The Jhelum River is known as Hydaspes in Greek. This name is historically significant due to the Battle of the Hydaspes, which took place in 326 BC. It was fought between Alexander the Great and King Porus of the Paurava kingdom on the banks of this river. The battle was a costly victory for Alexander, who was so impressed by Porus's bravery that he reinstated him as a ruler and made him his ally.

Origin of the Name

The name 'Punjab' is derived from two Persian words:

• 'Panj' (پنج), meaning "five."

• 'Āb' (آب), meaning "water" or "river."

When combined, they form "Panj Āb," which means "the land of five rivers." These five major rivers are the Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum.

The Assassination of Michael O'Dwyer

Udham Singh was a revolutionary freedom fighter who assassinated Sir Michael O'Dwyer in London on March 13, 1940. O'Dwyer was the former Lieutenant Governor of Punjab and had endorsed the actions of General Reginald Dyer, who ordered the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Udham Singh's act was a culmination of a vow he had taken to avenge the massacre. He was later tried, convicted, and hanged for the murder.

Waris Shah, an 18th-century Punjabi poet, is most renowned for his poetic rendition of the classic tragic romance of Heer Ranjha. The poem, written in a style that is both deeply spiritual and intensely passionate, is a masterpiece of Punjabi literature. It is often regarded as the definitive version of the story, and it has earned Waris Shah the title of "the Shakespeare of Punjab."