The
Punjab presented a picture of chaos and confusion when Ranjit Singh
took the control of Sukerchakias misalthis was achieved through
delegation as the sikhs were unable to take the moghuls out. The edifice
of Ahmed Shah Abdali's empire in India had crumbled. Afghanistan was
dismembered. Peshawar and Kashmir though under the suzerainty of
Afghanistan had attained de facto independence. The Barakzais were now
masters of these lands. Attock was ruled by Wazrikhels and Jhang lay at
the feet of Sials. The Pashtuns ruled Kasur. Multan had thrown off the
yoke and Nawab Muzaffar Khan was now ruler.
Both
Punjab and Sind had been under Afghan rule since 1757 when Ahmed Shah
Abdali was granted suzerainty over these provinces. However, the Sikhs
were now a rising power in Punjab. Taimur Khan, a local Governor, was
able to expel the Sikhs from Amritsar and raze the fort of Ram Rauni.
His control was short-lived, however, and the Sikh misal joined to
defeat Taimur Shah and his Chief minister Jalal Khan. The Afghans were
forced to retreat and Lahore was occupied by the Sikhs in 1758. Jassa
Singh Ahluwalia proclaimed the Sikh's sovereignty and assumed
leadership, striking coins to commemorate his victory.
While
Ahmed Shah Abdali was engaged in a campaign against the Marathas at
Panipat in 1761, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia plundered Sirhind and Dialpur,
seized towns in the Ferozepur district, and took possession of Jagraon
and Kot Isa Khan on the opposite bank of the Sutlej. He captured
Hoshiarpur and Naraingarh in Ambala and levied tribute from the chief of
Kapurthala. He then marched towards Jhang. The Sial chief offered stout
resistance. However, when Ahmad Shah left in February 1761, Nawab Jassa
Singh Ahluwalia again attacked Sirhind and extended his territory as
far as Tarn Taran. When he crossed the Bias and captured Sultanpur in
1762, Ahmad Shah again appeared and a fierce battle took place. The
ensuing holocaust was called Ghalughara. Following the rout of Sikh
forces, Nawab Jassa Singh fled to the Kangra hills. After the departure
of Ahmad Shah Abdali, Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia again attacked
Sirhind, razing it and killiing the Afghan Governor Zen Khan. This was a
great victory for the Sikhs who now ruled all of the territory around
the Sirhind.
Ahmad Shah died in June 1773. After
his death the power of the Afghans declined in the Punjab. Taimur Shah
ascended the throne at Kabul. By then the Misls were well established in
the Punjab. They controlled territory as far as Saharnpur in the east,
Attock in the west, Kangra Jammu in the north and Multan in the south.
Efforts were made by Afghan rulers to dislodge the Sikhs from their
citadels. Taimur Shah attacked Multan and temporarily defeated the
Dhillon Sardars of the Bhangi misl. The Dhillon Sardars controlled the
Dhillon principality and the powerful Bhangi misl army (the most
powerful of all the misl at this time), Lehna Singh, and Sobha Singh
were driven out of Lahore in 1767 by the Abdali, but soon reoccupied it.
They remained in power in Lahore until 1793 the year when Shah Zaman
acceded to the throne of Kabul.
The first attempt
at conquest by Shah Zaman was in 1793. He came to Hasan Abdal from
which he sent an army of 7000 cavalry under Ahmad Shah Shahnachi but the
Sikhs routed them. It was a great setback to Shah Zaman, but in 1795 he
reorganized forces and again attacked Hasan Abdal, This time he
snatched Rohtas from the Sukerchikias, whose leader was Ranjit Singh.
Singh suffered at Shah Zaman's hands but did not lose courage. However,
Shah Zaman had to return to Kabul as an invasion of his country from the
west was apprehended. When he returned, Ranjit Singh dislodged the
Afghans from Rohtas.
Shah Zaman did not sit idle.
