerns were more aesthetic than didactic, metaphysical or mystical. He refined the old verse forms and created new ones. The metrical patterns Kabir, Soratha, Baint, etc., which he inherited from classical Punjabi literature, were transformed into lights nimble measures.
- By grafting Soratha and Sirkhandv forms on English blank verse, he paved the way for the emergence of Punjabi poem. He revised and enlarged Giani Hazara Singh’s dictionary, Sri Guru Granth Kosh, originally published in 1898. The revised version, published in 1927, gave evidence of Bhai Vir Singh’s command of the science of etymology and of the classical and modern languages. He published critical editions of some of the old Sikh texts such as Sikhan di Bhagat Mala (1912), Prachin Panth Prakash (1914), Puratan Janam Sakhi (1926) and Sakhi Pothi (1950).
Dr. Dalip Kaur Tiwana
- Dr. Dalip Kaur Tiwana is universally regarded as one of the leading Punjabi novelists of today.
- Dr. Dalip Kaur’s literary career as a creative writer commenced with the publication of her first book of short stories Sadhna in 1961, Her second novel Eho Hamara ZeeUna won her the Sahitya Akademy Award in 1972. Thereafter, virtually every one of her works won her an award. The Ministry of Education and Social Welfare honoured her book of stories for children called pa11jan IJiCh Parmeshwar in 1975, while the Department of Languages, Government of Punjab, conferred the “Nanak Singh Puruskar” on her novel Peele Patian di Dastan in 1980 and “Gurmukh Singh Mu safir Puruskar” on her autobiography Nange pa rion da Safa r in 1 982. Awards and honours have flowed from outside the Punjab as well. In 1985, the International Association of Punjabi Artists and Authors (IAAPA) based in Canada honoured her with an award in 1985. “Nanjanagudu Thirumalamba” award for her novel Katha Kuknoos Di came from Shashwathi, Karnataka and “Vagdevi” award for Duni Suhava Bagh was given by Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad, Calcutta, in 1998.
- For her outstanding contribution to Punjabi literature, Dr. Dalip Kaur received the “Shiromani Sahityakar” award from the Punajb Government in 1987, the “Best Novelist of the Decade” award from Punjabi Academy, Delhi, in 1994 and the “Kartar Singh Dhaliwal” award from Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana. She was among the distinguished Sikh personalities who were honoured on the occasion of the Tricentenary Celebrations of the Birth of the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1999.
Darshan Singh Pheruman(1885-1969)
- Darshan Singh Pheruman was a political leader, born at the village of Pherumans in present-day Amritsar district, on 1 August 1885. In 1921, he was arrested in the morcha launched by Sikhs for recovering from the British deputy commissioner of Amritsar keys of the Golden Temple treasury he had seized, and was imprisoned for one year. In December 1924, he led the 14th Shahldi jatha to Jaito, and was jailed for ten months. He also took part in the non-cooperation movement, Civil Disobedience movement and Quit India campaign during the Second World War.
- He was elected a member of the Rajya Sabha as a nominee of the Indian National Congress and retained his seat up to 1964. In 1959, he severed his connection with the Congress and joined the Swatantra Party of which he was one of the founders.
Professor Ganda Singh ji(1900-1987)
- Professor Ganda Singh ji(1900-1987), celebrated Punjab historian who by his sustained and pioneer work in the field of historical research initiated new trends in Sikh historiography
- was born on 15 November 1900, The Government of India honoured him With the award of Padma Bhushan in 1983. Dr Ganda Singh died at Patiala on 27 December 1987.
Giani Ditt Singh (1853-1901)
- Giani Ditt Singh was a scholar, poet and journalist.
- He was an eminent Singh Sabha reformer and editor. He was born on 21 April 1853 at Kalaur, a village in Patiala district of the Punjab.
- He wrote more than forty books and pamphlets on Sikh theology and history and on current polemics. Well-known among his works are: Guru Nanak Prabodh, Guru Arjan Chariltar, Dambh Bidaran, Durga Prabodh, Panth Prabodh, RajPrabodh, Mera ate Sadhu Dayanand da Sambad, Naqh SiAh Prabodh and Panth Sudhar Binai Pattar. He also published accounts of the martyrdoms of Tara Singh of Van, Subeg Singh, Matab Singh Mirankotia , Taru Singh and Bota Singh.
Giani Gian Singh(1822-1921)
- Giani Gian Singh (1822-1921), poet and historian, was born of a Dullat Jatt family on 15 April 1822, at Laungoval, a village in present-day Sangrur district of the Punjab.
