Does India Owe Reparations To The Sikhs.

[JSinghnz]

In 1947 we did not rule, the British did and they carved territory on the basis of numbers.

From the time they got defeated to 1947 Sikhs never did anything to get their rule back.

[JSinghnz]

In 1947 we did not rule, the British did and they carved territory on the basis of numbers.

Talking of numbers the British were responsible for reducing our numbers when thousands of Sikhs were killed pre Partition.

[jkvlondon]

Do you realize that the Sikhs were the rulers and were defeated by the British. They then became their slaves and cannon fodder. Hindus were no where in the picture.The Sikhs themselves were to be blamed for their plight.

But the Singh Sabha movement stopped British interference in our religious affairs and also brought back Gurdwaras back in Sikhs control and also threw out the British backed Mahants.

What I cannot still not quite understand is why the Sikhs who for decades fought the evil Moguls and eventually became rulers did not launch a sustained armed rebellion against the British and kick them out.

I also blame Maharaja Ranjit Singh for not finishing off the British during his life time instead in of just going into peace treaties with them giving latter the time to rout the Sikh rule.

the biggest players in the demise of SIkh control of the Khalsa Army were the DOGRAs:

One group of Dogra Hindus converted to Sikhism, led by Dhyan Singh Dogra but following Hindu customs. Ranjit Singh did not enforced Khalsa code of conduct on anyone, often his friends and peers did things to please him which included adding Singh to their names, keeping five symbols of Sikhs, etc. Dhyan Singh Dogra played a very strange role in Sikh history. He originally belonged to Jammu. He came to Lahore in search of job and with his hard work and ability he rose to the top. Maharaja Ranjit Singh made him prime minister of Sarkar Khalsa. Then he also got his brothers inducted in different departments in Sarkar Khalsa. Soon Dogras had all the administration of state, things like treasury, finance, etc. Then the other group was led by noblemen of Lahore which were both Muslims and Hindus, leaders being Azizudin brothers. This group led departments like foreign affairs, medicine and science under Sarkar Khalsa. It is owed to diplomacy of F aqir Azizudeen that Ranjit Singh got Kohinoor diamond from Afghani king. Third group was comprised of Sikh noblemen from all over Punjab, leaders like Dhanna Singh Malwai, Majhithia brothers, Sandhawalia brothers, Ahluwalias, Ramgarhias, Virks of Sheikhupura, Bajwas of Narowal, etc. This group was mostly involve in defense of state, it was divided into foot soldiers, cavalry, support troops and Artillery. Cavalry was all Sikhs while foot soldiers included mercenaries hired from all over India. Artillery was in command of capable Punjabi leader named Mian Ghaus Khan. Support troops were soldiers in charge of support lines, etc.

This efficient machinery worked well under Ranjit Singh and Punjab was on its way to prosperity. Army was totally separated from state affairs, Ranjit Singh had designed and implemented an ingenious system for this purpose. Army democratically elected five membersPanches, they decided on all the matters vis-�-vis state, etc. British did not dared attacked Punjab as long as Ranjit Singh lived. Ranjit Singh counterchecked British by hiring several Frenchmen for his important defense portfolios. Ranjit Singh's biggest oversight was perhaps inability to have fully prepared one of his sons to take over his kingdom. When Ranjit Singh died, Kharak Singh, his eldest son became Maharaja. Kharak Singh was 50 years old at this time. He lacked the down to earth personality of his father. Kharak Singh was a heavy opium eater. He totally neglected state affairs and got himself immersed in wine, opium, drinking and womanizing. At this time Prime minister was still Dhyan Singh. His son Naunihal Singh though, was a favorite with army. He fought in several battles and was posted as a governor of North West Frontier province at this time. Maharaja Ranjit Singh had earlier married Naunihal Singh with daughter of Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala.

Dogra brothers, Dhyan Singh, Suchet Singh and Gulab Singh were in total control of administration at this time. Dhyan Singh's son Hira Singh was also a favorite of Maharaja Ranjit Singh just like Naunihal Singh(his own grandson). Maharaja Had given him a title "Farzand-e-Khas", or "a special son". It was rumored that Dhyan Singh wanted Hira Singh, his son to become Maharaja of Punjab and thus he started his manipulations. Kharak Singh, the new maharaja did not trusted Dogra brothers and started neglecting them. His mentor was one Chet Singh Bajwa who was also his childhood teacher. Kharak Singh started interfering with affairs concerning state, which were under the jurisdiction of Dogra brothers. Ranjit Singh had earlier looked after all matters himself and had only given some liberty to Dogra brothers while keeping them in check. Ranjit Singh's ability to not trust anyone blindly played a major role in day to day administration of state af fairs. Most of his courtiers were scared to do anything wrong.

