Five Punjabi Centuries : Polity, Economy, Society and Culture C.1500-1990: Essays for J.S. Grewal

Featuring essays by leading scholars from various fields, the volume explores Punjab's dynamic evolution from the Mughal era through Sikh rule, colonial times, and post-independence challenges. It delves into political, economic, and cultural shifts, urbanization, and emerging art and literature.

The contributors to this volume belong to the disciplines of history, art history, geography, political science, economics and literature – many of them eminent in their field of interest. Their contributions make this volume multi-disciplinary, with an exceptionally wide scope, proving it indispensable for all students and scholars?of?social?sciences?and?humanities.

Three papers cover polity, economy and society in the Mughal Punjab; six relate to state-formation, economy, society and literature of the period of Sikh rule; one deals with religion and art in the hills. A masterly essay delineates the major developments in the recent study of Pahari?painting.

The period of colonial rule is covered by fifteen contributors who discuss political, economic and socio-cultural developments dwelling on urban society and politics; communitarian, secular and national consciousness; agrarian and urban economy; demographic and social change; Punjabi literature; and gender relations.

There are three papers on the Punjab after independence related to political economy; the bearing of agricultural growth on urbanization; and the movement for?the?Punjabi-speaking state.

The essay on Professor J.S. Grewal''s work becomes virtually a study of new directions in the historiography of the Punjab in its political, social,?economic?and?cultural?dimensions.