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View Poll Results: Should Punjab be re-named?
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Yes, the author is right about the name Punjab. It should be re-named to Khalistan.
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9.52% |
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The author is right about the name Punjab, but not Khalistan. It should be re-named something else.
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4.76% |
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No. The name Punjab should be retained.
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85.71% |
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10-29-2006, 14:26 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Banished
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Should the Sikhs re-name Punjab?
Here's an article on why Sikhs should re-name Punjab to better reflect the indigenous and contemporary identity of the regions native and majority community:
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Punjab is now a defunct and meaningless name: It no longer exists
Time to recognize & rename the Sikh homeland as Khalistan
Sunday 28th of May 2006
Punjab, as everyone who is familiar with some history of the region should know, is a combination of two Persian words (Panj & Aab) and gives the meaning of "Land of 5 Rivers" in reference to the five tributary rivers of the Indus which flow through the region. However, what is not so well known is that it wasn’t actually the Persians who gave the Punjab its name, nor was it the Punjab's indigenous people. It was the Mughals. The Mughals were the first rulers to officially use the term Punjab (or Panjab) as the name for the region that lay between the Indus and the Yamuna. Specifically, it was during the reign of Akbar that the word Punjab was most likely popularized and Akbar's court is also credited with having given the Punjab's various 'Do-Aabs' (Also words of Persian origin) their present names. The Punjab therefore, its definition and identity, is a product and relic of the Mughal empire.
This is a fact which surprisingly is not known by many "Punjabis". Or perhaps, these facts are well known but are deliberately overlooked and kept quiet on as they crush the very foundations upon which the chauvinism of "Punjabi pride" and flawed concept of the so-called "Punjabi nation" are built upon. In any case, they are simple facts which cannot be denied by any serious person.
So, Punjab is not the name of a nation or of a people but is a name coined by foreign Persian-speaking invaders in reference to the major geographical features of the region, i.e. the rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. Now, fast-forward to the 21st century and this land of five rivers no longer exists as a politically united entity. What’s more, the people who defined and gave this region its name no longer exist either. Actually, they disappeared from the scene hundreds of years back.
What then, is the logic behind the continued use of this name "Punjab" as a name for the Sikh homeland? A territory which is not a land of five rivers, does not have a native Persian-speaking population, and in which it’s indigenous and majority Sikh people are not descended from people of Turko-Mongol (Mughal) or Persian stock.
The absurdity of continuing to identify the Sikh homeland as "Punjab" presents an interesting contradiction in Sikh collective thought. For the Sikhs, it is clear that they cannot ever depict the Mughals in a positive light as the Mughals had committed heinous crimes and atrocities against them. So why then champion a foreign name given to the Sikhs native homeland by these very same rulers who had not only occupied by force the land which had belonged to the ancestors of the Sikhs but who had also waged war against the Sikhs very own Gurus?
There is then the fact that the Sikh majority Punjab state in India is not a land of five rivers. Only three rivers pass through it. So once again what is the purpose of having the territory named as Punjab? Isn’t this not a complete joke? To have a land in which only three rivers pass through it known as a "land of five rivers" by using a word of Persian origin?
A phone conversation with a Naga had sparked off this questioning behind the logic of continuing to identify the Sikh homeland as Punjab. Getting confused over references to the "Sikh nation of Punjab" the Naga gentlemen quite rightly asked isn’t the Sikh nation known as Khalistan, and if we could use the word Khalistan so that everyone could be clear on what was actually being discussed. He gave the example of confusions over the name of his own homeland. To the Nagas, their homeland of "Nagalim" is the word used to describe all of the Naga dominated and inhabited areas of their region; or what they call, "the traditional Naga homeland". Then there is the Indian state of "Nagaland" which is nothing but an Indian creation and only a tiny fraction of Nagalim. Not surprisingly, the Nagas reject both the boundaries and the name of Nagaland as these are artificial and have been enforced upon them by the Indians. His insistence that the correct terminology of “Nagalim” and “Khalistan” be used in reference to the Naga and Sikh nations was wholly correct on his part, and for which he is owed a word of thanks.
