Maharaja Ranjeet Singh
Maharaja Ranjeet (Ranjeet means the winner of the battle) Singh, known as the “Lion of the Punjab ”, was born at Gujranwala on 13 November 1780 to Sardar Mahan Singh. Mahan Singh got the news of his birth when he returned victorious from a battle; hence, he gave the name Ranjeet Singh to his newborn son. Budh Singh, the great grandfather of Mahan Singh, founded the Sukerchakia Misl. Charhat Singh, the father of Mahan Singh, was famous for his attacks on Ahmed Shah Abdali, the invader from Afghanistan. When Mahan Singh died in 1792, Ranjeet Singh, being his only son, became the head of this Sikh Misl.
Ranjeet Singh justified his title when he was only about ten years old by accompanying his father to a battle. A Pathan attacked him unexpectedly but Ranjeet Singh saved himself by quickly cutting off his adversary’s head. It was considered a miracle and everyone who was told about this incident believed that Ranjeet Singh would become a great general.
In another battle, his father became ill and left the battlefield. Before leaving, he handed over the command to Ranjeet Singh, who was then not even a teenager. Mahan Singh was running a very high fever and soon died. Before his death, however, he received the news of his son’s victory. Leadership qualities and fighting skills of Ranjeet Singh helped him to achieve the cherished dream of the Khalsa to be the rulers of their state.
Early life
Ranjeet Singh, as mentioned above, lost his father when he was still a boy. But he made remarkable progress under the advice and guidance of his mother-in-law, Sada Kaur, of the Kanahya Misl. The joint strength of the two Misls made him the head of the most powerful unit of the Khalsa.
In 1796, Shah Zaman, the King of Afghanistan, attacked Punjab and asked Ranjeet Singh to submit to him. Ranjeet Singh sent him a bravely worded reply that the Sikhs were owners of their own Punjab, and did not recognize any other ruler. The Shah took over Lahore and proceeded to Amritsar, where the Sikhs had gathered. A bloody battle ensued and the Sikhs defeated the invader, forcing him to retreat to his country. When Shah invaded again in 1798 and occupied Lahore, Ranjeet Singh led the Sikh forces and besieged Lahore. Shah found his life in danger. After remaining within the fort for some days, the Shah secretly left Lahore during the night, never to look upon Punjab again.
Lahore was administered by three Bhangi sardars who were, for most of the time, fighting one another. The administration was in very bad shape and the residents were dissatisfied with them. The Nawab of Kasoor wanted to take over Lahore, and lay his claim to the Governorship of Punjab. But he did not have a good reputation as a ruler. The residents wanted Ranjeet Singh to come to Lahore because the people under his rule were happy and at peace. In 1799, a joint deputation of Sikhs and Muslims of Lahore went to Ranjeet Singh and invited him to come to Lahore. The combined forces of Ranjeet Singh and his mother-in-law were too strong for the Bhangi sardars; also, the mood of the people was a warning to the Bhangis that it was time for them to leave. Thus, Ranjeet Singh became the ruler of Lahore without fighting any big battles. The Nawab of Kasoor got help from some Sikhs and attacked Lahore, but was defeated by Ranjeet Singh. To keep the Bhangi sardars on his side rather than making them his enemies, Ranjeet Singh gave them estates befitting their status.
Ranjeet Singh was now eighteen years old and competent enough to be the ruler of his Misl. Possession of Lahore gave him the needed image of the ruler of the state. He decided to bring self-rule to the old Punjab areas as well.
He took over Jammu and Sialkot. Their rulers agreed to submit to him. Britain also noted the ascendancy of this brave youth to the leadership of the powerful Khalsa Panth. They accepted him to be the ruler of the Punjab and befriended him by sending him gifts and exchanging representatives with his government.
