Persian and Punjab : A Forgotten Bond of Language, Culture and History

When "Panj-Ab" Spoke in FarsiPunjab, today known as the land of vibrant culture, soulful music, and fertile plains, owes its very name to the Persian language.

- Dr. Ankush Mahajan

The term Punjab is derived from two Persian words - panj , meaning "five," and ab, meaning "water." Thus, Punjab literally means "the land of five rivers." This single etymological fact reveals how deeply Persian (Farsi) shaped the region's identity. Beyond mere nomenclature, Persian left profound imprints on Punjab's administrative machinery, literature, spirituality, and cultural life for centuries.

This article seeks to explore how Persian entered Punjab, how it shaped its history, what cultural and linguistic legacies it left behind, how it continues to echo in songs and official vocabulary, and why it eventually declined in modern times.

The Historical Entry of Persian into Punjab

Persian began its journey into the Indian subcontinent with the Ghaznavid dynasty in the 11th century. When Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni expanded his empire towards Punjab, he brought with him not only armies but also scribes, poets, and administrators. Persian soon became the language of governance, literature, and high culture.

By the time of the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire, Persian was firmly entrenched as the official language of administration across northern India, including Punjab. It was used for royal decrees, land revenue records, court judgments, and correspondence. Eminent historians note that until the British replaced it with English in 1837, Persian remained the language of prestige and authority in Punjab.

Punjab's multicultural fabric - a blend of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim traditions - embraced Persian as a medium of poetry, mysticism, and record-keeping. From the courts of emperors to the shrines of Sufi saints, Farsi was heard, spoken, and written as naturally as Punjabi itself.

"Magu ke gozashte baz nakhahad gasht, magar an-ke to-ra be su-ye ayande rah namayad." (Do not grieve over what is past, unless it makes you work for what is to come). - Saadi Shirazi