In 1796 he crossed the Indus for the third time and planned to capture
Delhi. His ambition knew no bounds. By now he had raised an Afghan army
of 3000 men. He was confident a large number of Indians would join him.
Nawab of Kasur had already assured him help. Sahib Singh of Patiala
betrayed his countrymen and declared his intentions of helping Shah
Zaman. Shah Zaman was also assured of help by the Rohillas, Wazir of
Oudh, and Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The news of Shah Zaman's invasion
spread quickly and people began fleeing to the hills for safety. Heads
of Misals, though bound to give protection to the people as they were
collecting Rakhi tax from them, were the first to leave the people in
lurch. By December Shah Zaman occupied territory up to Jhelum. When he
reached Gujarat, Sahib Singh Bhangi panicked and left the place.
Next
Shah Zaman marched on the territory of Ranjit Singh. Singh was alert
and raised an army of 5000 horsemen. However, they were inadequately
armed with only spears and muskets. The Afghans were equipped with heavy
artillery. Ranjit Singh foresaw a strong, united fight against the
invaders as he came to Amritsar. A congregation of Sarbat Khlasa was
called and many Sikh sardars answered the call. There was general
agreement that Shah Zaman's army should be allowed to enter the Punjab
and that the Sikhs should retire to the hills.
Forces
were reorganized under the command of Ranjit Singh and they marched
towards Lahore. They gave the Afghans a crushing defeat in several
villages and surrounded the city of Lahore. Sorties were made into the
city at night in which they would kill a few Afghan soldiers and then
leave under cover of darkness. Following this tactic they were able to
dislodge Afghans from several places. In 1797 Shah Zaman suddenly left
for Afghansistan as his brother Mahmud had revolted. Shahanchi khan
remained at Lahore with a sizeable army. The Sikhs followed Shah Zaman
to Jhelum and snatched many goods from him. In returning, the Sikhs were
attacked by the army of Shahnachi khan near Ram Nagar. The Sikhs routed
his army. It was the first major achievement of Ranjit Singh. He became
the hero of the land of Five Rivers and his reputation spread far and
wide.
Again in 1798 Shah Zaman attacked Punjab to
avenge the defeat of 1797. The Sikh people took refuge in the hills. A
Sarbat Khalsa was again called and Sada Kaur persuaded the Sikhs to
fight once again to the last man. This time even Muslims were not spared
by Shah Zaman's forces and he won Gujarat easily. Sada Kaur roused the
Sikhs sense of national honour. If they were to again leave Amritsar,
she would command the forces against the Afghans. She said that an
Afghani soldier was no match for a Sikh soldier. In battle they would
acquit themselves, and, by the grace of Sat Guru, would be successful.
The Afghans plundered the towns and villages as they had vowed and
declared that they would exterminate the Sikhs. However, it was the
Muslims who suffered most as the Hindus and Sikhs had already left for
the hills. The Muslims had thought that they would not be touched but
their hopes were dashed and their provisions forcibly taken from them by
the Afghans.
Shah Zaman requested that Raja
Sansar Chand of Kangra refuse to give food or shelter to the Sikhs. This
was agreed. Shah Zaman attacked Lahore and the Sikhs, surrounded as
they were on all sides, had to fight a grim battle. The Afghans occupied
Lahore in November 1798 and planned to attack Amritsar. Ranjit Singh
collected his men and faced Shah's forces about eight kilometres from
Amritsar. They were well-matched and the Afghans were, at last, forced
to retire. Humiliated, they fled towards Lahore. Ranjit Singh pursued
them and surrounded Lahore. Afghan supply lines were cut, crops were
burnt and other provisions plundered so that they did not fall into
Afghan's hands. It was a humiliating defeat for the Afghans.
Nizam-ud.din of Kasur attacked the Sikhs near Shahdara on the banks of
the Ravi, but his forces were no match for the Sikhs. Here too, it was
the Muslims who suffered the most. The retreating Afghans and
Nizam-ud-din forces plundered the town, antagonizing the local people.
