Punjab

Introduction
1. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the north and
northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, and Rajasthan to the southwest;
by the Indian union territories of Chandigarh to the east and Jammu and Kashmir
to the north.
2. It shares an international border with Punjab, a province of Pakistan to the west.
3. Language- Punjabi, written in the Gurmukhi script, is the most widely spoken
and the official language of the state.
4. The state capital, Chandigarh, is a union territory and also the capital of the
neighbouring state of Haryana.
5. Three tributaries of the Indus River — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — flow
through Punjab.
6. District Ludhiana is known for Woolen Industry.
7. Jalandhar is for Sports goods indusrty.
8. Kapurthala has Rail coach factory.
9. Mukerian is known for Paper mill.
History
Ancient period
1. There is no doubt that the Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Andhra, Pauravas,
Yaudheyas, Malavas, Saindhavas, and Kurus had jointly contributed to the
heroic tradition and composite culture of ancient Punjab.
2. The bulk of the Rigveda was composed in the Punjab region between circa 1500
and 1200 BC.
3. The earliest known notable local king of this region was known as King Porus,
who fought the famous Battle of the Hydaspes or Jhelum against Alexander
the Great. His kingdom spanned between rivers Hydaspes (Jhelum) and
Acesines (Chenab);
4. The battle is thought to have resulted in a decisive Greek victory, but did not
depose Porus.
5. The region was then divided between the Maurya Empire and the Greco-Bactrian
Kingdom in 302 B.C.E. Menander I Soter conquered Punjab and made Sagala
(present-day Sialkot) the capital of the Indo-Greek Kingdom.Menander is noted
for having become a patron and convert to Greco-Buddhism and he is widely
regarded as the greatest of the Indo-Greek kings.

Medieval
1. In the ninth century, the Hindu Shahi dynasty emerged in the Punjab
2. The Turkic Ghaznavids in the tenth century overthrew the Hindu Shahis and
consequently ruled for 157 years
3. Muhammad of Ghor in 1186,defeated Ghaznavids- deposing the last Ghaznavid
ruler Khusrau Malik.
4. Following the death of Muhammad of Ghor in 1206, the Ghurid state fragmented
and was replaced in northern India by the Delhi Sultanate.
5. A significant event in the late 15th century Punjab was the formation of Sikhism
by Guru Nanak The lifetime of Guru Nanak coincided with the conquest of
northern India by Babur and establishment of the Mughal Empire.

Conflict with Mughals

Mughal rulers of India tortured and executed two of the Sikh gurus—Guru Arjan
(1563–1605) 5th and Guru Tegh Bahadur-9th (1621–1675)—after they refused to
convert to Islam.

The persecution of Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh
in 1699 as an order to protect the freedom of conscience and religion, with members
expressing the qualities of a Sant-Sipāhī ('saint-soldier').
Jahangir ordered the execution of Guru Arjun Dev, while in Mughal custody, for
supporting his son Khusrau Mirza's rival claim to the throne.

Guru Arjan Dev's death led to the sixth Guru Guru Hargobind to declare sovereignty in
the creation of the Akal Takht and the establishment of a fort to defend Amritsar.
Jahangir then jailed Guru Hargobind at Gwalior, but released him after a number of
years when he no longer felt threatened. The succeeding son of Jahangir, Shah Jahan,
took offence at Guru Hargobind's declaration and after a series of assaults on Amritsar,
forced the Sikhs to retreat to the Sivalik Hills.

The ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, moved the Sikh community to Anandpur and
travelled extensively to visit and preach in defiance of Aurangzeb, who attempted to
install Ram Rai as new guru. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikh religion
was beheaded on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb on 24 November 1675 in
Delhi.

Outcome-conflicts between the Mughals and the later Sikh Gurus precipitated a
militarisation of the Sikhs, resulting in the formation of a confederacy after the
weakening of the Mughal Empire, which competed for control with the larger Durrani
Empire.
This confederacy was united in 1801 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, forming the Sikh
Empire.

