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Following the partition, the Indian State of Punjab was created immediately after independence in 1947. The state has Himachal Pradesh to its north and northeast, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Haryana to its south and southeast, Rajasthan to the southwest, and Chandigarh to its east. It is believed that one of the first human civilisations in the subcontinent was established in Punjab around 2500 BC. Amritsar is the capital city of Punjab.
Punjab has been famous for its rich culture, folk dances, spicy cuisine, agriculture, festivals, Sikh gurudwaras, etc. Punjab means the land of five waters. The High court of Punjab and Haryana has its unique identity of having jurisdiction over two states. Let us go through some of the interesting facts about Punjab.
Punjab- ‘The land of five rivers’
Punjab got its name—the land of five rivers—from the five rivers flowing in its territory. Punjab is the word derived from the Persian language in which Panj means five and Aab means water. This is how the term Punjab was coined.
The five rivers which flow through the territory of Punjab are Sutlej (which consists of major hydroelectric projects like the Bhakra Dam, the Karcham Wangtoo Hydroelectric Plant and the Nathpa Jhakri), Ravi (consists of inter-basin water transfers, hydropower and multipurpose projects), Beas (consists of projects for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation purposes), Chenab (consists of the Salal Dam and the Baglihar Dam with hydroelectric power project, the Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant, the Pakal Dul Dam and the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant), Jhelum (consists of the Mangla Dam, one of the largest earth-fill dams in the world, and the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant).
Thus, Punjab is not just a land of five rivers but also a state with several dams and hydroelectric power plants that provide both power to the state and help its agriculture through irrigation.
Ancient human civilisation
Apart from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the capital city of Punjab, the state also has a unique attraction –the remnants of an ancient human civilisation called the Indus valley civilisation or Harappan civilisation.
The Harappa civilisation dates back to 2500–1700 BCE. The civilisation shows the presence of crafts, technologies and artisans in that period. Also, it has traces of a political system and social system prevalent in that period.
It is the most systematic and advanced civilisation with a proper drainage system, housing, currency, irrigation facilities, etc.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, known as the Lahore High Court before the partition, was established on 21 March 1919 in Chandigarh. It is the common court for Punjab, Haryana and the Union territory of Chandigarh.
The architecture and design of the high court were handed to the famous French architect Le Corbusier. The court was built replicating the design of Shimla’s Peterhoff hotel.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has 85 judges, of which 64 are permanent judges and 21 additional judges, including the chief justice.
Wagah-Attari border ceremony
After the partition of India and Pakistan, Attari village was retained by India, and Wagah merged into Pakistan. An antique ceremony takes place two hours before sunset on the Wagah- Attari border every day.
The ceremony is named the “Silly Walk ceremony”. This is the marching ceremony done along with the flag by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers. The ceremony is worth watching since it displays the power of India’s and Pakistan’s border soldiers.
Martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh
The Jaillianwala Bagh Massacre, which took place on 13 April 1919, exemplifies the brutality of the British colonial rulers towards the Indians. Around 1,000 people were killed, more than 1,200 were injured, and 192 people were reported to have suffered “grave” injuries during this massacre.
In the memory of these brave freedom fighters, a Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Centenary Memorial was set up in Amritsar with around 492 martyrs’ names engraved on its wall (according to the names mentioned in the list of Amritsar deputy commissioner’s office).
Thus, Punjab is a land where many freedom fighters have lost their lives for freedom.
Green Revolution
Punjab is blessed with the five rivers, which make its soil fertile and nutritious for crop production. This was why it was chosen to carry out the Green Revolution project in the late 1960s. The Green Revolution introduced modern agricultural technologies to the farmers of Punjab, and high-yielding wheat varieties were developed and cultivated in the state.
Today, Punjab is the major contributor to the production of the staple crops of wheat and rice in India. Punjab supplies 17% and 11% of India’s wheat and rice, respectively. About 84% of the state’s land is under cultivation, making it the largest agricultural state in India.
Conclusion
Punjab did not merely gain its fame because of its food, pilgrims, folk songs, dances, and festivals, but also due to several historical reasons. Facts show its importance and rich heritage even at present. Amritsar is the capital city of Punjab. The state is the major contributor to India’s total rice and wheat requirements. Punjab has played a crucial role in uplifting the tradition and culture of India. It is the pride and heart of India and will always be.
