Punjab, (Punjabi: ਪੰਜਾਬ), officially the Republic of Punjab (Punjabi: ਜੁਮਹੂਰੀਆ ਏ ਪੰਜਾਬ) is a former Khalistani Communist Republic and sovereign country in India. It borders The name of the country is a compound of two Persian words and was introduced to the region by the Turkic Muslim conquerors of India and more formally popularized during the Mughal Empire. Punjab literally means, (The Land of) Five Rivers, referring to the following rivers: the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas. All are tributaries of the Indus River, the Jhelum being the largest.