The historical discourse on Punjab in the eighteenth century primarily focuses on the first half

due to British political expansion in the region. However, historians have debated various
aspects of Punjab's history in the second half, particularly among scholars of Punjab and Sikh
history.

One significant debate revolves around the causes of the Mughal Empire's decline. Some
attribute it to economic crisis and exploitation by ruling classes, while others argue that
regional assertiveness led to economic prosperity and autonomy. These perspectives shed
light on the intertwined relationship between economy, society, and political decline.

Jadunath Sarkar emphasized Aurangzeb's religious policies and military campaigns as

primary causes of dislocation, highlighting Hindu-Muslim tensions. Others like Sri Ram
Sharma and Ishwari Prasad pointed to religious policies causing chaos and economic crises.
Satish Chandra identified flaws in Jagirdari and Mansabdari systems, leading to financial
crisis and imperial collapse.

Irfan Habib attributed the decline to economic crisis, with high land revenue leading to rural
exploitation and unrest, weakening the imperial framework. His view on eighteenth-century
Punjab focuses on the rise of Sikhs to political power, particularly noting the plebeian
character of Sikh revolt and the later emergence of leaders like Nawab Kapur Singh.

Muzaffar Alam offered an alternate view, emphasizing the role of Mughal administrative
institutions and merchants in regional developments. He highlighted Sikh antagonism
towards the Mughal state and their claim to rulership.

Chetan Singh linked political unrest in Punjab to tensions between the agrarian economy of
the Mughal core and tribal societies on the fringe, undergoing a shift towards sedentary life.
He underscored the importance of Sikh presence and militancy, noting its growth in the
seventeenth century amid economic expansion.

The struggle between Afghans and Sikhs marked the first half of the eighteenth century,
leading to Sikh leaders declaring sovereignty over Punjab in 1765. Early European observers
noted Sikh military organization and administration, defining Sikh polity as theocratic
confederate feudalism.

N.K. Sinha, Hari Ram Gupta, and Bhagat Singh provided detailed discussions on Sikh polity,
largely accepting and amplifying European perspectives. However, J.S. Grewal challenged
prevailing views, distinguishing between pre-territorial and territorial phases of Sikh rule and
highlighting the evolving nature of Sikh leadership and sovereignty.

Indu Banga expanded the understanding of Sikh rule, focusing on agrarian conditions,
revenue administration, and urbanization under Sikh governance. She emphasized the
prosperity of Punjab in the late eighteenth century, marking a shift from de-urbanization to
urbanization during Sikh rule.

Overall, the historical discourse on Punjab's eighteenth century involves various perspectives
on Mughal decline, Sikh rise to power, and the nature of Sikh polity, highlighting thecomplex
interplay of political, economic, and social factors in shaping Punjab's history during this
period.