Maharaja Ranjit Singh liberates Jammu

Maharaja Ranjit Singh & his Jammu visit

The early years of the 19th century witnessed the power of Duranis on decline. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was encroaching the Afghan Kingdom and Maharaja was eager to avail himself an opportunity to snatch that rich province from Duranis, the rulers of Afghanistan. An opportunity came to Maharaja Ranjit singh, when he annexed attack in 1813 from the Afghans. But his initial attempts of 1814 and 1815 to seize Kashmir failed miserably. But then arrived another opportunity in 1819 when a Kashmiri Pandit Birbal Dhar a revenue collector of the Valley under Afghans escaped first to Jammu and then to Lahore and urged upon the Sikh ruler to free the Kashmiris from the Afghan’s oppression. The Sikh forces under the command of Missar Diwan Chand and properly guided by Birbal Dhar and Mian Gulab Singh invaded the Valley in 1819 A.D. Jabbar Khan the acting Governor of Kashmir collected his troops and faced the Sikh army but he failed to stop the onslaught of the Sikh forces. Jabbar Khan was defeated and his remaining forces returned to Srinagar. In the darkness of night, Afghan Governor and his forces quitted Kashmir by the Baramulla Muzaffarabad route for Kabul. After the victory of Sikh forces under the command of Missar Devan Chand and Phula Singh Akali halted at Shopian. On 15 July, 1819, the victorious Sikh army entered Srinagar. The commanders of the victorious army were personally ordered by the Sikh ruler that they should take special care for the safety and the security of inhabitants of Kashmir and also see that no harm or injury be made to any individual. Contrary to the victorious forces of the previous rulers the Sikh forces on entering the city of Srinagar did not harm any civilian and spoiled their honour and looted the property of the rich shopkeepers. This was a new experience to the Kashmiris as previously, their property was looted and their honour was despoiled on every such occasion at the hand of the victors. The conquest of Kashmir was a significant addition to the Sikh kingdom because of the strategic position of the Kashmir valley which could give protection to the kingdom of Punjab from the North. It was also the richest province next only to Multan. Maharaja Ranjit Singh desired to visit the Kashmir valley but could not enjoy the beauties of the charming Valley because he remained to busy in the expansion and administration of his kingdom. However, he visited Purmandal and Jammu in 1822 and made lavish offerings at Purmandal to the Hindu temples and persons connected with their up-keep. He also took holy bath at Purmandal. In Jammu he donated money to the keepers of most beautiful garden of Muglani Begum. He also visited a Thakurdwara in Mubarak Mandi, the palaces of the Dogra rulers, a Dharamshalla in Panjtirthi and a Muslim Fakir named Ali Shah and made cash offerings. Maharaja ruled Kashmir through his Nazims (Governors) and revenue farmers, most of the Governors whose tenure of office was about two years were either recalled for mal-administration or for non fulfilment of their engagements. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was secular and liberal in his actions. “His visits to the shrines of Muslims, saints and Hindu temples were as much acts of faith as those to Harminder Sahib or to Taran Taran”. Not only he paid visits to those shrines but also he gave liberal donations and assigned Jagirs for the maintenance and free kitchen. This was his policy which to enable all the communities to observe their religious practices with freedom but exceptions to observe their religiouis practices with freedom but exceptions are their when he acted contrary to his liberal and secular attitude because of political compulsions. To make his subjects happy, he and the members of the royal family used to take part alike in Hindu, Muslim and Sikh religious festival. It is said that Maharaja on a few occasions was even present at Id-ul-Fitr and during Muharram. In this way, he got the goodwill of his subjects and supports on important occasions, whenever he launched a campaign against other contemporary rulers of other faith. As such, all the communities looked upon him not only as their well wisher and protector but as one of themselves. Another reason for his great popularity enjoyed by him was that after conquering new territories he did not turn out their former rulers whether they were Hindus, Muslims or Sikhs with ignomity like other rulers of his time but granted them Jagirs and considerable provisions for their maintenance. Public welfare and secular attitude of Maharaja Ranjit Singh towards his subjects irrespective of caste and creed resulted into maintaining a communal harmony among all the communities. Before the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh most of the Hindu rites connected with death were not performed from the Maharaja. His hair were washed with curd and water from the Gange. Gold pieces, many lakhs of coins were got donated from the dying Maharaja. Being a devoute and true Sikh, his last desire was to donate the world famous Koh-i-Noor, Jewel to the temple of Lord Jagannath. But his desire could not be fulfilled due to his sudden departure from this world and opposition from Raja Dhian Singh his Prime Minister. His religious policy towards his subjects, his treatment towards vanished Rajas and rulers, his compassion for poor, widows and needy persons, and his encouragement to the education and learnings, indicates that inspite of being an autocratic ruler, he was foresighted and ahead of his time. But one should be cautious that his liberal and secular policies towards his subjects should be compared with the conditions of the people which preceded the establishments of his rule over Punjab and Kashmir with which prevailed in his own time.