The Best 7 Books About Punjab’s History and Culture

Punjab has a rich culture and history we all want to know more about, but it feels very challenging to find the correct sources. With all the false commercialism and connotations about Punjab, the urge to learn more is always there. 

Having said that, you've come to the right place. We have researched, curated, and read the following books that feature the history, lives and culture of Punjab. 

There is so much to learn, not just for Punjabis, but for those around the world who are just getting to know the culture.  Everyone has had questions like what is Punjabi, what does Punjabi mean, where is Punjab, when was Punjab founded, what is the taste of Punjab? The answers to these and much much more can be found in the books mentioned in this article. 

Panjab: Journeys Through Fault Lines 

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Author: Amandeep Sandhu 

Chapters: 16 

One thing you will surely love about this book is that you’ll feel engrossed with all the stories. It feels like you are on a real journey and Amandeep is taking you to that particular place or setting. Sandhu has a tremendous anecdotal style whenever he is writing about Punjab's history and current state of affairs. The lines between the characters feel like home. 

Every Punjabi should know about Punjab's history. The story begins with Satt, which means ‘wound,’ and ends with Janamdin, which means ‘birthday.’ 

As you read, you will also come across the representation and reality of Punjab. What makes this unique is that you will feel like you are holding a mirror when you read and turn the pages. All the stories are also the reflection of you and some of your experiences. It also focuses on the problems occurring in the state so that you can better understand what's going on today.  Buy Now

Sadda Punjab 

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Author: Munish Jindal 

This book is the perfect choice for those Punjab Civil Service hopefuls and those taking exams. The topic revolves around Punjab’s geography, Sikh and Punjabi history, which discusses Punjab’s ancient, medieval, and modern periods. 

Even without a plan to take Civil Service exam, you can read this to enhance your knowledge about Punjab’s history and culture.  

Tales of the Punjab 

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Author: Flora Annie Steel 

Illustrator: John Lockwood Kipling 

Chapters: 43 Eastern folktales 

The author of this book is famous among Punjabis, and she lived in British India for over 22 years.

Tales of the Punjab is a collection of 43 Easter folktales, which include: 

• The Adventures of Raja Rasalu 
• The Son of Seven Mother 
• Prince Lionheart and His Three Friends
• The Bear’s Bad Bargain
• The Faithful Prince 

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Social & Cultural History of the Punjab: Prehistoric Ancient & Early Medieval 

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Author: J S Grewal 

The author used Punjab in this book as a metaphor for the four places surrounding the geographical region: the Jamuna River, Aravali Hills, the Great Indian Desert, and the Himalayas. 

The Social & Cultural History of the Punjab’s story revolves around Punjab’s social and cultural history that happened around BC 3000 to AD 1000. This book captivated the interest of professional historians, students, and even general readers. 

Grewal examines the area through the lenses of the socio-cultural dynamics of the region at various points in its history, the Harappan civilisation, the Rigvedic culture, the development of states in the area and their incorporation into empires, the rise of urban centres, and the formation of new social and cultural forms.

The book also delves into how Punjab's shifting politics and economics influenced the region's religious history.  Buy Now

Punjab, Punjabis, and Punjabiyat: Reflections on a Land and its People

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Author: Khushwant Singh

This book focuses on the culture, people, and area of Punjab. It is a compilation of Singh's finest works of Punjab, Punjabis, and Sikhs. Across its three sections, the book discusses several facets of the area, such as its climate, history, religion, politics, language, and literature.

The first section focuses on the history and culture of the Sikhs and the state of Punjab. On the other hand, the second section discusses the pressing difficulties that plagued the state throughout Singh's lifetime, like partition, the Khalistan movement, Operation Blue Star, anti-Sikh riots, and more. Lastly, the third section includes biographies of prominent poets, politicians, activists, friends, and family members. 

Since it was printed after the author's death, it is unrealistic to anticipate a systematic analysis, but it helps sketch out the broad strokes of Punjab's cultural development. Buy Now

Punjab: A History from Aurangzeb to Mountbatten

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Author: Rajmohan Gandhi

Well-researched and quite popular among the worldwide Punjabi community, Rajmohan Gandhi's book is a must-read. This book traces Punjab's turbulent history from Aurangzeb's demise through the bloody partition of 1947, which coincided with the British withdrawal.

The author has written an engaging overview of the significant events of the era in the area, drawing on new and previously published testimonies. 

Several examples are shown below:

• Wars and disasters that often shattered the life of regular Punjabis
• A series of invaders ransacked famous towns in Pakistan and India, including Lahore, Amritsar, Multan and Jalandhar
• The devastation brought upon by conquerors like Nadir Shah
• As the Sikh movement gained momentum under Maharaja Ranjit Singh's rule
• The conflicts between Britain and the Sikh monarchy
• Effects of the 1857 Great Rebellion on Punjab
• The destruction caused by Partition and more

Furthermore, Rajmohan Gandhi makes an effort to address several crucial issues. An interesting fact that caught my attention was that during Aurangzeb's reign, Muslims and Hindus made up the vast majority of Punjab, with the Sikhs making up a tiny fraction of the population.

It was the Sikhs, however, who eventually came out on top when the Mughal Empire collapsed. Why didn't the Muslims in Punjab step up?  Buy Now

History and Culture of Punjab

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Author: Mohinder Singh

Students, academics, and those interested in Punjab will find Mohinder Singh's History and Culture of Punjab an excellent resource. The articles collected here cover many facets of Punjabi history and culture. It is one of the most reliable resources for learning about the events that led up to contemporary Punjab since it has contributions from some of the most renowned historians.

This collection includes the following articles:

• The Chief Khalsa Diwan
• The Singh Sabha Movement
• Modern Panjab: An Overview
• Images of Sikhism in the Writings of early Orientalists
• Inter-religious Dialogue and Understanding
• The Sikh Philosophy of God
• The Guru in Sikhism: Some Further Considerations
• Guru Gobind Singh in Bengali Writings
• Guru Nanak’s Vision of Religious Humanism
• History and Culture of Panjab through the Ages

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Now that you have the list of these fantastic books about Punjab’s History and Culture, it is time to read them one by one. Get engaged with all the wonderful collections of stories in each book that will let you dig deeper into the rich culture of Punjab.