Pashaura Singh
Encyclopedia
Prince Pashaura Singh was one of the sons of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh
. His mother was Rani
Daya Kaur.
Following the death Ranjit Singh the kingdom of the Punjab was subject to bitter infighting between the various factions who were vying for power. As the second eldest son to the previous Maharaja, it was inevitable that Pashaura Singh would become involved in this power struggle. He eventually found himself imprisoned alongside his brother, Kashmira Singh, by Baba Bir Singh.
After his brother was killed at Baba Bir Singh's camp, Pashaura Singh managed to escape, after which he headed for Lahore
to reconcile with Raja
Hira Singh. It was an opportune time for him to be in the capital, for relations between Hira Singh and his uncle, Gulab Singh, had become strained on the question of the disposal of Raja Suchet Singh's treasure. Both of them vied with one another for Pashaurua Singh’s favour. However, the influential Dogra brothers soon reconciled their mutual differences, thereby leaving Pashaura Singh in the lurch.
Pashaura Singh subsequently left Lahore, after which he wandered the Punjab for a few weeks before crossing the Sutlej and arriving at a British camp in the middle of December
, 1844. At the British camp he sought help against the Dogras, though soon found the British to be unresponsive.
Soon after Hira Singh had been removed from the upper echelons of power, Pashaura Singh returned to Lahore. At his appearance in the Darbar, on 1 January 1845, there was much goodwill exhibited towards him. He was received with honour in the court, and was offered presents of jewels, elephants
and horses. A cry went up among the soldiers that he should be made the Maharaja in place of the young Duleep Singh
. However, Maharani Jind Kaur
, mother of Duleep Singh, was desperate to keep her son on the throne, so she made efforts to win the favour of the Sikh army and secure her son’s position.
Subsequently, Pashaura Singh was promised an increase in his jagir if he left Lahore immediately. Jind Kaur also requested that Bhai Gurbaksh Singh, with whom the prince was staying, ask Pahaura Singh to retire to his estates. In the end Jind Kaur managed to win over the army, who then ordered Pashaura Singh to go back to his Jagir
.
Despite returning to his Jagir, this was not enough for Jind Kaur. Her brother, Jawahar Singh, was subsequently appointed as Wazir
(Prime Minister) on 15 May 1845, after which he sent a force against Pashaura Singh.
After capitulating before the Lahore artillery, Pashaura Singh was allowed by the troops to escape. He thereafter remained in the wilderness for some time, before launching an assault with a handful of Pathan
followers against the fort of Attock
, in July
1845. With the money that the fort yielded to him, he raised fresh levies and declared himself to be the ruler of the Punjab. In order to secure his legitimacy as Maharaja he sought help from the chiefs within the kingdom, from Jehlum
to Khaibar
, and even opened negotiations with Dost Muhammad
.
After hearing of the rebellion in Attock, Jawahar Singh ordered Chattar Singh Attariwalla
and Fateh Khan Tiwana to recapture the fort and defeat Pashaura Singh. After besieging Attock they managed to force the prince to agree to terms. Having secured assurances that he received safe passage to Lahore and the retention of Sialkot
, the fort was surrendered on 30 August 1845, with the prince placed at the disposal of Chattar Singh. They then proceeded to Lahore with the troops.
Meanwhile, Jawahar Singh had sent instructions to the effect that Pashaura Singh be disposed of. The prince was sequestered
from his personal bodyguard on 11 September 1845, and secretly taken back by Fateh Khan Tiwana to Attock where he was strangled to death.
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
. His mother was Rani
Rani
Rani , alternatively spelled Ranee, is the female equivalent of Raja. In many Indo-Aryan languages it can mean "queen" or "lady".People with the title Rani include:* Rani Lakshmibai , Queen of Jhansi...
Daya Kaur.
Following the death Ranjit Singh the kingdom of the Punjab was subject to bitter infighting between the various factions who were vying for power. As the second eldest son to the previous Maharaja, it was inevitable that Pashaura Singh would become involved in this power struggle. He eventually found himself imprisoned alongside his brother, Kashmira Singh, by Baba Bir Singh.
