Shah Zaman
The 18th century was
coming to the end when a so-called rule of Shah Alam II existed in India. The
prime time of the Mughal sultanate had ended and the advent of the Britishers
in India was on. In this background, 12 independent tribes or clans of the Sikhs
had inhabi ted Punjab, the land of five rivers. Every Sikh tribe was called
'misl' that had its own Sardar (chief) and the army. The 'misls' had intra
fighting but they unitedly faced the attack when it was from outside. Their
united army was called ' Dal Khalsa.' The 'misl' of Gujranwala kept the largest
army called 'Shakar Chuckya misl.' The number of fighters in that army was
stated to be up to 15000. But in 1792 a 12-year-old boy was made Sardar of this
'misl.' He was the only son of his father so he not only became sardar of
Shakar Chukcya but the overall 'Khalsa.' The boy had two major enemies. One
were the Afghans in the West and the other was Britishers of the East India
Company. Apart of them his own Sikh community posed as a third rival to him. Born
in today's Pakistan city, Gujranwala he was known by the name of Punjab
Maharaja, Ranjit Singh. I am Sadaqat Ali and I will show the tale of this Sikh Maharaja.
Lahore was being ruled by 'Bhangi' sardars in 1799. Capturing Lahore from
Bhangis was easy, yet threat lay from Afghan successors of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Why?
Ahmad Shah and his
successors had taken control over Lahore since the Mughal rule in India became
weak. The Afghans detested occupation of their land by others hence they
attacked the occupants. Therefore the grandson of Abdali, Shah Zaman returned
to Lahore when Bhangis captured this City. He easily captured Lahore. Here
Zaman wanted to have a decisive battle with Sikhs but he rushed to Kabul where
situation was not normal.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
He left his representative
in Lahore and went back to Afghanistan to save his rule. But on his way back he
faced a problem. That he was to cross over the river Jehlum which then was in
surge and flowing fast. So a number of costly cannons of Zaman sank into the
water while crossing the river. The cannons were a vital weapon of war at that
time. They played the same fatal role in the battles as do the missiles in the
present era. This was a big loss which needed to be regained. But for that Shah
Zaman needed to stay there and wait till the river water would wane. But he did
not have time for it. But these cannons were much valuable for him that he was
ready to pay any cost to recover them. Even he could have pay the cost of
Lahore for them. In this situation, Zaman reached an agreement with his enemy,
Ranjit Singh. That if Ranjit sent back the cannons to him in Afghanistan, he
would accept his rule in Lahore. It meant, Shah Zaman would not attack Lahore
to capture it. He had also learned about the inefficiency of his representative
and Bhangis' attempt to recapture Lahore Lahore also needed a friendly ruler in
Afghanistan to avoid att acks from that part. This offer was acceptable to
Ranjit Singh. So he pulled out eight guns from the river and sent them to
Peshawar; then subject to the Afghan Sultanate. There was a fort called 'Bala
Khasar' in the center of Peshawar that Ahmad Shah Durrani had made use of. These
days it houses the headquarters of the Frontier Corp.Although Ranjit Singh had
joined hand with Afghanistan yet rule of Lahore was not possible without
capturing it. On the other hand the Lahorites were also concerned at the
absence of a permanent government. The incompetent Bhangis had intra fights
which mad life and property of the people insecure. In this situation the
people badly missed a powerful, local and permanent ruler for them. In the mind
of some superiors, it was Ranjit Singh capable of filling this void. So a
contact was made to Ranjit Singh. It goes that including Muslims many important
persons wrote to Ranjit Singh for taking Lahore under his control. Ranjit Singh
was also waiting for this opportunity. The mother-in-law of Ranjit Singh, who
was a strong lady, also came to his support.
Where his mother-in-law
has come from all of a sudden?
The story goes that
Ranjit Singh was married in the 'Kanhaiya misl', that was a a quite strong
tribe.
