In the last post, we read about the doctrine of the Lapse of Lord Dalhousie. We also read about the Sikh Gurus. So, the feeling of separate identity in the Sikh community was already developed. This feeling got exaggerated when Aurangzeb died in 1707. So, when the Mughal Empire started declining, taking advantage of it regional states started emerging.
Example: Oudh became an independent state under the Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk. Bengal became independent, the founder was Murshid Quli Khan. Hyderabad declared as an independent state under the Nizam-ul-Mulk.
Banda Bahadur
In the same pattern, Banda Bahadur tried to establish the first Sikh State in Punjab. He issued the coins in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh. He named his government as Sarkar-i-Khalsa. But his weakness was that he was of Marathi origin. His actual name was Laxman Das. Guru Gobind Singh named him as Banda Bahadur Bairagi.
So, as he was an outsider. So, he failed to get the support of all the sections of Punjab. In 1716, he was caught and killed in the fort of Lahagarh. After this incident, Sikh identity was maintained by traditions like Sharbat-i-Khalsa and Gurumatta.
Punjab State
From 1740, the condition became very critical in Punjab because of the end of the Mughal Dynasty and Nadir Shah’s and Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasion. This led to following developments in Punjab,
- Nawab Kapoor Singh created Khalsa Panth.
- Rakhi tradition in Punjab.
Under Khalsa Panth, the Sikh army divided into different wings. Different wings were given different charges. This led to the birth of Rakhi tradition ie every village was to pay revenue in return for the protection.
This slowly turned these military units as political cum economic power or Misles ie ruling houses in Punjab. Punjab got divided into 12 Misles and out of these 12, Misles Ranjit Singh succeeded in establishing the first Sikh state in Punjab.
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh gave territorial identity to Punjab by the policy of diplomacy and aggression. Because of his good behavior towards Zaman Shah of Afghanistan, he got the reward of Lahore from him in 1798. By this Ranjit Singh succeeded in creating fear among other Misles and on the basis of this fear he occupied Amritsar in 1809.
So, this enhanced his status in Punjab and he put the claim on Kashmir. He maintained the friendship with Dogras. Later on, when Afghani became the victim of the civil war he occupied Peshawar in 1834. In this way, the Sikh state government got the territory from Lahore to Amritsar and Kashmir to Peshawar.
Economic Reforms
Under the economic reforms, Ranjit Singh came out with a Land revenue system based on the Mughal period Zabti System. In which assessment of land revenue was based on the measurement of land. He demanded 33% to 40% of production as land revenue. Along with this, trade and commerce also provided revenue to the state. But the most important form of revenue was fine in return for punishment.
Administrative Reforms
He established the government in the name of Sarkar-i-Khalsa. He also issued currency in the name of Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Nanak Dev. Ranjit Singh also divided the entire state into four provinces and he emphasized the maintenance of law and order. Justice seems to be the main concern for Ranjit Singh.
Military Reforms
Ranjit Singh had the second-best army in Asia in which the important part was Fauj-i-Khas ie army designed on European lines. His army was trained by French instructors. He also established the Canon factory in Lahore and Amritsar.
Ranjit Singh had a good personality. In practicality, he was secular in nature. He had a deep respect for Hindu and Muslim Saints as well. So, in this way, Ranjit Singh was successful in establishing the first Sikh state in India. But the Sikh army which was the pride of Ranjit Singh became the cause of the downfall or the Punjab state after the death of Ranjit Singh.
After the Ranjit Singh, Punjab did not get any able ruler or administrator. So, the EIC took advantage of this condition and war between EIC and Punjab state took place. About these Anglo-Sikh wars, we shall read in the upcoming post.
Thank you so much. 🙂 Stay connected. 🙂
