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Maharaja Ranjit Singh PDF
Maharaja Ranjit Singh PDF
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and other hill states were under the Rajput chiefs. The
Britishers were a strong force in the East of Punjab. They
were keen to annexe Punjab into their kingdom. He was
surrounded by opponents from all sides. Despite their
presence, Maharaja Ranjit Singh succeeded in establishing
his mighty empire. Although he could not succeed in uniting
the whole of Punjab, he brought the spirit of being Punjabis
into the minds of the people and thus a feeling of
brotherhood.
Unity Efforts. In order to achieve his aim, the first thing
that the Maharaja did was to take possession of small
hemlets under Sardars and Misaldars. These Sardars and
Misaldars were granted adequate Jagirs. In 1802, he
occupied Amritsar and granted Jagirs to Bhangi Sardars.
Secondly, he befriended the strong misls and removed
misunderstandings amidst them. He brought Kanaihya and
Nakai misls close to him by marrying into their families. He
established brotherhood with Sardar Fateh Singh, leader of
the Ahluwalia misl by exchanging his turban with him. He
had the disputes between Nabha and Patiala settled and
made them his own and each others friend. To establish his
honourable intentions in their mind, he gave away a part
of his won territory to Maharaja Jind and Nabha. Similarly,
Phagwara and areas around it was won by him and handed
over to S. Fateh Singh of Kapurthala. By such efforts, the
Maharaja Sahib consolidated the broken and scattered
strength of the Sikhs.
Occupation of Pathan Territory. Some part of this
consolidation was still left. There was much territory in
North-West Punjab that had been under the rule of Pathans.
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Treaty of Amritsar
Advent of Holkar to Punjab. In 1805, when the
Maharaja Sahib was busy in his campaign against Multan,
he received the news that Jaswant Rao Holkar, a Mrtha
Chief of Indore had come to Punjab after facing defeat at
the hands of Britishers. He had come to seek help and
refuge. Lord Lake of the British Army was right on his heels.
Maharaja Sahib rushed to Lahore and made arrangements
for the stay of Holkar at Amritsar. Holkar asked for help
against the Britishers but Maharaja said that he will decide
after consulting his council of ministers.
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of the city and closed the doors. The Khls army broke
the wall at number of places and entered the city. After
extensive massacre, they took control of the city. Muzaffar
Khan went into the fort. The Khls army encircled the fort
and started shelling it.
Ghulam Jilani, a Muslim writer has recorded an eye
witness account of the events. It discloses the strong
sacrificing spirit of the Sikhs. He writesWhen the walls of the fort were being shelled, the wheel
of a gun carriage broke. The officer incharge firing wanted
to continue with shelling for some more time, to break the
wall. There was no time to get the wheel repaired. The
Commander told his men that it was the time of sacrifice.
For the glory of the Panth, someone should put his
shoulders in place of the wheel. Many young men leaped
forward to be first to do the needful, By the order of the
commander the volunteers came forward one by one and
kept sacrificing themselves. When about ten shorts had
been fired, a big gap appeared in the wall.
This siege lasted for three months. It was a fierce battle.
Nawab Muzaffar Khan, his five sons and nephews, some
other near and dear ones were killed. The fort was overpowered in June 1818. Two of his sons were arrested alive.
They were brought to Lahore. They were awarded Jagirs
in Shakarpur areas. The residents of Lahore celebrated this
victory with lights and fire works.
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Nalwa and Misar Diwan Chand also reached there with their
army. The entire army marched into Mankera from Kundian.
The fort of Bhakhar was won and a small contingent of Sikhs
invaded Dera Ismail Khan. It was brought under control
soon. Another contingent of the Khls army took over forts
of Lahia, Khangarh,Panjgarh etc.
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implicitly.
Maharaja Sahib entered Peshawar in great pomp and
show on 17th March 1823. The resident of the city
celebrated his advent and welcomed him with open arms.
A few days later, both Yaar Mohammad Khan and Dost
Mohammad Khan came to the Maharaja Sahib to seek
forgiveness for their past deeds. They presented him with
fifty horses of good breed besides many other gifts. They
promised to serve him in the future. The big hearted
Maharaja pardoned them and appointed Yaar Mohammad
Khan as the ruler of Peshawar.
Maharaja Sahib reached Lahore on 27th April 1823.
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Khan for this horse, but Yaar Mohammad did not agree.
When Kanwar Sher Singh presented the horse to Maharaja
Sahib, he was highly pleased.
After sometimes, Sayyad Ahmed came down from the
mountains and started inciting the Pathans and spread
unrest. The ruler of Peshawar, Sultan Mohammad Khan
fought with him many times, but could not vanquish him
completely. At last Pathans felt annoyed with him and left
his side. Sensing not much future in this area Sayyad
Ahmed went away to Muzaffarabad. In April 1831, Khls
army laid a siege around the fort of Muzaffarabad. In the
battle that ensued, Sayyad Ahmed was killed. Thus ended
this Jehd.
Maharaja Sahib and British Government. We have
seen that the British Government wanted to retain friendly
relations with Maharaja Sahib. And for this reason they had
signed a treaty at Amritsar in 1809. When Kanwar Kharak
Singh got married in January 1812, Colonel David Octarloni
brought gifts on behalf of the British Government. When the
Maharaja fell ill during the summer of 1826, a British doctor
had come for his treatment.
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pillar of Sikh Raj had fallen. The Sikhs kept the news of his
death a secret till the Pathans withdrew from the scene of
the battle badly mauled.
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Sahib every day for one hour. Whatever task he would under
take or campaign he would set out on, he must always make
a supplication to the Lord and demand strength from Him.
On achieving victory, he would make a thanks giving prayer
or a supplication of gratitude. He would then visit Sri
Harmandir Sahib to pay his obeisance. He would feel happy
if addressed as Singh Sahib.
Once some priests of Delhi Gurudwaras came to meet
him at Lahore. He dusted their feet with his beard in the
full view of his court and courtiers.
house.
in his
life. He
Granth
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