Agrarian transformations in British India: A case study of colonial Punjab

The agrarian transformation in Punjab under British rule had significant implications for understanding the fundamental principles behind these agricultural developments. The British government aimed to transform agricultural practices in Punjab for strategic, military, geostrategic, and geopolitical reasons. The integration of railways, highways, telecommunications, farming techniques, and canal settlements transformed the arid terrain into a prosperous region in British India. However, the transformation significantly impacted the local residents by advancing the British government's agenda. Against this background, the major focus of this paper is to analyze the agricultural transformation during British rule regarding the complex interactions between social, cultural, and political factors that shaped the region's history.