Empire of the Sikhs
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Narang, Sir Gokul Chand, 60
Nau Nihal Singh (Ranjit Singh’s grandson), 142, 163–4
death, 212–13, 214
moral character, 210–11
political ambitions/manoeuvres, 211–12
wedding festivities (1837), 164–9, 180, 196, 235
Nawaz Khan, Shah, governor, 49
Nikka (artist), 176
Nizam-ud-Din, governor, 72, 85
Nodh Singh (Ranjit Singh’s great-grandfather), 56
Nowshera, Battle of (1823), 123, 128
Nur Jehan, Empress, 183, 190
Nur-ud-din (Nuruddin), Fakhir, 86, 136, 175
Ochterlony, David, Lt-Col., 107, 151–2
Orlich, Leopold von, Captain, 96
Osborne, W.G., 92–3, 103, 132, 158–9, 160–1, 179, 241
Payne, C.H., 55, 199–200
Peel, Sir Robert, 241
Peshawar
annexation of, 120–4, 128
dependencies, 150
history, 121–2
Ranjit Singh’s entry into, 88, 123
strategic significance, 120–1
Peshoura Singh (accepted son of Ranjit Singh), 169–70
Pir Muhammad (Chatha leader), 58, 59
Porus of Paurava, King, 19–20, 74, 258
Pottinger, Henry, Colonel, 145, 146
Partap Singh (Ranjit Singh’s grandson), 179, 222
Prinsep, Henry T., 75, 91, 92, 119, 143, 148–9, 153–4
Ptolemy, 74
Punjab
British annexation of (1849), 183, 193–4, 225, 260
administrative changes after, 264–5
moves towards, 229–30, 251–3, 258–9
opposition to, 258
spoils of, 260–4
history/geography, 20–2, 49–51
provinces, 94–5, 134, 264–5
Sikh assumption of control, 51
see also Sikh state
quoits (military weapon), 103
Rae, Kushwaqt, 70
Rae Singh, 200
ragis (singers), 33–4
Rai Kalha (Muslim leader), 42
Rai Mahlak Deo, 114
Raj Banso (wife of Ranjit Singh), 169
Raj Kaur (Ranjit Singh’s aunt), 57
Raj Kaur (Ranjit Singh’s mother), 55, 58, 65, 68–71
death, 69–71, 72
Raj Kaur of Nakkai (wife of Ranjit Singh), 162, 165–6
Rakabganj Sahib, Gurdwara, 36
Ram Das, Guru, 27
Ram Rai (son of Har Rai), 35
Ramgarhia misl, 63, 76–7
Ramnagar, Battle of (22 November 1848), 256–7
Ranjit Singh
biography
accession to chieftainship, 13, 64
ancestry, 51, 56–60, 68
assassination attempts, 64, 77, 103
birth, 51, 55, 58, 60
boyhood, 55–6, 62–5
death/burial, 198–201
marriages, 62–3, 69, 81, 156, 158, 161–71
as military leader
attacks on British territory, 104–5
boyhood experiences, 63–4
conflicts/negotiations with Afghans, 65–7, 111–24, 183
conflicts with other Sikh misls, 73–4, 76–8
employment of European officers/methods, 100, 125–9
forces, numerical strength/composition, 100–3, 168, 201
maintenance of discipline, 103, 116
personal leadership, 96, 123, 129
response to betrayal, 122–3
selection of subordinates, 129–30
territorial gains, 116–17
personal life/characteristics
accusations of loose living, 153–4, 156–7
appearance/physical characteristics, 55
curiosity, 93, 165, 167–9
daily routine, 91–4, 96–7
dislike of personal aggrandizement, 18, 82, 83
dress, 75–6, 143, 165
eating/drinking habits, 93–4, 97, 154–5, 167, 198
health, 55, 62, 195, 198
horsemanship, 143, 182–4
education, 64, 81, 92, 130–1
linguistic skills, 68, 81, 93
portraits, 175, 178–9
relationships with women, 15, 68–74, 81, 96–7, 153–71
religious faith/observances, 16–17, 68, 79, 91–2, 188, 201–2
travel arrangements, 180–1
as political leader
achievement/legacy, 15–18, 28, 201
administrative approach, 94–5, 122, 130–6
ambitions/goals, 71–2, 77–8, 82–3, 97–8, 104, 110–11
coinage, 188–94
composition of cabinet, 17, 85–6, 130
‘coronation’, 83–5
court life/décor, 16, 75–6, 83–4, 179–81
criticisms, 148–9, 202–3, 208
dealings with British, 15, 105–11, 136–52, 225 (see also under British Empire)
Ranjit Singh’s comments, 140, 147–8
Ranjit Singh’s secret visit to General Lake’s camp, 99–100, 125–6
