A GLIMPSE OF THE PUNJABI HERITAGE Prof. Pritam Singh Grewal

The people of the Punjab, known as the Punjabis, possess an old and rich culture. PUNJ + AB means the land of five rivers, namely Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum. The present Punjab, divided in 1947, forms part of India and Pakistan. The language of this region is Punjabi and has several dialects. The Punjabi people belong to the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh religions. The Punjabi culture and heritage is of the vintage of the famous Indus Valley civilization (third millennium B.C.) whose sites have been excavated at Mohenjo-Daro and Sanghol. The verses of the Rig-Veda, regarded as the oldest scripture, were composed in Punjab.

Historically, the Punjabis had to bear the brunt of numerous invasions of India from across the North-Western borders which began in 327 B.C. with the attack by Alexander the Great of Macedon, from Greece. Invasions continued till 1767 A.D., when the Sikhs finally repulsed the forces of Ahmed Shah of Afghanistan. Such hard times made the Punjabis daring, sturdy, adventurous and open-minded.

The Sikh religion, founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539), a contemporary of the Mughal emperor Babur, was another powerful factor that influenced the Punjabi way of life. Besides their spiritual regeneration, the Punjabis experienced a strong social and political awakening through the philosophy and practice of the Ten Sikh Gurus, during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Sikh ideal was realized in 1699 in the formation of an egalitarian, monotheistic, self- disciplined and human-rights-conscious community of Saint-soldiers called the Khalsa. Surviving persecution and even genocide at the hands of foreign rulers for a hundred years, these dauntless people established the most powerful sovereign state of the then India, under the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh who was popular with the Punjabis of all faiths. His cabinet included Muslim and Hindu ministers. His French and Italian generals trained the Khalsa army on European lines. Comprising the whole Punjab and Kashmir, this state flourished till annexed by the British in 1849, after two Anglo-Sikh wars. Please refer to the map (opposite page) taken from the book "The Sikhs and Their Way of Life" by Gurinder Singh Sacha.

For long Punjab remained a melting pot of cultures. The Punjabi language, art, architecture, dress, and food, show Greek, Mughal and Persian influence on them.

The Punjabi language is written in Gurmukhi script (see opposite), but Pakistani-Punjabis use Persian letters.

Punjabi literature has been enriched by Sikh, Muslim and Hindu writers alike.

Baisakhi (April 13) is Punjabis' main festival, marking the height of spring, harvest of wheat and the birthday of Khalsa.

Folk songs and dances - Giddha, Bhangra - charm and thrill the Punjabis. A sampling of Punjabi folk songs: Veiled Beauty: The fair face and eyes brown, why behind the veil restrain? Romantic Prank: A girl wearing anklets the water spilt,

A boy wearing necklace slipped on it. In-Laws' Etiquette: To veil your face and walk with grace

A double trouble at in-laws' place. Sympathy in Trees: The trees though can't speak

Yet share people's grief. Sikh Community Celebration To mark the Martyrdom Day of their Fifth Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the Sikh Community will hold special congregations at the Sikh temples: Gurdwaras.

The celebration includes singing of Kirtan: the Guru's verses, speeches and Langar: free food for all who attend.

Guru Arjan Dev got the foundation of the famous Golden Temple laid by a Muslim saint Mian Mir in 1588 at Amritsar (Punjab) and compiled the first edition of the Sikh scripture, Ad Granth, in 1604. He contributed 2312 compositions himself to this holy book. For the sake of his right to faith and expression, this first martyr Sikh Guru had to face inhuman tortures and death in 1606 at Lahore as ordered by the then emperor Jehangir of India.

This article was originally published in Cross Cultures Magazine in Volume 1 - Issue 4 - 1992. Unauthorized copying, distribution or other usage without express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.