But during the time of Kharak Singh, everything was changed. Dogra suspected that Chet Singh was responsible for their removal from state affairs. Dogras brothers Gulab Singh and Suchet Singh got together and decided to remove Chet Singh Bajwa and then subdue Kharak Singh. One night when Chet Singh was sleeping in same palace where Maharaja Kharak Singh lived, Suchet Singh Dogra along with Gulab Singh entered the palace and hacked Chet Singh to pieces. Dogra brothers now changed servants of palace and administer a slow poison (mercury) in food to Maharaja Kharak Singh. His son Naunihal Singh who suspected treachery of Dogras did not returned to Lahore until Maharaja Kharak Singh died. All this time Dhyan Singh Dogra was faithful to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh's family.

Naunihal Singh came back to Lahore to fulfill his obligation to cremate the body of his father Maharaja Kharak Singh and as well as to become a new maharaja. Dhyan Singh Dogra declared Naunihal Singh a new maharaja. On the same day when the party was returning from cremation ground, a large block of concrete from Archway fell on top of Naunihal Singh. It is said that he was not hurt bad and was able to walk himself but still Gulab Singh Dogra insisted on getting a palki. Two days later Dhyan Singh Dogra declared that Naunihal Singh had died due to complications of his injury. Even Naunihal Singh's mother and wife were not allowed to meet him after injury. English doctor that operated on Naunihal Singh testified to British author Macauliffe that initially Naunihal Singh did got some injury on head and he applied bandages but next day when he went to see Naunihal Singh his head was totally crushed and bandages were changed, he was not br eathing. Dhyan Singh Dogra now proclaimed other son of Ranjit Singh named Sher Singh as Maharaja of Punjab.

Sher Singh was very popular with army, he was a good person but not a shrewd politician. His Chief minister Dhyan Singh Dogra, a trusted friend of Ranjit Singh was an intelligent minister, i.e. vazir. He could not sense a treachery by his brothers Suchet Singh and Gulab Singh. Meanwhile, Sandhawalia Sardars Ajit Singh, Lehna Singh and Attar Singh who had inimical relations with Sher Singh and Dhyan Singh Dogra, fearing them run away from Lahore and joined British. In Sher Singh, Punjab got a maharaja who was handsome, dandy and knew more about wine and women then state affairs. Two years later, Sandhanwalia brothers sent a letter to Maharaja Sher Singh that they wanted to return to their motherland. Sher Singh obliged and gave them permission to return to Punjab. It is widely believed that Dogra bro thers Suchet Singh and Gulab Singh were behind Sandhanwalia's return from United provinces. Sher Singh gave them good ranks in army and i t looked in the beginning as Sandhawalia brothers were pleased. Sher Singh had a ten years old son named Pertap Singh. One day when Sher Singh was inspecting his troops, Ajit Singh Sandhawalia asked permission to show him how to fire a new gun he had got from British. Sher Singh allowed and Sandhawalia fired at him,Sher Singh could only say "aah ki Daga", "what treachery?." At the same time, Lehna Singh Sandhawalia killed Ten years old Pertap Singh. Sher Singh had good relations with Dogra brothers as well as Khalsa Army. Dhyan Singh Dogra who was about a mile away when all this was happening reached there with 25 of his troops. Sandhawalia brothers Ajit Singh and Lehna Singh killed Dhyan Singh Dogra, cut his body into different pieces and hung all over Lahore City. Gulab Sing h Dogra brother of Dhyan Singh Dogra along wit h Sarkar Khalsa attacked Sandhanwalia's citade l.

Sandhawalia brothers had got themselves shut in fort with about 500 of their supporters. But enraged Khalsa Army attacked and killed both Sandhanwalia brothers on spot. While all this was going on, other Dogra Brother named Suchet Singh got 22 carts load of Khalsa treasury through the back door and transported it on its way to Batala and then subsequently to Jammu. Gulab Singh Dogra now openly supported making his son a Maharaja of Punjab. He even asked Maharani Chand Kaur, widow of Ranjit Singh to adopt Hira Singh. Khalsa Army and other Sikh noblemen intervened and made youngest son of Ranjit Singh, born of Maharani Jindan, and named Dilip Singh, a 5 years old boy, new Maharaja of Punjab with Hira Singh Dogra as new prime minister. Few days later, Maharani Chand Kaur was found murdered on her bed, her head crushed. It was suspected that Gulab Singh Dogra got her killed since she refused to adopt Hira Singh.

