When the history of India’s independence and survival is remembered, Punjab and the Sikh community occupy a place of unmatched honour. Despite being less than two per cent of India’s population, Sikhs contributed the majority of sacrifices during the freedom struggle, sent the highest proportion of soldiers to defend the borders, and fed the nation in times of famine. Yet, despite this glorious past, Punjab and its people often face neglect, discrimination, and step-motherly treatment from the very country they helped to build.
The sacrifices made by Sikhs during India’s independence struggle remain unparalleled. Out of the 121 patriots hanged by the British, 93 were Sikhs, accounting for 77 per cent. Out of the 2,646 freedom fighters sentenced to life imprisonment in the Andaman Cellular Jail, 2,147 were Sikhs—more than 80 per cent. This was at a time when Sikhs made up less than two per cent of India’s total population.
Mahatma Gandhi himself once remarked: “In proportion to their numbers, the Sikhs have made the greatest contribution to the freedom of the country.” Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, addressing the Sikhs, acknowledged: “I know of no other community in India that has contributed so much to our freedom struggle as the Sikhs.” These statements from India’s top leaders underline the truth that Punjab bore the heaviest burden in winning independence.
Punjab’s contribution was not limited to the national struggle alone. During the First World War, nearly 60 per cent of the Indian Army recruited by the British came from Punjab, most of them Sikhs. In the Second World War, again, a majority of the 2.5 million Indian soldiers mobilized came from Punjab. Thousands of these soldiers never returned home, leaving behind widows and orphans in Punjab’s villages.
Even British officials were astonished by this level of sacrifice. Sir Winston Churchill once said about the Sikhs: “We are deeply indebted to the Sikhs for their contribution. Their loyalty to the cause has been beyond expectation.”
After independence, Punjab once again became the sword-arm of India. Whether in the wars of 1947–48, 1962, 1965, 1971, or in Kargil 1999, Punjabis and Sikhs gave the highest proportion of soldiers to defend India’s borders. Nearly 20 percent of the Indian Army is Sikh, despite the community being less than two percent of the population. Out of India’s 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees, 11 hail from Punjab.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, during the 1965 war, admitted openly: “The courage of Punjab’s soldiers and the sacrifices of their families will forever remain written in golden letters in India’s history.” Such acknowledgments show how much Punjab has given to protect the integrity of the nation.
Punjab also became the savior of India’s economy during the Green Revolution. In the 1960s, when the country faced famine and depended heavily on imports, it was Punjab’s farmers who stepped forward to feed the nation. Even today, Punjab contributes close to 40 percent of wheat and 30 percent of rice procured for India’s food security.
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the architect of the Green Revolution, said: “Without Punjab’s farmers, India would not have achieved food self-sufficiency.” This statement highlights how Punjab not only gave blood for the nation but also its soil and water to sustain millions of people.
Yet, in return for these sacrifices, Punjab continues to be treated unfairly. Punjab’s river waters are diverted to other states under unjust agreements, leaving the state’s own fields dry. Punjabi language and culture are sidelined, often not given the same recognition as other regional languages. The state’s farmers, despite feeding the nation, are burdened with debt and face economic distress. War widows in Punjab often struggle for pensions and recognition, while their sacrifices are forgotten after ceremonies end.
This neglect has been repeatedly felt by Punjabis. Master Tara Singh, one of Punjab’s tallest leaders, warned soon after independence: “The Sikh community has given more than its due share to the nation, but if injustice continues, history will not forgive India.” Unfortunately, his words still ring true today.
Punjab’s sacrifices—in blood, toil, and spirit—are unmatched in Indian history. From the gallows of British jails to the battlefields of Europe, from the borders of Kashmir to the wheat fields of Punjab, the people of this state have given far beyond their share. Leaders from Gandhi to Shastri, from Nehru to Swaminathan, all acknowledged this reality. And yet, Punjab and its people continue to face step-motherly treatment in matters of resources, recognition, and respect. Justice demands that Punjab be treated with the dignity it has earned. To ignore or belittle these sacrifices is not just an insult to Punjab, but to the very foundations of India’s freedom and survival.