Mann releases three-volume 'Punjab Da Itihaas', says Punjab to supply record 180 LMT paddyਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਰਿਲੀਜ਼ ਕੀਤਾ ਤਿੰਨ-ਭਾਗੀ ‘ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦਾ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ’, ਕਿਹਾ — ਰਿਕਾਰਡ 180 ਲੱਖ ਟਨ ਝੋਨਾ ਦੇਵੇਗਾ ਪੰਜਾਬ

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday released the three-volume, 1,980-page 'Punjab Da Itihaas' at Punjab Kala Bhawan in Chandigarh, and used the occasion to underline the state's continuing contribution to the nation's food security, saying Punjab is set to supply a record 180 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy to the national pool this year.

A 1,980-page history in three volumes

Releasing the book, Mann said documenting Punjab's history was a major responsibility because the state had witnessed repeated periods of upheaval and transformation over the centuries. "Punjab has always been a repository of art, culture and literature," he said, stressing the need to preserve its heritage and keep younger generations connected with their roots.

The Chief Minister said the government was working to protect Punjab's cultural legacy, describing the state's history of sacrifice, agriculture, enterprise and resilience as a source of pride. "Since time immemorial, this land has been the cradle of civilization and culture," he said, adding that it was the collective responsibility of Punjabis to preserve that glorious heritage.

He turned to Punjab's role in the freedom struggle, saying that more than 80 per cent of the sacrifices in India's freedom movement were made by Punjabis, even though Punjabis make up only around 2 per cent of the country's population. "After Independence too, Punjabis have remained at the centre stage of the country's progress," he said, citing the community's contributions to national defence and economic development.

He also invoked the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, saying Punjabis had inherited a tradition of standing against "tyranny, oppression and injustice".

Record paddy, pride in the farmer

On agriculture, Mann said Punjab's farmers had played the key role in making India self-reliant in food production. "Rice isn't the staple food of Punjabis, yet we produce the highest quantity of paddy," he said, pointing to the scale of the state's contribution. He said the state was once again set to contribute a record 180 lakh metric tonnes of rice to the country this year.

The claim of a record 180 LMT underlines how central Punjab remains to the national foodgrain system. Every procurement season, the state ranks as the largest contributor of wheat and rice to the central pool — a position built by its farmers over the decades since the Green Revolution transformed the state's agriculture.

The Chief Minister said the government was working to protect Punjab's cultural legacy, describing the state's history of sacrifice, agriculture, enterprise and resilience as a source of pride. "Since time immemorial, this land has been the cradle of civilization and culture," he said, adding that it was the collective responsibility of Punjabis to preserve that glorious heritage.

The claim of a record 180 LMT underlines how central Punjab remains to the national foodgrain system. Every procurement season, the state ranks as the largest contributor of wheat and rice to the central pool — a position built by its farmers over the decades since the Green Revolution transformed the state's agriculture.

What is 'Punjab Da Itihaas'?

It is a three-volume, 1,980-page book documenting the history of Punjab, released by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann at Punjab Kala Bhawan in Chandigarh.

What did the Chief Minister say about paddy?

Mann said Punjab is set to contribute a record 180 lakh metric tonnes of paddy to the national food pool this year, underlining the role of the state's farmers in India's food security.

What did Mann say about the freedom struggle?

He claimed that more than 80 per cent of the sacrifices in India's freedom movement were made by Punjabis, who make up only about 2 per cent of the country's population.