His mother-in-law Sada
Kaur called the shots in the 'misl'. Sada Kaur was also aware of the hardships
of the people of Lahore. She also knew about the letters sent to Ranjit Singh
by the Lahore inhabitants. She was a wise lady who pursuaded Ranjit Singh to
rule Lahore which meant ruling the whole of Punjab. Because history teaches
that who rules Lahore, rules the Punjab. Ranjit Singh got the point. So he sent
spies to Lahore. The powerful peaple of Lahore, pariculary Muslims, who were
opposed to Bhangis, sided with Ranjit Singh. They promised Ranjit Singh of
opening the City gates. So when Ranjit Singh proceeded to Lahore, two of the
three Bhangi sardars fled the City. The third Sardar Chit Singh took position
inside the City. But those who were in collusion with Ranjit Singh opened gates
of the City. In this situation Chit Singh with 500 soldiers holding swords got
stationed in Hazoori Bagh. It is the same Hazoori Bagh which lies between the
Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort. Obviously, fight was out of question now. So
Chit Singh laid down the arms. Ranjit Singh pardoned Chit's life and
banished him with his family from the City. Thus Lahore fell to Ranjit
Singh without any bloodshed in 1799. The victory of Lahore was a turning point
for Ranjit Singh as it laid the foundations of a vast Sikh Sultanate.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
His son Kharak Singh was
also born in Lahore after two years of this victory. Kharak Singh's birth was
celebrated for 40 days while Ranjit Singh assumed the title of Maharaja on
Besakhi. A formal coronation was held and foundation of the first Sikh
Sultanate in Punjab was laid. Now Ranjit was no more a sardar of Shakar Chachya
but a Maharaja poised to expand his rule to outside Lahore. It had become hard
to stop advancements of Raja Ranjit Singh. Now one after the other every
fiefdom was becoming his tributary. Every fiefdom was bound to pay tax to
Ranjit Singh. After Lahore, Jammu, Nurpur, Chiniot, and Jhang became part of
Ranjit Singh's Raj. By 1803, his Raj (rule) had reached up to Rawalpindi. Now
from Lahore up to Rawalpindi all feudal lords were his vassal. Now he wanted a
cannon or gun to mark the glory of his rule. This cannon was the zamzama (Kim's
gun). In 1805, he demanded the Bhangis of Amratsar to hand over their gun
Zamzama in honour of the promise... they had made with his grand father. The
Bhangis had yet not got Lahore defeat out of their mind. So they declined and
Ranjit Singh attacked Amratsar. Earlier, the Bhangis had failed to check Ranjit
in Lahore but their position in Amratsar was even more delicate.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
Ranjit Singh conquered
the City in two hours. And the Zamzama is today placed on a road outside the
Lahore Museum and in front of the Punjab University. It is open to general
public view. Ranjit's conquest of Amratsar shocked the Britishers who had by
that, captured almost the whole of India. Now the Britishers faced two-way
difficulty. One was a strong Sikh state on their West while the other from
their arch enemy French Emperor... Napoleon Bonaparte who could turn to India
anytime and Ranjit Singh might become his ally against them. The same threat
the Britishers had faced while fighting Tipu Sultan a few years ago. Therefore
they found the solution in striking an agreement. This agreement reached in
1809 was called 'Amratsar agreement. As per the spirit of this agreement, the
Britishers would accept domination of Ranjit Singh across River Sutlej. And
Ranjit Singh would not create any difficulty for them to the other side of the
river on the eastern side. The agreement also required Ranjit Singh to help the
Britishers if Napoleon would attack India. In other words, Ranjit Singh would
not be an ally of Napoleon but that of the Britishers. The agreement rendered
Punjab as buffer zone for the Britishers which meant a strategic depth for... the
Company's government as Ranjit Singh was to face first any attack from Afghans
or the French. Ranjit Singh got the benefit of including the areas between
river Sutlej and river Sind in his domain. Ranjit had captured some of its
areas, some were his tributaries and some others accepted his rule. This all
gave of sense of power to Ranjit Singh. But there was another element that
could double this feeling but it was missing with him.It was a such that anyone
holding it could be regarded as the strongest ruler in the world. It had a
symbolic value for power. It was the Koh-i-Noor. The largest diamond in the
world. The Koh-i-Noor was taken away by Iranian ruler Nadir Shah from the
Mughal Emperor, Rangeela Shah. From Nadir the Koh-i-Noor came to his General
Ahmad Shah Abdali who also ruled Afghanistan. After shifting many hands, this
diamond reached his grandson Shah Shuja. Shah Shuja was holding power in the
Kandahar province. But his adversaries dethroned him. But he somehow managed to
reach the prison-like protection of Ranjit Singh.