The names of nations and territories should reflect either the identity of its people or of its defining geographical characteristics. But this is not the case with the Sikh homeland. The name Punjab neither reflects the identity of the people nor does it reflect the geographical features of the territory. Some years back after his return to India the long time advocate of Sikh independence, Dr Jagjit Singh Chauhan, suggested that the Punjab state be renamed to Khalistan. Although the word Khalistan has become tainted over the years and made almost synonymous with “terrorism” due the propaganda machinery of the Indian government and media, the name Khalistan is in fact a true representation and definition of the Sikh homeland. Much more so than the Mughal name Punjab is as ever since the collapse of the Mughal empire and later with the partition of the Punjab between two new countries, the name Punjab, in relation to the Sikh homeland, is now completely meaningless and defunct.
Since the creation of modern India in 1947 there have been numerous examples in which foreign imposed names have been reverted back to their indigenous names or given new identities in the language of the local people. The United Provinces became Uttar Pradesh, Madras became Chennai, Bombay became Mumbai, Calcutta became Kolkata and most recently Assam has been reverted back to Asom. Taking all of these and the many more examples into account isn’t it then high time that the Sikhs also got rid of the now defunct and meaningless name Punjab which was given to the region by foreigners and rename their territory to Khalistan?
When Assam can be renamed back to its historical name of Asom after its indigenous Ahom dynasty which had ruled Asom as an independent kingdom for hundreds of years it is then a perfectly legitimate demand for Sikhs to push for the renaming of Punjab to Khalistan; a name and identity which reflects the demographics and aspirations of the Sikh nation and does not continue on an outdated relic left behind by the Sikhs one time nemesis, the Mughal emperors.
A. Soni
London, UK
http://www.panthic.org/news/129/ARTI...006-05-28.html
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I support the re-naming of "Punjab" to Khalistan even if it is done within India for the time being.
Last edited by KLF : 10-29-2006 at 14:32 PM.
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10-29-2006, 15:02 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Navajo Code Talker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 12-27-04
Location: Patiala, India
Country: 
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EDIT: woops got carried off....
KLF, in order to make Khalistan......... lets just say... ready to face them face-to-face???
remember, last time such a thing happened... Khalistanis ran back inside their holes...
__________________
Nabha Sparasham Deeptam
-Touch The Sky With Glory
Last edited by Tronic : 10-29-2006 at 19:37 PM.
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10-29-2006, 19:51 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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formerly ab041937
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 06-27-05
Country:
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Although I voted NO. but I donot have any qualms with the change of name. Its an internal issue of Punjab & punjabis themselves have to decide what name the want.
__________________
If at first you don't succeed, call it v1.0!
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10-29-2006, 19:52 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Navajo Code Talker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 12-27-04
Location: Patiala, India
Country:
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"Khalistan" is a name which was coined by terrorists... Punjab has always been Punjab...
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10-29-2006, 20:34 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Banished
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tronic
"Khalistan" is a name which was coined by terrorists... Punjab has always been Punjab...
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No it hasnt. The name 'Panjab' was coined by the Mughals, which was later corrupted by the British to 'Punjab'. Prior to the reign of Akbar Punjab has been generically referred to as Hindustan by other invaders to the region (including Babur, the first Mughal). Guru Nanak even does not mention anywhere the word "Punjab". Guru Nanak himself uses the word 'Hindustan' for the region in Gurbani and other compositions by him.
The name Punjab has no history beyond its introduction by the Mughals around 400 or so years ago. It also has no meaning left anymore after the partition. Not only that, but Punjab as it was during the British era was a land of many different peoples and cultures. There is little to nothing in common the people of say Multan and Bahawalpur (Pakistani Punjab) with the people of Kangra and Simla (now both in Himachal Pradesh) nor is there anything in particular in common with someone from Lahore and Amritsar with someone from Jind or Faridabad (now both in Haryana).
There is no such thing as a "Punjabi nation". The area now known as Punjab is home to different peoples and nations, the Sikhs being the most distinct and with the strongest identity. The Sikhs are also the only people of 'Punjab' to have ever successfully resisted invaders from West and Central Asia. Not only resist them but successfully expel them from the region and establish an indigenous kingdom.
Before the Khalsa people of 'Punjab' were nothing and for centuries were being ruled over and humiliated constantly by Persians, Turks, Afghans and other invaders. It is a great tragedy therefore that the foreign word 'Punjab' is still being applied to the Sikh homeland. Khalistan is a far more appropriate name since it reflects the character and aspirations of the Sikhs. |
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10-29-2006, 22:24 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Regular
Join Date: 04-22-06
Location: NE India
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Let those who are interested in Khalistan ask Mushy for an empty land in Punjab province and call it Khalistan (or rather Khaali sthan).
