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96-671: The Maoist Communist Centre ( MCC ) was one of the largest two armed Maoist groups in India, and fused with the other, the People's War Group in September 2004, to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist) . When the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) was founded in 1969, rallying various Maoist tendencies into a unified organisation, some groups retained a separate identity and remained outside of CPI(ML). One such group
192-400: A sarissa and attacking a pair of Indians on an elephant. Porus refused to surrender and wandered about atop an elephant, until he was wounded and his force routed. When asked by Alexander how he wished to be treated, Porus replied "Treat me as a king would treat another king". Despite the apparently one-sided results, Alexander was impressed by Porus and chose to not depose him. Not only
288-548: A 'terrorist organization' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004. During the first two decades of its existence, the policies of the Andhra Pradesh state government vacillated in its approach towards the party. At some points, the state cracked down heavily on the party, at other points its approach was more conciliatory. The party was able to exploit the political conflict between
384-415: A Punjabi-speaking Punjab state with an autonomous Sikh government. During the colonial era , the various districts and princely states that made up Punjab Province were religiously eclectic, each containing significant populations of Punjabi Muslims , Punjabi Hindus , Punjabi Sikhs , Punjabi Christians , along with other ethnic and religious minorities. However, a major consequence of independence and
480-555: A declaration containing death threats against the Chief Minister of three Indian states; Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee , Chandrababu Naidu and Babulal Marandi . Exactly a year later, the organization conducted an assassination attempt against Chandrababu Naidu. On 21 September 2004 CPI (ML) PW merged with the Maoist Communist Centre of India to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist) . In November 2004
576-418: A decline in genetic diversity, thus introducing a new ecological risk. Furthermore, these new crops demanded more water and were highly dependent on chemical fertilisers, both of which had deleterious environmental consequences. Overuse of water led to groundwater resource depletion, and heavy chemical usage adversely affected soil and water systems, further undermining long-term productivity. From 1981 to 1995
672-578: A mass rally of some 150,000 people was held in Hyderabad in support of CPI (ML) PW (the merger into CPI (Maoist) had not yet been made public at this point). The armed squads of the party consisted of ten persons. The squads used encounters and landmines in confrontations with security forces. The party was banned in Andhra Pradesh in May 1992, under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act. In February 1992
768-813: A result, the All India People's Resistance Forum was formed, with the participation of cadres from the three parties. AIPRF held a mass rally, with around 100 000 participants, on 21 March 1994. In January 2003 the MCC and the Punjab -based Revolutionary Communist Centre of India (Maoist) led by Shamsher Singh Sheri merged. The unified organisation was renamed Maoist Communist Centre of India . On 19 May 2003 Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Second Central Committee merged with MCCI led by Prashant Bose . CPI(ML) 2nd CC had to withdraw its pro- Lin Biao stand for
864-701: A series of assaults on Amritsar, forced the Sikhs to retreat to the Sivalik Hills . The ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur , moved the Sikh community to Anandpur and travelled extensively to visit and preach in defiance of Aurangzeb , who attempted to install Ram Rai as new guru. The Mughals came to power in the early sixteenth century and gradually expanded to control all of the Punjab from their capital at Lahore . As Mughal power weakened, Afghan rulers took control of
960-544: A system of bureaucracy and measure of the law. The 'paternal' system of the ruling elite was replaced by 'machine rule' with a system of laws, codes, and procedures. For purposes of control, the British established new forms of communication and transportation, including post systems, railways, roads, and telegraphs. The creation of Canal Colonies in western Punjab between 1860 and 1947 brought 14 million acres of land under cultivation, and revolutionised agricultural practices in
1056-557: Is the 16th-largest Indian state by population , comprising 23 districts . Punjabi , written in the Gurmukhi script, is the most widely spoken and the official language of the state. The main ethnic group are the Punjabis , with Sikhs (57.7%) and Hindus (38.5%) forming the dominant religious groups. The state capital, Chandigarh, is a union territory and also the capital of the neighbouring state of Haryana . Three tributaries of
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#17327728307481152-404: Is commonly found in the majority of Punjab during the winter season. The temperature rises gradually with high humidity and overcast skies. However, the rise in temperature is steep when the sky is clear and humidity is low. The maximum temperatures usually occur in mid-May and June. The temperature remains above 40 °C (104 °F) in the entire region during this period. Ludhiana recorded