Guru Gobind Singh, who succeeded Guru Tegh Bahadur, openly rebelled against
Aurangzeb. He transformed the Sikhs into a militant sect in defence of their religion and
liberties. Banda Bahadur, who later assumed the leadership of the Sikhs in 1708, was
defeated and killed. In the wake of the invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah
Abdali, the Sikhs once again asserted their authority. At this stage, they organised
themselves into 12 misls or confederacies which exercised control over different parts
of the kingdom. The credit for establishing a strong kingdom of Punjab goes to Ranjit
Singh. He was the son of Mahan Singh, the leader of the Sukarchakiya misl. Ranjit
Singh brought under control the area extending from the Sutlej to
the Jhelum. He conquered Lahore in 1799 and Amritsar in 1802. By the Treaty of
Amritsar with the British, Ranjit Singh acknowledged the British right over the
Cis-Sutlej territories.

Ranjit Singh proved to be an efficient administrator. He greatly modernised his army

with the help of Europeans. But towards the close of his reign, the English forced him to
sign the Tripartite Treaty in 1838 with Shah Shuja and the English Company whereby
he agreed to provide passage to the British troops through Punjab with a view to placing
Shah Shuja on the throne of Kabul. Ranjit Singh died in 1839

The empire existed from 1799, when Ranjit Singh captured Lahore, to 1849, when it
was defeated and conquered in the Second Anglo-Sikh War

Lord Dalhousie 1848-1856- (i) Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49) and annexation
of Punjab (1849)

Colonial
The Punjab was annexed by the East India Company in 1849. Although nominally part
of the Bengal Presidency it was administratively independent. During the Indian
Rebellion of 1857, apart from Revolt led by Ahmed Khan Kharal and Murree rebellion of
1857, the Punjab remained relatively peaceful. In 1858, under the terms of the Queen's
Proclamation issued by Queen Victoria, the Punjab came under the direct rule of Britain

In 1919 a British officer ordered his troops to fire on a crowd of demonstrators, mostly
Sikhs in Amritsar. The Jallianwala massacre fuelled the indian independence
movement

In March 1940, the All-India Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution,
demanding the creation of a separate state from Muslim majority areas in British India.
This triggered bitter protests by the Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab, who could not accept
living in a Muslim Islamic state.

After Independence
Following independence, several small Punjabi princely states, including Patiala,
acceded to the Union of India and were united into the PEPSU (The Patiala and East
Punjab States Union (PEPSU)). In 1956 this was integrated with the state of East
Punjab to create a new, enlarged Indian state called simply "Punjab". Punjab Day is
celebrated across the state on 1 November every year marking the formation of a
Punjabi language speaking state under the Punjab Reorganisation Act (1966).

In 1966, following Hindu and Sikh Punjabi demands, the Indian government divided
Punjab into the state of Punjab and the Hindi majority-speaking states of Haryana and
Himachal Pradesh.
From 1981 to 1995 the state suffered a 14-year-long insurgency. Problems began due
to disputes between Punjabi Sikhs and the central government of the Republic of India.
Tensions escalated throughout the early 1980s and eventually culminated with
Operation Blue Star in 1984; an Indian Army operation aimed at the dissident Sikh
community of Punjab. Shortly thereafter, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was
assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards.

Culture
Punjabi literature,
Heer Ranjha, the romantic epic in Punjabi literature, was composed by Warris Shah. In
Sindhi literature, Shah Abdul Latif composed Risalo, a collection of poems. These are
just some examples of literary works in regional languages.

Geography
Punjab is divided into three distinct regions on the basis of soil types: southwestern,
central, and eastern. Punjab falls under seismic zones II, III, and IV. Zone II is
considered a low-damage risk zone; zone III is considered a moderate-damage risk
zone; and zone IV is considered a high-damage risk zone

Rainfall
Monsoon Rainfall
Monsoon season provides most of the rainfall for the region. Punjab receives rainfall
from the monsoon current of the Bay of Bengal. This monsoon current enters the state
from the southeast in the first week of July.

