FIRST ANGLO SIKH WAR
INTRODUCTION
After the death of Ranjit Singh the SIKH empire declined at very high speed. The British and SIKH became rivals and fought wars with each other. First Anglo SIKH war was fought between 1845- 46 in which Sikhs were defeated and the British came to be victorious.
CAUSES :-
- TANGLED RELATIONSHIP WITH BRITISH :- relationship strained after the treaty of Amritsar which stopped Ranjit Singh on the border of Sutlej river. The annexation of Sindh by the British also resulted in straining the relationship. The British made Ranjit Singh swallow bitter pills again and again.
- DEFEAT OF BRITISH IN FIRST AFGHAN WAR :- After the defeat of British by afghans encouraged the Sikhs to defeat the English.
- CROSSING OF SUTLEJ RIVER :- Sikh army crossed Sutlej river and broke the Treaty of Amritsar which ultimately gave rise to WAR.
EVENTS :-
- BATTLE OF MUDKI, DECEMBER 1845
- BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH, DECEMBER 1845
- BATTLE OF BUDDESAL , JANUARY 1846
- BATTLE OF ALIWAL , JANUARY 1846
- BATTLE OF SOBRAON, FEBRUARY 1846
EFFECTS OF THE FIRST ANGLO SIKH WAR :-
It created a great loss to men and material, soldiers of both sides were killed. Lahore Darbar went under the control of the British and a major setback was faced by Lahore Darbar while a separate kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir was created. This paved the way for the second Anglo SIKH war.
SECOND ANGLO SIKH WAR CAUSES :-
- DEFEAT OF SIKH IN FIRST ANGLO SIKH WAR :- Sikh army believed that they were defeated due to the treachery of their generals like Teja Singh, Gulam Singh. If their generals stayed loyal they might have won the war.
- LORD DALHOUSIE :- He was imperialist and expansionist , he adopted the policy Doctrine of Lapse and deprived Indian rulers from pensions, titles etc.
- DISBANDING OF KHALSA ARMY :- The strength of the khalsa army was reduced as per the treaty of Lahore due to which thousands of soldiers who became unemployed, their salaries were reduced.
- BRITISH OFFICERS TO HIGH POST :- British officers were appointed as high officials which created heart burning in Sikh and led to second Anglo SIKH war.
EVENTS OF SECOND ANGLO SIKH WAR :-
- BATTLE OF RAMNAGAR, NOVEMBER 1848
- BATTLE OF CHILLIANWALA , JANUARY 1849
- BATTLE OF MULTAN, JANUARY 1849
- BATTLE OF GUJRAT, FEBRUARY 1849
RESULTS :
- END OF EMPIRE :- End of the war ended the Sikh rule from Punjab. Weak successors of Ranjit Singh failed to keep the empire strong and ultimately the big empire of Ranjit Singh ended.
- ANNEXATION OF PUNJAB :- After the end of war Punjab came under British control . Maharaja Dilip Singh was reduced to a mere pensioner.
- DISBANDING OF KHALSA ARMY :- The khalsa army was disbanded , they were either entered into the British army or in agriculture.
- BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION :- Board of administration was set up for 5 years from 1849 to 1853 under the three officers , Sir Henry Lawrence, Johan Lawrence and Charles Mansel.
- ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE :- The peace was regained and proper rule and order was established in Punjab.
CONCLUSION
Two wars ended the Sikh rule from Punjab and established the company rule. The British annexed the Punjab in 1849 and disbanded the khalsa army. The peace and order was restored.
BOOK REFERENCE ( CLICK TO BUY )
The Sikhs of the Punjab: 03 (The New Cambridge History of India)