1248-405: Is facing the risk of extirpation from the state. Botanical gardens exist throughout Punjab. There is a zoological park and a tiger safari park, as well as three parks dedicated to deer. The state bird is the northern goshawk (baz) ( Accipiter gentilis ), the state animal is the blackbuck ( Antilope cervicapra ), the state aquatic animal is Indus river dolphin ( Platanista minor ), and
1344-605: Is home to animals like horses. Wildlife sanctuaries have many more species of wild animals like the otter, wild boar, wildcat, fruit bat, hog deer, flying fox, squirrel, and mongoose. Naturally formed forests can be seen in the Shivalik ranges in the districts of Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. Patiala is home to the Bir forest while the wetlands area in Punjab is home to the Mand forest. The local subspecies of blackbuck, A. c. rajputanae ,
1440-618: Is the ninth-highest ranking among Indian states in human development index . Punjab has bustling tourism , music , culinary , and film industries. The Punjab region is noted as the site of one of the earliest urban societies, the Indus Valley Civilisation that flourished from about 3000 B.C. and declined rapidly 1,000 years later, following the Indo-Aryan migrations that overran the region in waves between 1500 and 500 B.C. Frequent intertribal wars stimulated
1536-425: Is thought to have resulted in a decisive Greek victory; however, A. B. Bosworth warns against an uncritical reading of Greek sources who were obviously exaggerative. Alexander later founded two cities— Nicaea at the site of victory and Bucephalous at the battle-ground, in memory of his horse , who died soon after the battle. Later, tetradrachms would be minted depicting Alexander on horseback, armed with
1632-664: The Bay of Bengal bring rain to the region. The monsoon lasts up to mid-September. The monsoon begins to reduce by the second week of September. This brings a gradual change in climate and temperature. The time between October and November is the transitional period between monsoon and winter seasons. Weather during this period is generally temperate and dry. Temperature variation is minimal in January. The mean night and day temperatures fall to 5 °C (41 °F) and 12 °C (54 °F), respectively. The effects of winter diminish by
1728-537: The Beas River after half a century of their extirpation from the state. Indus river dolphins can be found in the Harike Wetland . The extraction of silk from silkworms is another industry that flourishes in the state. Production of bee honey is done in some parts of Punjab. The southern plains are desert land; hence, camels can be seen. Buffaloes graze around the banks of rivers. The northeastern part
1824-643: The Central Organising Committee, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) in 1976. The new party was formed by the merger with the Kothandaraman grouping in Tamil Nadu . The new party resolved to continue armed struggle whilst engaging in mass movements. The party renounced participation in electoral politics. It upheld the legacy of Charu Majumdar . The party analysed Indian society as semi-feudal and semi-colonial. The party
1920-565: The Green Revolution , large tracts of jungles were cut-down in the state to make room for agriculture and forested areas were also cleared for road infrastructure and residential homes. Various NGOs are working towards afforestation and reforestation of the state by launching educational drives, planting saplings, working towards regulatory changes, and pressuring organisations to follow environmental laws. One NGO, EcoSikh, has planted over 100 forests, composed of native plant species, in
2016-470: The Guru Granth Sahib , the central religious scripture of the Sikhs. The religion developed and evolved in times of religious persecution , gaining converts from both Hinduism and Islam. Mughal rulers of India tortured and executed two of the Sikh gurus— Guru Arjan (1563–1605) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675)—after they refused to convert to Islam . The persecution of Sikhs triggered
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#17327728307482112-566: The Indian Rebellion of 1857 , apart from Revolt led by Ahmed Khan Kharal and Murree rebellion of 1857 , the Punjab remained relatively peaceful. In 1858, under the terms of the Queen's Proclamation issued by Queen Victoria , the Punjab came under the direct rule of Britain. Colonial rule had a profound impact on all areas of Punjabi life. Economically it transformed the Punjab into the richest farming area of India, socially it sustained
2208-606: The Indus River — the Sutlej , Beas , and Ravi — flow through Punjab. The history of Punjab has witnessed the migration and settlement of different tribes of people with different cultures and ideas, forming a civilisational melting pot. The ancient Indus Valley Civilisation flourished in the region until its decline around 1900 BCE. Punjab was enriched during the height of the Vedic period , but declined in predominance with
2304-456: The Indus River . However, Eudemus , who had served as Alexander's satrap in the Punjab region, treacherously killed Porus. The battle is historically significant because it resulted in the syncretism of ancient Greek political and cultural influences to the Indian subcontinent, yielding works such as Greco-Buddhist art , which continued to have an impact for the ensuing centuries. The region
