History of Punjab Punjab, the land of five rivers and integrated punjab cultural history, is a treasure trove for an avid tourist. For this land of the great gurus not only boasts of ancient monuments but throbs with historical embodiments. It is no secret that whoever comes to this land of yellow fields with blue mountains providing the romantic and picturesque backdrop has never gone back without imbibing the essence of Punjab. There is no dearth of breath taking palaces, for Punjab was the seat of royalty, as the imposing Quila Mubarak will tell you. Museums galore and so are the religious places with the Golden Temple offering succour to the mind and soul of any one visiting. If you are a wild life freak, then Punjab can take you on a tour of the sanctuaries, which are hot favourites with migratory birds. Since this state borders Pakistan, there are two main posts from which you can peep into the land that was once an integral part of Punjab and experience the feelings of the people separated by a line. The much truncated India's portion of present Punjab is divided into three natural regions: The Majha,The Doaba and The Malwa. The Punjab covers an area of 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 square miles) and has a population around 24,000,000 in 2000. The name "Punjab" means "land of five rivers" and derives from the Persian words 'panj' meaning five, and 'aab' meaning water. The rivers, tributaries of the Indus River, are the Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, and Sutlej. The five rivers, now divided between India and Pakistan. Area of Punjab that is between rivers of Beus and Satluj is called Doaba, major cities in this part of punjab are Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Nawan Shahr. Majha is between Beus and Chenab and on both sides of Ravi, this part is called the heart of Punjab and cities include Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Faridkot and Ferozepur. Area of Malwa is southern Punjab facing Rajasthan and East of river Beus, cities include Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala, Karnal, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Shahabad, and Abohar. The land of Punjab which is described as the land of the Gurus, Pirs and the warriors, as a matter of faith believes in earning honest living through hard labor and in sharing the fruits of this labor with others without expecting any returns. Green fields, fields ripe with corn, tractors busy with work. Punjab presents a pretty picture of a prosperous farm life. The culture of Punjab from among the cultures of the world has its own unique fragrance. It is unmatched. The scent of this fertile land is such in which the warmth of you-are-my-own is inborn. All communities hold pride in their traditions. A guest in Punjab is considered as a representative sent by God. The first impression of Punjab one gets is that of a land pulsating with prosperity. The plains of Punjab with their fertile soil and abundant water supply, are naturally suited to be the breadbasket for India. The land of five rivers is a land of exciting culture, myriad images of swaying emerald green fields and hearty people whose robust rustic ways of camaraderie and bonhomie are very much a part of their heritage. Today's Punjab has become a land of boundless opportunities, offering distinct advantages for investment and industry. Since the recent liberalization of India's economy, Punjab has started making its mark on the global business mainstream, with major players from around the world forming joint ventures in the field of agri-business.
 Today's Punjab has over 1.97 lakhs of small and medium industries and about 653 large-scale industries. It leads in the manufacture of machine and hand tools, printing and paper cutting machinery, auto parts and electrical switchgear. The state also provides more than 75% of the country's requirement for bicycles, sewing machines, hosiery and sports goods. At par with the highest quality standards in the world, these products have carved a niche for themselves in markets across the globe. Its average growth rate of 10% is amongst the highest in the country, clearly reflecting the progressive economy of the state. Punjab also boasts a 58% literacy rate and the highest per capita income in India. |