Peshaura Singh and Kashmira Singh, elder sons of Maharaja Ranjit Singh questioned the validity of 5 year old Dilip Singh Maharaja of Punjab, but with any effect. Hira Singh appointed Tej Singh Dogra and Lal Singh Dogra as general of Khalsa army. So now, the command of Khalsa army was passed from Sikh generals to Hindu generals, only one Sikh general named Ranjodh Singh Majithia remained at highest command level. Even though able generals like Sham Singh Attari were always there but never considered for top posts. It is believed that Dogra Brothers were responsible for appointing generals so that to keep negotiations open with British during war, which increasingly was becoming inevitable. British forward post was in Ferozepur and then at Jalandhar and Ambala being another major cantonments. British requested Hira Singh to allow transport of Afghani women to Afghanistan through Punjab under Major Wolcroft . Hira Singh obliged and supplied som e of Punjabi troops for escort. Major Wolcroft was a paranoid major and on more then one occasion he ordered his troops to fire at Punjabi troops. Later British Governor General apologized for his behavior.

Hira Singh Dogra and his advisor, one Brahmin named Jalla had whole administration in their hands, Maharaja Dilip Singh was just a figurative head of state. Hira Singh uncle Suchet Singh Dogra did not liked Jalla and asked for his removal. He came to Lahore along with his general Rai Kesari Singh and camped at mausoleum of Mian Wadda, outside city. Hira Singh Dogra was irked at the suggestion of his uncle for removal of Pundit Jalla and he ordered Punjabi Troops to storm their citadel of Mian Wadda. Suchet Singh and Rai Kesari Singh were killed. Hira Singh Dogra then broke down on sight of his uncle's bullet ridden body and give him a huge funeral. At the same time, two camps were seen emerging, one at Sarkar Khalsa at Lahore and other little bit away close to Batala under Bhai Bir Singh. Many Sikh Sardars like Majhitias, Attariwala were although loyal to Sarkar Khalsa at Lahore but in communications with Bhai Bir Singh. Attar Singh Sandhawalia who had earlier fled to Thanesar, slipped into Punjab and came to Bhai Bir Singh's camp. Bhai Bir Singh welcomed him and assured him that he will be made Maharaja of Punjab. Soon Prince Kashmir Singh and prince Peshaura Singh also joined Bhai Bir Singh and supported Attar Singh Sandhawalia on his bid for kingship. So mostly Sikhs who were against Dogras got themselves under Bhai Bir Singh, thus creating two camps of Dogras vs. Sikhs. More then 70% of Punjab's army under Hira Singh Dogra was Khalsa or pure Sikh. Hira Singh Dogra through his promises of more salary, and gifts of gold for each soldier manage to keep most of them with him, and above all king of Punjab was still a Khalsa Sikh child named Dilip Singh., to whom army was loyal. Hira Singh reminded army of the murders of PrinceSher Singh by Sandhawalia brothers and how Attar Singh had fled Punjab after his brothers were killed by army. Then in an apparent move to win over Khalsa of Sarkar Khalsa army, Bhai Bir Singh invited army at his camp for a feast. More then 5000 goats were sacrificed for this party. Attar Singh Sandhawalia in a fit of rage over an argument fired on one of the Sikh officers named Attar Singh Kalkattia killing him on spot. A riot followed in which one by one Bhai Bir Singh's other guests were murdered by Army. Bhai Bir Singh died, as well as Attar Singh Sandhawalia and prince Kashmira Singh. The main culprit for this riot was one battalion under major Croft one of the foreign officers employed by Sarkar Khalsa. His batt alion was aptly named "Gurumar". Hira Singh Dogra understood the grave mistake and apologized for the murders of princes and Bhai Bir Singh to Army as well as whole nation. On April 9, 1944 a huge earthquake hit Amritsar and Lahore, and was believed to be a sign of bad luck by general populace

