History of Haryana

Ancient History of Haryana: The villages of Rakhigarhi in Hisar district and Bhirrana in Fatehabad district hold immense archaeological significance as sites of the Indus Valley Civilization. Excavations at these locations reveal advanced urban planning. Archaeologists uncovered evidence of paved roads, drainage systems, large-scale rainwater storage, and terracotta brick and statue production. They also found indications of expertise in metalworking, particularly with bronze and precious metals.

During the Vedic period, the Kuru Kingdom flourished in Haryana, making it one of the prominent Mahajanapadas of ancient India. Scholars identify the southern part of Haryana as the traditional location of Manu’s kingdom, Brahmavarta. Dhosi Hill, along with the districts of Rewari and Mahendragarh, became associated with ashrams of revered sages who composed key Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Manusmriti, Brahmanas, and Puranas.

The Manusmriti describes Manu as the king of Brahmavarta, a region prone to floods about 10,000 years ago. This ancient kingdom existed between the Sarasvati and Drishadwati rivers. Researchers believe these rivers formed the cradle of Sanatan-Vedic philosophy, where sages composed key scriptures.

Medieval History of Haryana: Archaeologists have uncovered ancient bronze and stone idols of Jain Tirthankaras in various locations across Haryana, including Badli, Bhiwani (Ranila, Charkhi Dadri, and Badhra), Dadri, Gurgaon (Gurugram), Hansi, Hisar, Kasan, Nahad, Narnaul, Pehowa, Rewari, Rohad, Rohtak (Asthal Bohar), and Sonepat. These discoveries highlight the historical and religious significance of the region.

The Pushyabhuti dynasty ruled parts of northern India in the 7th century, with its capital at Thanesar. King Harsha emerged as one of its most notable rulers, known for his extensive empire and contributions to Indian culture. In the 10th century, the Tomara dynasty governed the southern region of Haryana, with Anangpal Tomar as a prominent ruler who established several fortifications.

During the Timurid conquests in 1398, Timur launched brutal attacks on several cities, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Sunam, Kaithal, and Panipat. When Timur’s forces reached Sirsa, the residents fled, but his troops chased and killed thousands while looting the town. In Fatehabad, fleeing inhabitants left behind those who were massacred by Timur’s soldiers. The Ahirs resisted at Ahruni but suffered defeat, with thousands killed and many captured. Timur’s army then burned the town. At Tohana, the Jats tried to resist but faced a similar fate, with 200 killed and many enslaved. Timur’s forces pursued fleeing Jats, killing 2,000 and seizing their families and property. In Kaithal, Timur’s army massacred the residents and plundered the villages. The residents of Assandh fled to Delhi before Timur arrived, allowing his forces to subdue Tughlaqpur fort and Salwan with little resistance. His march then continued to Panipat and Loni fort.

Hem Chandra Vikramaditya (Hemu), a native of Rewari, declared himself king and claimed the throne of Delhi after defeating Akbar’s Mughal forces in the Battle of Delhi on October 7, 1556. Hemu adopted the ancient title of Vikramaditya, symbolizing his authority. Between 1553 and 1556, Hemu won 22 battles, spanning Punjab to Bengal. After defeating Akbar’s forces at Agra and Delhi, Hemu became the last Hindu Emperor of India, crowned at Purana Quila in Delhi.

Haryana also witnessed three pivotal battles of Panipat. In the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Babur defeated the Lodi dynasty and established Mughal dominance. The Second Battle of Panipat (1556) saw Akbar defeat Hemu after his earlier victories. In the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan king, crushed the Marathas, marking a turning point in Indian history.

Modern History of Haryana: Haryana officially became a state on November 1, 1966, under the Punjab Reorganisation Act. To facilitate this process, the Indian government established the Shah Commission on April 23, 1966, and appointed Justice J.C. Shah to lead it. The commission divided the existing state of Punjab and defined Haryana’s boundaries based on linguistic factors. The government created Haryana from the southern, predominantly Hindi-speaking regions of Punjab, while Punjabi-speaking regions remained part of Punjab.

The Shah Commission submitted its report on May 31, 1966, and recommended including the districts of Hisar, Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Rohtak, and Karnal in Haryana. It also proposed adding the tehsils of Jind and Narwana from Sangrur, along with Naraingarh, Ambala, and Jagadhri.

The commission suggested assigning the tehsil of Kharar, which includes Chandigarh, to Haryana. However, the authorities assigned Kharar to Punjab and declared Chandigarh a union territory, designating it as the shared capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

Bhagwat Dayal Sharma became Haryana’s first Chief Minister. Chaudhary Devi Lal, a prominent advocate for the new state’s creation, played a key role in pushing for the Shah Commission’s formation and the eventual separation of Haryana from Punjab in 1966. So, this provides a brief history of Haryana. Would like to know more..