PUNJABI PEOPLE

The 'Punjabi people' (Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, پنجابی, also 'Panjabi people') are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group from South Asia. Their region, the state of Punjab, has been host to some of the oldest civilizations in the world. The Punjabi identity is primarily ethnic and linguistic, with Punjabis being those whose first language is Punjabi, an Indo-Aryan tongue. In recent times, however, the definition has been broadened to include also emigrants of Punjabi descent who maintain Punjabi cultural traditions, even when they no longer speak the language.
Punjabis are found primarily in the Punjab region of Pakistan and Northern India. In Pakistan, Punjabis comprise the largest ethnic group at roughly 44% of the total population and reside predominantly in the province of Punjab. In India, ethnic Punjabis can be found across the greater Punjab region which now comprises the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Besides these, large communities are also found in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and the states of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
There are also a number of Punjabi emigrant communities scattered around the world, especially in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Persian Gulf countries, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
Punjabis are ethno-linguistically and culturally related to the other Indo-Aryan peoples of South Asia. There are an estimated 120 million Punjabis around the world.

History

Mature Harappan "Priest King" statue, Mohenjo-daro,Wearing Sindhi Ajrak, late Mature Harappan period, National Museum, Karachi, Pakistan

The exact point at which the Punjabis formed a distinct ethnic group remains speculative. The region having been the site of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization centered at Harappa became a center of early civilization from around 3300 BCE. Numerous invaders including the Dravidians (who were the first wave of invaders to displace the native peoples of the Indian subcontinent), Indo-Aryans, Persians, Greeks, various Central Asians, Arabs, Afghans, and the British have all invaded and ruled the region, giving the Punjab a unique culture as the gateway to South Asia. An early Indo-Aryan-speaking people conquered the region and imparted their language and merged with the local population that some speculate as having been either an Indic language (a hypothesized parent family) or Aryan-speaking group, but this also remains speculative since the Indus script remains undeciphered. The Indo-Aryans are believed to have arrived in the region between 2000 and 1250 BCE and eventually disseminated their languages throughout South Asia. An early Vedic civilization is believed to have emerged in the region and helped shape many aspects of northern Indian culture. Over time, the Greater Punjab region fragmented as various Eurasian invaders conquered sections of the region with the west (Pakistan) bearing the brunt of most invasions.

Taxila is a World Heritage Site

Various religious influences shaped the region and people as Buddhism emerged as an important faith in the region, due to the efforts of Ashoka, along with early Hinduism. Ultimately, two later religions largely supplanted both of these earlier faiths, Sikhism in Punjab (India) and Islam in Pakistan. After arrival of Muslims many people converted in western regions to Islam following the invasion of Arabs in 711 CE (see Muhammad bin Qasim) and Turkic tribes in the 11th century and much of the population converted through the spread of Sufism, poetic Islamic mysticism, which had the greatest role in conversion of local people. For example, Memons are Sunni Hanafi Muslims, and they originated when a group of Hindus from Sindh belonging to the Kshatriya Lohana caste converted to Islam by Sufi missionaries of the Qadiri order.
Following the partition of British India into the states of India and Pakistan, a process of population exchange and ethnic cleansing took place in 1947 as significant minorities of Muslims either left or were forced out of East Punjab and Hindus and Sikhs either left or were driven out of West Punjab^[1] As a result of these population exchanges, both parts are now religiously homogenous.

