Punjab (India)
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| ?ਪੰਜਾਬ Punjab India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area | 50,362 km² (19,445 sq mi) |
| Capital | Chandigarh |
| Largest city | Ludhiana |
| District(s) | 20 |
| Population • Density |
24,289,296 (15th) • 482 /km² (1,248 /sq mi) |
| Language(s) | Punjabi |
| Governor | Sunith Francis Rodrigues |
| Chief Minister | Parkash Chand Badal |
| Established | 1956-11-01 |
| Legislature (seats) | The Punjab Government Unicameral (117 Punjab MLAs) |
| ISO abbreviation | IN-PB |
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Punjab (Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬ, IPA: [pəɲdʒaːb]) is a state in northwest India. The Indian state borders the Pakistani province of Punjab to the west, Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Himachal Pradesh to the northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, Chandigarh to the southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest. The total area of the state is 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 square miles). The population is 24,289,296 (2000). Punjab's capital is Chandigarh, which is administered separately as a Union Territory since it is also the capital of neighbouring Haryana. Other major cities of Punjab include Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala. The state is the location of one of the world's first and oldest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization, India's first civilization.[1]
The Indian Punjab historically forms a part of the larger Punjab region, which includes some parts of Afghanistan, Pakistani province of Punjab and the North West Frontier Province, the Indian states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, parts of J&K and Delhi and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Indian Punjab was trifurcated in the year 1966 leading to the formation of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Agriculture is the largest industry in Punjab. Others major industries include the manufacture of scientific instruments, electrical goods, financial services, machine tools, textiles, sewing machines, sports goods, starch, tourism, fertilizers, bicycles, garments, and the processing of pine oil and sugar. Punjab is considered to have the best infrastructure in India [2], this includes road, rail, air and river transport links that are extensive throughout the region. Punjab also has the lowest poverty rate in India at 6.16% (1999-2000 figures), and has won the best state performance award[3], based on statistical data compiled by the Indian Government.
[edit] Etymology
The word "Punjab" is a combination of the Persian words 'panj' (پنج) Five, and 'āb' (آب) Water, giving the literal meaning of the Land of Five Rivers. The five rivers after which Punjab is named are the Beas, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej.
[edit] Geography
Most of the Punjab is an alluvial plain, bounded by mountains to the North. Despite its dry conditions, it is a rich agricultural area due to the extensive irrigation made possible by the great river system traversing it. Punjab region temperature range from -2° to 40°C (MIN/MAX), but can reach 47°C (117°F) in summer and can touch down to -5°C in winter.
[edit] Demographics
| Punjab Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1971 | 13,551,000 |
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| 1981 | 16,788,915 | 23.9% | |
| 1991 | 20,281,969 | 20.8% | |
| 2001 | 24,289,296 | 19.8% | |
| source:Census of India [4] | |||
Punjab is fairly diverse nowadays. Punjab is where Sikhism is the most practiced faith. Sikhism is practiced by about 63.9% of the population [5] & 34.9% practices Hinduism. Recently a small amount of Rastafarians have moved into a small block in Khana. Other faiths include Islam, Buddhism, Christianity and Jainism. The holiest of Sikh shrines, the Golden Temple or Harimandir Sahib, is in the city of Amritsar. The Sri Akal Takht Sahib which resides within the Golden temple complex is the temporal seat of Sikhs. Of the five Takhts[Temporal Seat] of Sikhism, three are in Punjab. Anandpur Sahib is where Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa, on one of the most important day on the Sikh calendar called Vaisakhi. On a special day on the Sikh calendar such as Vaisakhi,Hola Mohalla,a Gurpurb or Diwali, Sikh gatherings march through every city, town and village. At least one Sikh Gurdwara will be situated in every village, town and city they can be found in various styles and sizes. There will be number Sikh shrines found in each and every district made in the commemoration of a Sikh Guru or Martyr. Punjab is also the birthplace of the Hindu religion. Traditional literature of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Vedas are all traced back to Punjab. Generations ago, turbans were fairly commonplace of most Punjabis whether Muslim, Hindu or Sikh. Muslims and Hindus have given up their turbans, but it became an article of faith for Sikh men whose religion forbids them to cut their hair.