diplomatic skills, 130, 148–9
environmental awareness, 181–2
financial administration, 131–2
hands-on approach, 92, 94–5
humanitarianism, 15, 17, 19–20, 68, 74, 78–9, 81–2, 88, 223
as judge of men, 206
patronage of arts/crafts, 28, 179–82
personal fortune, British appropriation, 262
recognition of limits of power, 140, 149
religious policy/tolerance, 17, 79–81, 85–9, 130, 189
responsibility for collapse of state, 202–3, 205–8, 209, 233–4, 265–6
as secularist/meritocrat, 17, 85–6, 130, 189, 205–6, 208
title/mode of address, 82, 83
treachery against, 122–3, 129–30, 132
Western impressions of, 92–3, 95–6
Ratan Kaur (wife of Ranjit Singh), 169–70
Ravidas, 29
republicanism and Sikh ideology, 202–3, 220–1
Rodgers, C.J., 184
Ropar meeting (1831), 141–5, 176, 180, 195
Rup Lal, Missr, 135
rupees (coinage)
design, 190–1
gold, 191–2
replacement, 193–4
Sabraon, Battle of (10 February 1846), 231–2, 244–9
Sabuktigin of Ghazni, 20–1
Sada Kaur (Ranjit Singh’s mother-in-law), 63, 68–9, 71–4, 162–3, 169
Sa’dullah Chishti, Mufti, 85
Sahaj Singh (Ranjit Singh’s uncle), 57
Sahib Singh Bedi (descendant of Guru Nanak), 84–5
Sahib Singh (Bhangi) of Gujrat, 169
Sahib Singh of Patiala, 66
Sahib Singh (Ranjit Singh’s uncle), 63–4
Sale, Sir Robert, General, 241
Samana, capture of, 45
Sandhanwalia misl, role in power struggles, 215, 221–2
Sansar Chand, Raja, 109, 169, 173, 200
Sarkar (title), 82, 83
sati (immolation of widows), 26
committed by Ranjit Singh’s wives, 160, 200
Sawan Mal, Diwan, 115, 135, 254
Sayyed Jalal-ud-Din, 45
Schoefft, August Theodor, 179
Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–9), 254–9
causes, 254–6
danger of British defeat, 230–1
Sikh victories, 256–8
see Anglo-Sikh Wars
Shah Alam, Emperor, 105
Shah Alam Bahadur, Emperor, 186–7
Shah Jahan, Emperor, 33, 34, 76, 87, 114
Shalimar Gardens, 76, 167
Sham Singh Attariwala, Sardar, 164, 166, 248–50
Shashal Beg, 45
Shaw, George Bernard, 227
shawls, manufacture, 180
Sher Singh (Ranjit Singh’s son), 133, 142, 179, 192–3
appearance, 164
birth/legitimacy, 162–3, 214
coin
age, 190, 191
death, 222–3
role in power struggles, 213–24
weaknesses of character/position, 214, 216, 220–4
Sher Singh Attariwala, Raja, 255, 257, 259
Shergarh, Battle of, 113
Shuja, Shah, 109, 111–14, 212, 234
Sikh army
‘Amazon’ unit, 143, 158–60
betrayal by high-ranking officers, 237–40, 242, 244–8
bravery/skill in battle, 240–2, 244, 246, 248–50, 257–8, 259
casualties, 53, 244
ceremonial parades, 142, 144, 167–9
combats with Afghans, 49–51, 52–3, 65–7, 114–24
combats with Mughals, 32–3, 38, 41–2, 45–6
European officers, 100, 125–9
inducements to desertion, 242–3
numerical strength, 101, 168, 201, 256, 259
organization/skills, 32, 47–9, 100–3, 127–8
reasons for going to war, 208
rebellion against British rule, 254–6
role in power struggles, 216–17, 221
unrest/internal divisions, 216, 220–1, 223–4
see also Fauj-i-ain; Fauj-i-khas; First Anglo-Sikh War; Second Anglo-Sikh War
Sikh community/religion, 16–17
attempts to suppress, 35–6, 38, 47
attitudes to women, 25–6, 52, 57–8, 73
central tenets, 27–8, 38–9, 82, 202–4
conflicts with Hindus, 37–8
conflicts with Mughal Empire, 30–8, 41–53
conversions to, 43–4, 86
devotional practices, 33–4, 44–5
festivals, 79–80 (see also Holi)
foundation, 24–5
history, 22–53
influence on Ranjit Singh, 31, 68, 79
internal conflicts, 58–9, 209–25, 233–4
Ranjit Singh’s impact on, 204, 266
relics, 89, 91–2, 260–1, 264
symbolism, 38–9
temporal/spiritual concerns (meeri/peeri), 32
universalism/communitarianism, 27–8, 40–1, 202–3
