Non-Congress Politics in Punjab (1947-2012)

About the Book From 1947 to 1997, no Non-Congress Party in Punjab could complete its term in office for five years. It was achieved only after Shiromani Akali Dal declared itself a Punjabi Party, shedding its Sikh identity which was cultivated over a period of 75 years.

Radical Sikhs, Dalits and Leftist formations remained persistent electoral under-achievers. They have been on the periphery of power politics for the last 66 years. The puzzle is that how do they retain their relevance in politics without power?

Amanpreet Singh Gill, in this book, seeks to explore the answer to this puzzle. Despite being electoral underachievers, Non- Congress formations in Punjab have strong presence in the arena of culture. They have gained mass participation/support in various agitations since 1947. In the arena of religion, they are like a fish in water. They live in the world of such narratives which make their lives without political power meaningful and sublime. Gurmukhi print communicates these narratives in permanent ink and the memory's relation with politics becomes indelible. Author believes that the path to understanding the complexity of Politics in Punjab lies through Gurmukhi print. This book is the outcome of this belief.

About the Author Amanpreet Singh Gill (b. 1975) completed his post graduation in Political Science at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and received his PhD from University of Delhi. Apart from working on various teaching and research assignments at Guru Nanak Dev University campus, he provided consultancy to AB Design Habit (designer of Virasat-e-Khalsa complex) for Guru Gobind Singh. Museum, Nanded (Maharashtra). CBSE, New Delhi has appointed him convener of courses committee on social sciences for its International Schools.

Currently, he is teaching Political Science as Assistant Professor at SGTB Khalsa College, North campus, University of Delhi. He is living with his wife and daughter.

Introduction Politics in Punjab: Setting and Dynamics The present day Punjab is a 49-years old state. Its international boundaries are the product of Radcliffe Award 1947. Its federal boundaries also came into existence as a result of more complicated process involving the integration of princely states. The state consisting of erstwhile Punjab region princely states came to be known as PEPSU. This state was merged into Punjab in 1956 as a result of Regional Formula'. Ten years later, in 1966, Punjab was reorganized again into the states of Punjab and Haryana on the recommendation of Punjab Boundary Commission. Territorially, this Punjabi speaking state emerged as 26% of the erstwhile British Punjab.

In a short period of two decades, Punjab faced three interventions in the form of partition (1947), merger (1956) and reorganization (1966). These interventions caused drastic changes. Territory, geography, topography, demography, administration, politics, religion, caste, language, education, security and economy - everything changed with this frequent change in the boundaries of the Punjab. As a result, it became a handmade state shorn of its natural and geographical regions.

These frequent territorial changes resulted into almost dramatic change of demographic composition of Punjab.

**Contents and Sample Pages**