ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>LAHORE DARB&#256R</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="LAHORE,DARBR"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279LAHORE DARB&#256R, i.e. the Sikh Court at Lahore, denoted the government of Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh and his successors (1799-1849). However, the Persian chroniclers refer to this government as Sark&#257r <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257j&#299, and the term "Lahore Darb&#257r" is not used even in British records until about the death of Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The composition of the Lahore Darb&#257r was highly diversified. In the direction of all State affairs, political, foreign and domestic, it was completely subservient to the will of the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257. Highly personalized, the Lahore Darb&#257r was a creation of the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257, a devout Sikh; he in theory at least publicly proclaimed that he was "the drum of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257" and that his government was based on the ideals of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 or the commonwealth of Gur&#363 Gobind Si&#7749gh, but in actual practice it was totally secular. It comprised councillors, ministers, advisers of all denominations --- Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Christians. The Jamm&#363 brothers --- Gul&#257b Si&#7749gh, Dhi&#257n Si&#7749gh and Suchet Si&#7749gh --- were &#7692ogr&#257 R&#257jp&#363ts; Jam&#257dar Khush&#257l Si&#7749gh, Tej Si&#7749gh, S&#257hib Di&#257l, Ga&#7749g&#257 R&#257m, D&#299n&#257 N&#257th, Bel&#299 R&#257m, Ajudhi&#257 Parsh&#257d, who controlled the financial, diplomatic and military affairs of the Darb&#257r, were all Br&#257hma&#7751s. The Faq&#299r brothers --- 'Az&#299z ud-D&#299n, the foreign minister, N&#363r ud-D&#299n, the governor of Lahore, and Im&#257m ud-D&#299n, the governor of Gobindga&#7771h fortress --- were Muslims, and Allard, Court, Avitabile and Ventura, the architects of the Europeanized wing of the Darb&#257r's army, Christians.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Lahore nobility presented a very picturesque aspect. The Ja&#7789&#7789 Sikh of the ruling class with his commanding figure and his handsome beard and turban was the adornment of the court which excelled in oriental pageantry and splendour. Personally, the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 was not given to ostentation. He was usually dressed in simple white, wore no ornaments but a single string of pearls and, on special occasions, the celebrated Koh-i-N&#363r diamond on his arm. "My sword," he once confined to Baron Charles Hugel, "procures me all the distinction I desire; I am quite indifferent to external pomp." But he liked to be surrounded by magnificently robed ministers and fine-looking <i>sard&#257rs</i> majestically accoutred and armed. "The dresses and jewels of the Rajah's court were the most superb that can be conceived, " observes H.E. Fane. "The whole scene can only be compared to a gala night at the opera."</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Heir apparent Kha&#7771ak Si&#7749gh, Ka&#7749var Sher Si&#7749gh and R&#257j&#257 H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh were the only individuals privileged to sit on chairs in the Darb&#257r. Golden pillars covered three parts of the Darb&#257r hall; rich shawl carpets embroidered with gold and silver and inset with gems covered the floor. Behind the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 invariably stood the R&#257j&#257 Kal&#257&#7749 Dhi&#257n Si&#7749gh; all others --- ministers, officials, courtiers and <i>sard&#257rs</i> stood with folded hands and lowered eyes at places according to their ranks and status. Yellow and green were court colours and most of the officials were clothed in yellow garments of Kashm&#299r silks or woollens. There being no rigid classification or gradation of rank, the status of courtiers was normally determined by the degree of trust reposed in them by the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257. Titles conferred upon officials were usually honorifics, but many favoured <i>sard&#257rs</i> held them along with lucrative <i>j&#257g&#299rs</i>.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Lahore Darb&#257r treated all foreign visitors with decorum and hospitality. Strict protocol was observed according to the status of the visitor. Moorcroft, Wade, Charles Hugel, Mohan L&#257l, Shah&#257mat 'Al&#299, Fane and others tell us of the generous hospitality they received from the Darb&#257r. The visitors were on arrival met by protocol officers especially appointed, their lodgings were fixed according to their status, and funds in cash and kind were provided for their entertainment. When Baron Charles Hugel visited Lahore, 'Az&#299z ud-D&#299n, the foreign minister, received him and over 50 bearers made their appearance with presents of sweets and fruit, wines and a bag of 700 rupees. He was given accommodation in General Ventura's palatial residence and an allowance of 6,000 rupees per month was fixed for hospitality. The magnificence of the Lahore Darb&#257r was unmatched on diplomatic and ceremonial occasions. As for instance, the reception of the Governor-General Lord William Bentinck at Ropa&#7771 in 1831, of Governor-General Lord Auckland at F&#299rozpur in 1838, and of the Commander-in-Chief Sir Henry Fane in 1837 at the time of the marriage of Ka&#7749var Nau Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh. Full regalia and military might of the Darb&#257r were then on display.