ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>PA&#7748JAB ON THE EVE OF FIRST SIKH WAR</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 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">&#65279<i>PA&#7748JAB ON THE EVE OF FIRST SIKH WAR</i>, edited by Har&#299 R&#257m Gupta, comprises abstracts of letters written daily by British intelligencers mainly from Lahore during the period 30 December 1843 to 31 October 1844. These newsletters constitute an important primary source on the period they pertain to. Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Duleep Si&#7749gh, then a minor, sat on the throne of the Punjab, with H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh as his Waz&#299r. The reports provide information about the power H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh exercised, the activities of his adviser, Pa&#7751&#7693it Jall&#257, external policies of the Lahore kingdom and the state of the Sikh army. They also refer to some of the important events of the time &#8212 for instance, the defection and death of R&#257j&#257 Suchet Si&#7749gh, the death of Atar Si&#7749gh Sandh&#257&#7749v&#257l&#299&#257, General Gul&#257b Si&#7749gh and Bh&#257&#299 B&#299r Si&#7749gh of Naura&#7749g&#257b&#257d, the revolt of Fateh <u>Kh</u>&#257n &#7788iw&#257&#7751&#257 and the insurrections in Haz&#257r&#257 and Muzaffar&#257b&#257d. Another event highlighted in these documents is H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh's conflict with R&#257j&#257 Gul&#257b Si&#7749gh which led to the despatch of a Sikh army against the latter, then in Jamm&#363, towards the end of 1844.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A close study of these newsletters reveals how forces of disruption were gaining the upper hand in the Sikh State. Troops marching from Lahore under Mi&#257&#7749 Labh Si&#7749gh to Pa&#7789&#7789&#299 and Sursi&#7749ghv&#257l&#257 attacked the holy <i>&#7693er&#257</i> at Naura&#7749g&#257b&#257d. Among those killed were Prince Kashm&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh, Atar Si&#7749gh Sandh&#257&#7749v&#257l&#299&#257 and B&#257b&#257 B&#299r Si&#7749gh, widely revered in Sikh piety. The papers also describe how the army <i>pañchay&#257ts</i> had begun criticizing H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh for his subservience to Pa&#7751&#7693it Jall&#257, how they required him to deposit the revenue of his estates into the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 treasury, how they demanded the surrender of Shai<u>kh</u> Im&#257m ud D&#299n, the tyrannical <i>n&#257zim</i> of the Jalandhar Do&#257b, and of L&#257l Si&#7749gh, charging him with scheming for the destruction of Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh's dynasty. H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh tried to win their support by promising them enhanced pay and by distribution of cash awards, gold medals and bracelets. He assured them that he would be a loyal servant of the <u>Kh</u>&#257ls&#257 and would be guided by their advice, but he could not rid himself of the influence of Pa&#7751&#7693it Jall&#257. The letters bring out how Pa&#7751&#7693it Jall&#257 had alienated the Sikh chiefs by his insolent manner. Successive enhancements of the pay of the soldiery had considerably raised military expenditure and Pa&#7751&#7693it Jall&#257 sought to replenish the fast-dwindling exchequer by escheats, fines and extortions. This made him further unpopular. The reports also provide interesting sidelights on the social and economic conditions in the Punjab. <i>Sat&#299</i> was practised by certain sections of society. As for prices, wheat-flour sold in Lahore in September 1844 at 14 seers a rupee, gram 20 seers, and <i>ghee</i> one-and-a- half seer.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">B. J. Hasrat<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>