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[[File:Raja Tej Singh (1799-1862).jpg|thumb|300px|left|Raja Tej Singh (1799-1862)]]
'''Raja Tej Singh''' (1799 - 1862), son of Misr Niddha, a Hindu Gaur Brahman of Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh, in India was born in 1799. His original name was Tej Ram, he was a nephew of Jamadar Khushal Singh,  a dignitary of the  Sikh  kingdom. He took up service at the  court  in 1812. In 1816, he received the rites of  Khalsa and was named Tej Singh. He proved his worth as a soldier and made rapid progress in the army cadre, becoming a general in 1818. He served in all the three Kashmir expeditions of 1813, 1814 and 1819, and took a leading part in reducing Mankera, Leh and the Derajat. He was a divisional commander in the Peshawar campaign of 1823 and fought in the battle of Teri, on the banks of river Attock. In 1831, he had under his command twentytwo battalions of the regular  Sikh army. In 1839, he was sent to Peshawar with other army generals to help Colonel Wade's contingent to force the Khaibar Pass for an invasion of Afghanistan. Tej Singh acquired great influence over Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh.


He supported the cause of Rani Chand Kaur, when, after the death of Nau Nihal Singh, she staked her claim to regency. He was among those who signed the agreement of 27 November 1840 proclaiming Chand Kaur as Regent. On the eve of the Anglo Sikh war of 1845-46, Tej Singh was appointed commander Chief of the Sikh army. His conduct during this war and during the one following was however marked by duplicity. He established secret liaison with the British and desired their victory rather than that of the army he led. Two divisions under his command hovered around Firozpur when that strategic town could have been stormed and the small British garrison destroyed. At the fiercely fought battle of Ferozeshah (21 December.1845), he kept his army away from the battlefield. When the action was over, he appeared with his army on the morning of 22 December and drove straight into the shattered British cavalry lines. But suddenly his guns ceased to fire. He abandoned the field and took the road to Lahore. At Sabhraon (10 Feburary 1846), he advised the brave Sikh general, Sham Singh Atarivala, to leave the battlefield. The latter continued the battle determined to fight to the end, but Tej Singh and Commander Lal Singh fled hastily even as the contest hung in the balance.
'''Tej Singh''' (1799 – 4 December 1862; also known as '''Raja Teja Singh''') was a [[Sikh]] commander in the [[Sikh Empire]]. He served as the commander-in-chief of the [[Sikh Khalsa Army]] during the [[First Anglo-Sikh War]], where he is noted for betraying the army he was meant to lead. In recognition of his loyalty to the invading forces, the [[East India Company]] appointed Tej Singh as [[Raja]] of [[Sialkot]] and placed him in charge of the [[Council of Regency]] on behalf of the minor [[Duleep Singh|Dalip Singh]]. He was one of six signatories to the 1849 [[Treaty of Lahore]], which involved the surrender of the [[Koh-i-Noor]] diamond by the Maharaja of Lahore to the Queen of England. All signatories endorsed the treaty in exchange for retaining their [[jagir]]s.


As the batde went in favour of the British, Tej Singh cut out the retreat of the Sikh army by sinking the bridge of boats and the tete de pont constructed in front of it. At the end of the war, he made an offer of Rs. 25,00,000 to Lord Hardinge to buy for himself an independent kingdom like Gulab Singh had done. However, he retained his position of preeminence in the new setup. He was nominated president of the council of Regency in December 1846, and was allowed to continue as commanderinchief of the Sikh army. He was created Raja of Sialkot in August 1847.
== Biography ==


At the time of the annexation of the Punjab to Britain, in 1849 he was guaranteed the enjoyment of all the privileges and rights which he possessed under the Sikh government. He was invested with the full powers of a magistrate in his estate and along with other Sikh Sardars, he was to was nominated as a member of the committee for the management of the Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. During the uprising of 1857, he raised Sikh cavalry regiments to aid the British. His scattered Jagirs were consolidated and he received the new title Raja of Batala. He died on 4 December 1862 and was succeeded by his adopted son Harbans Singh (his brother whom he had adopted before the birth of his son, Narindar Singh).
=== Early life === Tej Singh was born as Tej Ram in 1799 into a [[Gaur Brahmins|Gaur Brahmin]] family. His father, Misr Niddha, was a commander of the Sikh Khalsa Army from the Meerut district. Tej Singh was related to [[Khushal Singh Jamadar|Jamadar Khushal Singh]]. He began his service in the court of the Lahore Durbar in 1812. In 1816, he underwent the ''[[Amrit Sanskar|Pahul]]'' and was rechristened as Tej Singh.


[http://sikhdigitallibrary.blogspot.com/2016/01/sikhan-da-raj-kiven-gya-gyani-lal-singh.html '''* Sikhan da Raj Kiven Gya - Gyani Lal Singh Sangrur''']
=== Military and administrative career === Tej Singh proved his military capabilities during the invasions of Kashmir in 1813, 1814, and 1819, and was promoted to the rank of general in the Sikh army in 1818. He participated in the Peshawar operation of 1823, where he served as operational commander during the battle of Teri. By 1831, he commanded twenty-two battalions of the regular Sikh army and assisted in Colonel Wade's joint invasion of Afghanistan in 1839.


