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Differences between Majha, Doaba and Malwa Sikhs


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15 hours ago, Premi5 said:

My parents both from Ludhiana zila, what about your Mum's side - which district in Malwa ?

I have two uncles here who married Doabans.

Why bring jatts into a Sikhi discussion? And genetics? 

Btw, most of the 'kharkus' and high proportion of historical Sikh figures were from Majha. Majha is still relatively highly represented (at least from what I have seen) in terms of Amritdharis and Rehitvaan Sikhs. 

Malwa has highest population of Sikhs so would naturally have visibly more Sikhs who are religious but equally many who are not. Malwa seems the political 'heartland' since Partition - e.g. Badals, Captain, Channi, Beanta all from/born in Malwa. 

On the 'negative side' all the 'Manns' in Panjabi music are from Malwa. KP Gill , General K Brar . 

I think Malwa can also be broken down into subsections given how large it is. There's difference between say Mohali and Moga. Sant Jarnail Singh Ji were from Moga are, and many 'kharkus' were from around there. 

There are hardly any Sikhs and Panjabis from the western/southwestern part of Panjab abroad compared with the eastern side and bordering Doaba areas.

Mohali is moreso powadhi innit

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1 hour ago, proactive said:

Moga, Jagraon and the areas west including Zira and south to Bathinda and Mansa were all a part of the Lakhi jungle where the Khalsa Dal would retire to recoup and unite their forces for the next attack on the Mughals and Afghans. Malwa has a different experience of Mughal persecution. Apart from along the GT road where the govt was strong, in the rural areas the influence of the govt only extended through Muslim chaudharis such as the Manj Rajputs who had villages along the GT road as well as Pathan, Dogar and Gujjar Muslim villages which existed in regular intervals between Jat villages. The Malwa never saw the persecution that the Sikhs of Majha and Doaba faced in which many Sikhs were killed in large numbers by both the Mughal Subedars and the Muslim peasants who would hunt for Sikhs in the areas where Sikhs were sheltering. At one stage the Majha and some areas of Doaba adjacent to it were emptied of Sikhs. 

The Malwa experience was different because half of the Malwa was under Sikh Chaudhris who had come into Sikhi during Guru Hargobind's parchar tour of Malwa as well as Guru Gobind Singh's stay in Malwa after leaving Anandpur Sahib. These Chaudhris went on to become the states of Patiala, Jind, Nabha and Faridkot. Sikhi grew exponentially in Malwa because unlike Majha and Doaba, it enjoyed a sustained period of relative peace. Malwa also retained the old Chaudhris who were  a part of the old order while in Majha and Doaba because these Chaudhris had taken part in the persecution, they were overthrown and new leaders from among the common population came forward to become Misldars. Incidentally  Malwa never had a Misl or even Misldars although sometimes the Phulkian chaudhris who became the Malwa Sikh states are included as a Misl they do not meet the definition of what a Misl was. 

The Majha and a few Doaba areas produced Misldars many of whom set up their own rule in areas of Malwa bordering Lakhi Jungle, the area they knew well due to sheltering there during the Mughal persecution as well as along the GT road towards Delhi. These non-Malwai kingdoms such as Kaithal, Kalsia, Ladwa, Rupar and Buria either lapsed after the failure of a male heir to the British rule or were annexed after the Anglo-Sikh wars. Only Kalsia state survived into 1948 when it became a part of the Patiala and East Punjab states union. 

Although the Malwa rulers supported the British in the Anglo-Sikh wars, the general Sikh population was on the side of the Lahore Durbar. Many Sikhs especially in the British ruled areas of Malwa like Ludhiana and Ferozpur had historically crossed the Satluj to join the Khalsa army. The famous general Dhanna Singh Malwai was one such person. After his death the Patiala ruler attempted to take over the jagir that Maharaja Ranjit Singh had bestowed him for his service which was resisted by the Lahore Durbar. During the battles along the Satluj while the Muslim villagers supported the British, the Sikh villagers would attack British army stragglers passing through their areas. 

There is a mention of battles fought between Majhail Singhs and the Brar Jatts of Malwa in the Panth Prakash. There was a rift between the Khalsa Panth and the Malwai Brars. After suffering a massacre by Abdali's forces, the Majhail Singhs took shelter in Malwa territory.

