ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>T&#256R&#298KH-I-PAÑJ&#256B,TUHFAT UL-ALB&#256B</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>T&#256R&#298<u>KH</u>-I-PAÑJ&#256B,TUHFAT UL-ALB&#256B</i>, a brief chronicle in Persian, by Maulaw&#299 Munsh&#299 'Abd ul-Kar&#299m 'Alaw&#299, printed in Lucknow in 1849, gives a somewhat diffused account of Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh and his successors, mainly bearing upon the two Anglo-Sikh wars, the first of 1845-46, with actions fought at Mudk&#299, Ferozesh&#257h, 'Al&#299v&#257l and Sabhr&#257o&#7749, and the second of 1848-49, with actions fought at R&#257mnagar, Chel&#299&#257&#7749v&#257l&#257 and Gujr&#257t. It has two illustrative maps and a plan indicating the artillery positions, as also certain geographical and statistical details. Full versions of some of the manifestoes, proclamations, despatches and treaty engagements concerning the relations of Gul&#257b Si&#7749gh of Jamm&#363 with the Sikh kingdom are also provided. The author, well versed in literature, history, geography and astronomy, had many books to his credit, including <i>Tar&#299<u>kh</u>-i-Ahmad&#299</i> (Durr&#257n&#299), and some translations from Arabic into Persian. He was also familiar with the English language. Though he was not an eye witness of the events he has recorded, he seems to have made a careful study of letters, despatches and declarations of the English and the newspapers in English and Urdu, having access additionally to oral information.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The book commences with a short account of the origin of the Sikhs, their religion, scriptures, usages and customs. Here Gur&#363 Hargobind, the Sixth Gur&#363, has been confused with Band&#257 Si&#7749gh. The author then makes some very apt remarks on the able and strong administration of Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh, his faithful observance of treaties and engagements, especially with the English. He described the series of tragic events following the passing away in 1839 of the Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 ---the deaths of Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Kha&#7771ak Si&#7749gh and his promising son, Nau Nih&#257l Si&#7749gh, the murder of the tatter's mother Chand Kaur, the assassination of Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Sher Singh, the beheading of his 13-year-old son, Ka&#7749var Part&#257p Si&#7749gh, the fatal end of the two of the intriguing &#7692ogr&#257 brothers, Dhi&#257n Si&#7749gh and Suchet Si&#7749gh, and of the former's son, H&#299r&#257 Si&#7749gh and so on. Within a short space of five years, rulers, princes, ministers, their relatives and numerous <i>sard&#257rs</i> fell victims, one after another, to conspiracy and murder. The only survivor was Ra&#7751j&#299t Si&#7749gh's infant son, Duleep Si&#7749gh with his mother as his regent. The first Anglo-Sikh war is described as having begun with the Sikhs crossing the River Sutlej on 11 December 1845, and taking Hardinge and Gough by surprise. Then follow details of the four battles of Mudk&#299, Ferozesh&#257h, 'Al&#299v&#257l and Sabhr&#257o&#7749. The latter part of the book, designated Tatimm&#257 (supplement) <i>Tar&#299<u>kh</u>-i-Lahore</i>, deals mainly with the second Anglo-Sikh war, covering events such as the deportation of Mah&#257r&#257&#7751&#299 Jind Kaur to Ban&#257ras, the revolt of D&#299w&#257n M&#363l R&#257j at Mult&#257n and of Chatar Si&#7749gh and Sher Si&#7749gh at Haz&#257r&#257, surrender of the Sikh army and annexation of the Punjab to the British dominions.</p> </font> <p class="BIB"> BIBLIOGRAPHY<p class="C1"><ol class="C1">Kirpal Singh, <i>A Catalogue of Persian and Sanskrit Manuscripts</i>. Amritsar, 1962<BR> </ol><p class="CONT">Syad Hasan Askar&#299<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>