Ancient Punjab formed part of the vast Indo-Iranian region. In later years it saw the rise and fall of the Mauryans, Bactrians, Greeks, Sakas, Kushans and Guptas. Punjab of medieval times saw a supremacy of the Muslims. Ghaznavis were followed by the Ghoris, the Slaves, the Khiljis, the Tughlaks, the Lodhis and the Mughals. Fifteenth and sixteenth centuries mark a period of watershed in the history of Punjab. Divine teachings of Guru Nanak and other nine Gurus impacted millions of people around the globe. Through teachings of Guru Nanak, Bhakti movement received a renewed impetus. Prima facie, Sikhism was a socio-religious movement which was more interested in fighting evils in religion and society. It was Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru who transformed the Sikhs into the Khalsa. They rose to challenge tyranny and after centuries of servitude established a humane Punjabi Raj based on secularism and patriotism. Ranjit Singh had in the words of a Persian writer changed Punjab from Madam-Kada to Bagh-I-bahisht, from the abode of sorrow to the garden of paradise. But soon after his death, the entire edifice collapsed on account of internal intrigues and British machinations. After two abortive Anglo-Sikh wars, Punjab was finally annexed to British Empire in 1849.

The fight against British rule had begun long before Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival on the scene. The revolt found expression through the movement of a revivalist or reformist character. First, it was the Namdhari sect which believed in self-discipline and self-rule. However, it was the martyrdom of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Shaheed Udham Singh which really gave impetus to nation-wide struggle for independence. Later, it was Lala Lajpat Rai who played an important role in the freedom movement. Punjab was in the vanguard of India’s freedom struggle on all fronts in India and abroad. Punjab’s tale of woes did not culminate with independence and it had to face the holocaust of partition along with displaced persons with harrowing memories. Besides their rehabilitation, there was the stupendous task of reorganisation of the state.

Eight princely states of East Punjab were grouped together to form one single state called PEPSU-Patiala and the East Punjab States Union withPatiala as its capital. PEPSU State was merged with Punjab in1956.

Situated in north-western corner of the country, Punjab is bound on the west by Pakistan, on north by Jammu and Kashmir, on north-east by Himachal Pradesh and in the south by Haryana and Rajasthan. The population of state according to 1991 census was 2,02,81,969 and its area is 50,362 sq km. Punjabi is the principal language of the state. There are 17 districts of the state the largest being Ferozepur with an area of 5,865 sq km and smallest being Fatahgarh Sahib having an area of 1,180 sq km.

Agriculture is the mainstay of Punjab’s economy. Nearly 86 per cent of the total geographical area of the State is under cultivation. Punjab alone contributed 58 percent of rice to the central pool in 1999-2000 marketing year despite the fact that it comprises only 1.53 per cent of the total area of the country. Besides wheat and rice, other main crops are maize, gram and pulses. Processed agro-products like mushrooms, honey, chillies, potato chips and tomato paste are exported from Punjab.

There are 1.99 lakh small scale industrial units in the state. These units produce bicycle parts, sewing machines and hand tools, machine tools, auto parts, electronic items, sports goods, surgical and leather goods, hosiery, knitwears, nuts and bolts, textiles, sugar, vegetable oil etc giving employment to about 8.80 lakh persons. As on March 31, 2000 there were 626 units in large and medium sector providing employment to about 2.30 lakh persons.

A large number of information technology and soft ware development companies have up in the state. With the setting up of Earth Station in Mohali at a cost of over Rs 3 crore and with laying of fibre optic backbone in the state by Department of Telecommunication, basic infrastructure has been established for the growth of information technology industry. State Government has also launched a venture capital fund in association with Small Industrial Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for providing financial assistance to the information technology units besides notifying a special package of incentives for such IT Units. An information technology park is also being setup at Mohali which will provide built-up space for software and hardware industry.

