India, Nov. 23 -- In a remarkable literary debut, 18-year-old author and innovator Shaurya Prabh Sharma unveiled his book PANJAB INC at Chandigarh Press Club in Sector 27 recently. The book presents a compelling reinterpretation of Punjab - shifting focus from its conflict-centric narrative to its true historical backbone: centuries of enterprise, flourishing trade networks, and sustained innovation. Shaurya traces more than a thousand years of Punjab's commercial evolution, arguing that the region's resilience is rooted not in its battles, but in its bustling bazaars. "Our textbooks glorify wars," he said at the launch, "but bazaars built Punjab. PANJAB INC celebrates the creativity, courage and community that have always shaped us." Reflecting on his research, Shaurya shared that the first edition relied heavily on extensive reading, while future editions will be enriched through visits to historical sites and conversations with people across the region. One story that deeply moved him was that of Diwan Todar Mal, who laid gold coins to purchase land for the cremation of Mata Gujri and the Sahibzadas. "I wondered how he possessed such immense wealth," Shaurya said. "Then I discovered that he, too, was a major trader. We need to remember figures who used economic strength for dignity and service," he added. The book also spotlights powerful yet lesser-known trade pioneers such as Bhai Lakhi Rai Banjara, whose logistics empire in the 1st century would be valued at nearly Rs.900 crore today. "Punjab has always led in commerce," Shaurya said. "Even today, when 200 Lamborghinis come to India, about 67 are bought in Punjab. If we are such strong consumers, why shouldn't we also be the biggest creators of businesses?" he asked. Shaurya connects Punjab's historic economic hubs - Multan's indigo markets, Amritsar's shawl industry, Ludhiana's bicycle manufacturing - to the contemporary global Punjabi footprint in renewable energy in Chandigarh, retail in Delhi, trucking in California, and tech startups in Toronto, showing how this commercial legacy continues across continents. The idea for PANJAB INC emerged from a personal moment of identity crisis. Shaurya once told his father he didn't feel Punjabi because he couldn't write the language fluently. "My father told me that Punjabiyat is a value system, not just a language," he said. That conversation sparked a 1.5-year research journey, culminating in eight well-crafted chapters. An innovator himself, Shaurya holds a design patent for a plastic incinerator and founded his venture ROOT RICH while still in school. He is currently working on two additional startups. Dedicated to generations of Punjabi entrepreneurs, PANJAB INC is, in Shaurya's words, "a reflection of every Punjabi. Our story of enterprise is not history-it is alive within us." HTC...