INTRODUCTION
After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh two Anglo Sikh wars were fought between sikh and British which resulted in the end of sikh rule in Punjab and led to annexation of Punjab by British on 29 March 1849. There are different views regarding the annexation of Punjab. On one hand certain arguments are in favour and certain are against as mentioned below.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR
- VIOLATION OF TREATIES BY SIKHS :- British claimed that sikhs violated Treaties like the treaties of Amritsar, Lahore and Bhairowal and broke peace and created lawlessness. Lord Dalhousie felt that Punjab was endangering the British empire so it was only an alternative to annex Punjab.
- ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF PUNJAB :- Punjab was economically important, cotton was the main attraction for the British and it will be advantageous to annex Punjab by the British.
- REVOLT AGAINST BRITISH :- British mentioned that sikhs revolted against the rule of British so to protect their position they had left with no other war rather than annexation of Punjab.
- ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS :- British claimed that annexation of Punjab was beneficial for people as law and order was established while peace was restored. Administration was set up to Impose proper order in Punjab.
- NO PAYMENT BY LAHORE DARBAR :- As per the Bhairowal treaty it was decided that Lahore Darbar will pay an annual amount of rupees 22 Lakhs to the British but nothing was to them and Sikhs violated the treaty so it was important to annex the Punjab.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE ANNEXATION :-
BRITISH WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVOLT :- British themselves provoked the Sikhs to revolt against them to get an excuse to annex the Punjab. The treatment with Rani Jindan Kaur annoyed Sikhs which was a step to annoy the sikh by the British.
BRITISH OFFICERS THEMSELVES OPPOSED IT :- Many officers like Henry Lawrence who wrote again and again ti Lord Dalhousie that it is illegal and impolitical to annex the Punjab and was against the annexation of Punjab. But it was Lord Dalhousie who went out of the way to conquer Punjab.
BRITISH AS GUARDIANS OF DALIP SINGH :- Maharaja Dalip Singh was minor and british acted as guardian. No hostility was done against the British by Dalip Singh and co operated with them till last while he was forced to abdicate the throne.
BRITISH THEMSELVES PERMITTED THE REBELLION TO SPREAD :- While knowing that rebellions are launched by people, British made no effort to crush it at yes initial stage but allowed it to be widespread so as to get an excuse to annex Punjab.
CONCLUSION
The British annexed the Punjab and gave various reasons to prove it right but ultimately it was immoral on the part of the British to punish the Punjab for acting as one man.
BOOK REFERENCE ( CLICK TO BUY )
The Sikhs of the Punjab: 03 (The New Cambridge History of India)