2400-462: The Khyber Pass in the west to western Tibet in the east, and from Mithankot in the south to Kashmir in the north. It was divided into four provinces: Lahore , in Punjab, which became the Sikh capital; Multan , also in Punjab; Peshawar ; and Kashmir from 1799 to 1849. Religiously diverse, with an estimated population of 3.5 million in 1831 (making it the 19th most populous country at
2496-462: The Mamluks , Khalajis , Tughlaqs , Sayyids and Lodis . A significant event in the late 15th century Punjab was the formation of Sikhism by Guru Nanak . The history of the Sikh faith is closely associated with the history of Punjab and the socio-political situation in the north-west of the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century. The hymns composed by Guru Nanak were later collected in
2592-637: The Midnapore district in West Bengal . In 2001 the party held its first congress, although it counted this as the second because the CPI (ML) PW claimed to be a continuation of the original CPI (ML) , which had had its first congress in 1970. On 23 September 2004 the Andhra Pradesh state government declared they would be holding peace talks with CPI (ML) PW and CPI (ML) Janashakti . In December 2004 CPI (ML) PW and all its front organizations were banned as
2688-489: The Andhra Pradesh state government. In February 1998 a police officer was killed in southern Orissa by CPI (ML) PW guerrillas. This was the first attack against Orissa Police by CPI (ML) PW fighters from neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Between 2000 and 2001 there were several killings in conflicts between CPI (ML) PW and MCC in Orissa. However, in September 2002, CPI (ML) PW and MCC signed an agreement to coordinate activities in
2784-766: The Harike in the district of Tarn Taran Sahib, the Zoological Park in Rupnagar, Chhatbir Bansar Garden in Sangrur, Aam Khas Bagh in Sirhind, Amritsar's famous Ram Bagh Palace , Shalimar Garden in Kapurthala, and the famous Baradari Garden in the city of Patiala. Punjab has the lowest forest cover as a percentage of land area of any Indian state , with 3.6% of its total area under forest cover as of 2017. During
2880-682: The Hindu Shahis and consequently ruled for 157 years, gradually declining as a power until the Ghurid conquest of Lahore by Muhammad of Ghor in 1186, deposing the last Ghaznavid ruler Khusrau Malik . Following the death of Muhammad of Ghor in 1206, the Ghurid state fragmented and was replaced in northern India by the Delhi Sultanate . The Delhi Sultanate ruled the Punjab for the next three hundred years, led by five unrelated dynasties,
2976-573: The Hindu- and Sikh-majority east remaining in India, causing a large-scale migration between the two. After the Punjabi Suba movement , Indian Punjab was reorganised on the basis of language in 1966, when its Haryanvi - and Hindi -speaking areas were carved out as Haryana, Pahari -speaking regions attached to Himachal Pradesh and the remaining, mostly Punjabi-speaking areas became the current state of Punjab. A separatist insurgency occurred in
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3072-652: The Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab, who could not accept living in a Muslim Islamic state. After the partition of the subcontinent had been decided, special meetings of the Western and Eastern Section of the Legislative Assembly were held on 23 June 1947 to decide whether or not the Province of the Punjab be partitioned. After voting on both sides, partition was decided and the existing Punjab Legislative Assembly
3168-505: The Indian government divided Punjab into the state of Punjab and the Hindi majority-speaking states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh . During the 1960s, Punjab was known for its prosperity within India, largely due to its fertile lands and industrious inhabitants. However, a significant portion of the Sikh community felt a sense of disparity from the central government of India. The roots of such grievances stretched back several decades, with
3264-599: The Punjab fell under the Sasanians . Following the muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent at the beginning of the 8th century, Arab armies of the Umayyad Caliphate penetrated into South Asia introducing Islam into Punjab. In the ninth century, the Hindu Shahi dynasty emerged in the Punjab, ruling much of Punjab and eastern Afghanistan. The Turkic Ghaznavids in the tenth century overthrew
3360-629: The Punjab), Yaudheyas , and others sided with the Kauravas in the great battle fought at Kurukshetra . According to Dr Fauja Singh and Dr. L. M. Joshi: "There is no doubt that the Kambojas, Daradas, Kaikayas, Andhra, Pauravas, Yaudheyas, Malavas, Saindhavas, and Kurus had jointly contributed to the heroic tradition and composite culture of ancient Punjab." The bulk of the Rigveda
3456-708: The Punjab. When the Second World War broke out, nationalism in British India had already divided into religious movements. The landed elites of the Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities had loyally collaborated with the British since annexation, supported the Unionist Party and were hostile to the Congress party led independence movement. Amongst the peasantry and urban middle classes, the Hindus were