Sikh state
administration, 130–4
art/crafts, 173–82
betrayal by high officials, 231
coinage, 188–94
collapse after Ranjit Singh’s death, 205–8, 209–25, 265–6
dismantling, 250, 250–2, 253–4
finances, 131–2, 134–5
frontier, establishment, 104
health care, 136
heterogeneity, 79, 82–3
international trade, 181
justice system, 135
looting by British, 260–4
provinces, 94–5, 134
religious composition, 83
social/religious festivals, 79–81
territorial expansion, 116–17, 139
territorial extent, 97–8, 137, 197
urban population/development, 135–6
see also Punjab; Ranjit Singh, as political leader
Sikh Wars see First Anglo-Sikh War; Second Anglo-Sikh War
silk, manufacture/use, 181
Sind
British presence/ambitions in, 138–9, 140–1, 146–8, 225
history/geography, 136–8
negotiations over, 145, 146, 149–52
political/strategical significance, 136, 146–8
Sikh claims to, 138, 150
Sikh withdrawal from, 147–8
Singh, adoption as universal Sikh male surname, 39
Sinha, N.K., 70
Sirhind, capture of (1710), 45–6, 186
Sis Ganj, Gurdwara, 36, 52
Smith, Sir Harry, General, 241, 248
Sodhi, Bawar Kesar Singh, 78
Sodhran, siege of, 63–4
Somerset, Major, 241
Srichand (son of Nanak), 23–4
Srinagar, conquest of, 117–18
Stacey, Brigadier, 246
Steele, Dr, 198–9
Stone, I.F., 266
Suchet Singh Dogra, 142, 213, 232–3
Sukerchakia misl, 51, 56–9, 118
alliances with other misls, 63, 69, 71, 161–3
conflicts with other misls, 58–9, 63–4, 76–8, 169
internal divisions, 69
Surdas, 29
Sutlej (river), crossings, 104–5, 249
Sutlej Treaty, 96, 107–11, 136, 148, 225
British manipulation of, 150–1
implementation, 109
outcome/benefits, 109–11, 139
wording, 108–9
Tamerlane (Timur), 20, 183
Tara Singh (Ranjit Singh’s son), 162–3
Taylor, Brigadier, 248
Tegh Bahadur, Guru, 35–6, 37, 45, 52
Tej Singh, 86, 129–30, 205, 251, 252
treachery in First Sikh War, 233, 235, 237–40, 242, 245–8
‘Timur Ruby’, 183
Timur Shah, governor, 50, 52–3, 88
Trevelyan, Sir Charles, 192
Tuchman, Barbara, 229
turban, wearing of, 39
United States, foreign policy, 146–7
Ventura, Jean-Baptiste, General, 125, 126–8, 159–60, 176–7, 180
Victoria, Queen, 161, 183, 261
Vigne, G.T., 178, 179
Vikramaditya, King, 189
wada ghalagura (great disaster), 49, 50–1
Wade, Claude, Captain, 109–10, 141, 146, 211
Wafa Begum (wife of Shah Shuja), 111–13
Waheed-ud-din, Fakir Syed, 153, 155, 161
wall painting, Sikh, 176
Wallace, Brigadier, 241
Washington, George, 146
Wazir Fateh Khan, 112–13, 114–15
Wazir Khan, Nawab, 42, 44, 45–6
Wellesley, Richard, 1st Marquess, Governor-General, 98–9, 103–4
Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of, 229–30, 236, 258
Wilkinson, Brigadier, 246
women
emancipation in Sikh society, 25–6, 73, 219
humanitarian treatment in conflict, 52
naming with creation of the Khalsa, 39
Ranjit Singh’s relationships with, 15, 68–74, 81, 153–71
role in Sikh society, 57–8, 73, 219
in Sikh army, 143, 158–60
Yahiya Khan (Mughal commander), 49, 53
Yar Mohammad Khan Barakzai, 122–3, 183
Zakariya Khan, governor, 47, 49, 53
Zam Zama (gun), 115
Zaman Shah, governor, 52–3, 65–7, 72–3, 109, 111
Zapata, Emiliano, 209
Zorawar Singh (son of Guru Gobind Singh), 42–3
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Listening to the Guru Granth Sahib at the Golden Temple by August Theodor Schoefft, c. 1850
Woodcuts depicting the Gurus (above) and (below) the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), both dating from c. 1870
An early watercolour showing traditional Sikh warriors
A study of Sikh arms and armour by W.G. Osborne, 1838; published in his book The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing, 1840
