Why Is It Called Panjab University?

You may know the northern Indian state called Punjab. In its capital, Chandigarh, there is a famous university called Panjab University. Did you notice something strange? Punjab is spelled with a “u”, but Panjab University uses an “a”!

Is it a spelling mistake? Not at all. That tiny letter hides a big story of Partition, loss, and rebuilding.

What Does Punjab Mean?

The name Punjab comes from two words - Panch and Ap. In Sanskrit, panch means five and ap means rivers. With the influence of Persian, Panchap became Punjab. So, Punjab means “the land of five rivers.”

A University That Began in Lahore

The University of the Punjab started in Lahore on 14 October 1882. It grew from Government College Lahore. Before India was partitioned in 1947, it served a huge area that included undivided Punjab, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Baluchistan, and the North West Frontier Province.

A University Without a Home

In 1947, India was divided, and Lahore became part of Pakistan. The old university remained there. Eastern Punjab, which stayed in India, was suddenly left without a university.

So, East Punjab University was created in India. But it had no proper campus or buildings! Its office first worked from Solan in present-day Himachal Pradesh, which was once part of the Punjab state, while classes were held in Delhi, Amritsar, and Hoshiarpur. It was almost like a refugee university, rebuilding itself one room at a time. Later, Chandigarh became its permanent home.

The Story Behind “Panjab”

Until 1950, the state was called East Punjab. On India’s first Republic Day, it became Punjab, and the university became Panjab University. One common explanation is that “Panjab” helped distinguish it from Punjab University in Lahore. But scholars also say both spellings existed before Partition.

Today, that little “a” carries a big story of Lahore, Partition, loss, courage, and beginning again.

This story was orignally published in August 2026 Edition of Yaksha Prashna Magazine.

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