Punjab is said to have derived
its name from the five rivers that flow through this region.
The Indus, the Sutlej, the Beas, the Ravi and the Ghaggar
which water this state make it a part of the northern fertile
plain. Prior to Persian period this region was known by different
names at different times. Probably, at the height of its glory
it was known as Sapta Sindhu, land of the seven rivers, namely
Sindhu (Indus), Vitasta (Jehlum), Asuhi (chenab), Purshin
(Ravi), Vipasa (Beas), Satadru (Sutleg) and Saruri (Saraswati).
The last one is a dried up stream now and its traces are found
in the present seasonal streams that flow near Pehowa in Haryana.
During Greek occupation, the territory had shrunk into the
area covering the five rivers.
It was a region that formed parts of the
Indus Valley civilization. The Aryans settled in this region
in about 1500B.C. It was in about 900B.C that the battle of
Kurukshetra mentioned in the Epic Mahabharata was believed
to have taken place in Kurukshetra. During this period the
region formed small principalities ruled by chieftains. In
326BC Alexander the Great of Macedonia invaded Punjab. After
this was the rule of Chandragupta Maurya that lasted till
about 1st century A.D. By 318A.D the Gupta dynasty exercised
their influence. They were followed by the Huns in about 500A.D.
By 1000A.D the Muslims invaded Punjab led by Mahmud of Ghazni.
In 1030A.D the Rajputs gained control of this territory. In
about 1192A.D the Ghoris defeated the Chauhans and ruled till
the establishment of the Mughal rule, a spirit of religious
liberation led to the rise of the Militant Sikh power. In
the early, 19th century the British established their influence.
After independence this region witnessed mass migration and
distribution of property. In 1947 when India was partitioned,
the larger half of Punjab went to Pakistan. In 1966 the Indian
smaller half was further divided into three: Punjab, Haryana
and Himachal Pradesh.
Main
city of Punjab |
