CANAL COLONIES AND THE MAKING OF MODERN PUNJAB: THE CONTRIBUTION OF MIGRANT SETTLERS

Abstract

This paper explores the transformative role of migrant settlers in the canal colonies of British Punjab between 1876 and 1930, focusing on how state-directed migration and irrigation schemes reshaped the agrarian landscape. Drawing on archival records, settlement reports, and demographic data, it analyzes the socio-economic impact of settlers brought from across the province to cultivate newly irrigated tracts of land. These settlers—comprising various caste, tribal, and regional backgrounds—played a pivotal role in converting arid wastelands into some of the most fertile and productive agricultural zones in colonial India. The study highlights how the canal settlement policy not only boosted agricultural output and revenue for the colonial state but also fostered new patterns of land ownership, social mobility, and rural hierarchy. By centering the experiences and contributions of these migrants, this paper underscores their agency in the making of modern Punjab and provides a critical perspective on colonial development strategies.