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Lahore Darb&#257r transacted State business in the buildings inside the Lahore Fort called the Musamman Burj. A public court was held in the morning till noon in the D&#299w&#257n-i-'&#256m or the Hall of Audience, attended by princes, ministers, nobles and civil and military officers. The Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 sat cross-legged on a golden chair, clad in plain clothes. High civil and military appointments were made; reports from the provincial satraps and <i>k&#257rd&#257rs</i> were read out and royal orders given orally to be transcribed for final approval; tributes and nazar&#257n&#257s were accepted and supplicants dismissed gracefully with <i><u>kh</u>ill'ats</i> (robes) and cash awards. When on tour or on expedition, business was conducted by the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 on horseback or under the shade of a tree. He dictated orders to the provincial governors while inspecting troops or fighting a battle. Alexander Burnes, who visited Lahore in February 1831, testifies to the expeditious manner in which work was transacted by the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 in the Darb&#257r : "I never quitted the presence of a native of Asia with such impressions as I left the man; without education and without a guide, he conducts all affairs of the kingdom with surprising energy and vigour, yet wields his power with a moderation quite unprecedented in an eastern prince."</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Darb&#257r kept itself fully informed of what was happening in the far-flung territories and in the neighbouring countries. The <i>waqa'naw&#299s</i> (news-writers) in the <i>s&#363b&#257s</i> (provinces) sent to the royal court newsletters at regular intervals. <i>Vak&#299ls</i> (agents) of foreign countries were attached to the court on a reciprocal basis. The Darb&#257r had news-writers in Afghanistan and <i>vak&#299ls</i> in some of the cis-Sutlej Sikh states and in the British territory. <i>Vak&#299ls</i> of the cis-Sutlej states, R&#257jp&#363t&#257n&#257, the Mar&#257&#7789h&#257 country and Nepal frequently came on complimentary missions. The Lahore Darb&#257r also had in its employ numerous European officers. About four scores of such feringhee officers --- English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, American and Russian --- adorned the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257's Darb&#257r. Among these foreigners were Jean Francois Allard, "the Suleman Bey of Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh," Jean Baptiste Ventura, "the baron of the Fauj-i-Kh&#257s," Paolo di Avitabile who became a civil administrator and a judge, and Claude Auguste Court, "the architect of Lahore Darbar's artillery." However, the Lahore Darb&#257r kept the Europeans under strict control and discipline. They were encouraged to domesticate themselves by marriage and settle down in the Punjab and were bound to wear turbans and grow beards like the Sikhs and not to eat beef or smoke in public. The court nobility, which also included members of the royal family and the collaterals, lived in style in palatial <i>havel&#299s</i>, wore costly garments and rich jewellery. Some of the royal princes and the R&#257j&#257 Kal&#257&#7749 Dhi&#257n Si&#7749gh were permitted to hold their miniature Darb&#257rs. None were allowed to lead a life of indolence. The Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 kept sending out princes and <i>sard&#257rs</i> alike on military expeditions and on diplomatic and political duties.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The main festivals observed by the Darb&#257r were Bais&#257kh&#299, Dussehr&#257, Basant, Hol&#299 and D&#299v&#257l&#299. The day of Bais&#257kh&#299 was deemed blessed and was celebrated at the court with disbursement of money, gold, silver, cows, horses, elephants, gold bangles and foodstuffs to the Br&#257hma&#7751s and to the poor. The festival of Basant was celebrated with great enthusiasm. Troops paraded in yellow uniforms and court officials and <i>sard&#257rs</i>, also clad in yellow, offered <i>nazars</i> to their sovereign who granted <i><u>kh</u>ill'ats</i> (robes of honour) to each one according to his rank and status. The court assembled at Amritsar for the celebration of the Dussehr&#257. On this occasion a muster of the <i>j&#257g&#299rd&#257r&#299</i> troops was taken and parades inspected by the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Lahore Darb&#257r presided by Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh had become a byword for grandeur. To have established such precise standards of regal usage and dignity was remarkable for one born to a small worldly inheritance. Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh's patrimony did not amount to more than a few villages precariously held in the turbulent days, and his authority then scarcely coincided with any recognizable or settled geographical demarcation. He carved out sovereignty for himself in his own lifetime after a protracted and bitter struggle and set up a unique tradition of noble pomp and glory.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1"><li class="C1"> S&#363r&#299, Sohan L&#257l, '<i>Umd&#257t-ut-Tw&#257r&#299<u>kh</u></i>, Lahore, 1885-89<BR> <li class="C1"> Osborne, W.G., <i>The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing</i>. London, 1840<BR> <li class="C1"> Bhagat Singh, <i>Maharaja Ranjit Singh and His Times</i>. Delhi, 1990<BR> <li class="C1"> Hasrat, Bikrama Jit, <i>Life and Times of Ranjit Singh</i>, Nabha, 1977<BR> <li class="C1"> Waheed-ud-Din, Fakir Syed, <i>The Real Ranjit Singh</i>. Karachi, 1965<BR> <li class="C1"> Harbans Singh, <i>Maharaja Ranjit Si&#7749gh</i>. Delhi, 1980<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">B. J. Hasrat<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>