The Maharaja
On Baisakhi Day in 1801, Ranjeet Singh held a big council. All the prominent rulers and outstanding citizens of Punjab and the neighboring areas came to Lahore to attend the enthroning of Ranjeet Singh as the Maharaja of Punjab and offer their hand in friendship. Sahib Singh Bedi put the ceremonial mark on his forehead. The city of Lahore rejoiced for many days. Prayers were said in temples, mosques, and Gurdwaras for the long life of Ranjeet Singh. New coins known as “Nanak Shahi” were minted. Ranjeet Singh called it a raj of the Khalsa Panth and, hence, the coins were struck in the name of Guru Nanak Dev. The coins minted on the first day were distributed among the poor as a reminder of the love of the Guru for the needy.
To make it a rule of the people, the city and state were divided into wards and zones; local people were assigned the job of conducting their affairs. A Muslim, Kazi Noordin, was appointed the Chief Justice of the city. A government hospital was established for free treatment of the sick people. A police department was created to keep peace and discipline in the city. Imam Bakhsh, a kindly man, was appointed as chief of the Police. Panchayts were established in the villages to provide local administration. They delivered immediate and swift justice at virtually no cost to the people.
Punjab united
Punjab was divided up among different Sikh Misls and some Nawabs. Central Punjab, Doaba (the area between the Satlej and Beas rivers) and Malwa (the areas beyond Satlej) were under the control of the Sikhs. The southern and western Punjab was ruled by Muslim Nawabs and the hilly portions and mountainous regions were occupied by Rajput chiefs.
Ranjeet Singh was related to the Kanahya and Nakai Misls through marriage. Also, he obliged some Jathedars by giving them estates, and they gladly joined him. Those who opposed him were subdued but he later befriended them by giving them estates and befitting positions in the army. The Ahluwalia Misl also accepted Ranjeet Singh as the Maharaja of the Punjab. Ranjeet Singh accepted Jathedar Ahluwalia as his brother and they exchanged turbans to solemnize this new relationship.
The Maharaja provided peace, justice and order throughout his kingdom. All the people, including Muslims, got relief from wars, and looting by the invaders. His popularity was spreading far and wide which helped bring all areas of the Punjab under the Lahore administration.
Kasoor was a strong state, situated very near Lahore and ruled by a Nawab who was the source of problems for the Sikhs. In 1801, Ranjeet Singh defeated this Nawab who then agreed to pay revenues to him. The Nawab, however, rebelled again when the Maharaja was busy in the western areas of the Punjab. The Sikh forces took over Kasoor, but the Nawab apologized and promised to behave in the future. In 1807, his brother became the Nawab and refused to pay the revenues. Finally, Ranjeet Singh annexed Kasoor and brought it under Lahore rule. He gave the Nawab an estate near the Satlej river.
In 1803, Ranjeet Singh defeated the Nawabs of Multan and Jhang. They agreed to be a part of the Lahore government and pay revenues to it. In 1807, the hilly areas of Pathankot and Chamba were also made a part of the Punjab.
The Sikh states in Malwa, the region on the eastern side of the Satlej, were made British Protectorates when they were mislead into believing that Ranjeet Singh wanted to overrun them. Thus, when Ranjeet Singh suggested to the states that they seek their independence, they opted for British protection instead. Therefore, the eastern areas of the Punjab beyond the Satlej, could not join the Punjab and become a part of it during Sikh rule.
In 1809, Kangra, Jammu state and other areas around it became part of Punjab. In 1810, the Nawab of Multan again rebelled. When the Sikh forces defeated him after a big battle, he again asked for forgiveness, agreed to behave in the future, and pay the revenues regularly.
The Kohinoor diamond
The Kohinoor diamond was with the Emperors of Delhi. When Nadir Shah looted Delhi in 1739 he carried it to his country along with other valuables. Shah Shuja, the king of Kabul who was defeated by his brother, came to the Punjab for protection. Ranjeet Singh let him stay in his state and allotted him a pension for his expenses. After some time, the Shah went to Kabul and dethroned his brother. However, his opponents soon defeated him. He was arrested and sent to Kashmir.