Diversity

The Punjab region, due to its location near Central Asia and the Middle East has been prone to numerous invasions that have left imprints upon the local Punjabi population that remain present in the numerous sub-groups. The Punjabi people are a heterogeneous group and can be subdivided into a number of tribal groups in Pakistan called ''qaums'' while they adhere to ''caste'' identities in India, each having their own subtle differences.
In terms of ancestry, the majority of Punjabis share many similar genes with other Northern Indian populations, but also show a significant relationship with West Eurasian groups. In a 2004 Stanford study conducted with a wide sampling from India, including 112 Punjabis, and selected other countries, displayed the following:
:Results show that Indian tribal and caste populations derive largely from the same genetic heritage of Pleistocene southern and western Asians and have received limited gene flow from external regions since the Holocene. ^[2]
This study also found that roughly 60% of genetic markers in the Punjab were of West Asian origin, the highest amongst the sampled group of South Asians. Another study also showed that there has been limited gene flow in and out of North India, but the highest amount of genetic inflow from the west showed up in the Punjab region:
:Broadly, the average proportion of mtDNAs from West Eurasia among Indian caste populations is 17% (Table 2). In the northern States of India their share is greater, reaching over 30% in Kashmir and Gujarat, nearly 60% in Indian Punjab. ^[3]
Some preliminary conclusions from these varying tests support a largely North Indian genetic base for most Punjabis accompanied by some of the highest degrees of West Asian admixture found in North India.

Geographic distribution

Punjabis in Pakistan

The Punjabis found in Pakistan are composed of clans and tribes (the aforementioned ''qaums'') often with a correspondence with traditional occupations. Pre-Islamic Kambohs, Gujjars, Jats and Rajputs (such as the Janjuas)(, and the Rawals) predominate with the Gakhars, Awans, and Arains, comprising the main tribes in the north, while Gilanis, Gardezis, Syeds, Quraishi are found in the south. There are Pashtun tribes like Niazi and Shaikh which are very much integrated into Punjabi rules and village life. Especially the members of the Niazi tribe see theirself first as Punjabi. They have big communities in Mianwali, Bakkar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sahniwal and Toba Tek Singh. Although there are still tribe members in the Indian Punjab. Hence Punjabis in Pakistan especially in major urban cities have diverse origins with many post Islamic settlers tracing their origin to Afghanistan, Persia, Arabia, Kashmir and Central Asia.Many Punjabis may contain some physical traces of Central Asians due to the invasions. ^[4]
Punjabis have been traditionally farmers and warriors which has transferred into modern times with a dominance of agriculture and the military in Pakistan. In addition, Punjabis in Pakistan have been quite prominent politically having had many elected Members of Parliament. As the most ardent supporters of a Pakistani state, the Punjabis in Pakistan have shown a strong pre-dilection towards the adoption of Urdu, while still identifying themselves as ethnic Punjabis for the most part. Religious homogeniety remains elusive as a Sunni-Shia divide and a Christian minority have not completely wiped out diversity since the partition of British India. A variety of related sub-groups exist in Pakistan and are often considered by many Pakistani Punjabis to be simply regional Punjabis including the Seraikis (who overlap and are often considered transitional with the Sindhis) and Punjabi Pathans (which publications like ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' consider a transitional group between Punjabis and Pathans).

Punjabis in India

Indian Punjabis tend to correspond to various ethnic criteria with the Sikhs showing more unity overall. Some of the major subgroups of the Punjabis in India include: Ahirs, Aroras, Banias, Bhatias, Brahmins, Gujjars, Jats, Kalals/Ahluwalias, Kambojs, Khatris, Labanas, Rajputs, Sainis, Sansis, Soods and Tarkhans/Ramgarhias. Most of these subgroups can be further sub-divided into clans and family groups.
Most of East Punjab's (today's Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh) Muslims left for West Punjab in 1947. However, a small community still survives today, mainly in Malerkotla, the only Muslim princely state among the seven that formed the erstwhile Patiala and East Punjab States Union(PEPSU). The other six (mostly [hindu and sikh) states were: Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Faridkot, Kapurthala and Kalsia.
Punjabis in India have diverse origins with many post-Partition Hindu and Sikh settlers tracing their origin to Afghanistan, Persia, Arabia, Kashmir and Central Asia. The Punjab region within India maintains a strong influence on the culture of India and the perceived culture of India towards the rest of the world. Numerous Bollywood film productions use the Punjabi language within its songs and dialogues as well as traditional dances and instruments such as the bhangra and tabla. Punjabi Prime Ministers of India include Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda, Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and the current Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Punjabis are numerous in the Indian cricket team Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harbhajan Singh, Bishen Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, Yuvraj Singh and etc. The current highest ranking General Chief of Army Staff of India is a Punjabi General Joginder Jaswant Singh. Professor Har Gobind Khorana, famous Nobel laureate is a Punjabi. The first Indian in Outer space is a Punjabi - Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma.

