Socio-Economic and Political Complexities, A Historical Survey: The British Punjab

Abstract

The article aims at providing a historical survey of the Punjab province during the British Raj. Apart from discussing the geographical importance, social-economic conditions of the province, it also gives a bird’s eye view of the political consciousness of the Punjab landed elite and basic information of various ruling dynasties and their impact on history and the politics of the Punjab, which welcomed all other civilizations and cultures that had a considerable influence upon its economic, social and political landscape. Along with focusing on pin pointing socio-economic, political complexities of the British Punjab and the political status of various communities including the Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, it summarizes various reforms which were introduced by the British in the province to improve the condition of the people of the Punjab. The canal colonies, “Land Alienation Act” and their impacts on the Punjab population have been brought to light. The evolutionary political consciousness of the Punjab’s landed aristocracy which contributed in war efforts during the World War-I and their loyalties with the British Raj because of various families of the Punjab landed elite were awarded and rewarded by it for their loyalties and services have been highlighted. It also sums up the Punjabi tribal chiefs’ collaborative relationship with the British, which was a unique two-way process, rather than, as it is often elaborated, a top-down one way relationship for the economic amelioration of the Punjab. It covers the political and constitutional developments in the British Punjab particularly in the early 20th century.