3552-634: The Union Home Ministry requested the states of Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh and Orissa to ban the party. The party remained unbanned at the national level, though. In 2000 CPI (ML) PW launched the People's Guerilla Army, which integrated previously autonomous units. The party had thousands of activists organized in 'dalams', small guerrilla units. CPI (ML) PW and PGA were mainly active in Andhra Pradesh , Orissa, Jharkhand , Bihar and
3648-582: The Union of India and were united into the PEPSU . In 1956 this was integrated with the state of East Punjab to create a new, enlarged Indian state called simply "Punjab". Punjab Day is celebrated across the state on 1 November every year marking the formation of a Punjabi language speaking state under the Punjab Reorganisation Act (1966). In 1966, following Hindu and Sikh Punjabi demands,
3744-502: The affluent landowners, the initial beneficiaries of the Green Revolution, felt the economic pinch due to soaring prices of farming inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, and the dearth of essential resources like electricity and water. Although the Green Revolution was primarily conceived to amplify productivity, it couldn't sustain this increased output over a prolonged period. The introduction of novel crop varieties led to
3840-665: The agricultural innovations brought by the Revolution. This situation sparked further resentment among small farmers, many of whom were forced to relinquish their lands, unable to compete, thereby intensifying the economic chasm. Beyond the farming sector, Punjab lacked substantial employment opportunities. An excessive focus on agriculture resulted in the state's industrial sector's neglect, leaving it notably underdeveloped. This skewed concentration on agriculture meant that many economically challenged peasants, without feasible employment alternatives, felt cornered and disgruntled. Even
3936-520: The emerging technologies and farming practices. The working class and economically underprivileged segments of society, who often toiled as labourers on these farms, were left with only minor benefits. This uneven distribution of wealth conflicted sharply with Sikh religious customs, which preached economic justice and fair wealth distribution. The Green Revolution dealt a severe blow to Punjab's small farmers. The larger landowners, with their access to abundant resources and capital, were well-suited to adopt
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4032-610: The entire state is approximately 21 °C (70 °F). Further, the mean monthly temperature range varies between 9 °C (48 °F) in July to approximately 18 °C (64 °F) in November. Punjab experiences three main seasons. They are: Apart from these three, the state experiences transitional seasons like: Punjab starts experiencing mildly hot temperatures in February. The actual summer season commences in mid-April and
4128-452: The farming community who heavily depended on these waters for irrigation, this allocation seemed inequitable. The water distribution was a significant contributing factor to the growing sense of disgruntlement against the central government. The seeds of discontent further sprouted with the advent of the Green Revolution during the 1960s. This initiative sought to boost agricultural output by introducing high-yield seed varieties, and enhancing
4224-545: The finances of Punjab and took the majority of the income for itself. In 1919, Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on a crowd of demonstrators, mostly Sikhs in Amritsar . The Jallianwala massacre fuelled the Indian independence movement . Nationalists declared the independence of India from Lahore in 1930 but were quickly suppressed. The struggle for Indian independence witnessed competing and conflicting interests in
4320-488: The first week of March. The hot summer season commences in mid-April. This period is marked by occasional showers with hail storms and squalls that cause extensive damage to crops. The winds remain dry and warm during the last week of March, commencing the harvest period. Monsoon season provides most of the rainfall for the region. Punjab receives rainfall from the monsoon current of the Bay of Bengal. This monsoon current enters
4416-633: The founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as an order to protect the freedom of conscience and religion , with members expressing the qualities of a Sant-Sipāhī ('saint-soldier'). The lifetime of Guru Nanak coincided with the conquest of northern India by Babur and establishment of the Mughal Empire . Jahangir ordered the execution of Guru Arjun Dev , while in Mughal custody, for supporting his son Khusrau Mirza 's rival claim to
4512-400: The group had spread to the central parts of Bihar. The group now counted with 500 wholetime cadres and 10 000 members. Mass organisations of MCC included Krantikari Kisan Committee (Revolutionary Peasants Committee), Jana Suraksha Sangarsh Manch (People's Defence Struggle Bloc), Krantikarai Buddhijevi Sangh and Krantikari Chhatra League (Revolutionary Students League). The armed wing of the party
4608-587: The growth of larger groupings ruled by chieftains and kings, who ruled local kingdoms known as Mahajanapadas . The rise of kingdoms and dynasties in Punjab is chronicled in the ancient Hindu epics, particularly the Mahabharata . The epic battles described in the Mahabharata are chronicled as being fought in what is now the state of Haryana and historic Punjab. The Gandharas , Kambojas , Trigartas , Andhra , Pauravas , Bahlikas ( Bactrian settlers of