But Ranjit did not know
where Koh-i-Noor lay?
Only Shah Shuja knew
where Koh-i-Noor was lying. Ranjit Singh could not secure the Koh-i-Noor by killing
or through torture on Shah Shuja. As by that he might have turned Shuja's
supporters in Afghanistan against him. He feared an adverse situation for him
in case Shuja's supporters would to come to power in Afghanistan. Moreover,
Shah Shuja was also ally of the Britishers. In nutshell, using force on Shah
Shuja was out of question. And Shah Shuja was not ready to give the Koh-i-Noor
to Ranjit Singh easily. At some distance from Mochi Gate Lahore, a haveli called
Mubarak Haveli is situated.The well-known Nisar Haveli, from where Moharram
processions appear, is also housed in that Haveli.
In Mubarak Heveli, Shah
Shuja and his family members were detained or were kept as guests. So in order
to get the Koh-i-Noor, Ranjit Singh blocked the movements to this Heveli in
1813 Whereby neither Shah Shuja and his family could come out nor they get any
eatable from outside. They were the hot days of May inside the walled city. The
rulers of the past were passing through the most oppressive days of their life.
The plight of Shah Shuja's children became miserable due to weather heat and
hunger. In this situation he sent a message to Ranjit Singh. In the message he
expressed willingness to give the Koh-i-Noor provided Ranjit Singh would
himself see him. That the Koh-i-Noor would not be sent to him through anyone. Ranjit
Singh got ready to see him and their dialogue in the meeting became a history. Ranjit
Singh came to Shah Shuja and became highly delighted after getting the
Koh-i-Noor from him. He asked Shah Shuja about price of this diamond. Shah
Shuja replied: "Power is its price. We wrested it from the Mughals through
power. Then another powerful took it away from us and whoever is more powerful
will snatch it from you." It was an irony that the same happened later on.
Shah Shuja was displeased with Ranjit Singh for the bad behaviour . Shah Shuja
was so much depressed by it that he planned escape. First of all he took his
women out of the Haveli one by one and sent them to Ludhiana. Ranjit Singh came
to know that Shuja family was slipping out, he doubled the watch on them. But
Shah Shuja was young and smart. So got some loyalists to his help. One night he
shifted many rooms and made a loyalist sleep on his bed and escaped in the
guise of a beggar. But it was difficult for him to go out the City. All City
doors had been shut down and the guards were deployed there. Therefore Shah
Durrani jumped into a drain channel that led to outside the City. Do you know
you where from he got out? It was Mori Gate. He was smeared with dirt when came
out of the drain. Whether it is true or false but it goes in history when Shuja
looked back at the City on this occasion... he uttered lines that spelled out
duplicity of the Lahorites that made him pass through the drain. Rendering:
"Lahorites make much of the showoff but they lack true love. They show the
open doors but give the exist through secret doors". We are not sure
whether Shah Shuja had learned Punjabi or it was Punjabi translation of what he
said in Pushto.Albeit after finding exit from Mori Gate, he reached Data
Darbar. Here he washed himself and changed and left for Ludhiana to his family.
It was 1816 when this banished Kandahari was only 29. In Ludhiana, Shah Shuja
gave himself to the protection of the Britishers after some time. He wanted to
regain power in Afghanistan and for it he needed help of the Britishers or
Ranjit Singh. At that time, the Afghan chiefs claimed their domination over the
area up to the Indus river.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
This area also included
Peshawar and the tribal areas, that is called FATA in the present day Pakistan.