The
Afghans struggled hard to dislodge the Sikhs but in vain. The Sikh
cordon was so strong that it was impossible for the Afghans to break it
and proceed towards Delhi. Ranjit Singh terrorized the Afghans. The
moment Zaman Shah left, Ranjit Singh pursued his forces and caught them
unawares near Gujranwala. They were chased further up to Jhelum. Many
Afghans were put to death and their weapons and supplies taken. The rest
fled for their lives. Shah Zaman was overthrown by his brother and was
blinded. He became a helpless creature, who, twelve years later, came to
the Punjab to seek refuge in Ranjit Singh's darbar. Singh was now ruler
of the land. Ranjit Singh combined with Sahib Singh of Gujrat (Punjab)
and Milkha Singh Pindiwala and a large Sikh force. They fell upon the
Afghan garrison while Shah Zaman was still in vicinity of Khyber Pass.
The Afghan forces fled north after having been routed by the Sikhs,
leaving behind their dead, including the Afghan deputy, at Gujarat."
(Bikramjit Hasrat, Life and times of Ranjit Singh, p.36)
By
this time the people of the country had become aware of the rising
strength of Ranjit Singh. He was the most popular leader of the Punjab
and was planning to enter Lahore. Victims of oppression, the people of
Lahore were favorably disposed towards Singh who they saw as a potential
liberator. Muslims joined Hindu and Sikh residents of Lahore in making
an appeal to Singh to free them from the tyrannical rule. A petition was
written and was signed by Mian Ashak Muhammad, Mian Mukkam Din,
Mohammad Tahir, Mohammad Bakar, Hakim Rai, and Bhai Gurbaksh Singh. It
was addressed to Ranjit singh, requesting him to free them from the
Bhangi sardars. They begged Singh to liberate Lahore as soon as
possible. He mobilised an Army of 25,000 and marched towards Lahore on
July 6, 1799.
It was a last day of Muharram when a
big procession was to be held in the town in the memory of the two
grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad who had been martyred on the
battlefield. It was expected that the Bhangi sardars would also
participate in the procession and mourn with their Shia brethren. By the
time procession was over Ranjit Singh had reached the outskirts of
city. In the early morning of July 7, 1799, Ranjit Singh's men took up
their positions. Guns glistened and bugles were sounded. Rani Sada Kaur
stood outside Delhi Gate and Ranjit Singh proceeded towards Anarkali.
Ranjit Singh rode along the walls of the city setting mines. The wall
was breached. This created panic and confusion. Mukkam Din, who was one
of the signatories to the petition made a proclamation, accompanied by
drumbeats, stating that he had taken over the town and was now in
charge. He ordered the city gates to be opened. Ranjit Singh entered the
city with his troops through the Lahori Gate. Sada Kaur and a
detachment of cavalry entered through Delhi gate. Before the Bhangi
sardars realized it, a part of the citadel had been occupied without
resistance. Sahib Singh and Mohar Singh left the city and sought
protection. Chet Singh was left to either to fight to defend the town or
flee. He shut himself in Hazuri Bagh with 500 men. Ranjit Singh's
cavalry surrounded Hazuri Bagh. Chet Singh surrendered and was given
permission to leave the city along with his family.
Ranjit
Singh was now well-entrenched. Immediately after taking possession of
the city, he paid a visit to Badshahi Mosque. This gesture increased his
prestige in the eyes of people. He won the hearts of his subjects,
Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh alike. It was July 7, 1799 when the victorious
Ranjit Singh entered Lahore. Ranjit Singh ultimately acquired a kingdom
in the Punjab which stretched from the Sutlej River in the east to
Peshawar in the west, and from the junction of the Sutlej and the Indus
in the south to Ladakh in the north. Ranjit died in 1839, and a
succession struggle ensued. Two of his successor maharajas were
assassinated by 1843.
