India, Nov. 7 -- Punjab's tryst with migration began in tragedy. The Partition of 1947 dislocated millions, tearing apart families, communities, and livelihoods. The subsequent reorganisation of states in 1966 and 1971, which reduced Punjab's territory and resource base, deepened a sense of marginalisation. The pursuit of prosperity - first through agricultural success and later through education and trade abroad - became embedded in Punjab's socio-economic fabric. By the 1970s, migration had evolved from an economic choice into a social aspiration, especially in the Doaba region, where overseas education or employment symbolised upward mobility.

Over the next decades, migration became a defining feature of Punjab's society. The economic...