Ranjit Singh was also
interested in expanding his Sultanate beyond the Indus. Therefore he attacked
Peshawar in 1818. The rulers left Peshawar without any resistance and took
position in the passes on the mountains. Although Ranjit Singh had captured
Peshawar but retaining its possession was a matter. Because attacks by the
Afghans and the tribes were constant and intense. The Pathans did not accept
the Sikh rule in Peshawar. Therefore, the Afghans and the Pathans were
preparing armies for attack on the Sikh. One of such armies was raised by
Tehrike Mujahideen under the command of Syed Ahmad Shaheed. This army faced the
Sikh army at Bajour and defeated the rivals. Syed Ahmad Shaheed also
established his rule in Peshawar in 1831. Now the army of Syed Ahmad also
became a big challenge for Ranjit Singh like Afghan chiefs. But in this
scenario many Pathans and important tribal cheifs turned against Syed Ahmad . The
reason being, Syed Ahmad had assumed the title of Caliph and Ameer. Some
Pathans also feared end to their chieftainship in case Syed Ahmad's movement
would succeed. Therefore they withdrew their support from Syed Ahmad's Tehrike
Mujahideen. They stopped donations to the Tehrik, then began to gather reports
of its members and finally attacked them.In order to take stock of this whole
situation,Syed Ahmad called a meeting of his fighters at Balakot. Syed Ahmad
wanted to move to Kashmir and organize the Mujahideen. In 1831 Ranjit Singh's
son, Sher Singh leading a big army, surrounded him at Balokot. The Sikhs had
come well-prepared and were large in number. Despite that, it was not an easy
fight. The adherents of Syed Ahmad and the Sikh had a pitched battle. In this
battle, Syed Ahmad and his disciple Shah Ismael were martyred. Their graves
still exist in Balakot. Hence Ranjit Singh got rid of the threats from the
frontier areas. It is stated that Ranjit Singh became angry on learning that
his sons had killed Syed Ahmad and Shah Ismeal. Because he revered the status
of 'Syeds' among Muslims. He told his sons, "you killed Syeds, so no
escape for us now." The conquests of Maharaja Ranjit Singh continued till
the end of his life. 3 years before his death, he annexed Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera
Ismael Khan, Tank, and Bannu to his Sultanate. During the same period, Sikhs
also got settled in Kyber PK in a large of number and were still there. During
the same period, the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte suffered a historic
defeat in Waterloo.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
A well known General of
the Napoleon army Ventura, came to Punjab after Waterloo war. He took the
service with Raja Ranjit Singh. At the Lower Mall Lahore Civil Secretariat is
situated. One would have rarely thought this building... was not built by the
Britishers but during the era of Ranjit Singh by the French for their own use. This
building was the residence of French General Jean Farncois Allard. General
Allard was the trainer of Ranjit Singh army and was so strict in his job that
many wanted to escape. It is known about him that he shot dead a Sikh soldier
when he broke into tears during the training. General Allard said this man was
a shame on the Sikh army. The army under the command of the French generals was
not an ordinary one but elite force of the Maharaja. The graves of General
Allard and his daughter Marrie Charlotte still exist at Munshi Chambers Lahore.
It also goes about Maharaja Ranjit Singh that he had conquered Kabul. But it is
not true. The Britishers had conquered Kabul in 1839 where they had enthroned
Shah Shuja to rule. However it was a fact the Ranjit Singh had helped them in
honour of an agreement. But when the Sultanate of Ranjit Singh was at its
prime, a big loss came to him. It was the death of General Hari Singh, who had
helped him get Sialkot, Kasur, Multan, Kashmir and Peshawar. General Hari Singh
Nalva is also known for defeating the Afghans. His monument stands in Haripur,
Pakistan. Hari snatched Kashmir and present Khyber PK from the Afghans and
drove them to the current Afghan borders. The current border between
Afghanistan and Pakistan that is called Durand Line... in fact, goes through
the same areas which General Hari had conquered after pushing back the Afghans.
The Sikhs had taken away these areas from Durrani Sultanate of Afghanistan. Officially
Afghanistan todate does not acknowledge the Durand Line as border. It was
because of the same disputed boundary between the two countries.It was despite
the fact the 200 years had passed since these areas were separated from
Afghanistan. And in the past many areas of them had never been under the
permanent control of Afghanistan. Before going into the temporary control of
the Afghans, these areas were under the Mughal Sultanate. The Mughal Sultanate
in India long remained expanded to the Center of Afghanistan, Kabul. This
information aim at highlighting how important a General was Hari Singh Nalva
for Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh was grieved over his death but more painful for
him was the fact he did not die in any major battle. Rather he had lost his
life in a petty clash wherein he might have easily save himself. The story of
his death goes that the Afghans attacked an area near Khyber Agency of the
present Pakistan. Here Gen Nalva was constructing a fort when all of a sudden
he faced a small group of the Afghan army. This group was quite small yet the
number of soldiers with Hari Singh was lesser than the Afghans. As a consequent
of it, General Hari Singh and his soldiers all were killed in that clash. Despite
that the Afghans failed to get hold of the fort. Ranjit Singh was also losing
other army generals in the battles. Because battles were still going on. In
this situation Ranjit Singh was also not taking much care of his health. Over-drinking
and unabated spate of battles had badly affected his health after 1830.