- Dhanna Singh Malvai introduced him to the Maharaja who employed him to recite the Sukhmani to him every morning.
- In 1857, he came in touch with Pandit Tara Singh Narotam, a renowned scholar of the Nirmala school, whom he acknowledges in his writings as his literary mentor.
- Giam Gian Singh was launched on his own distinguished career as a writer with the publication in 1880 of his Panth Prakash, a history of the Sikhs in Braj verse.
- He died there on 24 September 1921. The Panth Prakash and Twarikh Guru Khalsa are the most important but not the only works of Giani Gian Singh. His other books are: Suraj Prakash Vartak, an abridged version in prose of Bhai Santokh Singh’s Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth; Ramayan Bhai Mani Singh Ji Di; Twarikh Amritsar (Urdu); Twarikh Lahore (Urdu) ; Patit Pavan; Gurdham Sangrah; Bhupendranand; Itihas Bagarian and Ripudaman Prakash.
Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir (1899-1976)
- Gurmukh Singh Musafir, Poet and politician, was born the son of Sujan Singh on 15 January 1899 at Adhval, in Campbellpore district, now in Pakistan.
- He gave up teaching to plunge into the Akali agitation for gurdwara reform. For taking part in the Guru ka Bagh agitation in 1922, he uderwent imprisonment. Side by side with his involvement in religious reformation, he started taking interest in nationalist politics and courted arrest in the Civil Disobedience launched by the Indian National Congress in 1930.
- The same year he was appointed head (Jathedar) of Sri Akal Takht, central seat of religious authority for the Sikhs. He held this office from 12 March 1930 to 5 March 1931. He went to jail again in Satyagrah (1939-41) and Quit India (1942-45) movements. He was elected a member of the Lok Sabha successively in 1952, 1957 and 1962. He did not complete his last term in the Lok Sabha and resigned in 1966 to take over as chief minister of the reorganized state of the Punjab On 28 March 1968, he reentered Parliament, this time as a member of the Rajya Sabha
- An active politician throughout his life, Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir also won renown as a poet and writer His published works include nine collections of poems— Sabar de Ban, Prem Ban, Jivan Pandh, Musafarian, Tutte Khamb, Kav Sunehe, Sahaj Seti, Vakkhra Vakkra Katra Katra and Dur nere; eight of short stories vakkhri Duniya, Ahlane de Bol, Kandhan Bol Paian, Satai Janvari, Allah Vale, gutar, Sabh Achcha, and Sasta Tamasha; and four biographical works - vekhia sunia Gandhi, Vekhia Sunya Nehru, Baghi Jarnail and Vihin Sadi de Shahid. He represented Indian writers at International conferences at Stockholm in 1954, and at Tokyo in 1961. He was posthumously decorated wilh Padma Vibhushan, the second highest national award of India.
- Giani Gurmukhi Singh Musafir died in Delhi on 18 January 1976.
Dr. Gurdev Singh Khush
- Sikh scientists , Dr. Gurdev Singh Khush with his dedication and hard worked developed more than 200 varieties of Rice.
- Dr. Gurdev S. Khush is a plant breeder and geneticist at International Rice Institute at Phillipines. In 1967, Khush joined International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and has been at the forefront in improving rice varieties ever since.
- Khush has been the recipient of numerous awards including Japan Prize from the Japan Center for Science and Technology in 1987 and the World Food Prize in 1996 that he shared with retired IRRI colleague Mr. Henry Beachell.
- Dr. Gurdev Singh Khush now lives in Phillipines with his family
Gurbachan Singh Talib (1911-1986)
- Gurbachan Singh Talib was a scholar, author and teacher, famous for his command of the English language. He was born in a small town, Munak, in the present Sangrur district, on 7 April 1911,
- Professor Gurhachan Singh Talib was a prolific writer both in English and Punjabi, though he knew Persian and Urdu very well, too. Among his best-known books in Punjabi are: Anapachhate Rah (1952); Adhunik Punjabi Sahit (Punjabi Kav) (1955); Pavittar Jivan Kathavan (1971); Baba Shaikh Farid (1975), and in English “Muslim League Attack on the Sikhs and Hindus in Punjab, 1947 (1950)”; The Impact of Guru Cobind Singh on Indian Society (1966), Guru Nanak: His Personality and Vision (1969), Bhai Vir Singh: Life, Times and Works (1973); Baba Sheikh Farid (1974); Guru Tegh Bahadur: Background and Supreme Sacrifice (1976) Japuji: The immortal Prayer-chant (1977); and his classical translation in English of the Adi Guru Granth (Four Volumes). Besides these books, he kept an unending flow of articles and papers contributed to different journals.