Sikh Empire (1799-1849)
* Maharaja Ranjit Singh (b.1780, Crowned April 12, 1801, d.1839)* Kharak Singh (b.1801, d.1840), Eldest son of Ranjit Singh.
* Nau Nihal Singh (b.1821, d.1840), Grandson of Ranjit Singh.
* Sher Singh (b.1807, d.1843), Son of Ranjit Singh.
* Duleep Singh (b.1838, Coronated 1843, d.1893), Youngest son of Ranjit Singh.
The British in Punjab
By
1845 the British had moved 32,000 troops to the Sutlej frontier, to
secure their northernmost possessions against the succession struggles
in the Punjab. In late 1845, British and Sikh troops engaged near
Ferozepur, beginning the First Anglo-Sikh War. The war ended the
following year, and the territory between the Sutlej and the Beas was
ceded to Great Britain, along with Kashmir, which was sold to Gulab
Singh, who ruled Kashmir as a British vassal.
As a
condition of the peace treaty, some British troops, along with a
resident political agent and other officials, were left in the Punjab to
oversee the regency of Maharaja Dhalip Singh, a minor. The Sikh army
was reduced greatly in size. In 1848, out-of-work Sikh troops in Multan
revolted, and a British official was killed. Within a few months, the
unrest had spread throughout the Punjab, and British troops once again
invaded. The British prevailed in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and under
the Treaty of Lahore in 1849, the Punjab was annexed by the British East
India Company, and Dhalip Singh was pensioned off. The Punjab became a
province of British India, although a number of small states, most
notably Patiala, retained local rulers who recognized British
sovereignty. In every way, the Punjab was Great Britain's most important
asset in colonial India. Its political and geographic predominance gave
Britain a base from which to project its power over more than 500
princely states that made up India. Lahore was a center of learning and
culture under British rule, and Rawalpindi became an important Army
installation.
The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of
1919 occurred in Amritsar. In 1930, the Indian National Congress
proclaimed independence from Lahore. The 1940 Lahore Resolution of the
Muslim League to work for Pakistan, made Punjab the centerstage of a
different, bloodier and dirtier struggle. In 1946, massive communal
tensions and violence erupted between the majority Muslims of Punjab,
and the Hindu and Sikh minorities. The Muslim League attacked the
government of Unionist Punjabi Muslims, Sikh Akalis and the Congress,
and led to its downfall. Unwilling to be cowed down, Sikhs and Hindus
counter-attacked and the resulting bloodshed left the province in great
disorder. Both Congress and League leaders agreed to partition Punjab
upon religious lines, a precursor to the wider partition of the country.
The British Punjab province, which includes present-day Punjab province
of Pakistan, and the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal
Pradesh, was partitioned in 1947 between the newly-independent states of
India and Pakistan.
The Punjab of India and Pakistan
Eastern
parts of Gurdaspur district in the northern point of the province
adjoining Kashmir were given to India, with a small Muslim majority of
51% partitioned along the Ravi river leaving only Shakargarh
sub-division on the Pakistani side, thus making the eastern half
minority Muslims part of India. The state of Jammu and Kashmir had a
land link with this part which according to some might have influenced
that state's decision to join India. During the partition, over 1
million people were killed indiscrminately and with medieval brutality.
Women were raped and murdered, children massacred and the elderly
brutalized. No Muslim could walk freely in Amritsar or Delhi, the former
seat of the Mughal Empire.
Sikhs demanded a
Punjabi speaking East Punjab with autonomous control. Led by Master Tara
Singh, Sikhs wanted to obtain a political voice in their state. In
1965, a fierce war broke out between India and Pakistan over the
disputed region of Kashmir, but owing to the treacherous geography of
the state, and the open nature of hostilities, the fiercest fighting
took place in Punjab. At a region called the Assal Uttar (Real North),
thousands of Pakistani and Indian tanks fought terrifying battles.
