Notes of Punjab history for PCS examination set -1(By Arun Joshi,Sri Krishna Institute,9888933043)

First Settlers of Punjab

Very little is known of the aboriginals of Punjab, who settled in the region thousands of years ago. It is generally accepted that the aborigines lived in caves and on the marshes of river banks. Their language was simple, they lived in small numbers and in isolated communities, and they generally wore animal skin to cover their bodies. Larger groups formed small tribes and became owners of flocks. The aborigines had little knowledge of the properties of metals, and used stones, clubs, and spears as hunting weapons.

Their Food

The abundance of fruit, herbs and roots, and of beasts of prey, and feathered game, afforded the aborigines an easy means of subsistence. Hunting seems to have been the earliest occupation of these people. Those that lived on the rivers feasted on raw fish and flesh. Many of the aborigines were cannibals, as those who lived to old age were slaugtered and feasted on by the young.

Their Race and Population

The aborigines were a dark race and are expressly mentioned as such in the Rig Veda, the oldest living scripture in the world. According to the 1881 census, about 959,720 aborigines live in the Punjab. Majority of today's aborigines, who number about 20 million, who were driven out of Punjab by various invaders, generally live in the south-east of India or in the Himalyas mountains. These aborigines tend to live in the jungles, dense forests, and remote areas, and often practice magic and sorcery.

Belief System

Unlike the Hindus, the aborigines observed no distinctions of caste. In addition, they buried their dead in the ground, beneath circular stones, mounds and perpendicular slabs, like the early inhabitants of Europe. The widows of the aborigines not only re-marry, but, usually marry the younger brothers of their deceased husbands. The modern Hindus generally abstain from eating beef; the aborigines feed alike on all flesh. In addition, among the aborigines, all ceremonies, civil or religous, is complete without drinking and dancing.