4704-458: The heat continues until the end of August. High temperatures between May and August hover between 40 and 47 °C. The area experiences atmospheric pressure variations during the summer months. The atmospheric pressure of the region remains around 987 millibar during February and it reaches 970 millibar in June. Punjab's rainy season begins in the first week of July as monsoon currents generated in
4800-574: The highest maximum temperature at 46.1 °C (115.0 °F) with Patiala and Amritsar recording 45.5 °C (113.9 °F). The maximum temperature during the summer in Ludhiana remains above 41 °C (106 °F) for a duration of one and a half months. These areas experience the lowest temperatures in January. The sun rays are oblique during these months and the cold winds control the temperature at daytime. Punjab experiences its minimum temperature from December to February. The lowest temperature
4896-520: The leading figures of the Dakshin Desh -group. In difference to CPI(ML), whose policies of armed struggle bordered individual terrorism , the Dakshin Desh -group upheld that mass mobilisations were requisites for engaging in armed struggle. The group began armed activities in the Jangal Mahal area, Burdwan district , West Bengal , where Dalits and Adivasis constituted large sections of
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#17327728307484992-430: The local population. The territory was covered with deep forests, considered ideal for guerrilla warfare. The group formed political militia squads, which moved around in the villages and conducted political activities to mobilise local peasants. The squads were often made up by recruits from Calcutta . The squads looted grain storages, captured firearms and assassinated landlords and perceived police informers. By 1973 it
5088-415: The merger to go through. People%27s War Group Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War , usually called People's War Group (PWG), was an underground communist party in India. It merged with the Maoist Communist Centre of India to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Muppala Lakshmana Rao ('Ganapathi') was the general secretary of the party. The ideology of
5184-466: The most active National Congress supporters, the Sikhs flocked to the Akali movement while the Muslims eventually supported the Muslim League . Many Sikhs and other minorities supported the Hindus, who promised a secular multicultural and multireligious society. In March 1940, the All-India Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution , demanding the creation of a separate state from Muslim majority areas in British India. This triggered bitter protests by
5280-458: The northeast border. The southwest of the state is semi-arid, eventually merging into the Thar Desert . Of the five Punjab rivers, three—Sutlej, Beas and Ravi—flow through the Indian state. The Sutlej and Ravi define parts of the international border with Pakistan. The soil characteristics are influenced to a limited extent by the topography, vegetation and parent rock. The variation in soil profile characteristics are much more pronounced because of
5376-458: The partition of Punjab Province in 1947 was the sudden shift towards religious homogeneity occurred in all districts across province and region owing to the new international border that cut through the subdivision. The demographic shift was captured when comparing decadal census data taken in 1941 and 1951 respectively, and was primarily due to wide scale migration but also caused by large-scale religious cleansing riots which were witnessed across
5472-431: The party was Marxism-Leninism-Maoism . The party was a member of the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA). The party was founded in Andhra Pradesh in 1980, by Kondapalli Seetharamaiah and Dr. Kolluri Chiranjeevi. It emerged from a re-articulation of Naxalite activists in the Telangana region. The party had its roots in the Andhra Committee, that had broken away from
5568-431: The party was waning in the region. Punjab (India) Punjab ( / p ʌ n ˈ dʒ ɑː b / ; Punjabi: [pənˈdʒɑːb] ) is a state in northwestern India . Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent , the state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the north and northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, and Rajasthan to
5664-429: The power of large landowners and politically it encouraged cross-communal co-operation among land owning groups. The Punjab also became the major centre of recruitment into the Indian Army . By patronising influential local allies and focusing administrative, economic and constitutional policies on the rural population, the British ensured the loyalty of its large rural population. Administratively, colonial rule instated
5760-427: The primary issue revolving around the distribution of water from the trio of rivers – Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej – that flowed across the Punjabi territory. Although Punjab had these waterways running across its lands, it was lawfully granted only a quarter of the water, precisely 24%, as per the Inter-State Water Disputes Act . The rest, a staggering 76%, was assigned to Rajasthan and Haryana. To many Punjabis, especially