British forward post at Ferozepur was being strengthened and by all means it looked like that whole of Punjab was under preparation of war. Ambala and Jalandhar cantonments were tripled with reinforcements and new recruits from Bengal, Awadh and Bihar. Hira Singh Dogra although fearing British knew that war was inevitable. Millions of Punjabis left central Punjab and settled in other states which were protectorate of British, like Patiala, Faridkot, Nabha and Jind. Hira Singh Dogra mobilized Punjabi troops to Kasur which was directly opposite Ferozepur. Sooner both armies were directly oppose to each other. In December of 1944, Henry Harding took over as Governor general of India. He was called Tunda Lat Or One armed lord. He sent his officers to Ferozepur and Punjabis fearing attack put on a vigil for 24 hours a day. But no attack came and standstill was averted. Then came the second round of intrigues between Dogras and Sikhs. Pundit Jalla, accused Maharani Jindan of illicit relations with one Misr Lal Singh (not general). This created a furore all over kingdom as she was mother of king Dilip singh. Enraged Maharani Jindan was summoned to army panches as well as Hira Singh Dogra and Pundit Jalla. Couple days earlier, Hira Singh Dogra had dismissed 500 of army soldiers without pay and thus he feared worst. Maharani Jindan with her son Dilip Singh and brother Jawahar Singh came to cantonment, while Hira Singh Dogra and Pundit jalla sent advance horsemen to his uncle Gulab Singh at Jammu for help. Gulab Singh sent 1000 horsemen, and Hira Singh and Jalla came out of their palace and slowly and quietly crossed river Ravi from Shahdra and were on their way to Jammu with more crores of treasury. Khalsa army pursued them and caught them about 14 miles away from city. Mian Labh Singh, their general give a good figh t but all 1000 dogras were massacred. P undit Jalla, Hira Singh Dogra and their accomplice faced wrath of Khalsa army, their heads were put up on city streets of Lahore. Then Diwan Deena Nath, aristocrat of Lahore took charge of the situation and appointed Lal Singh as Chief minister of Punjab, Tej Singh as commander of Army and Dilip Singh as Maharaja of Punjab.

Punjabi Khalsa army was a much larger and stronger force and at this time British were still mobilizing their forces from Ambala and other places. Instead of attacking Ferozepur, Lal Singh waited for four months by then British forces were three times stronger then the Khalsa army. It is said that Lal Singh had already negotiated with British and supplied them with position of guns, number of soldiers, plan of attack and other vital statistics. Let's read about Anglo-Sikh wars in depth.

Intrigue of Dogra brothers for their own selfish means and inability of any Sikh politicians to lead was responsible for demise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Sarkar Khalsa. After Anglo-Sikh Wars, Dogras Got whole Kashmir (until 1947 then it was divided between India and Pakistan), British got Punjab and Sikhs lost their hard earned kingdom.

In fact they sent mustard seed instead of gunpowder requested to the troops going up against the British forces and to ensure that no-one would come back alive by destroying the bridges on the way behind the relief artillery caravan. SO yes Hindus had a lot of hand in why the raj fell and the murder of multiple kings and queens, the exile of Maharani Jind Kaur and the kidnap of Maharaja Dalip SIngh. What did they get in return for this Kashmir ....

[JSinghnz]

Your long essay does nothing expect proving the fact that Maharaja Ranjit Singh failed to finish off the British when he was alive and not giving any thought about the future of his kingdom after his demise.

[Jonny101]

I agree, the story of the offer of a Sikh state is at best a myth because there is no concrete evidence of any offer made by the British. The only offer that was made was by Jinnah of East Punjab upto Karnal being made into an equal unit with the rest of the provinces in Pakistan like Sindh, West Punjab and Balochistan. That offer was rejected by the Sikh leaders because they distrusted Jinnah and they did not want to live under Muslim rule.

Sikhs need to get real and shed their angophilia because the British apart from being the ones who bought the Sikh empire to an end also used Sikhs as cannon fodder for their colonial wars and in the end left with just a straight choice between being slaves of the Muslims or the Hindus. Had the British wanted a Sikh state could easily have been created because both the Hindus and the Muslims needed the Sikhs to agree to either a partition or union with Pakistan. The Sikhs had more clout than their numbers would indicate. The Sikh ownership of lands in the central districts was enough of a basis to award these to the Sikh state. An area about half the size of present day Punjab was already ruled by the Sikh maharajas and this could have be joined to the districts where the Sikhs owned the majority of the land and a Sikh state could have been created. The British did not think anything of betraying the Sikh interests because it suited their purposes to leave the Muslims and HIndus in charge of their respective states. If the above seems had to beleive than just think of how easily Thatcher found it to assist the Indians in planning Bluestar which would have had a great impact on over 2 lakh British citizens who were Sikhs.

Sikhs have seen how it was being politically dominated by the Muslims which is why Sikhs refused to join with Pakistan. But Sikhs had not seen how it was being under the political domination of the Hindus. They were our co slaves. But once they became politically dominant over the Sikhs, they ruled unfairly. Sikhs have learnt this lesson the hard way to never be politically dominated by either of the two larger communities. If such a situation arises in future where Sikhs are able to break free of our current situation, I have no doubt Sikhs will seize at the opportunity like the Kurds did in Iraq and Syria. Thanks to the internet and facebook, every year the remembrance of 84 genocide is getting stronger. GOI has not given justice and the Sikhs are not forgetting anything either.