__________________
A knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His sword speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked.
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10-30-2006, 00:04 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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Navajo Code Talker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 12-27-04
Location: Patiala, India
Country:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KLF
No it hasnt. The name 'Panjab' was coined by the Mughals, which was later corrupted by the British to 'Punjab'. Prior to the reign of Akbar Punjab has been generically referred to as Hindustan by other invaders to the region (including Babur, the first Mughal). Guru Nanak even does not mention anywhere the word "Punjab". Guru Nanak himself uses the word 'Hindustan' for the region in Gurbani and other compositions by him.
The name Punjab has no history beyond its introduction by the Mughals around 400 or so years ago. It also has no meaning left anymore after the partition. Not only that, but Punjab as it was during the British era was a land of many different peoples and cultures. There is little to nothing in common the people of say Multan and Bahawalpur (Pakistani Punjab) with the people of Kangra and Simla (now both in Himachal Pradesh) nor is there anything in particular in common with someone from Lahore and Amritsar with someone from Jind or Faridabad (now both in Haryana).
There is no such thing as a "Punjabi nation". The area now known as Punjab is home to different peoples and nations, the Sikhs being the most distinct and with the strongest identity. The Sikhs are also the only people of 'Punjab' to have ever successfully resisted invaders from West and Central Asia. Not only resist them but successfully expel them from the region and establish an indigenous kingdom.
Before the Khalsa people of 'Punjab' were nothing and for centuries were being ruled over and humiliated constantly by Persians, Turks, Afghans and other invaders. It is a great tragedy therefore that the foreign word 'Punjab' is still being applied to the Sikh homeland. Khalistan is a far more appropriate name since it reflects the character and aspirations of the Sikhs.
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ok, well Punjab has still always been Punjab; or Hindustan if Guru Nanak used that term... but it has never been Khalistan and never will be... Punjab is too good of a name to change into a stan... none of the "Stans" are good model countries, all are unstable dictatorships.... Just the way Khalistanis like it, right? |
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10-30-2006, 01:58 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
Military Professional
Join Date: 08-20-03
Country:
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Why should the land of Five Rivers (something that makes Punjab boom) be named anything else?
Just because some leeches who soft soap the whites desires the same?
Get real and do some honest day's labour as they do in the Punjab rather than live off the whites' munificence! That is if you know the meaning of the word instead of being the muddle headed vagrant in foreign lands.
__________________
"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."
I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.
HAKUNA MATATA
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10-30-2006, 07:28 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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Banished
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
Why should the land of Five Rivers (something that makes Punjab boom) be named anything else?
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Because Punjab is not a land of five rivers anymore, it is a land of three rivers. And secondly because the name 'Punjab' was coined by the Mughals and is merely a left over relic of their former empire in the subcontinent. Punjab has no meaning for the Sikh Nation and Sikhs should not be satisfied with a foreign name for the homeland.
Khalistan is a far more suitable and appropriate name for the Sikh homeland. |
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10-30-2006, 08:43 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Navajo Code Talker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 12-27-04
Location: Patiala, India
Country:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KLF
Punjab has no meaning for the Sikh Nation and Sikhs should not be satisfied with a foreign name for the homeland.
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LOL... are you telling us what has a meaning for us and what we should be
satisfied with???...  typical Khalistani...
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Khalistan is a far more suitable and appropriate name for the Sikh homeland.
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Fine, then go fight the Canadian, British, Australian or American governments for your little Khalistan.... There's no point in trying to get anything from here, you'll just get your behinds wooped just like the 1980s.... |
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10-30-2006, 08:44 AM
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#11 (permalink)
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Contributor
Join Date: 09-14-06
Location: Pune, India
Country:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KLF
A phone conversation with a Naga had sparked off this questioning behind the logic of continuing to identify the Sikh homeland as Punjab. Getting confused over references to the "Sikh nation of Punjab" the Naga gentlemen quite rightly asked isn’t the Sikh nation known as Khalistan, and if we could use the word Khalistan so that everyone could be clear on what was actually being discussed. He gave the example of confusions over the name of his own homeland. To the Nagas, their homeland of "Nagalim" is the word used to describe all of the Naga dominated and inhabited areas of their region; or what they call, "the traditional Naga homeland". Then there is the Indian state of "Nagaland" which is nothing but an Indian creation and only a tiny fraction of Nagalim. Not surprisingly, the Nagas reject both the boundaries and the name of Nagaland as these are artificial and have been enforced upon them by the Indians. His insistence that the correct terminology of “Nagalim” and “Khalistan” be used in reference to the Naga and Sikh nations was wholly correct on his part, and for which he is owed a word of thanks.