5856-522: The region at the time. According to historical demographer Tim Dyson , in the eastern regions of Punjab that ultimately became Indian Punjab following independence, districts that were 66% Hindu in 1941 became 80% Hindu in 1951; those that were 20% Sikh became 50% Sikh in 1951. Conversely, in the western regions of Punjab that ultimately became Pakistani Punjab , all districts became almost exclusively Muslim by 1951. Following independence, several small Punjabi princely states, including Patiala, acceded to
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#17327728307485952-405: The region. Contested by Marathas and Afghans, the region was the center of the growing influence of the Sikhs, who expanded and established the Sikh Empire in 1799 as the Mughals and Afghans weakened. The Cis-Sutlej states were a group of states in modern Punjab and Haryana states lying between the Sutlej River on the north, the Himalayas on the east, the Yamuna River and Delhi District on
6048-458: The region. To the agrarian and commercial class was added a professional middle class that had risen the social ladder through the use of the English education, which opened up new professions in law, government, and medicine. Despite these developments, colonial rule was marked by exploitation of resources. For the purpose of exports, the majority of external trade was controlled by British export banks. The Imperial government exercised control over
6144-573: The regional climatic differences. Punjab is divided into three distinct regions on the basis of soil types: southwestern, central, and eastern. Punjab falls under seismic zones II, III, and IV. Zone II is considered a low-damage risk zone; zone III is considered a moderate-damage risk zone; and zone IV is considered a high-damage risk zone. The geography and subtropical latitudinal location of Punjab lead to large variations in temperature from month to month. Even though only limited regions experience temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), ground frost
6240-411: The rise of the Mahajanapadas . The region formed the frontier of initial empires during antiquity including Alexander's and the Maurya empires. It was subsequently conquered by the Kushan Empire , Gupta Empire , and then Harsha's Empire . Punjab continued to be settled by nomadic people; including the Huna , Turkic and the Mongols . Punjab came under Muslim rule c. 1000 CE , and
6336-400: The south, and Sirsa district on the west. These states were ruled by the Sikh Confederacy . The empire existed from 1799, when Ranjit Singh captured Lahore , to 1849, when it was defeated and conquered in the Second Anglo-Sikh War . It was forged on the foundations of the Khalsa from a collection of autonomous Sikh misls . At its peak in the 19th century, the Empire extended from
6432-407: The south. Most of Punjab lies in a fertile, alluvial plain with perennial rivers and an extensive irrigation canal system. A belt of undulating hills extends along the northeastern part of the state at the foot of the Himalayas. Its average elevation is 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level, with a range from 180 metres (590 ft) in the southwest to more than 500 metres (1,600 ft) around
6528-500: The southwest; by the Indian union territories of Jammu and Kashmir to the north and Chandigarh to the east. It shares an international border with Punjab , a province of Pakistan to the west. The state covers an area of 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 square miles), which is 1.53% of India's total geographical area, making it the 19th-largest Indian state by area out of 28 Indian states (20th largest, if Union Territories are considered). With over 27 million inhabitants, Punjab
6624-436: The state during the 1980s. At present, the economy of Punjab is the 15th-largest state economy in India with ₹ 8.02 trillion (equivalent to ₹ 8.0 trillion or US$ 96 billion in 2023) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of ₹ 264,000 (equivalent to ₹ 260,000 or US$ 3,200 in 2023), ranking 17th among Indian states . Since independence, Punjab is predominantly an agrarian society . It
6720-476: The state from the southeast in the first week of July. The winter season remains very cool with temperatures falling below freezing at some places. Winter also brings in some western disturbances. Rainfall in the winter provides relief to the farmers as some of the winter crops in the region of Shivalik Hills are entirely dependent on this rainfall. As per meteorological statistics, the sub-Shivalik area receives more than 100 millimetres (3.9 in) of rainfall in
6816-468: The state suffered a 14-year-long insurgency . Problems began due to disputes between Punjabi Sikhs and the central government of the Republic of India. Tensions escalated throughout the early 1980s and eventually culminated with Operation Blue Star in 1984; an Indian Army operation aimed at the dissident Sikh community of Punjab. Shortly thereafter, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards. The decade that followed
6912-423: The state tree is the shisham ( Dalbergia sissoo ). Punjab is home to 2.3% of India's population; with a density of 551 persons per km . According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census , Punjab has a population of 27,743,338, making it the 16th most populated state in India. Of which male and female are 14,639,465 and 13,103,873 respectively. 32% of Punjab's population consists of Dalits . In
