entrepreneurship

The 18-year-old author presents a historic chronicle arguing that Punjab’s true foundation is trade, not conflict. Chandigarh, 19 November 2025: Young author and innovator Shaurya Prabh Sharma unveiled his debut book “PANJAB INC” in Chandigarh on Wednesday, presenting a transformative narrative of Punjab as a civilisation shaped by trade, enterprise and innovation rather than conflict. Positioned as a landmark documentation of the region’s entrepreneurial evolution, the book spans business history from the 9th century to the modern era. At just 18, Shaurya argues that Punjab’s enduring resilience is rooted in commerce. The book illustrates how trade networks continued to flourish even during periods of political upheaval, a spirit that he believes still defines the global Punjabi identity today. Shaurya, a long-time observer of national and global economic trends, blends academic insight with hands-on experience. A habitual newspaper reader since grade five and an active participant in business forums, he also holds a design patent for a plastic incinerator. His entrepreneurial journey began in school with the founding of ROOT RICH, which later developed into an independent company. Speaking at the launch, Shaurya emphasised that Punjab’s economic history has often been overshadowed by dramatic events, despite the uninterrupted functioning of its markets.“Look closer and you will see that even in moments of despair, trade thrived,” he said. “History remembers the battles but overlooks the bazaars. PANJAB INC is about a mindset of courage, creativity and community. Trade, not conflict, built Panjab.” A major portion of the book examines how commerce shaped Punjab’s social, cultural and political life through centuries. Shaurya revisits the era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, portraying him not only as a military leader but as a ruler who understood that sustainable peace required economic stability.“Governance was never just about armies or fortresses,” he noted. “It was about building an architecture of commerce.” The book details how Singh’s administration supported merchants and artisans, ensuring secure trade routes and predictable commercial environments across the region. From Multan’s indigo to Amritsar’s shawls and Ludhiana’s bicycles, the continuity of Punjab’s business culture forms a central thread throughout the chronicle. Shaurya connects this heritage to the modern global Punjabi enterprise—from renewable-energy companies in Chandigarh and retail chains in Delhi to trucking firms in California and tech ventures in Toronto. PANJAB INC also sheds light on the rise of regional newspapers and the business families who founded them, positioning print media within Punjab’s broader commercial ecosystem. Shaurya identifies enduring values that have guided Punjabi business life: reinvestment, resilience, hospitality and honour, anchored by the belief that “tomorrow will bring another harvest, another customer, another chance.” These values, he writes, became an “invisible inheritance” carried by Punjabi migrants worldwide, enabling them to build successful ventures ranging from neighbourhood family stores to multinational corporations. “Panjab does not teach you how to do business; it teaches you how to live business,” Shaurya remarked. Dedicating the book to generations of entrepreneurs—from craftsmen, farmers and traders to industrialists and diaspora leaders—Shaurya describes the work as a tribute to those who turned Punjab from a regional economy into a global commercial network.“This book is your mirror,” he said. “The story of Panjab’s enterprise is not distant; it remains alive in each of us.”