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Majha

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Majha
Cultural region of Punjab
Map
Map
Named formañjhlā ("middle")

Majha (romanized: Mājhā; Punjabi pronunciation: [mäˑ˩˥.dʒˑäː]; from "mañjhlā" lit. 'middle')[note 1][1] is a region located in the central parts of the historical Punjab region, presently split between the republics of Pakistan and India.[2] It extends north from the right banks[note 2] of the river Beas, and reaches as far north as left bank of the river Ravi.[2]

The Majha region was partitioned between India and Pakistan in 1947. It includes four districts of Indian state of Punjab — Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot. In the Pakistani province of Punjab, the Majha region proper includes Lahore and Kasur districts. However, it is not uncommon to include the districts of Gujranwala (including Hafizabad and Wazirabad), Sialkot (including Narowal) and Sheikhupura (including Nankana Sahib) — located in the Upper Rachna Doab — in the Majha area as well. Strictly speaking, though, the northeastern half of Rachna Doab is traditionally called Darap, and the southwestern half forms part of the Sandal Bar. Even the southwestern half of Lahore district has a separate name, Nakka. Taken as a whole, Majha forms a rough parallelogram with the rivers Beas and Sutlej forming the base and bounded by the Sivaliks in the east, the River Chenab in the north, and roughly the line of 73°-30'East longitude in the west.[1][3]

A map of the Punjab region c. 1947 showing the different doabs.

People of the Majha region are given the demonym "Mājhī" or "Majhail".[4][5] Most inhabitants of the region speak the Majhi dialect, which is the basis of the standard register of the Punjabi language in Indian Punjab.[6] The most populous city in the area is Lahore on the Pakistani side, and Amritsar on the Indian side of the border. Majha is also the birthplace of Sikhism.[1]

Etymology

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The word majha means "middle" or "central".[5]

Geography and culture

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Map of the Lahore Division in 1850–1855, comprising the Districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Lahore, Sialkot, and Gujranwala, usually included in the Majha region.[1]

Majha is defined as the tract of land between the Ravi and Beas rivers, being north of the Sutlej river, after the confluence of Beas and Sutlej at Harike, and up until the Ravi river, expending in Pakistani Punjab until the Jhelum river.[4][5] The Majha region includes four districts of the Indian state of Punjab — Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot and the districts of Lahore and Kasur in the Pakistani province of Punjab in the Bari Doab. However, it is not uncommon to include the districts of Gujranwala (including Hafizabad and Wazirabad), Sialkot (including Narowal) and Sheikhupura (including Nankana Sahib) — located in the Upper Rachna Doab — in the Majha area as well.Strictly speaking, though, the northeastern half of Rachna Doab is traditionally called Darap, and the southwestern half forms part of the Sandal Bar. Even the southwestern half of Lahore district has a separate name, Nakka. Taken as a whole, Majha forms a rough parallelogram with the rivers Beas and Sutlej forming the base and bounded by the Sivaliks in the east, the River Chenab in the north, and roughly the line of 73°-30'East longitude in the west.[1][7]

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.[8] 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".[9]

History

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There is a lack of a river boundary between Amritsar and Lahore, leading to the formation of a shared, cultural zone. Later, this area expanded to include the regions of Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot which lay beyond the Ravi river due to Ranjit Singh forming a polity with these core territories.[10] Much of the region was under the Sikh Empire.[11] Further regional consolidation occurred with improved transport infrastructure during colonial-rule, such as the construction of bridges. Frequent travel and contact existed within the region but the partition of Punjab in 1947 created a new border which split the region in two and ended intra-regional movement.[10]

Tourist attractions

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India

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Pakistan

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See also

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  • Doaba, cultural region in Punjab, India
  • Bar, cultural region in Punjab, Pakistan
  • Pothwar, cultural region in Punjab, Pakistan
  • Malwa, cultural region in Punjab, India
  • Poadh, cultural region in India
  • The Punjab Doabs, geographic regions in Punjab

Notes

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  1. ↑ Punjabi: ਮਾਝਾ (Gurmukhi), ماجھا (Shahmukhi)
  2. ↑ The left/right bank of a river is determined by looking in the direction of flow of the river (facing downstream).

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Singh, Harbans, ed. (2011). "MĀJHĀ". The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism. Vol. III M–R (Third ed.). Punjabi University Patiala. pp. 23–24. ISBN 978-8-1-7380-349-9.
  2. 1 2 Arora, Mohit; Gujarati, Ashwin; Chandel, Sumita; Pateriya, Brijendra (12 July 2023). "Assessment of River Water Dynamics and Optically Active Water Quality Parameters Over Punjab, Based on Cloud Computing Approach". In Rai, Praveen Kumar (ed.). Advances in Water Resource Planning and Sustainability. Springer Nature. p. 43. ISBN 978-981-99-3660-1. Majha is the region located in the central parts of the historical Punjab and is split between India and Pakistan. It is situated between the right bank of the river Beas and left bank of the river Ravi. Majha Region in Indian Punjab has four districts, viz., Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Pathankot.
  3. ↑ Sharamā, Rādhā (2000). Peasantry and the State: Early Nineteenth Century Punjab. K.K. Publishers and Distributors. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-86912-03-4.
  4. 1 2 Kaler, Sunita (June 2016). "Administrative Structure of Punjab" (PDF). Advances in Social Research. 2 (1): 59–60 – via renupublishers.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Majha Malwa Doaba". Punjab Data. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Advanced Centre for Technical Development of Punjabi Language, Literature and Culture, Punjabi University, Patiala Punjabi University, Patiala.
  7. ↑ Sharamā, Rādhā (2000). Peasantry and the State: Early Nineteenth Century Punjab. K.K. Publishers and Distributors. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-86912-03-4.
  8. ↑ Mahmood, Cynthia Keppley (1996). Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (Contemporary Ethnography), p. 153. Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania.
  9. ↑ Sandhu, Gulzar Singh (2004). Gods on Trial and Other Stories, p. 132. Diamond Pocket Books. ISBN 8128808087
  10. 1 2 Aujla, Harjap Singh. "A Part of Lahore lives in Amritsar". APNA (Academy of the Punjab in North America). Retrieved 12 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Land". Global Institute of Sikh Studies. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
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