7008-589: The state using the Japanese Miyawaki methodology that are named 'Guru Nanak Sacred Forests'. Native plant species are facing the risk of extirpation from the state but planting mini-forests throughout the land can help prevent this from occurring. Prior to the Green Revolution, Butea monosperma (known as 'dhak' in Punjabi) trees were found in abundance in the state. A few of the rivers in Punjab have crocodiles, including reintroduced gharials in
7104-427: The state, the rate of population growth is 13.9% (2011), lower than national average. According to the nation family health survey 2019-21, total fertility rate of Punjab was 1.6 children per women. Out of total population, 37.5% people live in urban regions. The total figure of population living in urban areas is 10,399,146 of which 5,545,989 are males and while remaining 4,853,157 are females. The urban population in
7200-520: The state. At the time Santosh was the head of the CPI (ML) PW unit in the state. At the time of the April 2004 state assembly elections, CPI (ML) PW ran a boycott campaign in its strongholds in the state (the Malkangiri and Rayagada constituencies). However voting increased significantly in these constituencies in spite of boycott calls from CPI (ML) PW, leading to speculations whether the influence of
7296-472: The throne. Guru Arjan Dev's death led to the sixth Guru Guru Hargobind to declare sovereignty in the creation of the Akal Takht and the establishment of a fort to defend Amritsar . Jahangir then jailed Guru Hargobind at Gwalior , but released him after a number of years when he no longer felt threatened. The succeeding son of Jahangir, Shah Jahan , took offence at Guru Hargobind's declaration and after
7392-632: The time ), it was the last major region of the Indian subcontinent to be annexed by the British Empire . The Sikh Empire spanned a total of over 200,000 sq mi (520,000 km ) at its zenith. After Ranjit Singh's death in 1839, the empire was severely weakened by internal divisions and political mismanagement. This opportunity was used by the East India Company to launch the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars . The country
7488-456: The two main political parties in Andhra Pradesh during the 1980s to its advantage, and both of these parties would seek support from CPI (ML) PW in times of local elections. The CPI (ML) PW would provide such help in exchange for release of prisoners and laxed pressure on the movement from the security forces. Moreover, the party was strengthened economically through "taxations" of forest contractors. In 2004 CPI (ML) PW as part of peace talks with
7584-412: The use of fertilisers and irrigation. In the midst of this transformative phase, Punjab became known as India's "food basket", contributing considerably to the nation's agricultural production. Yet, the financial profits garnered from this agricultural surge weren't fairly distributed. The majority of the gains were hoarded by landowners, who typically owned large plots and were best positioned to exploit
7680-450: The winter months. The fauna of the area is rich, with 396 types of birds, 214 kinds of Lepidoptera , 55 varieties of fish, 20 types of reptiles, and 19 kinds of mammals. The state of Punjab has large wetland areas, bird sanctuaries that house numerous species of birds, and many zoological parks. Wetlands include the national wetland Hari-Ke-Pattan , the wetland of Kanjli , and the wetlands of Kapurthala Sutlej. Wildlife sanctuaries include
7776-501: Was also divided into West Punjab Legislative Assembly and the East Punjab Legislative Assembly. This last Assembly before independence, held its last sitting on 4 July 1947. During this period, the British granted separate independence to India and Pakistan, setting off massive communal violence as Punjabi Muslims fled to Pakistan and Hindu and Sikh Punjabis fled east to India. The Sikhs later demanded
7872-999: Was called Lal Raskha Dal (Red Defence Force). In rural Bihar the party had become a major force to reckon with in some areas under leadership of Sushil Roy alias Som. In the pockets of its influence the party ran a parallel juridical system, with a system of people's courts. The expansion of the party occurred as it became one of several caste -based armed groups in the area. The party mobilised lower-caste Biharis, and frequently clashed with various militia groups defending upper-caste interests. At times it also clashed with other Naxalite groups, such as when MCC militia killed 5 Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation members in Jehanabad district on 4 April 1994. Militia activities of MCC reached its peak by 1990. In September 1993, MCC, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) People's War and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Party Unity decided to coordinate their struggles. As
7968-453: Was composed in the Punjab region between circa 1500 and 1200 BC, while later Vedic scriptures were composed more eastwards, between the Yamuna and Ganges rivers. The historical Vedic religion constituted the religious ideas and practices in Punjab during the Vedic period (1500–500 BCE), centred primarily in the worship of Indra . The earliest known notable local king of this region
8064-533: Was estimated that the group had 37 squads in the area, with a combined membership of 106. In 1975 the group took the name Maoist Communist Centre . However, in spite of several years of political and armed activities, the group failed to make a breakthrough in the Jangal Mahal area. In 1976 it decided to expand its activities to other parts of the country. Soon it began activities in eastern Bihar , and for this purpose an apex Bengal-Bihar Special Area Committee
