history of jammu and kashmir rifles

as their leader. Gulab Singh on his part treated the Sardars and the soldiery as his guests and
distributed presents amongst them. At the meeting he explained to the Sardars and the Panches that
the Army had been sent against him more out of Jawahar Singh's personal enmity towards him, than
his non-payment of government dues. He quoted facts and figures to prove that all the other Chiefs
owed to the Durbar many times more than he did but no action had been taken against them. He
offered to pay to the treasury Rs 35 lakhs, which, according to him, was all that he owed to the
government. He agreed to accompany the Army to Lahore and on the way he so convinced the Army
about the righteousness of his cause that he was escorted to Lahore less in captivity and more in
triumph. 8 So much so that he was requested by the Army to take over as the Prime Minister and save
Punjab from economic ruin.
Once at Lahore, the Panches there refused to produce Gulab Singh in the Durbar as a prisoner as
desired by the Rani and Jawahar Singh. They first released him and then introduced him to Maharaja
Dalip Singh and his mother at the court as they would have any other nobleman. In the meantime a rift
had developed between Lal Singh and Jawahar Singh and with a view to win over Gulab Singh on to
his side the former prevailed upon the Rani to reduce the Jammu Raja's dues to Rs 27 Lakh. The
Raja was then offered the post of Prime Minister of Punjab which he tactfully declined and after a few
days returned to Jammu. 9
It was not long, before Jawahar Singh showed his true colours and within a year of his having taken
over as the Wazir he earned the wrath of the Khalsa who condemned him and put him to death in
September 1845. Confusion prevailed for two months after Jawahar Singh was executed. Raja Gulab
Singh was once again asked by the Khalsa to come to Lahore and take over as Wazir 10 but he did not
wish to embroil himself with the Lahore politics and very tactfully declined the offer. The Army then
had no choice but to nominate Lal Singh to this high office in November. Sardar Tej Singh was
confirmed in his appointment of Commander-in-Chief.
The last two years had indeed been a great struggle for existence for the Dogra Rajas, in which all
but Raja Gulab Singh had perished. Although Raja Gulab Singh had been confirmed in his
possessions it was now quite evident that the threat to his life and to his Raj would continue unless he
freed himself from the Lahore Durbar. It was, therefore, natural for him to eagerly wait for such an
opportunity.
By the end of 1846 it was quite evident that in keeping with the British policy of territorial
aggrandisement, the immediate object of their ambition was the conquest of Lahore. This belief of the
Sikhs was strengthened by certain acts of Major Broad Foot, the British agent for Sikh affairs. 11
However not many chiefs of Punjab appeared to be concerned about the threat to the independence
of Punjab. In fact most of the chiefs were even prepared to go under the British and lean on their
support, if only that would help them to retain their possessions. The Army (Khalsa) alone cherished
the desire to maintain the independence of Punjab and this they were determined to do even at the
cost of their lives. This in itself had made the war between the Sikhs and the British inevitable, but the
war may not have taken place as early as it did, had not Lal Singh and Tej Singh precipitated matters
by exploiting the sentiments of the Khalsa against the British and goading them on to cross the Sutlej
on 11 December 1845. It is believed that the aim of Lal Singh and Tej Singh to start the war was to
lead the Army, which had become all too powerful and uncontrollable, to its destruction at the hands
of the British. 12 Naturally no heed was paid to the advice of Raja Gulab Singh against the starting of
the war. 13
During the course of the war the Khalsa fought most gallantly but with Lal Singh and Tej Singh
deserting them at crucial times, probably in accordance with their plans made before hand, the valour
of the Khalsa remained undirected most of the time. 14 As the situation began to go against the Sikhs,
Raja Gulab Singh was once again summoned by the Durbar. He arrived at Lahore on 27 January
1846 to give unity and vigour to the counsels of the Sikhs but by then it was too late and defeat had
already overtaken the Lahore Army. Consequently he was made the Prime Minister and asked to
negotiate a peace treaty with the British.
Although the British had won the war, what they had gone through at the hands of the Sikhs during
the course of the war had been most distasteful to them. They were, therefore, as eager about
concluding a peace treaty, as were the Sikhs. To be able to speak from a position of some strength
Gulab Singh would not allow the British to forget that his army was all intact and that Delhi lay
defenceless and exposed to an outflanking attack by a force that need not be too large. 15 The British
on their part tried to win him over by reminding him of the treatment meted out to him and his family by
the Durbar but Gulab Singh pointed out that his loyalty was to Maharaja Dalip Singh, the son of his
great benefactor, who had had no hand in bringing about the destruction of his family. 16 Raja Gulab
Singh thus spurned all offers made to him by the British and secured for the young Maharaja terms as
best as were possible for one vanquished.
Creation of the Jammu & Kashmir State
The Treaty of Lahore between the British and the Sikhs that followed the negotiations, stipulated,
besides other things, payment of war indemnity by the Sikhs. Lal Singh and Rani Jindan tried to utilize
the clause for divesting Gulab Singh of his territories. They expressed their inability to pay more than
47