SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The Treaty of Bhairowal established British protection over the Sikh State, which had been based upon military occupation. It had become week and. unstable by mutual intrigues and political jealousies from within. An attempt was made to reorganize it through the Regency Government with a British Resident at its head. The rehabilitation proceeded cautiously; but it was continually being inter-rupted by the inherent hostile elements of the Khalsa to the presence of the British at Lahore. This was principally because of the interference of the protecting power however circumscribed, and the unwillingness of the Sardare to listen to counsels of perfections unless backed by strong armed force. Consequently, the position of the British in the Panjab rapidly became untenable. It seemed ordained that Gujrat should be faught to assert whet the British had forgone at Sobraon annexation. Provincial Government was organized on an effective basis directly under the Supreme Government. The authority delegated through grades reached down to the Deputy Commissioner of a district with complete fusion of powers -magisterial, judicial and revenue. This Sikh abuses in land revenue were boldly tackled. Land was scientifically mapped and surveyed; assessments were leniently made on a carefully worked-out data. Local officers were appointed on more secure tenures with regular and defined remuneration. Enquiry into the general landed tenures as accomplish ed and its results carefully recorded in sets of documents. Rent-free tenures, which predominated the Sikh fiscal system, were investigated and a clear policy laid down in relation to them. Law and order was rapidly established throughout the and by the police organized into military and civil gradings. Organized crime disappeared under the severity of penal law; while civil justice was made regular, effective and popular. The social, moral and material well-being of the people was contemplated in an elaborate scheme of education and in establishing means of transport and communication and in the great projects of irrigation. All these problems are the subject matter of this treatise and are discussed at length in relevant chapters.