The wife of the Shah requested Ranjeet Singh to save her husband and obtain his release. She promised to present the Kohinoor to Ranjeet Singh in appreciation of his help. The Sikh army marched to Kashmir. After many battles, they were successful in bringing the Shah to Punjab. Kohinoor, the biggest diamond, thus became a prized possession of Lahore. When the British annexed the Punjab in 1849, it went into their hands. Now, it adorns the crown of the English Monarch.
Victories in southwest Punjab
During the Kashmir war, the Sikhs had their taste of fighting the Pathans. Having defeated them, the Sikhs were encouraged to recover the areas of Punjab under the control of Pathans for more than eight centuries. When the Sikhs moved to Attock, the king of Kabul sent a huge army to check their advance. However, before the army could organize itself, Sikhs were already in Attock occupying the fort. The army besieged the fort in the hope of forcing the Sikhs to surrender. The Sikhs, however, came out of the fort, counter-attacked, and wounded the commander. The army retreated and the Sikhs brought Attock and areas around it under their control, frustrating any chances of anyone invading Punjab from the west. The Pathans and Afghans had looted the Punjab often over a long period of time. This occupation of Attock in 1813 closed that path forever.
During the summer months of 1814, the Sikh army marched to Kashmir. The Maharaja himself joined it. After taking over the outer defense lines, they reached Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. The ruler, Azim Khan, sent gifts and wanted to be a friend of Ranjeet Singh. In view of this friendship, the war for Kashmir was given up.
In 1817, the Nawab of Multan rebelled against Lahore yet again. The army was sent there. The Nawab occupied the fort, and hoped to frustrate the Sikhs. The top fighters along with Akali Phoola Singh were sent to win the battle. This was a big and bloody battle resulting in the loss of many lives. Among the dead were the Nawab and five of his sons. His other two sons, who were taken alive, were given estates. Thus Multan also formed a part of the Punjab.
In 1818, the Maharaja himself led the expedition to expand his rule to Peshawar in the west, then under the rule of Kabul. A small group of Sikhs crossed the river Attock to survey the area and the road to Peshawar. However, the Pathans had known the Sikh plans and were ready to stop them from proceeding to Peshawar. A couple of thousand Pathans suddenly fired a volley of bullets and killed the survey party. This enraged the Maharaja. He marched elephants into the river and the Sikh army followed him. The bloody battle resulted in the death of thousands of Pathans. They accepted their defeat leaving the path to Peshawar open to the Sikhs. Yar Mohd Khan, the ruler of Peshawar, did not dare to face the Sikhs and he fled. The Sikhs took possession of the city. Yar sent a request to be made the Governor of Peshawar and agreed to pay revenues regularly to Lahore and be the ally of the Sikhs. His request was accepted.
The only important area left under the control of the Pathans was Kashmir. The governor, J. Khan, was a cruel ruler. He ill-treated Hindus. Therefore, his Hindu minister, Bir Dev, left the state and requested the Maharaja to save the people in Kashmir from Pathan repression.
Kashmir under Sikh Raj
In 1819, the Sikh army was ordered to march to Kasmir. They took over the outer army posts. The local administrators submitted to the Sikhs and agreed to be loyal to the Maharaja. They were, therefore, allowed to continue in their positions. After crossing the mountain, the Sikh army was in the Kashmir valley. Pathans brought their powerful guns to fight the Sikhs. After heavy gunfire from both sides and the loss of many lives, the Sikhs took over Kashmir. The Maharaja took special care to see that the Kashmiris did not suffer anymore. To ensure the liberties of the people and to provide peace and order in the state, General Hari Singh Nalwa was appointed Governor of Kashmir. When, in 1833, there was a famine, the Maharaja sent all the reserve grain to Kashmir to save the people from starvation.
The Maharaja traveled to all the states of Punjab to talk to the people and be sure that every administrator was performing his duty properly. All lazy and cruel rulers were replaced, the most important being Sham Singh Pashoria, who ruled Multan. He was dismissed and imprisoned for his ill-treatment of the people.
Dera Gazi Khan and Hazara were also brought under the Lahore administration during his visit to the southwest Punjab.
