February 10, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Charhda Punjab NGO held its maiden seminar explaining the three thousand year old history of Punjab at Pal Auditorium of Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana. A documentary film explaining the rich heritage and cultural traditions of Punjab was also premiered before a healthy audience.
“Punjabis had led the world not only in philosophy, religiosity but also economically and militarily. Rigveda, the world’s first religious text was written in Punjab while Rishi Valmiki wrote original version of Ramayana at Ram Tirath village near Amritsar,” said Vinayak Dutt, founder of Charhda Punjab NGO adding that Tank Kings belonging to Punjabi Arora khatri community had defeated Mohammad Bin Qasim the Arab invader who attacked India repeatedly between 708 to 712 AD.
Dutt had written a best selling book ‘Punjab: From the perspective of Punjabi Hindu’ which remained a bestseller on Amazon and Flipkart in 2023 and 2024.
“Raja Anandpal of Hindushahi clan had defeated Subuktigin the ruler of Ghazni in 998 AD to annex Afghanistan to his kingdom. Hindushahi Kings ruled on a huge geographical region spread from mountain ranges of Kangra, Kashmir to Hindukush in Afghanistan.
Mohammad Ghazni invaded Punjab and Indian subcontinent multiple times to avenge killing of his father Subuktigin and laid the foundation of Muslim Sultanate,” added Dutt insisting it is pertinent for Punjabis to pass on their rich history to their future generations.
Karan Bir Singh Sidhu, the former Chief Secretary of Punjab and Dr. Mohammad Idris, Professor of History from Punjabi University also gave lectures on rich history of Punjab.
“Punjabis are second to none.
Their contribution to philosophy and culture has been unparallel. Its pluralistic ethos and inclusive nature have allowed Sufism, Sikhism to prosper as they always believed in having a dialogue and put impetus on logic and rationality,” said Karan Bir Singh Sidhu in his address.
“Yaudheya Mahajanpada was a military republic. People used to debate and convince others with their ideas and logic. They used to elect their chiefs of administration, military, trade and agriculture on the basis of dialogue.
Yaudheya Mahajandapa existed from 400 BCE to 500 BCE in Punjab that stretching from Bahawalpur in Pakistan to Hisar in Haryana and covered the areas of Barnala and Ropar in todays Punjab,” said Dr. Mohammad Idris in his address. Jahnavi, a budding singer from Krishnalaya music academy also gave a musical performance singing traditional Punjabi folk and sufi songs which mesmerised the audience.
