Punjab, known as the "Land of Five Rivers," has been shaped, nurtured, and defined by its water bodies. The state’s very name, derived from the Persian words 'panj' meaning five and 'aab' meaning water, refers to the five rivers that once flowed through the region. The five rivers are the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Jhelum, and Chenab. These rivers are tributaries of the Indus River, eventually merging to form the Panjnad River, which then flows into the Indus. The powerful Indus River, after gathering waters from its tributaries, continues its journey and empties into the Arabian Sea near Karachi in Pakistan. Collectively, these rivers, along with the Indus, are part of what is referred to as the Indus Valley River System.
Historical Significance
The fertile plains of Punjab, nourished by these rivers, supported the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world’s oldest and most sophisticated urban civilizations. The civilization flourished along the banks of the now-extinct Sarasvati River, believed to have been fed by some of the rivers of Punjab.
For centuries, these rivers served as arteries for trade, transportation, and communication. Ancient Indian texts such as the Rigveda, written around 1500 BCE, mention the mighty rivers of the region and describe Punjab as Sapta Sindhu, meaning "land of seven rivers." The Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab, and Sarasvati (now dry) were revered as holy entities, and communities settled along their banks. These rivers also formed natural defense boundaries for ancient kingdoms.
As the Mughal Empire rose to power, Punjab's rivers continued to shape the region's economy, agriculture, and trade. They facilitated the movement of armies, goods, and ideas across North India, making Punjab an essential hub for commerce and conquest.
This region is known as Pancha-nada in the Puranas and the Mahabharata, signifying the land of five rivers. The ancient Greeks called it Pentapotamia, describing an inland delta formed by the convergence of five rivers. These names highlight that these rivers have been nourishing and shaping the land since ancient times.
Today, only three rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—flow through the Indian state of Punjab. The Ravi partially flows along the India-Pakistan international border before fully entering Pakistan. The other two rivers, Jhelum and Chenab, flow entirely through Punjab province in Pakistan.
Indus Waters Treaty
All the rivers in the Indus Valley River System flow through India before entering Pakistan. To manage the distribution of these waters, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was signed in 1960 in Karachi between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank acting as a mediator. The agreement was endorsed by Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, and Ayub Khan, the President of Pakistan. Under the terms of this treaty, the waters of the three eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—were allocated to India, while the waters of the three western rivers—Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus—were designated for Pakistan.
River Satluj
The Sutlej, also known as Satluj, is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River. In Sanskrit, it is called Shatadru. The river originates from the Rakshastal Lake in Tibet, although some geologists suggest that its source could be the nearby Mansarovar Lake. These two vast lakes are located in close proximity in the Tibetan region, with water from Mansarovar overflowing into Rakshastal.
Historically, the Sutlej was crucial to the prosperity of the kingdoms that existed along its banks. It was also part of the river system of the Harappan civilization, and traces of ancient settlements have been found near its course.
The Sutlej enters India through Himachal Pradesh and then flows into the Ropar district of Punjab. At Harike, in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab, the Beas River merges with the Sutlej. Further downstream, the Sutlej unites with the Chenab River near Uch Sharif in Pakistan, forming the Panjnad River. The Panjnad River then converges with the Indus River around 100 kilometers from Bahawalpur in Pakistan. With a total length of approximately 1,500 kilometers, the Sutlej is the longest river in Punjab.
Several major dams have been constructed on the Sutlej River. The Bhakra Dam, one of the largest in India, creates the Gobind Sagar Lake, which is the second-largest reservoir in India by water storage capacity. Other significant dams along the Sutlej include the Nangal Dam, Karcham Wangtoo Dam, and Nathpa Jhakri Dam, all of which play crucial roles in irrigation, hydroelectricity generation, and water management in the region.
River Ravi
The Ravi River, known as Purushini in Vedic texts and Iravati in Sanskrit, originates in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It enters Punjab through the Pathankot district and flows along the India-Pakistan international border, separating the Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts in India from Pakistan. With a total length of approximately 720 kilometers, the Ravi River eventually merges with the Chenab River near Ahmadpur Sial in Pakistan.
Several major dams are constructed on the Ravi River, including the Ranjit Sagar Dam (also known as Thein Dam), Shahpur Kandi Dam, Chamera Dam, Karcham Dam, and Kaushalya Dam. These dams are vital for irrigation, water storage, and hydroelectric power generation in the region.
River Beas
The Beas River, referred to as Arjikiya in the Vedas and Vipasa in ancient Sanskrit, originates from Beas Kund (also known as Vyas Kund) in the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh. It flows into Punjab through the Hoshiarpur district. With a total length of approximately 470 kilometers, the Beas River converges with the Sutlej River at Harike in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab.
The river is home to two significant dams: the Pong Dam (also known as Maharana Pratap Sagar), situated in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and the Pandoh Dam, located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. The Pong Dam is a major reservoir providing irrigation and hydroelectric power, while the Pandoh Dam plays a crucial role in diverting Beas River waters to the Sutlej River.
Rivers Lost to Partition- The Jhelum and Chenab
River Jhelum
The Jhelum originates from the Pir Panjal range in Jammu and Kashmir, flows through the Kashmir Valley, and enters Punjab in Pakistan. It is approximately 725 kilometers long and eventually merges with the Chenab River in Pakistan. The river holds significant historical and religious importance, being associated with Alexander the Great's famous battle against King Porus at the Battle of the Hydaspes (Jhelum).
Although the Jhelum no longer flows through modern-day Indian Punjab, its impact on the cultural and historical landscape of undivided Punjab remains profound. The river has also been a source of disputes between India and Pakistan over water rights, given its strategic and agricultural importance in the Kashmir region.
River Chenab
The Chenab River originates from the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh and flows through Jammu and Kashmir before entering Pakistan. With a total length of approximately 960 kilometers, it is one of the major rivers of the Indus River system. Like the Jhelum, the Chenab flows entirely through Pakistan after partition.
Before 1947, the Chenab provided much of the water for irrigation in the western districts of Punjab. Today, it continues to be a significant river in Pakistani Punjab, but its historical significance in the undivided Punjab remains undeniable.
Doab Regions In Punjab
The term "Doab" refers to the land situated between two rivers. Derived from the Persian words "Do," meaning two, and "Aab," meaning water or river, Doab literally translates to "land between two rivers." The region is divided into several Doabs, each named after the rivers that define its boundaries. Here are the names of these Doab regions:
(i) Bist Doab-The land between the Beas and Sutlej rivers is known as Bist Doab. This region is also referred to as Jullundhar Doab, named after the major city of Jullundhar (or Jalandhar) located in the area. Another term for this region is "Doaba." The local dialect spoken here is the Doabi dialect of Punjabi. Punjab is divided into three cultural and linguistic regions: Majha, Malwa, and Doaba.
(ii) Bari Doab- The region situated between the Beas and Ravi rivers is known as Bari Doab. This area falls within the Majha region of Punjab, where the primary language spoken is the Majhi dialect of Punjabi.
(iii) Rachna Doab- The land located between the Ravi and Chenab rivers is known as the Rachna Doab. This area is part of the Punjab province in Pakistan and also falls within the Majha region.
(iv) Chaj Doab- The region situated between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers is known as the Jhelum-Chenab Doab. Named by combining the names of these two rivers, this area is also part of the Majha region in Punjab.
(v) Sind Sagar Doab- The region between the Jhelum and Indus (also known as Sind) rivers is referred to as the Sindh Doab. This area is situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
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