Baba Gurdit Singh
- He was born in 1860 at Sarhali, district Amritsar of the Punjab. In 1911 he raised his voice against forced labour. He wrote to the Government complaining against officials who forced poor villagers to work for them without remuneration, and when he received no response.
- He chartered a Japanese ship, Kamagata Maru in 1914 to go to Canada where the government had put restrictions on the entry of Indians. The ship, renamed as Guru Nanak Jahaj, had a total of 372 passengers out of whom 351 were Sikhs and 21 Punjabi Muslims.
Harchand Singh Laungowal (1932-1985)
- Sant Harchand Singh Laungowal was a Sikh political and religious leader in 1970’s and 1980’s.
- In 1965, he became the president of the Akali Jatha of Sangrur District and a member of the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal.
- Harchand Singh retired from politics in 1977 but was recalled in 1980 to lead Akali Dal, Then he was made president of Akali Dal. His presidentship of party was a period of extreme turmoil and trial for Sikhs.
- However, the general elections of January 1985 saw the Sikhs busily involved in electioneering. After this election, Harchand Singh Laungowal and Rajiv Gandhi prime minister of India signed an accord under which many of demands of Sikhs were accepted by Rajiv Gandhi. But before the process had come full circle, the Sant was shot by an unidentified young man presumed to be an extremist Sikh Youth. This happened on 20 August, 1985 at the Gurdwara in Sherpur, not far from Laungowal.
Ghadriite Harnam Singh Tundilat (1882-1962)
- Ghadriite Harnam Singh Tundilat (1882-1962) , a Ghadr revolutionary was born, 11 March 1882, in Hoshiarpur district of the Punjab. On 12 July 1906, he emigrated to Canada and then to California in the United States of America in December 1909.
- He attended a meeting of Indian immagrants at Portland in the beginning of 1912 which led to the formation of Hindustani Workers of the Pacific Coast, later renamed Hindi Association of the Pacific Coast, but populally known as the Ghadr Party.
- Harnam Singh was a revolutionary poet and a writer of prose of considerable merit. Three collections of his poems have been published Harnam Lafairan, Kurltl SudSIar and Harnam Sandesh. His prose works include Sacheha Sauda, Akhlaq te Mazhab, both in Punjabi, and Mazhab aur Insaniat, in Urdu.
Maharaja Yadavinder Singh
- Maharaja Yadavinder Singh (Sidhu) (1913-1974) was a Grand Commander of the Indian Empire , was the last hereditary ruler of the erstwhile Indian princely state of Patiala.
- Maharaja Yadavinder Singh founded the Khalsa Defence of India League. His support of the War effort was rewarded in 1944 by an honorary appointment as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Indian army.
- On 1 August 1947, twenty-two members of states, with Maharaja Yadavinder Singh leading, signified their decision to accede to the Indian Union and others followed in quick succession. In May 1948 he gave his assent to the merger of Patiala with seven other Punjab states to constitute what came to be known as the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).
- In November 1952, in accordance with the recommendations of the States Reorganization Comission, PEPSU was merged With East Punjab and Yadavinder Singh, Thereafter Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru sent him to New York as a member of tlle Indian delegation to the 11th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
- In 1965, the Lal Bahadur Shastri government appointed him to the prestigious post of Indian Ambassador in Rome, where he served until 1967.
- Throughout the late 1969’s, Yadavinder Singh continued his association with FAO and the Council of Sports, and in 1970 took on a new role as chairman of the Indian horticulture development council. In 1971, Yadavinder Singh took up his second and last permanent diplomatic postings at the Hague in the Netherlands. Three years ater, on 17 June 1974, he suffered a severe heart attack and died. He was 61 years of age.
Master Tara Singh (1885 - 1967)
- Master Tara Singh was born in a Punjabi Hindu Malhotra family of Rawalpindi. It is indeed remarkable that from humble origins he arose to the top of Sikh leadership, culminating with the creation of Punjabi State in Independent India.
- Tara Singh Malhotra is remembered for two things, one steering Sikhs towards opting for India in 1947 and other to campaign for the state of Punjab in Independent India.
Sardul Singh Caveeshar (1886-1963)
- Sardul Singh Caveeshar (1886-1963) was a politician, newspaper editor and author, born at Amritsar in 1886, In 1913 he launched an English journal, Sikh Review, from Delhi. For a series of articles he had published in the Akali from 13 to 21 March 1921 on the massacre of reformist Sikhs at Nankana Sahib, he was arrested on 27 May 1921, charged with sedition and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
- In 1927, he was elected a member of the Working Commiittee of the Indian National Congress. During the Civil Disobedience movement, 1931-33, Sardul Singh became acting president of the All-lndia Congress.