Winter Rainfall
The winter season remains very cool with temperatures falling below freezing at some
places. Winter also brings in some western disturbances

1. Flora- Prior to the Green Revolution, Butea monosperma (known as 'dhak' in

Punjabi) trees were found in abundance in the state.
2. Indus river dolphins can be found in the Harike Wetland
3. the state animal is the blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra),
4. the state aquatic animal is Indus river dolphin (Platanista minor), and
5. the state tree is the shisham (Dalbergia sissoo)

Blackbuck

1. The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), or the Indian Antelope, is a species of

 antelope native to India and Nepal.
2. It is widespread in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha,
and other areas throughout peninsular India.
3. It is considered as the epitome of grassland.
4. The blackbuck is a diurnal antelope (active mainly during the day).
Recognition:
It has been declared as the State Animal of Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
Cultural Importance:
1. It is a symbol of purity for Hinduism as its skin and horns are regarded as
sacred objects. For Buddhism, it is a symbol of good luck.
Protection Status:
1. Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
2. IUCN Status: Least Concern
3. CITES: Appendix III

Indus River Dolphin.

Habitat.
They can only be found in the lower parts of the Indus River in Pakistan and in River
Beas, a tributary of the Indus River in Punjab, India.

Threats.
1. Biological Resource Use: Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources.
2. Natural System Modifications: Dams & water management/use.
3. Pollution: Domestic & urban waste water, Industrial & military effluents,
Agricultural & forestry effluents.

Conservation Status:
1. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered.
2. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES): Appendix I
3. Indian Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972: Schedule I

Wetlands
Beas CnR
1. It is a 185 km stretch of the Beas River meandering down from the Himalayan
foothills. The stretch is dotted with islands, sand bars and braided channels.
2. It hosts the only known population in India of the Indus River dolphin (EN). A
programme was initiated to re-introduce the Gharial (CR).
3. Endangered: Masheer/Himalayan Mahseer/Golden Mahseer (EN), Hog Deer
(EN), Smooth-Coated Otter (VU)
[UPSC 2022] Which of the following is not a bird?
Golden Mahseer
Indian Nightjar
 Spoonbill
White Ibis

Harike Wetland
It is a shallow water reservoir at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers.

Kanjli Wetland
It is associated with the first Sikh guru, Shri Guru Nanak.

Keshopur-Miani CmR
The Reserve is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds and agricultural
wetlands.
Endangered Species: Common Pochard (VU), Spotted Pond Turtle (EN)

Nangal WLS
It occupies a human-made reservoir of Bhakra-Nangal Project in the Shiwalik foothills.
The site is of historical importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers
formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” there in 1954.
Endangered Species: Indian Pangolin (EN), Leopard (VU), Egyptian Vulture (EN)

Ropar Wetland
It is formed by the construction of a barrage for diversion of water from the Sutlej River.
Major Fauna: Smooth Indian Otter, Hog Deer, Sambar, Indian Pangolin

National Parks
1. The state of Punjab has no national Park.

Wildlife Sanctuaries of Punjab

Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary
1. It is located close to the intersection of Haryana, Rajasthan & Punjab. Unlike
other wildlife sanctuaries that are located over public land, the Abohar Wildlife
Sanctuary spreads over the private land inhabited by the Bishnoi community.
2. The black buck (LC) (the State Animal of Punjab) is considered to be sacred by
the Bishnois. The community also protects the blue bull or Nilgai (LC).
3. Major Fauna: Blackbuck (LC); the State Animal of Punjab and blue bull or Nilgai
(LC).
4. Blackbuck (LC) is considered to be sacred by the Bishnois. They protect both
blackbuck deer and blue bull.
Harike Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar Site)
1. It is a large wetland formed after constructing the headworks across Sutlej river.
The headworks is located downstream of the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej
Rivers.

Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar Site)

1. It is located in the Shiwalik foothills.
2. It occupies a human-made reservoir constructed as part of the Bhakra-Nangal
Project. Here, Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers formalized ‘Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence’ in 1954.

Others
1. Bir Aishvan Wildlife Sanctuary: Sangrur district.
2. Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Bunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Dosanjh
Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Mehaswala Wildlife
Sanctuary and Bir Motibagh are all located in Patiala district.
3. Jhajjar Bacholi Wildlife Sanctuary: Rupnagar district
4. Kathlaur Kushlian Wildlife Sanctuary: l Gurdaspur district.
5. Takhni-Rehampur Wildlife Sanctuary: part of the Shivalik range in the Hoshiarpur
district.