The Punjabi Diaspora

The Punjabi people have emigrated in large numbers to many parts of the world. The United Kingdom has a significant number of Punjabis from both India and Pakistan as does Canada and the United States. The Middle East has a large immigrant community of Punjabis, in places such as the UAE and Kuwait. There are large communities in East Africa including the countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Punjabis have also emigrated to Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Culture and society

''Main article: Punjabi culture''
'Punjabi Culture' is the culture of the Punjab region. It is one of the oldest and richest cultures in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era. The Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjabi people who are now distributed throughout the world. The scope, history, sophistication and complexity of the culture are vast. Some of the main areas include, Punjabi Philosophy, poetry, spirituality, education, artistry, music, cuisine, science, technology, military warfare, architecture, traditions, values and history.

Religion

Science, history and Religion has played an important role in shaping Punjabi ethnic identity and it is not uncommon for Punjabis to generally treat their religious identity as synonymous with their ethnic identity or at least a combined identity that differentiates them from others. Punjabis belong largely to three major religions: Islam, Sikhism, and Hinduism.
Muslim Punjabis are largely concentrated in Pakistan, through a small Muslim Punjabi population exists in India. Sikhism and Hinduism are the major religions followed by Punjabis in India.

Language

Main articles: Punjabi language

The main language of the Punjabi people is Punjabi and its associated dialects. They may also speak Hindi, Urdu and English. While the Panjabi spoken in Indian panjab is homogenously similar with the possible exception of Amritsar, the Panjabi spoken in Pakistani Panjab belongs to the ''Landa'' dialect which is believed to be the more purer and original form primarily found in a triangular arc stretching from Sialkot to Gujranwala down to just north of Lahore. There is considerably Persian influence found in the Landa dialect which may be a reflection of when West Panjab was one of the richest satrapies of the Persian Empire during the rule of Darius. In recent years, the respective Panjabi languages have absorbed a considerably number of loan words from surrounding areas/provinces as well as from English. In Pakistani Panjab, Urdu, Pashto and Persian loan words have been absorbed while in Indian Panjab, Hindi, Rajasthani and Sanskrit loan words have found their way into the vernecular.

Cuisine

Tandoori chicken is a popular dish in Punjabi cuisine.

Main articles: Punjabi cuisine

Punjabi Cuisine has an immense range of dishes and has become world-leader in the field so much so that many entrepreneurs that have invested in the sector have built large personal fortunes due to popularity of Punjabi Cuisine throughout the world.

Music

Main articles: Music of Punjab

Bhangra is one of the many Punjabi musical art forms that is increasingly being listened to in the west and is becoming a mainstream favourite. Punjabi music is being used by western musicians, in many ways, such as mixing it with other compositions to produce award-winning music. In addition, Punjabi Classical music is increasingly becoming popular in the west due to the beauty of sounds of the Punjabi language and its composition.

Punjabi Dances

Main articles: Punjabi Dances

Punjabi Dances, due to the long history of the Punjabi culture and of the Punjabi people there is a large number of dances. These dances are normally performed at times of celebration the most prominent being at Punjabi weddings, where the elation is usually particularly intense. The particular background of the dances can be non-religious and religious. The overall style can range from very high energy to more reserved, however the common elements make it particularly attractive to the viewers whether they be of Punjabi heritage or not, the allure is considered universal. Punjabi dances are designed for either men or women.

