PUNJAB CANAL COLONIES (with administrative divisions) 1871

Punjab literally means 'land of five rivers'. Beas, Jhelum, Ravi, Chenab and Sutlej - flowing through India and Pakistan, the rivers makes the Punjab area as one of the most irrigable and fertile lands of both the nations. Even the British government had acknowledged the land's potential and hence between 1885 to 1940, the western part of Punjab was divided into 9 'canal districts' based on the various 'doabs' (or two rivers) system. Its interesting to note that both the words Punjab and Doab derives from the same Persian roots - 'Punj' (five) + 'ab' (river/water body) and 'Do' (two) + 'ab' (river/water body).

Punjab was divided into 5 Doabs :

1) Julindar or Julindhur or Jullundur (Jalandhar) Doab between Satlaj (Sutlej) and Beas rivers

2) Bari Doab between Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers

3) Retchna or Richna Doab (Rechna) between Ravi and Chinab (Chenab) rivers

4) Jetch (Jech) Doab between Chenab and Jhilam (Jhelum or Jehlum) rivers

5) Sindh Sagar Doab between Indus and Jhelum rivers

Except for Jalandhar Doab, remaining all were part of today's Pakistan. Between 1886 to 1940, 9 different 'canal colonies' were created to make the best use of irrigation and it boosted up an agricultural revolution so much so that it lead to acres of land possessions to many Punjabis. All these colonies covered districts which are now in Pakistan - Sidhnai, Sohag Para, Chenab, Chunian, Jhelum, Lower Bari Doab, Upper Chenab, Upper Jhelum and Nili Bar. Covering districts such as Multan, Montgomery (Sahiwal), Gujranwala, Jhang, Lyallpur (Faisalabad), Lahore, Sheikhupura, Shapur (Shahpur), Jhang and Gujrat (spelled as Gujarat on several maps) - all in today's Pakistan.

Among the 5 Doabs, the Bari Doab was the most important one since it covered major cities such as Multan, Lahore and Amritsar and was of extreme importance to Sikh community. There were several Princely States (not shown in the map) that passed through these Doabs as well. The Princely States of Patiala, Jind, Faridkot, Nabha, Kapurthala and Malerkotla fell under the Jalandhar Doab area (part of Lahore division). Rechna and Jech Doabs extended to Jammu division of the Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir (mentioned as Gulab Singh's territory on the map here).

Canal Colonies was one of the greatest examples of settlements in modern India. By 1921, a total of 2,40,398 people were settled in these areas from all over Punjab and even Kashmir. Lyallpur had the largest canal colony consisting several rich landlords having 200-300 acres of lands. This was the time when possession of land was a symbol of social status and prestige. It is recorded that between 1881 to 1931, there was a rise of 37% of population in these areas making one of the most densely populated regions of British India. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and native tribes - all lived in these canal colonies.

Below here is a map of undivided Punjab dating 1871 with administrative divisions (not districts) - Derajat, Peshawar, Rawal Pindi (Rawalpindi), Multan, Lahor (Lahore), Umritsir (Amritsar), Jullundur (Jalandhar), Umbala (Ambala), Hissar (Hisar) and Delhi - and Doabs highlighted with different color codes.