[proactive]

It's a flight of fancy to think that Maharaja Ranjit Singh could have ended British rule in India. The Khalsa army could have defeated the British in India but the British had unlimited resources and could have mustered larger armies of mercenaries as well as British troops. After the British had defeated Napoleon, they did not have any other serious opposition in Europe so the Sikhs would have faced the whole of the British empire with their Indian allies. Maharaja Ranjit Singh knew that in order to consolidate Sikh rule in Punjab, he needed to have peace in his eastern border which he successfully achieved with his signing of peace treaties with the British. The thing that did in the Sikh raj was the chaos after Maharaja Ranjit Singh when no one single Maharaja could rule for more than a few years and hence was unable to consolidate Sikh rule further. Had Kanwar Naunihal Singh not died/been killed or Maharaja Sher Singh ruled for a few decades then the Sikh empire would not have been destroyed by the British.

[Kira]

-insert long chunk of text-

Bhaji I'm sure you have totally valid points but I'd advise you not to copy and paste such large passages. I understand you're very passionate about this issue but it would be a wise idea to summarize it in small chunks so it's not a massive hindrance to the eyes, or even when someone is on the phone

[Ranjeet01]

Sikhs have seen how it was being politically dominated by the Muslims which is why Sikhs refused to join with Pakistan. But Sikhs had not seen how it was being under the political domination of the Hindus. They were our co slaves. But once they became politically dominant over the Sikhs, they ruled unfairly. Sikhs have learnt this lesson the hard way to never be politically dominated by either of the two larger communities. If such a situation arises in future where Sikhs are able to break free of our current situation, I have no doubt Sikhs will seize at the opportunity like the Kurds did in Iraq and Syria. Thanks to the internet and facebook, every year the remembrance of 84 genocide is getting stronger. GOI has not given justice and the Sikhs are not forgetting anything either.

+1

One of things I have noticed with relatives from India is they largely avoid talking about anything surrounding 1984.

However, I have noticed that when they get out of India you see pictures of Bhindrawale on their Facebook pages (these are the much younger relatives).

It could mean two things, they were either completely ignorant and only by getting out of India did it dawn on them what really happened. Or the youngsters always known what had happened and suppressed a lot of angst and only expressed their true feelings once out of India.

I prefer to think of the latter, Punjab has never forgotten and feelings of justice and self-determination have always been under the surface.

[Ranjeet01]

It's a flight of fancy to think that Maharaja Ranjit Singh could have ended British rule in India. The Khalsa army could have defeated the British in India but the British had unlimited resources and could have mustered larger armies of mercenaries as well as British troops. After the British had defeated Napoleon, they did not have any other serious opposition in Europe so the Sikhs would have faced the whole of the British empire with their Indian allies. Maharaja Ranjit Singh knew that in order to consolidate Sikh rule in Punjab, he needed to have peace in his eastern border which he successfully achieved with his signing of peace treaties with the British. The thing that did in the Sikh raj was the chaos after Maharaja Ranjit Singh when no one single Maharaja could rule for more than a few years and hence was unable to consolidate Sikh rule further. Had Kanwar Naunihal Singh not died/been killed or Maharaja Sher Singh ruled for a few decades then the Sikh empire would not have been destroyed by the British.

I think Hari Singh Nalwa saw the writing on the wall and was trying to persuade Maharaj Ranjit Singh to give power to the Panj Pyare.

[SikhKosh]

The demand of a Sikh state (Sikhistan or Khalistan) was there during the 1940s. Vir Singh Bhatti coined the term Khalistan in that decade and even issues pamphlets demanding areas of the Sikh princely states along with some other areas such as Shimla and Malerkotla.

Our leaders were spineless, unforesighted and illiterate enough to make a decision that ruined the fate of our Nation.

Some foresighted Sikhs did exist at that time. I have had the opportunity to read several books by Sikhs written in 1945-1946 and I was honestly surprised. Excerpts from a book by a Sikh gentleman written in 1946, seeing through the lies of the Congress:

With the actual coming into power of the Congress in Seven Provinces in 1937 the Sikhs had a foretaste of
the coming Sawraj under the regime of provincial autonomy in pursuance of the Government of India Act, 1935,
It showed how the Hindus would treat the Sikhs if the former had the power to do so. Over fifty Sikh bodyguards
of the provincial governor in Bombay were given the sack, their places being taken up by Hindus.
Bombay remained the solitary province in India in the days of provincial autonomy and the Congress the apostle of
freedom, in power, where restriction on the length of Kirpan won by the Sikhs as a religious symbol could not be
withdrawn.