The Punjabi language, written in the Gurmukhi script is the official language in the state.
| Religion | Adherents | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| All | 24,358,999 | 100% |
| Sikhs [6] | 14,592,387 | 59.90 % |
| Hindus [7] | 8,997,942 | 36.94 % |
| Muslims [8] | 382,045 | 1.56 % |
| Christians [9] | 292,800 | 1.20 % |
| Buddhists [10] | 41,487 | 0.17 % |
| Jains [11] | 39,276 | 0.16 % |
| Others [12] | 8,594 | 0.035 % |
| Not stated [13] | 4,468 | 0.018 % |
[edit] Education
Punjab is served by 11 leading public institutes of excellence in higher education (listed below). All the major arts, humanities, science, engineering, law, medicine, veterinary science, and business courses are offered, leading to first degrees as well as postgraduate awards. Advanced research is conducted in all major areas of excellence. Punjab Agricultural University is one of the world's leading authorities in agriculture. It was instrumental and played vital role in Punjab's Green Revolution in the 1960s-70s.
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
- Punjabi University, Patiala.
- Punjab University, Chandigarh.
- Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
- Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar.
- Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot.
- Punjab Veternary Sciences University, Talwandi Sabo[14].
- Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University[15].
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Mohali
- National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar.
- Thapar University, Patiala.
The current Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh was educated at Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Professor Har Gobind Khorana, famous Nobel laureate & biotechnologist was educated at Punjab University.
[edit] Business and infrastructure
Punjab has the best infrastructure in all of India[16][17] and as result it is becoming attractive to foreign companies looking for bases and manufacturing zones for their Indian operations. The Indian National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has ranked Punjab's infrastructure as the best in India. Its road, rail, air and transport system is rated best in the country with ranking of 210 points[18] compared to the national average of 100 in NCAER’s infrastructure index. It has highest per capita generation of electricity in India, which is 2.5 times the national average. All major Punjabi cities benefit from this and having one of lowest tariff's in India, including all of Punjab's villages, which have been electrified and connected to the Punjabi electrical power grid since 1974.
- Total Road network 47,605 km
- All cities connected by National Highways.
- All major towns of adjoining states connected by National Highways.
- Percentage of villages connected by metalled roads 97%
- National Highways: 1000 km
- State Highways: 2166 km
- Major Distt. Roads: 1799 km
- Other District Roads: 3340 km
- Link Roads: 31657 km
Source: NCAER & Punjab Government
[edit] Tourism
Main article: Punjab (India) Tourism
Tourism is a swiftly expanding area and many analysts predict huge potential. Tourism of Punjab is principally suited for the tourist interested in culture, civilization, spirituality and epic history. More specifically tourism is particularly suited for the person who is interested in epic history, the celebrated Punjabi culture, royal Punjabi palaces, historic battles and of course the world-renowned examples of Sikh Architecture, shrines and temples.
For more on tourism in Punjab please see Tourism main article above.
[edit] Famous Punjabis
Main article: The Punjabi people
Main article: Famous Punjabis
Main article: Famous Punjabi poets
The Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is a Punjabi. Two former Indian Prime Ministers include I K Gujral and Gulzarilal Nanda both of whom were also Punjabis. Another Punjabi to occupy the topmost post in India was the former President of India Giani Zail Singh. A former Chief of Army Staff of India, General General Joginder Jaswant Singh is a Punjabi, so is famous Nobel laureate Professor Har Gobind Khorana. The first Indian in Outer space is a Punjabi - Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma. The highest ranking office in the history of the Indian Air force was a Punjabi, Marshal of the Air Force of India - Arjan Singh (the highest rank ever given in the history of the Indian Air force). The first Indian-American Governor and new Governor Elect of Louisiana., USA Bobby Jindal (Rep) is also a Punjabi from his fathers parental lineage. In the entertainment sector, the giant Dalip Singh helps promote Punjab in the sphere of Professional wrestling. Indian cricket star Harbhajan Singh is from the Punjab from a village called Lamhbra on the outskirts of Jalandhar. Gurdass Mann and Hans Raj Hans are two of the most famous singers to come from the punjab. The first ever Asian Member of the US Senate, Dr. Dalip Singh Saund, was a Punjabi as was Kalpana Chawla, the famous US astronaut. For more on Famous Punjabi People please see lists above.
