The Conquest of Punjab: Sikh Empire & Anglo-Sikh War

Introduction

The annexation of Punjab by the British Empire followed a series of conflicts and diplomatic maneuvers, culminating in the Anglo-Sikh War of 1845-1846 and its subsequent annexation in 1849. These events reshaped the political landscape of the Indian subcontinent, marking the end of Sikh sovereignty in Punjab and the extension of British control over a vast territory.

Consolidation of Punjab Under the Sikhs 

• Banda Bahadur’s Rebellion: During Bahadur Shah’s reign, a group of Sikhs led by Banda Bahadur rose up in rebellion against the Mughals following the death of Guru Gobind Singh, the last Sikh guru. 
• Sikhs under Bhai Mani Singh: Later, Farrukhsiyar defeated Banda Bahadur in 1715 and executed him in 1716. 
  • Now, Sikhs were left leaderless and got divided into two groups i.e. Bandai (liberal) and Tat Khalsa (orthodox). 
  • Bhai Mani Singh was able to end the rift and unite the two factions in 1721. 
• Establishment of the Dal Khalsa: Later, in 1784, Kapur Singh Faizullapuria established the Dal Khalsa, an organization that brought Sikhs together politically, culturally, and economically. 
  • The entire Khalsa population was divided into two factions: 
    • Taruna Dal:  The army of the youth, and Budha Dal, or the army of the veterans.

Ranjit Singh and the English

• There were twelve significant misls when Ranjit Singh was born on November 2, 1780. Gurumatta Sangh served as the foundation for the central government of a misl; 
  • It was essentially a political, social, and economic system. 
  • The leader of Sukarchakiya misl, Mahan Singh, was the father of Ranjit Singh. 
• Ranjit Singh developed a brutal “blood and iron” policy, carving out a kingdom for himself in central Punjab. 
• Governor of Lahore: Afghanistan’s ruler Zaman Shah appointed Ranjit Singh as the province’s governor of Lahore in 1799. 
  • Following his acquisition of Jammu and Amritsar in 1805, Ranjit Singh became the ruler of Punjab’s political capital, Lahore, and religious capital, Amritsar. 
  • He also maintained good relations with the Dogras and the Nepalese and enlisted them in his army.
• Treaty of Amritsar (1809): It denied Ranjit Singh’s long-held desire to expand his authority over the whole Sikh population by acknowledging the Sutlej River as the border between his domain and the Company’s.
• Tripartite Treaty: Political pressure forced Ranjit Singh to sign the Tripartite Treaty with the English in June 1838, but he refused to allow the British army to pass through his territory to attack the Afghan Amir, Dost Mohammad.
• Daleep Singh: After the death of Ranjit Singh, his younger son Daleep Singh was anointed as the Maharaja, Hira Singh Dogra as wazir and Rani Jindan as regent. 
• Later Hira Singh was murdered and Lal Singh, a lover of Rani Jindan became the Wazir.

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First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46) 

• Causes of War
  • It had been attributed to the action of the Sikh army crossing the River Sutlej on December 11, 1845.
  • The chaos that followed Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death in the Lahore kingdom, which led to a struggle for dominance between the Lahore court and the ever-stronger and more local army.
  • There were misgivings within the Sikh army following the English military operations in Afghanistan in 1842 and Gwalior and Sindh’s annexation in 1841.
  • The rise in the quantity of English soldiers stationed close to the kingdom of Lahore’s border.
• About the War and its Aftermath
• • The British were able to engineer treachery from within, which led to consecutive defeats of Sikhs across various battles. 
  • Eventually, Lahore fell to the British without a fight in 1846. 
  • Treaty of Lahore (1846): It was a humiliating treaty for the Sikhs wherein a British resident was to be established at Lahore, Jalandhar doab was annexed by the Company, and the strength of the Sikh Army was reduced. 
  • Also, Daleep Singh was recognised as the ruler under Rani Jindan as regent. 
  • Later, Sikhs were unable to pay the entire war indemnity and thus Kashmir was sold to Gulab Singh. 
  • This led to anger and resentment among the Sikhs, and they rebelled again. 
• The Treaty of Bhairowal: It was signed in December 1846. 
  • Council of Regency: It was established for Punjab, and Rani Jindan was removed from his position as regent by the terms of this treaty. 
  • Henry Lawrence, the English resident, presided over the eight Sikh sardars that made up the council.

Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49) 

• Causes of War:
  • For the Sikhs, the terms of the treaties of Lahore and Bhairowal, as well as their defeat in the first Anglo-Sikh War, were extremely insulting. 
  • Sikh resentment was heightened by the inhumane treatment of Rani Jindan,who became a pensioner who was transferred to Benares.
• Multan’s Governor Mulraj: Rebelled over being replaced and murdered two English officers. 
• About the War and its aftermath
  •  Annexation of Punjab: Lord Dalhousie got the pretext to annex Punjab completely. He marched onto Punjab and made the British win in the battles of Ramnagar (led by Sir Hugh Gough), Chillhanwala, Gujarat (a small town on the banks of River Jhelum). 
    • Eventually, the Sikh army surrendered at Rawalpindi. 
  • Administration for Punjab under Lord Dalhousie: Dalhousie completed his objective of annexation of Punjab and set up a three-member board to govern Punjab, comprising the Lawrence brothers (Henry and John) and Charles Mansel. 
    • Later, in 1853, the board was nullified, and John Lawrence became the first chief commissioner of Punjab. 
  • Recognition of the Earl of Dalhousie: For his services, the Earl of Dalhousie was given the thanks of the British Parliament and a promotion in the peerage, as Marquess.

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Conclusion

• Anglo-Sikh War marked a significant turning point in the history of South Asia, particularly in the context of British colonial expansion. 
• Through a series of conflicts, diplomatic maneuvers, and military campaigns, the British Empire extended its control over the prosperous and strategically important region of Punjab. 
• The Anglo-Sikh War, characterized by fierce battles and shifting alliances, ultimately resulted in the annexation of Punjab by the British in 1849 

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