History of  PUNJAB pMjwb

PUNJAB before partition.

The Punjabi region, like most of North India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, has a historical and cultural link to Indo-Aryan heritage identity. As a result of numerous invasions, many ethnic groups and religions make up the cultural heritage of the Punjab.
In prehistoric times, one of the earliest known cultures of South Asia, the Harappa civilization, was located in the Punjab.
The epic battles described in the Mahabharata were fought in modern-day Harayana and historic Punjab. The Gandharas, Kambojas, Trigartas, Andhra, Pauravas, Bahlikas (Bactrian settlers of Punjab), Yaudheyas and others sided with the Kauravas in the great battle fought at Kurukshetra.^[5]
In 326 BCE, Alexander the Great invaded the Punjab from the north and incorporated it into his empire. His armies entered the region via the Hindu Kush in northwest Pakistan and his rule extended up to the city of Sagala (modern-day Sialkot) in northeast Pakistan. In 305 BCE the area was divided between the Maurya Empire and the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

 

GURU NANAK DEV JI

During the establishment and consolidation of Mughal rule, there was conflict, chaos, and political upheaval in the Punjab. However, with the Mughals, prosperity, growth and relative peace were established, particularly under the reign of Jahangir. The period was also notable for the emergence of Guru Nanak (1469–1539), the founder of a powerful popular movement which has left a lasting impression on the history and culture of Punjab. Born in the district of Sheikhupura, he rejected the division of mankind into rigid compartments of orthodox religions and castes and preached the oneness of humanity, and oneness of God, thus aiming at creating a new order which embraced the all-pervasive spirit in man. This new philosophy would serve as the foundation for the Sikh faith.

BANDA BHADUR

In 1713, Banda Singh Bahadur wanted to establish a multi-cultural state in the Punjab. For this he fought relentlessly with the Mughals. His state lasted just under a year before its collapse. A number of years afterward, he was captured and executed.
Abdali's Indian invasion weakened the Maratha influence, but he could not defeat the Sikhs. At the formation of the Dal Khalsa in 1748 at Amritsar, the Punjab had been divided into 36 areas and 12 separate Sikh principalities. From this point onward, the beginnings of a Punjabi Sikh Empire emerged. 

MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH

Out of the 36 areas, 22 were united by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The other 14 accepted British sovereignty. Ten years after Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death, the empire broke up and the British were then able to defeat Punjab with the help of some Hindu Dogra kings. The Sikh State of Punjab was the only state which was a not a part of British rule at that time. Hence, it was conquered last by the British.
This Sikh Empire was the last to fall against the British, and was a victim of intrigue from neighboring kingdoms. In many ways Punjab under Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the only territory in South Asia that could have stood up against the might of the British  Empire.


The British Raj had political, cultural, philosophical and literary consequences in the Punjab, including the establishment of a new system of education. During the independence movement, many Punjabis played a significant role, including Ajit Singh Sandhu, Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Bhai Parmanand, Muhammad Iqbal, Chaudhary Rehmat Ali, Ilam Din Shaheed and Lajpat Rai.

BHAGAT SINGH, UDHAM SINGH, KARTAR SINGH, LAJPAT RAI

The Punjabis also play a prominent role in the mutiny of 1857 against the British. Cities like Jhelum and Ludhiana served as centers of rebellion against the British government.
At the time of partition in 1947, the province was split in to East and West Punjab. East Punjab became part of India, while West Punjab became part of Pakistan.