Thousands of Pakistani's lost their lives, the Indian forces directly
threatened Lahore with mortar and artillery fire. Owing to the extreme
proximity of Pakistan's most important city to the border, the Pakistani
army concentrates its forces and strengths to the maximum in this thin
stretch of land. In 1971 the Pakistani's were completely routed and
surrendered to the Indian high command at Dacca. In 1966, owing to the
tremendous bravery shown by thousands of Sikh officers and soldiers in
the Indian Army, the Government divided the Punjab into a Sikh-majority
state of the same name, and Hindu-majority Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Sikhs form about 60% of the population.
In the
1970s, the Green Revolution swept India. Punjab's agricultural
production trebled, and so did the prosperity of its people. For such a
small state to be called the bread-basket for a country of more than a
billion people, is like a goldfish being classified a leviathan.
Industrialization swept the state and the state remains the ones of the
economic leaders of the entire country. Punjabi culture also
predominates the national art, media, music and film industries.
Punjabis, especially Sikhs, form a major part of the Armed Services. In
the early 1980s, a small group of Sikh fundamentalists sought the
Punjabi state to be made independent of India. Led by Jarnail Singh
Bhindranwale, a young priest, small bands of militants began attacking
policemen, military sites and government and army officials. In the Holy
Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar, Bhindranwale broadcast and published his
calls for independence. Bhindranwale was supported by Sikhs from all
over the Punjab and Delhi, as well as Sikhs outside India. A vast
majority of Sikhs in the Punjab and outside it supported the call for
independence.
The Prime Minister Indira Gandhi,
who had tried to use and manipulate Bhindranwale, authorized an Army
take-over of the Harimandir Sahib area. In Operation Bluestar, executed
in 1984, thousands of Indian soldiers raided the Temple to flush out
thousands of militants holed up in it. During the action, major damage
was inflicted to the temple complex. The militants were killed or
arrested, but the Operation cost the lives of 300 soldiers and thousands
of innocent civilians, many of whom were known to be innocent
worshipers by the Indian army. The bloody and unpopular operation
invited major criticism of the Gandhi government. The Gandhi government
was the only country in modern times that had attacked a faiths most
holiest of shrines. Outrage now broke lose in the mainstream of Sikh
society. Outraged young Sikhs spread disorder around the Punjab and in
Delhi. In October 1984, just two months after Bluestar, Indira Gandhi's
own two Sikh bodyguards assassinated her in revenge for the attack on
the Holy Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar. The Indian Army commander was
similarly assassinated.
Bloodthirsty mobs took to
the streets of Delhi following Gandhi's murder. For the first time in
history, Hindus and Sikhs were involved in a feud against each other.
More than 25,000 Sikhs were brutally murdered by mobs. The Government
acted quickly, imposing martial law in the disturbed areas. Over the
next three years, tough police action destroyed the insurgency, and
fresh political overtures in the early 1990s did much to calm the state.
Although some political suspicion still remains, Sikhs and Hindus have
healed their common wounds and bridged the divides. The Sikh
fundamentalists have either been driven out of the country or reduced to
the margins of politics. However, little was done by the Indian
government to redress the thousand of Sikhs killed and many more who
lost their homes in the 1984 mob violence. Many of the politicians,
police as well as Indian MPs are known to the government for helping
anti-Sikh mobs kill innocent people, yet they have never been prosecuted
or questioned.
The 1990s brought much prosperity
to India's Punjab. In 2004, Dr. Manmohan Singh became the country's
first Sikh Prime Minister. The Wagah border post, is the chief crossing
point between India and Pakistan. The Samjhauta (Understanding) Express
runs between Atari, in Indian Punjab, to Lahore in Pakistan, as does
the Delhi-Lahore bus. The Government of Pakistan allows small numbers of
Sikhs to visit religious sites in Pakistani Punjab. The Indian
Government allowed 3,000 Pakistani Sikhs to cross over recently, at the
300th anniversary of the founding of the Khalsa.
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