At a night in the rainy
season in 1835, he suffered a stroke which paralised right side of his body. The
stroke was intense that took away his power to speak. He was no more articulate
in his speech. Despite all that he continued to hold Court (darbar) in Lahore. After
one and a half years he again suffered a paralyse attack that made him bed
ridden.Next year he suffered another paralyse attack. This attack rendered
Ranjit Singh absolutely dumb. Everyone was apprehensive about the life of
Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Britishers also offered to provide him medical
treatment but Ranjit Singh did not accept it. And Ranjit Singh continued to get
treatment for his minister, close aide and physician Faqir Azizuddin. Alms and
bestowment were given at the last stage of his life amid vanishing hopes. Elephants,
horses, statues of gold and silver were given away. In order to please the
gods, even animal slaughtering was banned across Punjab. But nothing could save
his life and Ranjit Singh died on June 27, 1839. His last rites were held at
the place between Minara Pakistan and Lahore Fort where his Tomb stands today. Ranjit
Singh's four wives and seven maids announced to immolate themselves on his
pyre. Then 'Satti' ritual was carried out in India that meant self-immolation
of the widow on her husband's death. During the British rule in India this rite
was banned. Before the last rites his body was perfumed and the royal robe was
put on. The Ranis who had announced 'Satti' (immolation), were leading his
funeral procession. His body was put on the sandalwoods. The four Ranis and the
seven maids sat on the pyre.Ranjit Singh's head was on the lap of a Rani when
Kharak Singh put a sheet soaked in purified oil put on them all. Then the pyre
was set on fire. On the fourth day, the ashes and bones of the Maharaja were
sent for releasing into River Ganga. The Sultanate of Ranjit Singh spread from
Lahore to Sindh and from China, Afghanistan up to Delhi. His successors were
not capable enough to sustain such a large empire. As per Ranjit Singh's will,
his son Kharak Singh became the Raja but the empire was on the decline now. Ranjit's
sons came to the throne one after the other but downfall of the empire
continued. Then the Sikhs fought with the Britishers in 1845 and 1848. The battle
in 1848 ended up at the occupation of Lahore by the East India Company. Thus
the last autonomous Sultanate in India also went into the hand of the
Britishers.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
Last time, 10-year-old
son of Ranjit Singh, Dalip Singh was ruling Lahore. The Britishers sent Dalip
Singh to London where he presented Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria. And it
proved true the historic prophesy of Shah Shuja. Dalip gifted the Koh-i-Noor to
the Queen terming it in return of the Britishers' help to the Sikh in battles. 105-karat
heavy Koh-i-Noor is still studded in the Crown of the Queen and preserved in
the Tower of London. Pakistan and India both lay claim on this diamond. The
citizens of both the countries also took to law to get back the diamond, but no
outcome of their cases so far. Besides the Koh-i-Noor, the Brithers also
transported many other valuables from India to Britain.
History Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh- Who was He Millionwar |
Just assess the amount
of these valuables from a necklace the Queen had prepared with Indian diamonds.
Called 'Coronation Necklace' it the most expensive diamond necklace of the
time. The central diomond of the necklace was named "Lahore Diamond."
This necklace is still under the use of the British Royal family. Dalip Singh
stayed in Britain for some years during which he got education besides getting
stipend. On growing up, Dalip Singh however turned against the Britishers. He
made bid to regain his throne with the help of Russia. But he failed. He become
impoverished and went to Paris where he died in 1893. So the last claimant to
the Sikh Sultanate in Punjab also passed away. A motion picture titled ' the
Black Prince' was also produced on his life. The story of Ranjit is the story
of Punjab and the story of Lahore. It goes that the biographies procure the
most precious lessons of life.Visit my website daily updates.
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