Sikhs in Punjab are encountering challenges related to the preservation of their culture, land, and resources. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), during its recent general election campaign, expressed significant concerns regarding the diminishing resources in Punjab.
SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized the central government for neglecting industrial development in Punjab, unlike in Hindu/BJP-dominated states. He committed to renewing efforts to include Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas in Punjab and vowed to seek the transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan to India through a mutual land exchange.
Punjab, the land of five rivers and fertile fields, stands today as a shadow of its former self. Since 1966, Punjab’s landmass has been drastically reduced from a sprawling expanse of 202,000 square kilometers to roughly a quarter of its original size. This territorial shrinkage, orchestrated by the Indian central government, has left Punjab feeling dispossessed and its people deeply aggrieved.
The first blow to Punjab occurred with the 1947 partition of the subcontinent, which originally intended to include the entire Muslim-majority province of Punjab in Pakistan. The provinces/states were not initially intended to be subdivided as per the initial partition plan. However, without delving into controversies, the partition tore apart the unified Punjab. This traumatic division severed not only the land but also cultural and familial ties. Despite being wounded, the remaining Indian Punjab sought to rebuild.
The creation of Haryana
In 1966, the wounds reopened with the creation of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, as large chunks of Punjabi land, primarily 11 districts, were ceded to these newly formed states. The jewel in the crown, Chandigarh, the erstwhile capital of Punjab, came under the direct administration of the central government, further stripping Punjab of its symbolic heart.
These territorial losses were not merely geographical. They represented the fragmentation of a vibrant Punjabi culture, the dispersal of its people, and the severing of economic and agricultural resources. The division of once fertile lands that fed the nation has left Punjab with a reduced share to support its population. This territorial shrinkage is worsened by an ongoing water dispute with neighboring Haryana. Punjab asserts historical and riparian rights to the waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers, essential for its agricultural economy. The construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, aimed at diverting water to Haryana, has faced staunch opposition from Punjab. The state fears that the SYL Canal would further deplete its already limited water resources, pushing it towards an agricultural crisis.
Water Disputes
The opposition to the SYL Canal goes beyond mere water scarcity. The state views it as a symbol of the central government’s perceived indifference to Punjab’s plight. Punjab feels that its sacrifices, including disproportionate contributions to national food security and enduring the brunt of partition and territorial losses, have not received adequate recognition or compensation.
Once a land of surplus water, Punjab, the breadbasket of India, finds itself in a precarious grip of scarcity. Traditionally abundant Ravi-Beas waters have dwindled, leaving just 13.38 MAF compared to 17.17 MAF earlier. This alarming decline disrupts agricultural needs, forcing farmers to rely heavily on groundwater, pushing 117 out of 150 blocks into the dark zone of over-exploitation.
Adding fuel to the fire, Punjab’s strong reservations against transferring Ravi-Beas-Sutlej water outside the Indus Basin to Haryana and Rajasthan create friction. Environmental degradation looms, threatening desertification and the very lifeline of the agrarian community.
Punjab’s claim on Yamuna water, based on a 58 sq. km area in the sub-basin, remains unrecognized by the federation. Agreements and water-sharing formulas for Yamuna states, reached without Punjab’s involvement, leave a bitter taste in the state’s mouth.
The Correct Context
It is a tale of proud people, their resilience in adversity, and their steadfast pursuit of justice and autonomy. The scars of partition, territorial losses, and the water dispute shape Punjab’s political discourse and its relationship with the central government. Punjab’s agricultural sector, once India’s economic backbone, faces challenges such as reduced river water share, declining groundwater levels, increasing input costs, and fluctuating market prices.
The question of Punjab’s future remains open. Will it continue to be a state feeling diminished and aggrieved, or will it find a way to assert its rightful place within Subcontinent? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the story of Punjab is far from over. Common Sikhs face discrimination based on their religion and appearance, particularly in other parts of India. This can range from microaggressions to more serious forms of prejudice and violence.
Atta Rasool Malik, a veteran from Pakistan’s semi-tribal regions, possesses an M.Phil. in international relations from the National Defence University, Islamabad. His expertise spans South Asian and Middle Eastern politics, political economy, and Islamic and Jewish theology