[[Category:Raja & Maharaja]]
==== Court politics and alleged betrayal ==== Following the death of Maharaja [[Ranjit Singh]], the Sikh court became fraught with infighting. Tej Singh held considerable influence over [[Nau Nihal Singh]] and endorsed Chand Kaur's regency after Nau Nihal Singh's sudden death. He appeared to have loyalties to Raja [[Gulab Singh]] of Jammu, believing it was a mistake to oppose the British. However, under pressure from [[Rani Jindan]], the regent acting for [[Duleep Singh]], he reluctantly led troops against the British.
 
His actions during the Anglo-Sikh Wars have been described as "marked by duplicity." He allegedly established secret liaisons with the British, failing to act when Sikh divisions under his command could have overwhelmed the British garrison at [[Firozpur]]. During the [[Battle of Ferozeshah]], he ordered his forces to cease fire despite having opportunities to secure a victory over the British and later abandoned the battlefield.
 
At the [[Battle of Sobraon]], Tej Singh ordered the destruction of a pontoon bridge, leading to the Sikh Army's defeat. Following the Sikh defeat, the [[Treaty of Lahore]] was signed, which included the sale of Kashmir to Gulab Singh and the regulation of the army.
 
=== Later life === After the dissolution of the Sikh Empire in 1849, Tej Singh received benefits from the British, retaining all rights and privileges from the Sikh rule. He was appointed as a magistrate and held a prominent position in managing the [[Golden Temple]] complex in [[Amritsar]]. During the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], he supported the British and sent cavalry troops to assist them. He was awarded the title of ''Raja of Batala'' following the amalgamation of his dispersed ''[[Jagir|jagirs]]''. Tej Singh died on 4 December 1862 and was succeeded by his adopted son Harbans Singh, although he also had a biological son named Narindar Singh.

Revision as of 02:55, 5 November 2024

Tej Singh (1799 – 4 December 1862; also known as Raja Teja Singh) was a Sikh commander in the Sikh Empire. He served as the commander-in-chief of the Sikh Khalsa Army during the First Anglo-Sikh War, where he is noted for betraying the army he was meant to lead. In recognition of his loyalty to the invading forces, the East India Company appointed Tej Singh as Raja of Sialkot and placed him in charge of the Council of Regency on behalf of the minor Dalip Singh. He was one of six signatories to the 1849 Treaty of Lahore, which involved the surrender of the Koh-i-Noor diamond by the Maharaja of Lahore to the Queen of England. All signatories endorsed the treaty in exchange for retaining their jagirs.

Biography

=== Early life === Tej Singh was born as Tej Ram in 1799 into a Gaur Brahmin family. His father, Misr Niddha, was a commander of the Sikh Khalsa Army from the Meerut district. Tej Singh was related to Jamadar Khushal Singh. He began his service in the court of the Lahore Durbar in 1812. In 1816, he underwent the Pahul and was rechristened as Tej Singh.

=== Military and administrative career === Tej Singh proved his military capabilities during the invasions of Kashmir in 1813, 1814, and 1819, and was promoted to the rank of general in the Sikh army in 1818. He participated in the Peshawar operation of 1823, where he served as operational commander during the battle of Teri. By 1831, he commanded twenty-two battalions of the regular Sikh army and assisted in Colonel Wade's joint invasion of Afghanistan in 1839.

==== Court politics and alleged betrayal ==== Following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh court became fraught with infighting. Tej Singh held considerable influence over Nau Nihal Singh and endorsed Chand Kaur's regency after Nau Nihal Singh's sudden death. He appeared to have loyalties to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu, believing it was a mistake to oppose the British. However, under pressure from Rani Jindan, the regent acting for Duleep Singh, he reluctantly led troops against the British.

His actions during the Anglo-Sikh Wars have been described as "marked by duplicity." He allegedly established secret liaisons with the British, failing to act when Sikh divisions under his command could have overwhelmed the British garrison at Firozpur. During the Battle of Ferozeshah, he ordered his forces to cease fire despite having opportunities to secure a victory over the British and later abandoned the battlefield.

At the Battle of Sobraon, Tej Singh ordered the destruction of a pontoon bridge, leading to the Sikh Army's defeat. Following the Sikh defeat, the Treaty of Lahore was signed, which included the sale of Kashmir to Gulab Singh and the regulation of the army.

=== Later life === After the dissolution of the Sikh Empire in 1849, Tej Singh received benefits from the British, retaining all rights and privileges from the Sikh rule. He was appointed as a magistrate and held a prominent position in managing the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, he supported the British and sent cavalry troops to assist them. He was awarded the title of Raja of Batala following the amalgamation of his dispersed jagirs. Tej Singh died on 4 December 1862 and was succeeded by his adopted son Harbans Singh, although he also had a biological son named Narindar Singh.

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