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, constituting upper half of the Bari Doab.[2]
A map of the Punjab region c. 1947 showing the different doabs.
People of the Majha region are given the demonym "Mājhī" or "Majhail". Most inhabitants of the region speak the Majhi dialect, which is the basis of the standard register of the Punjabi language in Indian Punjab.[4] 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]
History
Map of the Lahore Division in 1850–55, comprising the Districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Lahore, Sialkot, and Gujranwala, usually included in the Majha region.[1]
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.[5] 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".[6]
^ abArora, 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. ISBN978-981-99-3660-1. 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.
^Sharamā, Rādhā (2000). Peasantry and the State: Early Nineteenth Century Punjab. K.K. Publishers and Distributors. p. 10. ISBN978-81-86912-03-4.
^Advanced Centre for Technical Development of Punjabi Language, Literature and Culture, Punjabi University, Patiala Punjabi University, Patiala.
^Mahmood, Cynthia Keppley (1996). Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants (Contemporary Ethnography), p. 153. Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania.
^Sandhu, Gulzar Singh (2004). Gods on Trial and Other Stories, p. 132. Diamond Pocket Books. ISBN8128808087
^Singh, Raj Pal (1998). Banda Bahadur and His Times p. 22. Harman Pub. House, 1 Aug 1998.
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