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Is it only me or is it that you talked to the Naga gentleman on the terrorist network...? 
__________________
"To every man upon this earth, Death cometh soon or late;
And how can a man die better; Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of his father; And the temples of his gods."
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10-30-2006, 08:45 AM
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#12 (permalink)
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Navajo Code Talker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 12-27-04
Location: Patiala, India
Country:
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HAHA..... Just saw Neo's vote... I guess he was voting for Pakistani Punjab...  |
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10-30-2006, 10:42 AM
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#13 (permalink)
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Silent lurker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 04-06-05
Location: Amsterdam
Country: 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tronic
HAHA..... Just saw Neo's vote... I guess he was voting for Pakistani Punjab... |
Man, you're obsessed with Pakistan!
Indian Punjab is already devided into East Punjab, Haryana and Himanchal Pradesh.
East Punjab is home to Beas and Ravi and I think a small portion of Jehlum or Chenab, I'll have to check the maps.
Anyway, its not 'land of five rivers' so whats wrong with adopting another name?
Bombay, Banares, Madras, Calcutta, Calicut all have been renamed, why not East Punjab?
I just don't think the name Khalistan is approperiate.
Btw, Khalistan, Sikhistan, Punjabistan, Turbandistan or whatever -Stan it might chose to be, I couldn't care less.
It's their choice.
__________________
Administrator @ Defence.pk
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10-30-2006, 11:32 AM
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#14 (permalink)
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Navajo Code Talker
Senior Contributor
Join Date: 12-27-04
Location: Patiala, India
Country:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo
Man, you're obsessed with Pakistan! |
just like you're obsessed with supporting any terrorists against India....
Quote:
Indian Punjab is already devided into East Punjab, Haryana and Himanchal Pradesh.
East Punjab is home to Beas and Ravi and I think a small portion of Jehlum or Chenab, I'll have to check the maps.
Anyway, its not 'land of five rivers' so whats wrong with adopting another name?
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You know where the biggest share of Punjab lies??? In your country.... Indian Punjab is not divided into "East Punjab".... It is though divided into Himachal and Harayana but that division is very tiny compared to the Punjab, Pakistan stole from us; especially our traditional capitol, Lahore.....
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Bombay, Banares, Madras, Calcutta, Calicut all have been renamed, why not East Punjab?
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1.) There is no such thing as East Punjab.
2.) Because people don't want the name changed... if they did, it would've long been taken up in Parliament by now...
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I just don't think the name Khalistan is approperiate.
Btw, Khalistan, Sikhistan, Punjabistan, Turbandistan or whatever -Stan it might chose to be, I couldn't care less.
It's their choice.
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Yes, its their choice.... thats why we're sticking with the name 'Punjab'... Its never going to become any "stan"... its too economically forward to use "stan" in its name...  |
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10-30-2006, 12:20 PM
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#15 (permalink)
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Postmaster General
Military Professional
Join Date: 08-20-03
Country:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neo
Man, you're obsessed with Pakistan!
Indian Punjab is already devided into East Punjab, Haryana and Himanchal Pradesh.
East Punjab is home to Beas and Ravi and I think a small portion of Jehlum or Chenab, I'll have to check the maps.
Anyway, its not 'land of five rivers' so whats wrong with adopting another name?
Bombay, Banares, Madras, Calcutta, Calicut all have been renamed, why not East Punjab?
I just don't think the name Khalistan is approperiate.
Btw, Khalistan, Sikhistan, Punjabistan, Turbandistan or whatever -Stan it might chose to be, I couldn't care less.
It's their choice. |
The problem is that Khalistanis also think that Pakistani Punjab is also Khalistan.
Rightly so, because the Nanakana Sahib is there and a whole lot of Sikhs came from there.
Thus, their aim is to take over PUNJAB. Pakistani and Indian.
You want to part with your Punjab, please go ahead. Our Punjab is not ready to go over to any Khalistan.
Turbanistan?  |
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