A late-eighteenth-century steel and gold sikh helmet
Mid-nineteenth-century jewelled Sikh shield with hunting scenes
Ranjit Singh on horseback with his army; sketch by W.G. Osborne, 1838; published in The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing
Ranjit Singh’s sword. Mounts are of solid gold with an emblem of a lion on guard on the sword hilt. The blade is made of watered steel.
The two Dogra brothers: Gulab Singh by C.S. Hardinge, 1846 (left) and Dhian Singh
Raja Lal Singh (left) and Raj Tej Singh; both watercolour on ivory
Ranjit Singh in 1838, drawn by Emily Eden
Fakir Azizuddin, Ranjit Singh’s confidant, by W.O. Osborne, 1838, published in The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing
Diwan Mulraj of Multan; watercolour on ivory
Oil portrait of General Hari Singh Nalwa, an outstanding officer of Ranjit Singh’s army and governor of Kashmir; by an unknown artist. He w
as an excellent shot and an accomplished swordsman.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s heir, Kanwar Kharak Singh; watercolour
The Court of Lahore; oil painting by August Theodor Schoefft, c. 1850-5
Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s second son, Kanwar Sher Singh; sketch by W.G. Osborne, 1838, published in The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing
Emily Eden’s drawing of the Maharaja’s adored horse Leila
Dancing girls; drawing by W.G. Osborne, 1838, published in The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing
Mirror and gold-trimmed work in the Harmandir Sahib
A woodcut of 1870 depicting Maharaja Ranjit Singh on horseback against the city of Lahore (detail)
The Koh-i-noor, set between two smaller diamonds, worn by Maharaja Ranjit Singh as an armlet
Maharaja Ranjit Singh on horseback, by Alfred de Dreux (1810-60); oil painting commissioned by General Ventura and gifted by him to King Louis-Philippe of France in 1838
The famous Zam Zama gun, captured by Ranjit Singh in his campaign against the Bhangi chiefs at Amritsar. It was used in various campaigns including the Battle of Multan.
The Shalimar Gardens, laid out in 1667 and well loved by the Maharaja; drawing by W.G. Osborne, 1838, published in The Court and Camp of Runeet Sing
Three Sikh Akalis, drawn by Emily Eden
Engraving of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by George J. Stodart after a drawing by an unknown Indian artist, 1860
Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Durbar; oil painting in the Central Sikh Museum, Darbar Sahib, Amritsar
Posthumous oil portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, c. 1850
An important Sikh chieftain, Sham Singh Attariwala; watercolour
Rani Jindan, mother of Maharaja Dalip Singh and a powerful woman in the Punjab in the final years of the Sikh state; oil painting by George Richmond, 1863 (detail)
Bridging the River Chenab; oil painting by Charles Hardinge
Governor-General Viscount Hardinge, His Two Sons and Colonel Wood on the Battlefield of Ferozeshahr; oil painting by Sir Francis Grant
Maharaja Dalip Singh, last in the line of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. As the British hold tightened on the Punjab, he was banished from his homeland and exiled to Europe in 1854. Engraving from the Illustrated London News after a photograph by O.G. Rajlander
The first coin the misls minted at Lahore was a silver rupee bearing the Gobindshahi couplet in Persian; on the reverse (second from top) the coin carries the date VS 1822 (AD 1765.)