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the current Indian Prime Minister. |
 Eminent Punjabi Poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi Most famous Punjabi Contemporary Poet |
.jpg/96px-Gujral(2).jpg) Former Indian Prime Minster Inder Kumar Gujral. |
 Yuvraj Singh, Internationally famous Punjabi Indian Cricketer. |
 Har Gobind Khorana Nobel Prize winning Scientist. |
 Musician Gurdas Mann Punjabs most popular folk musician |
[edit] Economy
Excluding agriculture other major industries include the manufacture of scientific instruments, electrical goods, machine tools, textiles, tourism, sewing machines, sports goods, starch, fertilizers, bicycles, and the processing of pine oil and sugar.Also, a big source of pakistani rice
[edit] Macro-economic trend
This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Punjab at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian Rupees. The traditional long-term financial policy of the Union Government is to reward well-performing States.
| Year | Gross State Domestic Product |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 50,250 |
| 1985 | 95,060 |
| 1990 | 188,830 |
| 1995 | 386,150 |
| 2000 | 660,100 |
Punjab's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $180 billion in current prices.
About 1% of the S&P CNX 500 conglomerates have corporate offices in Punjab. This is a list of NSE-indexed conglomerates with corporate offices in Punjab. Figures are given in millions of Indian Rupees for 2005.
| Rank | Conglomerate | Gross Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahavir Spinning Mills | 19,376 |
| 2 | Punjab Tractors | 10,245 |
| 3 | Abhishek Industries | 7,537 |
| 4 | Nahar Spinning Mills | 4,687 |
| 5 | Nahar Exports | 4,293 |
| 6 | Vardhman Polytex | 2,955 |
[edit] Agriculture
Punjab (the five rivers region) is one of the most fertile regions on earth. The region is ideal for wheat-growing. Rice, sugar cane, fruits and vegetables are also grown. Indian Punjab is called the "Granary of India" or "India's bread-basket." [19] It produces 14% of India's cotton, 20% of India's wheat, and 9% of India's rice. In worldwide terms, Indian Punjab produces 2% of the world's cotton, 2% of its wheat and 1% of the world's rice.[20] The largest grown crop is wheat. Other important crops are rice, cotton, sugarcane, pearl millet, maize, barley and fruit.In Punjab per hectare consumption of fertilizer is 177 kg as compared to 90 kg at national level. Also Punjab State has been awarded National Productivity Award for agriculture extension services for consecutively ten years from 1991-92 to 1998-99 and 2001 to 2003-04.
Source: Punjab Government
[edit] Punjab Medals of Honour
The Punjab Medals of Honour are a collection of awards that are given by the Government of Punjab for exceptional excellence and achievement in the service of Punjab, the Punjabi people and internationally. Some awards are given yearly and some are only given rarely and under exceptional circumstances, where the individual has shown remarkable sacrifice or personal service of Punjab. To win one of the rare awards would probably make the individual a household famous name in Punjab. Two of the most prestigious awards are koj Punjab Rattan Award and the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award (a very prestigious award).
[edit] Twin Punjabi Associations
The Punjab historically, since ancient times, has been one cultural and political entity within which the Punjabi people have lived in. However, after the partition of India the Punjab was divided, cutting the Punjabi people in two across the international border between Pakistan and India. Relations after partition were unusually Luke-warm between the twins Punjabs. However, over the last 20 years both Punjab governments, in India and Pakistan, have made concerted effort to maintaining cultural and historical ties of the Punjabi people. This included the international Punjabi Games held in 2004, arranged by both Punjab Governments. Academic institutions have kept their strong contacts such as Universities that were spilt after partition, such as the twin Punjab Universities at Chandigarh and Lahore.