Gardens
1. Chhatbir Bansar Garden in Sangrur,
2. Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind,
3. Amritsar's famous Ram Bagh Palace,
4. Shalimar Garden in Kapurthala,
5. Baradari Garden in the city of Patiala

Culture
Music
Dance
Bhangra and Giddha are forms of dance and music that originated in the Punjab
region.Punjabi romantic dances include Dhamaal, Bhangra, Giddha, Dhola, and Sammi
and some other local folk dances.
Bhangra

Bhangra is a type of traditional dance from the Indian subcontinent, originating in the
Majha area of Punjab. The dance was associated primarily with the spring harvest
festival, Baisakhi.

Giddha

Giddha is a popular folk dance of women in Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The
dance is often considered derived from the ancient dance known as the ring dance.
The main Punjabi folk dance for females is giddha or giddhah and for men or for both
men and women is bhangda or bhangra. Both Bhangra and Gidha originated in the
1800s in the Punjab region of India by farmers and initiated as folk dances celebrated
during the time of the harvest called Baisakhi/Vaisakhi.
1. The popular folk dance is performed in Punjab
2. The dance is similar to Bhangra but performed only by women
3. The dance is especially famous in the village of Malwa
4. Viyahula Giddha is danced in a circle. The girls form a ring. One of them uses
a (dholki) while sitting in the centre

Drama
A Qissa is a Punjabi language oral story-telling tradition that has a mixture of origins
ranging from the Arabian peninsula to Iran and Afghanistan

Qissa

A Punjabi Qissais a tradition of Punjabi language oral story-telling that emerged in

Punjab region of eastern Pakistan and northwestern India, with the fusion of local
Punjabi people and migrants from the Arabian peninsula and contemporary Iran.

Crafts
The city of Amritsar is home to the craft of brass and copper metalwork done by the
Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, which is enlisted on the UNESCO's List of Intangible
Cultural Heritage

Thatheras

The Thathera (literally meaning 'the beater', also known as Thathrias) is a Hindu and
Sikh artisan caste in India, whose traditional occupation is the making of brass and
copper utensils. In 2014, the craft of the Thathera community of Jandiala Guru made
ICH by UNESCO.

Festivals
Lohri, Gurpurb, Guru Ravidass Jayanti, Teeyan and Basant Kite Festival.

Lohri

1. Lohri is primarily celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus. It marks the end of the
winter season and is traditionally believed to welcome the sun to the northern
hemisphere.
2. It is observed a night before Makar Sankranti, this occasion involves a Puja
Parikrama around the bonfire with prasad.
3. It is essentially termed as the festival of the farmers and harvest, whereby,
the farmers thank the Supreme Being.

Gurpurab

Punjab Police has proposed to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
that the birth anniversary (Gurpurab) of Guru Nanak Dev be declared as ‘World
Pedestrian Day’ to spread awareness on road safety.

About:
1. To spread the message of oneness and to break barriers across faiths by
engaging in spiritual dialogues, Guru Nanak Dev, travelled far and wide during
the 15th and 16th centuries.
2. It is believed that during those times, when early modes of transport were
limited and were mostly restricted to boats, animals (horses, mules, camels,
bullock carts), Guru Nanak Dev, along with his companion Bhai Mardana,
undertook most part of his journeys on foot.
Journey of Guru Nanak Dev:
1. From Mecca to Haridwar, from Sylhet to Mount Kailash, he visited hundreds of
interfaith sites related to Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Jainism throughout
his journeys (also called udaasis).
2. At some sites, gurdwaras were constructed to commemorate his visit. Later his
travels were documented in texts called ‘janamsakhis’.
3. These sites are now spread across nine nations as per current geographical
divisions — India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, China (Tibet), Bangladesh, Saudi
Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.
 Teeyan- Celebrating Sisters

1. 'Teeyan' is a dance festival performed by women in the Punjab region.