Peshawar united with Punjab
The king of Kabul did not like that his brother, Yar Mohd Khan, the Governor of Peshawar, should be a subordinate of Ranjeet Singh. The king sent a big, well-equipped army to take over Peshawar. The Maharaja deputed General Hari Singh Nalwa, Akali Phoola Singh and other generals to march their armies to Peshawar. A big battle took place at Jahangir. When the Pathans heard that the Maharaja himself was able to cross the river, they felt demoralized and retreated to Nawshehira.
After requesting God’s help, as was customary with the Sikhs, on 14 March 1824, Sikh armies decided to advance. Just at that time, Ranjeet Singh was informed that the opponents had brought forty more guns. Therefore, he advised his commander, General Akali Phoola Singh, to wait for the Khalsa’s guns which were still being brought over the river. But Akali Singh followed the earlier decision and marched forward to meet the Pathans. When a bullet killed his horse, he commanded from an elephant. The Sikhs fought bravely and soon forced the Pathans to yield. Akali Ji received a fatal bullet shot. Meanwhile, guns also arrived to help the Sikhs. Azeem Khan, the Pathan commander, was scared and was ashamed of the defeat of his huge, well-equipped army. He escaped but died on his way to Kabul.
Yar Mohd Khan was again apologetic and begged for forgiveness. He agreed to remain loyal to the Maharaja for the rest of his life.
However, a Pathan, Syad Ahmed, wanted to destabilize the administration there and make Muslim Pathans rebel against Sikh rule. He killed Yar Mohd Khan. The Maharaja sent his army again to take over Peshawar. Syad Ahmed was murdered in 1831 and peace was once again brought to the region. Finally in 1834, Peshawar was made a part of the Punjab and placed under the control of General Hari Singh Nalwa. He built many forts to keep the peace in the area and protect it from the Pathans.
The Maharaja and the British
The shrewd British wanted to remain on good terms with Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. They often exchanged gifts with him and received his representatives with great respect. They sent their representative to attend the marriage of Kharak Singh, the eldest son of the Maharaja, in 1812. In 1827, the British Governor of India himself paid a visit to Lahore. A special meeting took place between Lord Bentick and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1831, in order to strengthen the ties of friendship.
Dost Mohd, the king of Afghanistan, was unhappy to have lost Peshawar to the Sikhs. He tried many times to create a rebellion and send his army to help the Pathans but failed to dislodge the Sikhs. He even resorted to a trick. For the purpose of deciding boundary lines between the Kabul raj and the Sikh raj, he asked the Maharaja to send his emissaries, and then arrested them in order to pressure the Maharaja into returning Peshawar to him. Soon, he realized his blunder and released them. He also apologized for his irresponsible action.
Again in 1837, when Hari Singh Nalwa was sick, they attacked Jamrud. Hari Singh was a terror for the Pathans. His very presence in the war was sufficient to scare the Pathans away. Hari Singh won the battle but lost his life. This was the last time the Pathans fought with the Sikhs. The British, with the help of the Sikhs, got Shah Shuja on the throne in Kabul by defeating Dost Mohd. This was done to check the advance of Russia into India through Afghanistan.
To protect Kashmir from the North, the Sikhs also took over Ladhak. This opened trade routes to Tibet and China.
Prince Kharak Singh becomes the Maharaja
In 1839, Ranjeet Singh grew very ill and became paralyzed. Knowing his end was near, he called a general meeting of his Darbar. He put the ceremonial mark on his son, Kharak Singh’s forehead to make him the next Maharaja of the Punjab. He gave his hand to Dhyan Singh Dogra to hold and told him to stay loyal to Kharak Singh. Dogra agreed to serve the new Maharaja with loyalty and devotion.
In his heart, Dhyan Singh was disloyal to the Sikh raj, but Ranjeet Singh did not know of this. The Dogras conspired with the British in creating fights among the family members of the Maharaja. Finally, the Sikh raj was handed over to the British. As a reward for their treachery to the Khalsa Raj, the Dogras were awarded the states of Jammu and Kashmir, while the British annexed the Punjab and made it a part of their raj.
