During the 1800s, Punjab included the northwestern part of present day India and Pakistan. After two costly wars with the Sikh kingdoms, the British took control of Punjab in 1849. British rule brought prosperity to some, but high taxes to others. Unstable local economies pushed many Punjabis into joining the British Indian Army. Soldiers returning from overseas operations shared stories of higher wages and other opportunities in places like California. Many Punjabis decided to take the risk and migrate to the U.S.

The decision to leave Punjab was never taken lightly. It meant separation from extended families, abandoning ancestral lands, and venturing into an unknown future. Most who left were young men from farming families in districts like Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, and Ludhiana, areas particularly affected by British land revenue policies.

British colonial policies had disrupted traditional agricultural systems, introducing cash crops and new tax structures that indebted many farmers. Natural disasters, including famines and floods, compounded economic hardships. Military service exposed Punjabis to the wider world, with soldiers stationed in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and other ports hearing about opportunities in America.

The construction of the Suez Canal in 1869 had made sea travel more accessible, while steamship companies actively recruited passengers. Letters from early migrants describing wages ten times higher than in Punjab inspired others to make the journey. Villages would pool resources to send young men abroad, viewing emigration as an investment in the community's future.

Cultural factors also played a role. Punjabi society valued enterprise and mobility, with a tradition of seeking fortune through trade or military service. The concept of "pardesh" (foreign lands) was not alien, though the distance to America was unprecedented.

Leaving meant tremendous sacrifice—many would never see their families again. Yet the promise of economic opportunity and adventure drove thousands to make this life-changing decision, setting in motion a migration that would transform both the sending and receiving societies.