- Sardul Singh was a prolofic writer. The most famous are Guru Nanak and World peace, All Year Round: Guru Arjan’s Twelve Months of love and Worship, battle of Life: How Guru Gobind Singh fought it, Guru Gobind Singh and national movement, The Cross and the Crown, Republicanism in religion, the city of joy, spirit of sikhism, A Sikh king: Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Two Jewels of the house of Phul, The problem of life: How Guru Nanak solved it, India’s fight for freeddom (1936), Sikh studies(1937), Sikhs and the Swaraj, non-violent non-cooperation, The Lahore Fort Torture Camp (1946)
- His Sikh Dharm Darshan in Punjabi was published by Punjabi University, Patiala in 1969
Sobha Singh (1901-1986)
- Sobha Singh was a famous Sikh painter, famous especially for his portraits of the Gurus. He was born on 29 November l901 in a Ramgarhia family of Sri Hargobindpur, in Gurdaspur district of the Punjab.
- Sobha Singh was skilled in the western classical technique of oil painting.
- Sohni-Mahinval was rated to be a real masterpiece; its impact upon the Puniabi consciousness was of a lasting nature. What gave Sobha Singh the utmost satisfaction was his paintings of the Gurus of the Sikh faith.
- Much acclaimed and honoured in his lifetime, Sobha Singh died in Chandigarh on 21 August 1986
Sir Sobha Singh (1890-1978)
- Sir Sobha Singh (1890-1978) was the single largest builder and real estate owner of New Delhi, was the elder of the two sons of Sujan Singh, the younger one being Wjal Singh who made himself famous as a Punjab parliamentarian.
- Despite this handicap, he became the first lndian president of the New Delhi Municipal Committee. He was knighted by the government and appointed a member of the Council of States. Sobha Singh left the greater part of his private estate to a charitable trust. Among his last bequests was one for Bhagat Puran Singh’s Pingalvara in Amritsar, home for lepers.
- Sir Sobha Singh had four sons and a daughter by his wife, Lady Varyam Kaur. Writer and author, his son “KS” or Khushwant Singh has made himself known the world over for his audacious and fresh style of writing.
Bhai Randheer Singh ji
- Bhai Randheer Singh, whose original name before baptism and initiation into the Khalsa fold was Basant Singh, was born in the village of Narangwal in the Ludhiana District of Punjab on July 7, 1878.
- He, along with the Ghadarite emigrants from USA and Canada, became an active participant in the armed revolt against the British Government for the country’s freedom.
Professor Puran Singh ji(1881-1931)
- Professor Puran Singh, poet and scientist, was born on 17 February 1881 at Sarhadd (Abottabad) He published for some time an English monthly, the Thundering Dawn, which also mainly addressed itself to the theme of British repression in India. got married to Maya Devi.
- He was a lover of nature and beauty, and wrote beautiful and tender poetry both in English and Punjabi. Among his famous works in English are The Sisters of the Spinning Wheel (1921), Unstrung Beads (1923), The Spirit of Onental Poetry (1926); in Punjahi, Khulhe Maidan, Khulhe Ghu,nd (1923), Khulhe Lekh (1929), and Khulhe Asmani Rang ( 1927) .
Dr. Parkash Kaur
- The first lady minister of East Punjab(1956), and was given the portfolios of Social welfare and Health.
- Dr. Parkash Kaur was born in village Khara in the year 1914. She was a member of the Kasturba Memorial Trust established for rehabilitation of refugees. She continued operating Red Cross camps in villages. She was a member of the State Social Welfare Board continuously from 1954 to 1978 and worked endlessly for the welfare of women and children.
Milkha Singh
- Sardar Milkha Singh is the greatest living Sikh Athlete. He deservedly got an epithet named “Flying Sikh” from Pakistan General Ayub Khan. Till date the ‘Flying Sikh’ is the only Indian to have broken an Olympic record. Unfortunately, he was the fourth athlete to reset the mark and thus missed the bronze medal in the 400m event at the Rome Olympics in 1960.
Kaur Singh Chakkar (1892-1954 A.D.)