MAHARAJA RANJEET SINGH
Maharaja Ranjeet (Ranjeet means the winner of the battle) Singh, known as the “Lion of the Punjab ”, was born at Gujranwala on 13 November 1780 to Sardar Mahan Singh. Mahan Singh got the news of his birth when he returned victorious from a battle; hence, he gave the name Ranjeet Singh to his newborn son. Budh Singh, the great grandfather of Mahan Singh, founded the Sukerchakia Misl. Charhat Singh, the father of Mahan Singh, was famous for his attacks on Ahmed Shah Abdali, the invader from Afghanistan. When Mahan Singh died in 1792, Ranjeet Singh, being his only son, became the head of this Sikh Misl.
Ranjeet Singh justified his title when he was only about ten years old by accompanying his father to a battle. A Pathan attacked him unexpectedly but Ranjeet Singh saved himself by quickly cutting off his adversary’s head. It was considered a miracle and everyone who was told about this incident believed that Ranjeet Singh would become a great general.
In another battle, his father became ill and left the battlefield. Before leaving, he handed over the command to Ranjeet Singh, who was then not even a teenager. Mahan Singh was running a very high fever and soon died. Before his death, however, he received the news of his son’s victory. Leadership qualities and fighting skills of Ranjeet Singh helped him to achieve the cherished dream of the Khalsa to be the rulers of their state.
Early life
Ranjeet Singh, as mentioned above, lost his father when he was still a boy. But he made remarkable progress under the advice and guidance of his mother-in-law, Sada Kaur, of the Kanahya Misl. The joint strength of the two Misls made him the head of the most powerful unit of the Khalsa.
In 1796, Shah Zaman, the King of Afghanistan, attacked Punjab and asked Ranjeet Singh to submit to him. Ranjeet Singh sent him a bravely worded reply that the Sikhs were owners of their own Punjab, and did not recognize any other ruler. The Shah took over Lahore and proceeded to Amritsar, where the Sikhs had gathered. A bloody battle ensued and the Sikhs defeated the invader, forcing him to retreat to his country. When Shah invaded again in 1798 and occupied Lahore, Ranjeet Singh led the Sikh forces and besieged Lahore. Shah found his life in danger. After remaining within the fort for some days, the Shah secretly left Lahore during the night, never to look upon Punjab again.
Lahore was administered by three Bhangi sardars who were, for most of the time, fighting one another. The administration was in very bad shape and the residents were dissatisfied with them. The Nawab of Kasoor wanted to take over Lahore, and lay his claim to the Governorship of Punjab. But he did not have a good reputation as a ruler. The residents wanted Ranjeet Singh to come to Lahore because the people under his rule were happy and at peace. In 1799, a joint deputation of Sikhs and Muslims of Lahore went to Ranjeet Singh and invited him to come to Lahore. The combined forces of Ranjeet Singh and his mother-in-law were too strong for the Bhangi sardars; also, the mood of the people was a warning to the Bhangis that it was time for them to leave. Thus, Ranjeet Singh became the ruler of Lahore without fighting any big battles. The Nawab of Kasoor got help from some Sikhs and attacked Lahore, but was defeated by Ranjeet Singh. To keep the Bhangi sardars on his side rather than making them his enemies, Ranjeet Singh gave them estates befitting their status.
Ranjeet Singh was now eighteen years old and competent enough to be the ruler of his Misl. Possession of Lahore gave him the needed image of the ruler of the state. He decided to bring self-rule to the old Punjab areas as well.
He took over Jammu and Sialkot. Their rulers agreed to submit to him. Britain also noted the ascendancy of this brave youth to the leadership of the powerful Khalsa Panth. They accepted him to be the ruler of the Punjab and befriended him by sending him gifts and exchanging representatives with his government.
