Majha
Majha, is a region located in the central parts of the historical Punjab region split between India and Pakistan. It extends north from the right banks of the river Beas, and reaches as far north as the river Jhelum. People of the Majha region are given the demonym "Mājhī". Most inhabitants of the region speak the Majhi dialect, which is the basis of the standard register of the Punjabi language. The most populous city in the area is Lahore on the Pakistani side and Amritsar on the Indian side of the border.
During the partition of India in 1947, the Majha region of Punjab was split between India and Pakistan when the Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab were formed. The Majha region of Indian State of Punjab covers the area between Beas and Ravi rivers, including the area on the north of Sutlej, after the confluence of Beas and Sutlej at Harike in Tarn Taran district, extending up to the Ravi River, which is all part of the Majha region in India. This region contains thirteen districts of the Pakistani province of Punjab, including the cities of Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot. Four districts of Indian state of Punjab – Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot.
The people of the Majha region have been historically known for their warrior-like nature. The Majha region is called the "Sword Arm of the Country", due to it contributing disproportionately to the Officer as well as Orderly ranks of the Armies of both India and Pakistan. The Sikh Empire was founded in the Majha region, and so the region is also sometimes referred to as "the cradle of the brave Sikhs."
History
The word "Mājhā" means the "central" or the "heartland". The Majha region is geographically located in the middle of the historic Punjab region, hence giving it the name Majha. It includes a considerable portion of the Bari Doab and the Rechna Doab, and a smaller portion of the Jech Doab region.The Majha region of historical Punjab region spans northward from the right banks of river Beas, and extends up to river Jhelum at its northmost, making it the largest regions of historic Punjab.
The Indian state of Punjab has continued to recognize the Majha region through maintaining the districts that have historically belonged to the Majha region. In Pakistan, the Majha city of Lahore was selected as its provincial capital, which the remaining Majha districts were either maintained, or their borders blurred as the boundaries were divided between districts Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, and Rawalpindi, Sahiwal and Sargodha.
Districts of Majha
The following districts are classified as Majha.Majha districts of Punjab, India | Majha districts of Punjab, Pakistan |
Amritsar | Faisalabad |
Gurdaspur | Gujranwala |
Pathankot | Gujrat |
Tarn Taran | Hafizabad |
Kasur | |
Lahore | |
Nankana Sahib | |
Narowal | |
Sheikhupura | |
Sialkot |
Tourist attractions
India
- The Golden Temple, Amritsar
- Gurudwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib, Amritsar
- Baba Atal Sahib, Amritsar
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum, Amritsar
- Company Bagh, Amritsar
- Gurdwara Sri Tarn Taran Sahib, Tarntaran
- Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar
- Punjab State War Heroes' Memorial & Museum, Amritsar
- Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal,Amritsar
- Sadda Pind, Amritsar
- Gurudwara Bir Baba Budha Sahib
- Chheharta Sahib, Amritsar
- Gurudwara Goindwal Sahib, Tarntaran
- Urban Haat, Amritsar
- Ram Bagh Palace, Amritsar
- Partition Museum, Amritsar
- Harike Pattan bird sanctuary, Tarn Taran
- Durgiana Temple, Amritsar
- Walled City of Amritsar
- Gobindgarh Fort, Amritsar
- Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple, Pathankot
- Ranjit Sagar Dam, Pathankot
- , Pathankot
- , Pathankot
- Gurdwara Kandh Sahib, Batala
- Shamsher Khan's tomb, Batala
- Pul Kanjri, Amritsar
- Wagah-Attari border ceremony, Attari border between Amritsar India and Lahore Pakistan.
Pakistan
- Badshahi Mosque, Lahore
- Bagh-e-Jinnah, Lahore
- Begum Shahi Mosque, Lahore
- Haveli of Nau Nihal Singh, Lahore
- Hazuri Bagh, Lahore
- Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura
- Lahore Fort, Lahore
- Lahore Museum, Lahore
- Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Kartarpur
- Gurdwara Dera Sahib, Lahore
- Gurdwara Janam Asthan, Nankana Sahib
- Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das, Lahore
- Omar Hayat Mahal, Chiniot
- Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, Lahore
- Shahi Hammam, Lahore
- Shalimar Gardens, Lahore
- Sunehri Mosque, Lahore
- Tomb of Jahangir, Lahore
- Wagah-Attari border ceremony, Attari border between Amritsar India and Lahore Pakistan.
- Walled City of Lahore, Lahore
- Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore
Notable residents
- Baba Deep Singh Ji.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, the founder of the Sikh Empire.
- Hari Singh Nalwa, renowned warrior and Commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Army, the army of the Sikh Empire.
- Bhai Bidhi Chand Chhina, the greatest Sikh warrior and religious preacher at the time of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji.
- Akali Phula Singh Ji, highly respected Akali Nihang Sikh general and Jathedar of the Khalsa Panth.
- Sham Singh Atariwala, the general of the Sikh Empire.
- Allama Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet.
- Musarrat Nazir, Pakistani Punjabi folk singer of Kashmiri descent.
- Saifuddin Kitchlew, Indian freedom fighter of Kashmiri descent.
- Baba Baghel Singh, who occupied Delhi
- Baba Gurdit Singh, SS Komagata Maru
- Bhai Maha Singh
- Kapil Sharma
- Dara Singh wrestler
- Gurdial Singh Dhillon, ex-speaker of Lok Sabha, India
- Jagbir Singh Chhina, freedom fighter.
- Gurpreet Singh, winner of two medals in Commonwealth Games, Delhi
- M. S. Gill, former chief Election Commissioner of India and former sports Minister of India
- Mai Bhago
- Pratap Singh Kairon, ex-Chief Minister of Punjab
- Surender Mohan Pathak, Novelist
- Teja Singh Samundri, founder of SGPC
- Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, Founder and President of Gadar party
- Bharti Singh
- Chandan Prabhakar
- Sardar Baj Singh, Sikh general and governor.
- Bhai Bhag Singh Bhikhiwind, leader of the Ghadar Party
- Sardar Chhajja Singh Dhillon, a renowned Sikh warrior of the early 18th century.
Photo gallery