- Chakkar Kaur Singh belonged to Averha Chakkar, Tehsil Uri, District Muzzffarabad, Kashmir. He did not marry and devoted himself to missionary work of Sikh religion. During the tribal invasion of Kashmir, he lost 111 relatives including his aged mother. This stirred him into action. He went to Delhi and became guide of the first Indian army which landed at Srinagar to stem the tide of tribal invasion and remained there till cease-fire was declared. Later on, he devoted himself to the recovery of abducted women. In 1951, he met one Goodwill Mission from Pakistan, convinced them about the miserable conditions of women and children at Amor Camp and was also able to secure a promise of help.
Sardar Kishen Singh ji
- Sardar Kishen Singh belonged to villae Birang, district Jalandhar. He was a Havaldar Major in 2/35 Sikh regiment. He was court martialled for twenty eight days on the charge of propaganda against the Government and was pensioned off. He joined Akali movement in 1920 A.D. For being a good preacher, he was made secretary of the Akali Dal in April 1921 A.D.
- He held a conference at Rurka Kalan in Jalandhar District and named his preacher Jatha as ‘Chakravart Jatha’ (Squad on the move). In August 1922 A.D. he started a secret news paper by the name of Babbar Akali Doaba and renamed their squad as ‘Babbar Akali Jatha’. Provoking articles and emotional poems were published in that news paper.
Pehelvan Kikkar Singh Sandhu (1857-1914)
- Kikkar Singh Sandhu ‘Pehelvan’ was a wrestler of legendary fame. He was born in 1857 in Lahore district (now in Pakistan). Kikkar Singh was counted as the leading Indian wrestler and one among the best in the world.
Baba Khem Singh Bedi (1832-1905)
- Baba Khem Singh Bedi one of the founders of the Singh Sabha movement, was born on 21 February 1832 at Kallar, a small town in Rawalpindi district, now in Pakistan. He was a direct descendant, in the thirteenth place, of Guru Nanak. On 8 April 1905, he left Peshawar by rail in a state of’ serious sickness and feebleness, and died at Montgomery on 10 April 1905.
Sardar Khushwant Singh
- He is the high priest of journalism and can be said to be India’s best. he is a free thinker and an international celebrity. Khushwant Singh had become a legend and an icon in his lifetime. He is a lawyer, critic and columnist. He is a prolific writer and historian.
Kharak Singh ji(1868 - 1963)
- Baba Kharak Singh was a Sikh political leader and virtually the first president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, was born on 6 June 1868 at Sialkot, now in Pakistan
- After 1947, he stayed in Delhi in virtual retirement, and died there on 6 October 1963 at the ripe age of 95.
Sirdar Kapur Singh ji (1909 - 1986)
- Sirdar Kapur Singh was a civilian, parliamentarian and intellectual. He was master of many-sided learning Besides Sikh theology, he was vastly learned in philosophy, History and literature. He was selected into the Indian Civil Service and served in various administrative posts in the cadre in 1947, he was appointed deputy commissioner of Kangra.
[1] The Indians states of Patiala, Kapurthala, Nabha, Jind, Faridkot and malerkotla were not a part of it. Delhi and Hissar were integrated into Punjab after the mutiny of 1857 A.D.
[2] the Black Buck is an antelope, blessed with a striking colour and spiralled horns. The fawn’s coat is yellowish but it becomes turns black at maturity. It is found in the plains and avoid forests and hilly tracks.
[3] To be read broadly in order to develop a broad picture in mind.
[4] What are sikh misls: Misl refers to a fighting clan. The period from 1716 to 1799 in Punjab was a highly turbulent time politically and militarily. This Confederacy was made up of individual Sikh kingdoms that were ruled by Sikh barons. Each of these barons has his own army,
[5] Important for interview in 2009
[6] The Anandpur Resolution or Anandpur Sahib Resolution was a political statement made by a Sikh political party, the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1973.
[7] Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the controversial leader of the Damdami Taksal, a Sikh religious group based in India, who supported implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution.He tried to spread his perceived values of Sikhism. In 1981, Bhindranwale was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of Jagat Narain, the proprietor of the Hind Samachar Group. He surrendered to police but was later released due to lack of evidence,
[8] Considering Punjab in terms of five rivers
[9] Source: Statistical Hand Book of Punjab Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Department, 1999
[10] Envirnmental impact assessment.
[11] Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab are placed at the bottom with child sex ratio 0-6 raging between 850-799.
[12] Exclude children in the age group 0-6 who were treated as illiterates in the 2001 Census.
[13] Economic and statistical organisation, 2008-09
[14] For details on green revolution refer to booklet on Indian economy
[15] large units as on 31.3.2007
[16] medium units as on 31.3.2007
[17] small scale units as on 31.3.2007