2. It is also called Punjabi Teej.
3. The word meaning of “Teeyan” in Punjabi pronunciation is ‘tee-aan’, reflects the
celebration of flourishing and blissful married life.
4. The newly married girls come to their parental house to celebrate this festival.
5. Married women receive gifts and clothes from their parents and other male
relatives during the festival.
6. Teeyan is a festival celebrated in Punjab, which celebrates the onset of
monsoon.
7. It is the regional name of the festival of Teej.
8. It is a dance festival performed by women in the Punjab region.

Basant Kite Festival.

1. In Punjab, Basant Panchami is celebrated by wearing yellow clothes suitable to

the season, singing and dancing and holding a feast.
2. People also conduct kite flying competition on this auspicious day.
3. Multi-coloured kites dot the skies on this day which is the major attraction.
4. Basant Panchami also marks the change of the hard, cold climate in to warm.
5. Basant Panchami is a festival of delight when the farmers are ready to yield to
the farm.

GI Tags
​Phulkari: Literally means 'flower work'. It is the traditional embroidery of Punjab and the
entire cloth is embroidered and filled with flowers.Embroidery of floral designs on
light-colored cloth with contrasting brilliant colors. On the back of the material, the
stitches are embroidered.

Environmental Issues
Stubble Burning.
Stubble burning around autumn every year has been one of the contributing factors to
air pollution across the country’s northern region including the national capital and
surrounding areas.
Why- The paddy crop, which is harvested with combine harvester machines, leaves
behind a stubble on the farm. In order to destroy this stubble farmers find setting the
crop residue on fire to be the most ‘effective and cheap’ method; this allows them to
prepare the farm for sowing of the next winter crop. The short window between the
harvesting of paddy and the sowing of wheat — just about three weeks — is one of the
primary reasons why farmers resort to stubble burning.
Remedy- surface seeders, mandated for brick kilns to use stubble as fuel.

Soil Degradation- Salinity , Alkalinity.

Herbicide Usage
The Punjab government has banned the sale of glyphosate, a herbicide which is
extensively used in the State to control a wide variety of weeds in almost all the crops.
Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee has recommended the use of the
herbicide only for tea gardens and non-cropped areas and therefore there is a dire
need for strict compliance under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
There is no cultivation of tea in Punjab.

River Water Disputes

Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal.

1. Indus Water Treaty of 1960 between

India and Pakistan, allowing the former “free and
unrestricted use” of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
2. Subsequently, Haryana was carved out of
Punjab through the Punjab Re-organisation Act of
1966.
3. The 1981 agreement saw the States
mutually agree to the re-allocation of water,
4. Punjab Assembly responded by passing
the 2004 Act, terminating all its obligations under
the 1981 Act despite the Supreme Court
judgments.
5. Apprehending trouble, then President
A.P.J Kalam sought the Supreme Court's opinion
on the 2004 Act under Article 143 (1) of the
Constitution.

1. The Satluj Yamuna Link Canal is a proposed 214-kilometre-long canal

connecting Sutlej and Yamuna rivers.
2. Water resources are under the State List, while the Parliament has the power to
make laws regarding inter-state rivers under the Union List.
Security Aspect
1. Border Issues
2. Drug Addiction
3. Khalistani Insurgents
4. Gun Culture
5. The Union government amended the BSF Act to authorise the border guarding
force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a 50 kilometre stretch, up
from the existing 15 kilometre, from the international border in Punjab, West
Bengal and Assam.

Social Issues
1. Sex Ratio is Less
2. Highly Patriarchal Society

Personalities
1. Lala Laj PatRai
2. Ajit Singh
3. Bahgat Singh.

Ajith Singh

1. Anjuman-i- Muhibhan-i- Watan, was a "secret societies" founded by Sardar

Ajit Singh in Lahore.
2. "Bharat Mata" letter was published by Ajit Singh in Punjab.
3. Ajit Singh raised his voice against under the "Bharat Mata" letter the
oppression of farmers and the suppression of revolutionaries.
4. Sardar Ajit Singh, a Jat Sikh was the hero of the "Pagri Sambhal Jatta"
movement in 1907 AD.
5. After leaving India, Ajit Singh traveled to Rome, Geneva Paris, and Rio de
Janeiro.