Punjab is a land of ancient civilizations. Its fertile soil and perennial rivers have always made it an attractive destination for people in search of a prosperous life. The name “Punjab” comes from the five rivers flowing through the region, but interestingly, in ancient times the Aryans called it Sapta Sindhu—the land of seven rivers. These seven rivers were the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, and Sarasvati. The last one, Sarasvati, dried up long ago.
The existing six rivers form five Doabs (tracts of land between two rivers). From west to east, they are: Sindh Sagar Doab, Jech Doab, Rachna Doab, Bari Doab, and Bist Doab. The first three lie in Pakistan, the last in India, while the fourth, Bari Doab, is divided between the two countries.
Since the dawn of civilization, these Doabs have been centres of important cultural and political activity. At the time of Alexander the Great’s invasion, Jech Doab was ruled by Raja Porus. After conquering the Gandhara region, Alexander marched into the plains of Punjab, where Porus was ready to offer him fierce resistance. The ensuing battle was fought near the eastern banks of the river Jhelum, and became known as the Battle of Hydaspes (Hydaspes being the Greek name for Jhelum).
Following his victory, Alexander is said to have founded a city called Nicaea at the battle site, but it has never been conclusively located. Some believe it may have been at Mong, a village 5 kilometres north of Mandi Bahauddin, where the battle is thought to have taken place.
Punjab as a whole is dotted with hundreds of ancient mounds—remnants of cities and settlements that have never been properly explored or studied. One such mound lies beside Lakhne Wala, a village near Mandi Bahauddin, and is believed to be the site of Raja Porus’s capital. Located at 32°36'59.35"N, 73°33'6.64"E, just 5 kilometres northeast of Mandi Bahauddin, it is an impressive site spread over at least 50 acres.
A the time of the Greek invasion Indus had for some time been a part of the Achaemenid Empire of Iran, and thus a part of the central Asian politico-cultural system. In 513 BC, Darius I annexed Indus to the umpire of the Great Cyrus. Indus was cut off from India. While India largely remained at the food-gathering stage, the more advanced Indus valley gravitated once again towards the markets of the rich slav-owning societies of western Asia, Persia and Mesopotamia.
It is little wonder, therefore, that after young Alexander of Macedon had humbled Persia under Darius III in 331 BC, he was compelled by the renowned wealth of the Indus satrapy to venture towards this rich outpost of the Persian empire. Alexander's journey was another manifestation of the innumerable ways in which Indus was already in contact with the peoples of western Iran.
Alexander crossed the mighty Indus in the Swat region and came upon Taxila. Here he obtained the willingly surrender of Ambhi, the King of Taxila. Ambhi's logic was simple: he yielded tribute, saying that since there was enough revenue for two kings, there was no gain in fighting over it.
Raja Poros ruled a substantial principality from his capital near the modern-day town of Manid Bahauddin in the district of Gujrat. The subdivision of the district, Phalia, recalls Bucephalus, the steed of the invader, and a massive mound near the village Lakhnewal, close to the town, is claimed by the villagers to have been the site of Poros' capital. Foundation digging has yielded some artefacts and, if one stands upon it and stamps hard with one's foot, a hollow thud travels an amazingly long distance. Standing upon it, you can also discern the contours of the now discarded channel through which the river must have passed, providing a natural, semi-circular moat for the capital city.
After the battle "What is clear from these traditions is that Alexander and Poros made an honourable peace and became friends. From the unanimous remark of these authors that Poros was reinstated in his state and the territories conquered by Alexander in India [meaning territories other than those ruled by Poros] were added to his dominion, it is also evident that the belligerents met together on a footing of equality before the issue of the battle could be precisely ascertained."
A graveyard on the mound. (25.072019.)
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