Punjab History, Culture and Geography
This section covers ancient and medieval Punjab, the Sikh Gurus, the rise of Ranjit Singh, colonial rule, Partition, and the state's physical and cultural geography.
History timeline
- Harappan sites in the region include Ropar (Rupnagar) and Sanghol.
- Alexander and Porus fought at the Hydaspes (Jhelum) in 326 BCE.
- Guru Nanak was born in 1469 at Nankana Sahib.
- Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.
- Banda Singh Bahadur defeated the Mughals at Sirhind in 1710.
- Ranjit Singh captured Lahore in 1799 and was crowned in 1801.
- The Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–46, 1848–49) ended in annexation in 1849.
- Jallianwala Bagh massacre: 13 April 1919.
- Partition: 1947; Punjabi Suba and the present state: 1 November 1966.
Geography and culture
Punjab is divided into Majha, Doaba and Malwa. The Sutlej, Beas and Ravi flow through the state; the Chenab and Jhelum do not enter Indian Punjab. The Shivalik foothills lie in the northeast. Cultural items include Bhangra, Giddha, Jugni, Boliyan, the dhol, tumbi and algoza; fairs include Maghi at Muktsar, Baisakhi and Hola Mohalla.
Worked example
Question: Which river does not flow through Indian Punjab? Reason through the five rivers: Sutlej and Beas cross Punjab, Ravi runs along the border, while Chenab and Jhelum lie in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. The answer is Chenab.
Traps
Do not mix Guru Nanak's birthplace with his travels; do not date the Khalsa to 1675; and do not place Malwa north of the Sutlej.