Panth Prakash mentions the Singhs were attacked and slaughtered when they entered Malwa. The Brars would cast  an  evil  eye  on  some  Singhs'  spouses,  On  another  Singh  would  they  poke  fun  for  nothing. Addressing  Singhs  by  their  half,  distorted  names, They  would  tell  them  to  vacate  their  villages.  Though  being  quite  formidable  and  capable  of  teaching  them  a  lesson, the  Majhail  Singhs  preferred  to  put  off  a  confrontation. Even  if  the  Majhail  Singhs  proffered  the  Brars  a  sane  advice,  The  latter  made  fun  of  even  their  well-meaning  counsel. The  Brar  ancestors  had  gone  through  the  initiation  once, That  one-time  initiation  held  good  for  their  bloodline  forever. 

 

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1 hour ago, proactive said:

Moga, Jagraon and the areas west including Zira and south to Bathinda and Mansa were all a part of the Lakhi jungle where the Khalsa Dal would retire to recoup and unite their forces for the next attack on the Mughals and Afghans. Malwa has a different experience of Mughal persecution. Apart from along the GT road where the govt was strong, in the rural areas the influence of the govt only extended through Muslim chaudharis such as the Manj Rajputs who had villages along the GT road as well as Pathan, Dogar and Gujjar Muslim villages which existed in regular intervals between Jat villages. The Malwa never saw the persecution that the Sikhs of Majha and Doaba faced in which many Sikhs were killed in large numbers by both the Mughal Subedars and the Muslim peasants who would hunt for Sikhs in the areas where Sikhs were sheltering. At one stage the Majha and some areas of Doaba adjacent to it were emptied of Sikhs. 

The Malwa experience was different because half of the Malwa was under Sikh Chaudhris who had come into Sikhi during Guru Hargobind's parchar tour of Malwa as well as Guru Gobind Singh's stay in Malwa after leaving Anandpur Sahib. These Chaudhris went on to become the states of Patiala, Jind, Nabha and Faridkot. Sikhi grew exponentially in Malwa because unlike Majha and Doaba, it enjoyed a sustained period of relative peace. Malwa also retained the old Chaudhris who were  a part of the old order while in Majha and Doaba because these Chaudhris had taken part in the persecution, they were overthrown and new leaders from among the common population came forward to become Misldars. Incidentally  Malwa never had a Misl or even Misldars although sometimes the Phulkian chaudhris who became the Malwa Sikh states are included as a Misl they do not meet the definition of what a Misl was. 

The Majha and a few Doaba areas produced Misldars many of whom set up their own rule in areas of Malwa bordering Lakhi Jungle, the area they knew well due to sheltering there during the Mughal persecution as well as along the GT road towards Delhi. These non-Malwai kingdoms such as Kaithal, Kalsia, Ladwa, Rupar and Buria either lapsed after the failure of a male heir to the British rule or were annexed after the Anglo-Sikh wars. Only Kalsia state survived into 1948 when it became a part of the Patiala and East Punjab states union. 

Although the Malwa rulers supported the British in the Anglo-Sikh wars, the general Sikh population was on the side of the Lahore Durbar. Many Sikhs especially in the British ruled areas of Malwa like Ludhiana and Ferozpur had historically crossed the Satluj to join the Khalsa army. The famous general Dhanna Singh Malwai was one such person. After his death the Patiala ruler attempted to take over the jagir that Maharaja Ranjit Singh had bestowed him for his service which was resisted by the Lahore Durbar. During the battles along the Satluj while the Muslim villagers supported the British, the Sikh villagers would attack British army stragglers passing through their areas. 

A lot of aweeeeesome information, I’d say you and Mr Singh are probably the best users on this forum. Love reading your posts I feel like I learn a lot ?

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 12/20/2021 at 5:05 AM, Premi5 said:

I think that also. They're big into Kabaddi. 

Anyone with any ideas why ?

Majha-wale, I can understand, but not with the Doabe-wale. Any historical or cultural reason ?

most sikhs here in doaba are from lehnda punjab and many from the himachals (pahari raje and sipahis) , something to do with that perhaps? 

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