The construction of Bhakra Nangal complex, including Bhakra Dam, Bhakra Main Line, Nangal Hydel Channel, Ganguwal and Kotla Power House, Harike Barrage, Sirhind Feeder, remodelling of Madhopur Headworks into Barrage etc have been some of the major hydroelectric projects which have played a significant role in considerably enhancing the irrigation and power potential of the state. Madhopur Beas Link was constructed to transfer surplus water of Ravi to Beas. A similar Beas-Sutlej Link Project envisages the utilisation of the Beas water for the production of electricity at Slapper. Beas-Sutlej Link Projects are two important irrigation and power projects. Completion of Thein Dam, a multi-purpose river valley Project, comprising a 160 metre high earth core cum gravel shell dam on river Ravi, will produce 6000 MW hydroelectric power with a total storage capacity of a reservoir of 3,280 Mcm. The stored water in the reservoir will provide additional irrigation to 3.48 lakh hectares of land. By the completion of this dam, water of all three rivers allocated to Punjab under Indus Water Treaty will be harnessed. Completion is in progress of Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Project at a cost of Rs 786 crore with credit assistance from World Bank. Potential of the existing irrigation system has been improved by the lining of 1,072 km of canal and 5,184 km of water courses and modernisation of 295 canal regulation structures. Financially backward areas of Kandi in Punjab have been developed by construction of 6 low dams, completion of Kandi Canal and its distributary system and construction of 320 tubewells. The impact of rising water table in the southern part of the state of Punjab has been readdressed by construction of new drains and resectioning of existing 2,078 km of drains. Installation of shallow tubewells along right side of Sirhind Feeder in the most critical areas also helped in arresting the seepage from the canal. On the irrigation front, about 60 per cent of the total irrigated land is served by tubewells while the remaining 40 per cent is irrigated through canals etc.

Presently, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has 2,677 MW of installed capacity from its own thermal power plants in India. Another thermal plant by the name of Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant operating 2x210 MW capacity, was successfully commissioned during 1998-99 at Lehra Mohabat near Bathinda. The state has also started the exploitation of non-conventional energy sources in a big way e.g. rice straw thermal power plant at Jalkheri is the first of its kind in India with a generating capacity of 10 MW. There is 100 per cent electrification in Punjab.

Sri Anandpur Sahib has been developed by the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) as the first solar city of India on the occasion of tricentenary celebrations of the birth of Khalsa. Three photovoltaic power plants each 5 KW capacity have been set up at the three important historic Gurudwaras of this sacred town for the purpose of solar lighting of langar halls and compounds of these Gurudwaras.

Punjab has always accorded top priority to infrastructure development. The road length in Punjab is 44,076 km out of which provincial roads are 42,589 km while national highways are 1,487 km. All villages of the state have been linked with metalled road. The length of the rail routes passing through the state is around 3,726.06 km. Rail communication with Pakistan also emanates from Punjab (Amritsar). There are three civil aviation clubs at Bhatinda, Ludhiana and Patiala, one flying club at Jalandhar, one domestic airport at Chandigarh, international airport at Rajasansi (Amritsar) and two aerodromes at Patiala and Sahnewal, Ludhiana.

The state is tourists delight. The Punjab Tourism Development Corporation owns a chain of 32 tourist complexes and holiday homes. The state has a large number of places of tourism interest some of which include Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Takhat Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Bhakra Dam, wet land Harike Pattan, Sangol for archaeological importance and Chatbir Zoo, Mughal Monument Complex, Aam Khas Bagh and Roza Sharif of Sheikh Ahmed at Sirhind with graves of Afghan rulers, Sodal temple at Jalandhar and Ram Tirath commemorate Maharishi Balmiki’s heritage which is being recognised as a venue for a national festival. Historic Golden Temple alone attracts millions of tourists from within the country and abroad every year.

Punjab has rich cultural traditions. Besides Dussehra, Diwali and Holi, other important festivals and fairs are Baisakhi, Hola Mohalla, Basant Maghi Mela etc.