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Punjab History |
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History of Punjab is very versatile, as it had been subjected to different invasions. History speaks volumes of valour, courage and bravery of the people of Punjab. Early studies prove that Punjab included much of the present region of Pakistan. The history of Punjab has undergone turbulent changes as a result of many invasions. Land of Ancient Civilizations and Epics
Punjab is the cradle of the Indus Valley Civilization, more than 4000 years old. Archaeological excavations, throughout the state, have revealed evidences of the magnificent cities of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, that lived and died along the banks of the mighty Indus and its tributaries. The Mahabharata, which narrates life between the 7th and 5th century BC, contains rich descriptions of the land and people of Punjab at that time. The Vedic and Epic period of the Punjab was socially and culturally very prolific as during this glorious period, the people accelerated in the fields of philosophy and culture. It is believed that parts of the Ramayana too, were written around the Shri Ram Tirath Ashram, near Amritsar; and it was in these forests that Lav and Kush grew up. Kaikyee belonged to this region. The authors of Vishnu Purana and the Shiv Purano belonged to the central Punjab. Other great historical discoveries have been unearthed at Ropar, Kiratpur, Dholbaha, Rohira and Ghuram. These relics throw light on the culture and changing architectural styles of Punjab, since the Harappan age. At Sanghol, in Fatehgarh Sahib district near Ludhiana, sites associated with great Mauryan Dynasty, have yielded remarkable relics that record the presence of Buddhism in the region.
Aryan Migration and Persian Rule(516 BC -- 321 AD)
Among other reasons, one of the reasons of the decline of Indus Valley Civilization could be a series of raids or small scale migration from At that time the greatest rival of the Persians were the Greeks. They also had some knowledge of the area. Persian emperor Darius I appointed Skylax, the Greek to explore the area around Indus for its commercial viability . Skylax later wrote a book "Peripulus" in which he mentioned about the area and its richness . Hectaeus (500 BC) and Herodotus (483-431 BC) also wrote about the "Indian Satrapy" of the Persians. In Greek maps we find the mention of the mightiest of river of all the world called the Indos (Indus) and its tributaries of Hydaspes (Jehlum), Akesines (Chenab), Hydroatis (Ravi), Hyphasis (Satluj) and Hesidros (Beas).
Invasion(321 AD) The legendary king Great Alexander of Greece had an ambition of Conquering the World. Around 321 B.C after crushing the might of Persians , he entered In the middle of the second century BC, Yui Chi tribe of modern China began to move westward which caused in turn to Sakas or Scythians to move. Northern Sakas successfully wrestled the power of the areas from the Indo-Greeks. Another Central Asiatic people to make Punjab their home were the white Huns who made continuous campaigns towars this part of the world. Finally establishing their rule in the later 3rd century AD.
Muslim Invasions(713 AD -- 1300 AD) Following the birth of Islam in Arabia in 6th century AD, Arabs rose to power and replaced the Persians as the major power in the area. In 711-13 AD After that Mugals came and captured relatively the whole of India and remained in power for about 250 years.
The Rise of Sikh Power(1700 AD -- 1849 AD)
After Guru Gobind Singh Ji , the Sikhs started following the holy book, Shri Guru Grandh Sahab Ji, written and compiled by all the Gurus. The 10th
The British and the Post Independence Era The British ruled Punjab for 200 years like the rest of India . Many of the Freedom Fighters of the Great Indian Freedom Struggle were from Punjab . Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev , Lala Lajpat Rai, Udham Singh were some of the brave sons of this soil who laid down their life for the country. In addition thousands of unsung heros sacrificed themselves in the "Jalia Wala Bagh" incident. At last on 15 th August 1947, India became independent and the State was divided among India and Pakistan. Punjab was again divided into the states of present day Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for administrative reasons in 1966 . Chandigarh on the border of Punjab and Haryana, remains the capital of the two states, yet is administered as a Union Territory from Delhi.
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