The Maharaja
On Baisakhi Day in 1801, Ranjeet Singh held a big council. All the prominent rulers and outstanding citizens of Punjab and the neighboring areas came to Lahore to attend the enthroning of Ranjeet Singh as the Maharaja of Punjab and offer their hand in friendship. Sahib Singh Bedi put the ceremonial mark on his forehead. The city of Lahore rejoiced for many days. Prayers were said in temples, mosques, and Gurdwaras for the long life of Ranjeet Singh. New coins known as “Nanak Shahi” were minted. Ranjeet Singh called it a raj of the Khalsa Panth and, hence, the coins were struck in the name of Guru Nanak Dev. The coins minted on the first day were distributed among the poor as a reminder of the love of the Guru for the needy.
To make it a rule of the people, the city and state were divided into wards and zones; local people were assigned the job of conducting their affairs. A Muslim, Kazi Noordin, was appointed the Chief Justice of the city. A government hospital was established for free treatment of the sick people. A police department was created to keep peace and discipline in the city. Imam Bakhsh, a kindly man, was appointed as chief of the Police. Panchayts were established in the villages to provide local administration. They delivered immediate and swift justice at virtually no cost to the people.
Punjab united
Punjab was divided up among different Sikh Misls and some Nawabs. Central Punjab, Doaba (the area between the Satlej and Beas rivers) and Malwa (the areas beyond Satlej) were under the control of the Sikhs. The southern and western Punjab was ruled by Muslim Nawabs and the hilly portions and mountainous regions were occupied by Rajput chiefs.
Ranjeet Singh was related to the Kanahya and Nakai Misls through marriage. Also, he obliged some Jathedars by giving them estates, and they gladly joined him. Those who opposed him were subdued but he later befriended them by giving them estates and befitting positions in the army. The Ahluwalia Misl also accepted Ranjeet Singh as the Maharaja of the Punjab. Ranjeet Singh accepted Jathedar Ahluwalia as his brother and they exchanged turbans to solemnize this new relationship.
The Maharaja provided peace, justice and order throughout his kingdom. All the people, including Muslims, got relief from wars, and looting by the invaders. His popularity was spreading far and wide which helped bring all areas of the Punjab under the Lahore administration.
Kasoor was a strong state, situated very near Lahore and ruled by a Nawab who was the source of problems for the Sikhs. In 1801, Ranjeet Singh defeated this Nawab who then agreed to pay revenues to him. The Nawab, however, rebelled again when the Maharaja was busy in the western areas of the Punjab. The Sikh forces took over Kasoor, but the Nawab apologized and promised to behave in the future. In 1807, his brother became the Nawab and refused to pay the revenues. Finally, Ranjeet Singh annexed Kasoor and brought it under Lahore rule. He gave the Nawab an estate near the Satlej river.
In 1803, Ranjeet Singh defeated the Nawabs of Multan and Jhang. They agreed to be a part of the Lahore government and pay revenues to it. In 1807, the hilly areas of Pathankot and Chamba were also made a part of the Punjab.
The Sikh states in Malwa, the region on the eastern side of the Satlej, were made British Protectorates when they were mislead into believing that Ranjeet Singh wanted to overrun them. Thus, when Ranjeet Singh suggested to the states that they seek their independence, they opted for British protection instead. Therefore, the eastern areas of the Punjab beyond the Satlej, could not join the Punjab and become a part of it during Sikh rule.
In 1809, Kangra, Jammu state and other areas around it became part of Punjab. In 1810, the Nawab of Multan again rebelled. When the Sikh forces defeated him after a big battle, he again asked for forgiveness, agreed to behave in the future, and pay the revenues regularly.
The Kohinoor diamond
The Kohinoor diamond was with the Emperors of Delhi. When Nadir Shah looted Delhi in 1739 he carried it to his country along with other valuables. Shah Shuja, the king of Kabul who was defeated by his brother, came to the Punjab for protection. Ranjeet Singh let him stay in his state and allotted him a pension for his expenses. After some time, the Shah went to Kabul and dethroned his brother. However, his opponents soon defeated him. He was arrested and sent to Kashmir.