[edit] Districts
Punjab state is divided into 20 administrative districts (listed below):
- Amritsar District
- Barnala District
- Bathinda District
- Firozpur District
- Fatehgarh Sahib District
- Faridkot District
- Gurdaspur District
- Hoshiarpur District
- Jalandhar District
- Kapurthala District
- Ludhiana District
- Mansa District
- Moga District
- Mohali District
- Muktsar District
- Nawanshahr District
- Patiala District
- Rupnagar District
- Sangrur District
- Tarn Taran District
[edit] Cities
The largest cities of Punjab state are:
[edit] Politics
[edit] History
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This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (May 2008) |
The Indian state of Punjab was created in 1947, when the Partition of India split the former Raj province of Punjab between India and Pakistan. The mostly Muslim western part of the province became Pakistan's Punjab Province; the mostly Sikh eastern part became India's Punjab state. Many Sikhs and Hindus lived in the west, and many Muslims lived in the east, and so the partition saw many people displaced and much intercommunal violence.[21] Several small Punjabi princely states, including Patiala, also became part of India. In 1950, two separate states were created; Punjab included of the former Raj province of Punjab, while the princely states were combined into a new state, the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU). PEPSU consisted of the princely states of Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot and Kalsia. Himachal Pradesh was created as a union territory from several princely states and Kangra District. In 1956, PEPSU was merged into Punjab state, and several northern districts of Punjab in the Himalayas were added to Himachal Pradesh.
The capital of the undivided Punjab province, Lahore, ended up in Pakistan after partition, so a new capital for Indian Punjab state was built at Chandigarh. On November 1, 1966, the mostly Hindu southeastern half of Punjab became a separate state, Haryana. Chandigarh was on the border between the two states, and became a separate union territory which serves as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh was due to transfer to Punjab alone in 1986, but the transfer has been delayed pending an agreement on which parts of the Hindi speaking areas of Abohar and Fazilka, currently part of Firozpur District of Punjab, should be transferred to Haryana in exchange.
During the 1970s, the Green Revolution brought increased economic prosperity for the Sikh community in Punjab. However, a growing polarisation between the Indian National Congress led Indian government and the main political party of the Sikhs, the Shiromani Akali Dal, began to widen during the 1970s. The hostility and bitterness arose from what was widely seen by the Sikhs as increasing alienation, centralization and discriminatory attitudes towards Punjab by the Government of India. This prompted the Shiromani Akali Dal to unanimously pass the Anandpur Sahib Resolution which among other things called for granting maximum autonomy for the Punjab and other states and limiting the role and powers of the Central Government. The Anandpur Sahib Resolution was rejected and erroneously dubbed as being of a hidden separatist agenda by India's Congress Party, specifically to discredit the resolution.
Discord had been developing after the rejection of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. A small section of Sikhs demanded an independent state of Khalistan. A number of militants took to targeting officials and people opposed to their point of view which included a number of Sikhs. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale along with his supporters sought shelter inside the Akal Takht. Fearing an attack on the Harimandir Sahib, Bhindranwale, with help from Shabeg Singh heavily fortified the temple. The Indian army finally assaulted the Golden Temple to take out armed militants in June, 1984. However, the operation, Operation Bluestar was poorly planned and coordinated, leading to heavy military and civilian casualties.
As a result, the situation in Punjab deteriorated into anarchy with a rise in radicalised militancy. By the early 1990s, after many years of violence across Punjab, the militants' struggle for Khalistan had lost much of the sympathy given after the assault on the sacred Golden Temple, it had previously had from some Punjabi Sikhs and what little armed resistance remained was eliminated and forced underground. In the following years there was concern over alleged human rights abuses conducted by the central and state government against radical Sikhs, and many human rights organisations were not allowed in the Punjab at the time.[22]
The Indian BJP former leader stated that the Congress Party governments have been involved in creating terrorism in the Punjab. Recently, BJP national president Lal Krishna Advani, stated that it was his party which pressured Sikh Extremists to take a stand against the government. [23] The policy to help the Congress Party by creating militants and moderates backfired resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people [24].
Punjab's economy was acutely affected in the 1980s and early 1990s. However in recent times, there have been serious attempts by the Central Government to diminish resentment and strong feelings of Punjabis over the issue. Punjab's economy is now on the path to recovery. However, corruption and violence continues to hamper the state.