A Punjabi wedding reception

Marriage

Main articles: Punjabi wedding traditions

Punjabi wedding traditions and ceremonies are traditionally conducted in Punjabi and are a strong reflection of Punjabi culture. While the actual religious marriage ceremony, among Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Jains and Christians may be conducted in Sanskrit, Punjabi, Arabic, Pali/Prakrit or English by the Pundit, Kazi, Granthi or Priest. There are commonalities in ritual, song, dance, food, dress. The Punjabi wedding has many rituals and ceremonies that have evolved since traditional times.

Punjabi Poetry

Punjabi Poetry is renowned for its extremely deep meaning, beautiful, exciting and hopeful use of words. The poetry is one of the deepest insights into the Punjabi mindset. The large number of Punjabi poetry masterpieces are being translated throughout the world into many languages. Famous Punjabi poets.

Prominent Punjabis

Main articles: List of Punjabis

Main articles: List of Punjabi language poets

Notes

1. .South Asia: British India Partitioned
2. The Genetic Heritage of the Earliest Settlers Persists Both in Indian Tribal and Caste Populations
3. Most of the extant mtDNA boundaries in South and Southwest Asia were likely shaped during the initial settlement of Eurasia by anatomically modern humans
4. Country Studies - Pakistan

References and further reading

★ Gilmartin, David. ''Empire and Islam: Punjab and the Making of Pakistan''. Univ of California Press (1988), ISBN 0-520-06249-3.

★ Grewal, J.S. and Gordon Johnson. ''The Sikhs of the Punjab (The New Cambridge History of India)''. Cambridge University Press; Reprint edition (1998), ISBN 0-521-63764-3.

★ Ibbetson, ''Punjab Castes: Race, Castes and Tribes of the People of Punjab''. Cosmo Publications, ISBN 81-7020-458-5.

★ Ibbetson, Denzil, (2002). ''Panjab castes''. Low Price Publications. ISBN 81-7536-290-1.

★ Latif, Syed. ''History of the Panjab''. Kalyani (1997), ISBN 81-7096-245-5.

★ Rose, H.A. and Ibbetson, Maclagan, (1990). ''Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province''. Asian Educational Services, India, ISBN 81-206-0505-5.

★ Sekhon, Iqbal S. ''The Punjabis : The People, Their History, Culture and Enterprise''. Delhi, Cosmo, 2000, 3 Vols., ISBN 81-7755-051-9.

★ Singh, Gurharpal. ''Ethnic Conflict in India : A Case-Study of Punjab''. Palgrave Macmillan (2000).

★ Singh, Gurharpal (Editor) and Ian Talbot (Editor). ''Punjabi Identity: Continuity and Change''. South Asia Books (1996), ISBN 81-7304-117-2.

★ Singh, Khushwant. ''A History of the Sikhs - Volume 1''.Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-562643-5

★ Steel, Flora Annie. ''Tales of the Punjab : Told by the People (Oxford in Asia Historical Reprints)''. Oxford University Press, USA; New Ed edition (2002), ISBN 0-19-579789-2.

★ Tandon, Prakash and Maurice Zinkin. ''Punjabi Century 1857-1947'', University of California Press (1968), ISBN 0-520-01253-4.

★ Pakistan, India

★ DNA boundaries in South and Southwest Asia, BMC Genetics 2004, 5:26

★ Ethnologue Eastern Panjabi

★ Ethnologue Western Panjabi

★ Indian Census

★ Joshua Project Punjabi

★ Pakistan Census

★ The Genetic Heritage of the Earliest Settlers Persists Both in Indian Tribal and Caste Populations, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 72:313–332, 2003

★ Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947, , Gurbachan, Talib, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, 1950, Online 1 Online 2 Online 3 (A free copy of this book can be read from any 3 of the included "Online Sources" of this free “Online Book”)

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