The wife of the Shah requested Ranjeet Singh to save her husband and obtain his release. She promised to present the Kohinoor to Ranjeet Singh in appreciation of his help. The Sikh army marched to Kashmir. After many battles, they were successful in bringing the Shah to Punjab. Kohinoor, the biggest diamond, thus became a prized possession of Lahore. When the British annexed the Punjab in 1849, it went into their hands. Now, it adorns the crown of the English Monarch.
Victories in southwest Punjab
During the Kashmir war, the Sikhs had their taste of fighting the Pathans. Having defeated them, the Sikhs were encouraged to recover the areas of Punjab under the control of Pathans for more than eight centuries. When the Sikhs moved to Attock, the king of Kabul sent a huge army to check their advance. However, before the army could organize itself, Sikhs were already in Attock occupying the fort. The army besieged the fort in the hope of forcing the Sikhs to surrender. The Sikhs, however, came out of the fort, counter-attacked, and wounded the commander. The army retreated and the Sikhs brought Attock and areas around it under their control, frustrating any chances of anyone invading Punjab from the west. The Pathans and Afghans had looted the Punjab often over a long period of time. This occupation of Attock in 1813 closed that path forever.
During the summer months of 1814, the Sikh army marched to Kashmir. The Maharaja himself joined it. After taking over the outer defense lines, they reached Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. The ruler, Azim Khan, sent gifts and wanted to be a friend of Ranjeet Singh. In view of this friendship, the war for Kashmir was given up.
In 1817, the Nawab of Multan rebelled against Lahore yet again. The army was sent there. The Nawab occupied the fort, and hoped to frustrate the Sikhs. The top fighters along with Akali Phoola Singh were sent to win the battle. This was a big and bloody battle resulting in the loss of many lives. Among the dead were the Nawab and five of his sons. His other two sons, who were taken alive, were given estates. Thus Multan also formed a part of the Punjab.
In 1818, the Maharaja himself led the expedition to expand his rule to Peshawar in the west, then under the rule of Kabul. A small group of Sikhs crossed the river Attock to survey the area and the road to Peshawar. However, the Pathans had known the Sikh plans and were ready to stop them from proceeding to Peshawar. A couple of thousand Pathans suddenly fired a volley of bullets and killed the survey party. This enraged the Maharaja. He marched elephants into the river and the Sikh army followed him. The bloody battle resulted in the death of thousands of Pathans. They accepted their defeat leaving the path to Peshawar open to the Sikhs. Yar Mohd Khan, the ruler of Peshawar, did not dare to face the Sikhs and he fled. The Sikhs took possession of the city. Yar sent a request to be made the Governor of Peshawar and agreed to pay revenues regularly to Lahore and be the ally of the Sikhs. His request was accepted.
The only important area left under the control of the Pathans was Kashmir. The governor, J. Khan, was a cruel ruler. He ill-treated Hindus. Therefore, his Hindu minister, Bir Dev, left the state and requested the Maharaja to save the people in Kashmir from Pathan repression.
Kashmir under Sikh Raj
In 1819, the Sikh army was ordered to march to Kasmir. They took over the outer army posts. The local administrators submitted to the Sikhs and agreed to be loyal to the Maharaja. They were, therefore, allowed to continue in their positions. After crossing the mountain, the Sikh army was in the Kashmir valley. Pathans brought their powerful guns to fight the Sikhs. After heavy gunfire from both sides and the loss of many lives, the Sikhs took over Kashmir. The Maharaja took special care to see that the Kashmiris did not suffer anymore. To ensure the liberties of the people and to provide peace and order in the state, General Hari Singh Nalwa was appointed Governor of Kashmir. When, in 1833, there was a famine, the Maharaja sent all the reserve grain to Kashmir to save the people from starvation.
The Maharaja traveled to all the states of Punjab to talk to the people and be sure that every administrator was performing his duty properly. All lazy and cruel rulers were replaced, the most important being Sham Singh Pashoria, who ruled Multan. He was dismissed and imprisoned for his ill-treatment of the people.
Dera Gazi Khan and Hazara were also brought under the Lahore administration during his visit to the southwest Punjab.