[edit] Recent immigration
Many in the state are also concerned about the unchecked influx of laborers from other Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar; 10% of Punjab's population is now made up of migrants from these states. This has created a fear of a loss of ethnic and religious identity for many Punjabi Sikhs, whose currently hold a 60% majority in the state. Many of them worry that they will become a minority in their own state, and that this in encouraged by the government.[25]
[edit] Photo gallery of Punjab State
 The Golden Temple at night in Amritsar. |
 The Bhakra Dam |
 The Punjabi Fort at Bathinda. |
 The Punjabi Fort at Bathinda. |
 The Punjabi Fort at Bathinda a view from inside the Fort. |
 The main gate of the Punjabi Qila Mubarak at night. Architect Atit Kumar. |
 The Punjabi Phuara Chowk (lit. the Fountain Crossing) is the central land mark of Patiala. |
 Jallianwala Bagh memorial to commemorate the fallen brave Punjabi protestors at the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. |
 Wideview of the Punjabi Jallianwala Bagh memorial. |
 Entrance to the present day Punjabi Jallianwala Bagh. |
 Bullet marks, visible on a preserved wall, at present day Punjabi Jallianwala Bagh. |
 Mohindra College Patiala. |
 A Punjabi Phulkari from Patiala. |
 Punjabi Phul Cinema on The Mall facing the Fountain Chowk is built in Art Deco style. |
 Punjabi Tandoori chicken is a popular dish in Punjabi cuisine |
 Jalandhar Railway Station's reception block. |
 In Jalandhar Punjabi Community gets together at markets, amusement parks etc especially on weekends and annual Punjabi festivals. |
 The Punjabi Sutlej River Valley from Rampur ca. 1857. |
 Mohindra College, Patiala at night. |
[edit] References
- ^ Indus Valley Civilization
- ^ Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- ^ Best overall performance award to Punjab- Hindustan Times
- ^ Demographic Trends (English). Census of India. www.punenvis.nic.in. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ India census data
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Census of India, 2001
- ^ Higher Education. Retrieved on 2006-09-16.
- ^ Finally, Punjab gets its first veterinary university. Official web site of Punjab, India (2006-06-02). Retrieved on 2006-09-20.
- ^ Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- ^ Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- ^ Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- ^ Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- ^ Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- ^ article=discoverindia_places_punjab Punjab - State. 4to40.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-14.
- ^ See Amnesty Reports such as<ref>[http://www.punjabtrauma.org Punjab Trauma<!-- Bot generated title -->]</li> <li id="cite_note-22">'''[[#cite_ref-22|^]]''' [http://www.hindustantimes.com/storypage/storypage.aspx?id=c2819374-a8dd-4272-83da-20647b435a45&MatchID1=33&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=4&MatchType1=5&SeriesID1=1&PrimaryID=33&Headline=Advani%e2%80%99s+Blue+Star+remark+makes+Akali+Dal+see+red Advani’s Blue Star remark makes Akali Dal see red- Hindustan Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</li> <li id="cite_note-23">'''[[#cite_ref-23|^]]''' [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/BJP_rallies_behind_Advani_hits_back_at_Congress/articleshow/2901845.cms] BJP accuses Congress of Terrorism</li> <li id="cite_note-24">'''[[#cite_ref-24|^]]''' [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo.cms%3Fmsid%3D2846492&imgrefurl=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-2846479,flstry-1.cms&h=341&w=400&sz=27&hl=en&start=472&um=1&tbnid=ddRSNxUGR5x0eM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkhalistan%26start%3D468%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN] Simmering discontent: Sikhs in Punjab are fighting many wars</li></ol></ref>
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Welcome to Official Web site of Punjab, India
- Punjab (India) travel guide from Wikitravel
- Punjab (India) at the Open Directory Project
- [1]
| Five rivers of the Punjab | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in Punjabi | Jhelum | Chenab | Ravi | Beas | Sutlej |
| in Ancient Greek | Hydaspes | Acesines | Hydraotes | Hyphasis | Hesidros |
| in Sanskrit | Vitasta | Ashkini | Parushani | Vipasa | Shatadru |
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