SOAS Research Online

Abstract

An attempt has be n made in the following pages to study, from original documents and other sources, the subject of Anglo-Sikh Relations from the death of Ranjit Singh to the annexation of the Punjab. The subject has always commanded the attention of the student of British Inadian history, and it is hoped that this thesis will form a contribution to the existing knowledge on it. No existing book on the period has exclusively approached these ten years of Punjab history in their relation to the British Government. In attempting to do this, the writer hopes he has succeeded in exposing to a closer and more detailed view the politics of the Lahore darbar on the one hand and the development of the British frontier policy on the other. The nature of the subject precluded any detailed description of the private character of the holders of power at Lahore, such as many writers on the subject have given. The writer does not consider that they explain the activities of the darbar. On the other hand, no opportunity has been lost to illustrate the political character of the leaders, with whom the British had to deal, and an Understanding of which is vital to a proper study of the subject. Since the subject could not be approached without a study of the political position existing in 1839, the author has attempted to examine minutely the tree ties of 1809 and 1833 between the British Government and the Sikhs. An examination of the latter explains, in one form or another, the course of Anglo-Sikh relations up to the end of the Afghan campaign, end of the former throws fresh light on the Sikh Cis-Sutlej possessions and the preliminaries of the First Sikh War. Another point, which hrs merited special treatment, is the position of the Dogras at Lahore, end it is hoped that this thesis will present, in its proper bearing, the Dogra policy leading to the establishment of an independent Dogra kingdom in Kashmir. The defensive preparations made by the British Government before the First War end the working of Lord Hardinge's policy from 1846-48 have been examined in detail. The letter leads to the conclusion that Hardinge's scheme was politic and well-intentioned, but, in the circumstances, doomed to failure. The causes of the Second Sikh War arose out of this policy, end Lord Delhousie's decision to annex the Punjab, though not effected with the full previous resent of the home authorities, was unanimously approved, and since then, has been justified by the advance made by the Punjab. It is unnecessary to add that the details of military history, being out of the compare of this subject, have not been pursued.