Peshawar united with Punjab
The king of Kabul did not like that his brother, Yar Mohd Khan, the Governor of Peshawar, should be a subordinate of Ranjeet Singh. The king sent a big, well-equipped army to take over Peshawar. The Maharaja deputed General Hari Singh Nalwa, Akali Phoola Singh and other generals to march their armies to Peshawar. A big battle took place at Jahangir. When the Pathans heard that the Maharaja himself was able to cross the river, they felt demoralized and retreated to Nawshehira.
After requesting God’s help, as was customary with the Sikhs, on 14 March 1824, Sikh armies decided to advance. Just at that time, Ranjeet Singh was informed that the opponents had brought forty more guns. Therefore, he advised his commander, General Akali Phoola Singh, to wait for the Khalsa’s guns which were still being brought over the river. But Akali Singh followed the earlier decision and marched forward to meet the Pathans. When a bullet killed his horse, he commanded from an elephant. The Sikhs fought bravely and soon forced the Pathans to yield. Akali Ji received a fatal bullet shot. Meanwhile, guns also arrived to help the Sikhs. Azeem Khan, the Pathan commander, was scared and was ashamed of the defeat of his huge, well-equipped army. He escaped but died on his way to Kabul.
Yar Mohd Khan was again apologetic and begged for forgiveness. He agreed to remain loyal to the Maharaja for the rest of his life.
However, a Pathan, Syad Ahmed, wanted to destabilize the administration there and make Muslim Pathans rebel against Sikh rule. He killed Yar Mohd Khan. The Maharaja sent his army again to take over Peshawar. Syad Ahmed was murdered in 1831 and peace was once again brought to the region. Finally in 1834, Peshawar was made a part of the Punjab and placed under the control of General Hari Singh Nalwa. He built many forts to keep the peace in the area and protect it from the Pathans.
The Maharaja and the British
The shrewd British wanted to remain on good terms with Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. They often exchanged gifts with him and received his representatives with great respect. They sent their representative to attend the marriage of Kharak Singh, the eldest son of the Maharaja, in 1812. In 1827, the British Governor of India himself paid a visit to Lahore. A special meeting took place between Lord Bentick and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in 1831, in order to strengthen the ties of friendship.
Dost Mohd, the king of Afghanistan, was unhappy to have lost Peshawar to the Sikhs. He tried many times to create a rebellion and send his army to help the Pathans but failed to dislodge the Sikhs. He even resorted to a trick. For the purpose of deciding boundary lines between the Kabul raj and the Sikh raj, he asked the Maharaja to send his emissaries, and then arrested them in order to pressure the Maharaja into returning Peshawar to him. Soon, he realized his blunder and released them. He also apologized for his irresponsible action.
Again in 1837, when Hari Singh Nalwa was sick, they attacked Jamrud. Hari Singh was a terror for the Pathans. His very presence in the war was sufficient to scare the Pathans away. Hari Singh won the battle but lost his life. This was the last time the Pathans fought with the Sikhs. The British, with the help of the Sikhs, got Shah Shuja on the throne in Kabul by defeating Dost Mohd. This was done to check the advance of Russia into India through Afghanistan.
To protect Kashmir from the North, the Sikhs also took over Ladhak. This opened trade routes to Tibet and China.
Prince Kharak Singh becomes the Maharaja
In 1839, Ranjeet Singh grew very ill and became paralyzed. Knowing his end was near, he called a general meeting of his Darbar. He put the ceremonial mark on his son, Kharak Singh’s forehead to make him the next Maharaja of the Punjab. He gave his hand to Dhyan Singh Dogra to hold and told him to stay loyal to Kharak Singh. Dogra agreed to serve the new Maharaja with loyalty and devotion.
In his heart, Dhyan Singh was disloyal to the Sikh raj, but Ranjeet Singh did not know of this. The Dogras conspired with the British in creating fights among the family members of the Maharaja. Finally, the Sikh raj was handed over to the British. As a reward for their treachery to the Khalsa Raj, the Dogras were awarded the states of Jammu and Kashmir, while the British annexed the Punjab and made it a part of their raj.
MAHARAJA RANJEET SINGH
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