8160-654: Was finally annexed and dissolved at the end of the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849 into separate princely states and the province of Punjab . Eventually, a Lieutenant Governorship was established in Lahore as a direct representative of the Crown . The Punjab was annexed by the East India Company in 1849. Although nominally part of the Bengal Presidency it was administratively independent. During
8256-511: Was greeted by the-then ruler of Taxila, Omphis . Omphis had hoped to force both Porus and Abisares into submission leveraging the might of Alexander's forces and diplomatic missions were mounted, but while Abisares accepted the submission, Porus refused. This led Alexander to seek a face-off with Porus. Thus began the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BC; the exact site remains unknown. The battle
8352-408: Was his territory reinstated but also expanded with Alexander's forces annexing the territories of Glausaes, who ruled the area northeast of Porus' kingdom. After Alexander's death in 323 BCE, Perdiccas became the regent of his empire, and after Perdiccas's murder in 321 BCE, Antipater became the new regent. According to Diodorus , Antipater recognised Porus's authority over the territories along
8448-691: Was initially largely confined to the Telangana region, but later expanded to other areas of Andhra Pradesh as well as Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha . In August 1998 CPI (ML) Party Unity , based in Jahanabad , Bihar , merged with CPI (ML) PW. CPI (ML) Party Unity had been based in Bihar, and after the merger CPI (ML) PW expanded its geographic scope of operations significantly. It began establishing state committees in states like Kerala , Haryana and Punjab . In October 2002 CPI (ML) PW issued
8544-645: Was known as King Porus , who fought the famous Battle of the Hydaspes against Alexander the Great . His kingdom spanned between rivers Hydaspes ( Jhelum ) and Acesines ( Chenab ); Strabo had held the territory to contain almost 300 cities. He (alongside Abisares ) had a hostile relationship with the Kingdom of Taxila which was ruled by his extended family. When the armies of Alexander crossed Indus in its eastward migration, probably in Udabhandapura , he
8640-456: Was nicknamed Dakshin Desh , after the name of its publication. The group had begun publishing Dakshin Desh in along Maoist lines. The group was joined by a sector of trade union activists. Dakshin Desh is Hindi for 'Southern Land' (implied in this naming was that India was the 'Southern land' whereas China was the corresponding 'Northern land'). Amulaya Sen and Kanai Chatterjee were
8736-402: Was noted for widespread inter-communal violence and accusations of genocide on the Sikh community by the Indian government. Punjab is in northwestern India and has a total area of 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 sq mi). Punjab is bordered by Pakistan's Punjab province on the west, Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Himachal Pradesh on the northeast and Haryana and Rajasthan on
8832-541: Was part of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire . Sikhism , based on the teachings of Sikh Gurus , emerged between the 15th and 17th centuries . Conflicts between the Mughals and the later Sikh Gurus precipitated a militarisation of the Sikhs, resulting in the formation of a confederacy after the weakening of the Mughal Empire, which competed for control with the larger Durrani Empire . This confederacy
8928-507: Was recorded at Amritsar (0.2 °C (32.4 °F)) and Ludhiana stood second with 0.5 °C (32.9 °F). The minimum temperature of the region remains below 5 °C (41 °F) for almost two months during the winter season. The highest minimum temperature of these regions in June is more than the daytime maximum temperatures experienced in January and February. Ludhiana experiences minimum temperatures above 27 °C (81 °F) for more than two months. The annual average temperature in
9024-415: Was set up by the MCC. Chatterji died in 1982. Following his death, MCC was riddled by internal divisions. Chatterji's successor, Siveji, and his deputy, Ramadhar Singh, disagreed over the policy of individual annihilations. Singh broke away and joined Kanu Sanyal 's group instead. In the mid- and late 1980, leadership of MCC was taken over by Sanjay Dusadh and Pramod Mishra . At this point, the influence of
9120-680: Was then divided between the Maurya Empire and the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom in 302 B.C.E. Menander I Soter conquered Punjab and made Sagala (present-day Sialkot ) the capital of the Indo-Greek Kingdom . Menander is noted for having become a patron and convert to Greco-Buddhism and he is widely regarded as the greatest of the Indo-Greek kings. Greek influence in the region ended around 12 B.C.E. when
9216-680: Was united in 1801 by Maharaja Ranjit Singh , forming the Sikh Empire . The larger Punjab region was annexed by the British East India Company from the Sikh Empire in 1849 . At the time of the independence of India from British rule in 1947, the Punjab province was partitioned along religious lines amidst widespread violence, with the Muslim-majority western portion becoming part of Pakistan and
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