After his brother was killed at Baba Bir Singh's camp, Pashaura Singh managed to escape, after which he headed for Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
to reconcile with Raja
Raja
Raja is an Indian term for a monarch, or princely ruler of the Kshatriya varna...
Hira Singh. It was an opportune time for him to be in the capital, for relations between Hira Singh and his uncle, Gulab Singh, had become strained on the question of the disposal of Raja Suchet Singh's treasure. Both of them vied with one another for Pashaurua Singh’s favour. However, the influential Dogra brothers soon reconciled their mutual differences, thereby leaving Pashaura Singh in the lurch.
Pashaura Singh subsequently left Lahore, after which he wandered the Punjab for a few weeks before crossing the Sutlej and arriving at a British camp in the middle of December
December
December is the 12th and last month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days.December starts on the same day as September every year and ends on the same day as April every year.-Etymology:...
, 1844. At the British camp he sought help against the Dogras, though soon found the British to be unresponsive.
Soon after Hira Singh had been removed from the upper echelons of power, Pashaura Singh returned to Lahore. At his appearance in the Darbar, on 1 January 1845, there was much goodwill exhibited towards him. He was received with honour in the court, and was offered presents of jewels, elephants
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
and horses. A cry went up among the soldiers that he should be made the Maharaja in place of the young Duleep Singh
Duleep Singh
This article is about Maharaja Dalip Singh. For other uses, see Dalip SinghMaharaja Dalip Singh, GCSI , commonly called Duleep Singh and later in life nicknamed the Black Prince of Perthshire, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire...
. However, Maharani Jind Kaur
Jind Kaur
Maharani Jind Kaur, also popularly known as Rani Jindan. She was the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the mother of the last Sikh Emperor, Maharajah Duleep Singh. In 1845 she became Regent of Punjab for Duleep Singh. The Queen Mother of the last Sikh sovereign of the Punjab...
, mother of Duleep Singh, was desperate to keep her son on the throne, so she made efforts to win the favour of the Sikh army and secure her son’s position.
Subsequently, Pashaura Singh was promised an increase in his jagir if he left Lahore immediately. Jind Kaur also requested that Bhai Gurbaksh Singh, with whom the prince was staying, ask Pahaura Singh to retire to his estates. In the end Jind Kaur managed to win over the army, who then ordered Pashaura Singh to go back to his Jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
.
Despite returning to his Jagir, this was not enough for Jind Kaur. Her brother, Jawahar Singh, was subsequently appointed as Wazir
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
(Prime Minister) on 15 May 1845, after which he sent a force against Pashaura Singh.
After capitulating before the Lahore artillery, Pashaura Singh was allowed by the troops to escape. He thereafter remained in the wilderness for some time, before launching an assault with a handful of Pathan
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
followers against the fort of Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
, in July
July
July is the seventh month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. It is, on average, the warmest month in most of the Northern hemisphere and the coldest month in much of the Southern hemisphere...
1845. With the money that the fort yielded to him, he raised fresh levies and declared himself to be the ruler of the Punjab. In order to secure his legitimacy as Maharaja he sought help from the chiefs within the kingdom, from Jehlum
Jhelum
Jhelum or Jehlum may refer to:* Jhelum, a city in Pakistan on the banks of the Jhelum River* Jhelum District, an administrative division in Punjab, Pakistan surrounding the city of Jhelum...
to Khaibar
Khyber Pass
The Khyber Pass, is a mountain pass linking Pakistan and Afghanistan.The Pass was an integral part of the ancient Silk Road. It is mentioned in the Bible as the "Pesh Habor," and it is one of the oldest known passes in the world....
, and even opened negotiations with Dost Muhammad
Dost Mohammad Khan
Dost Mohammad Khan was the Emir of Afghanistan between 1826 and 1863. He first ruled from 1826 to 1839 and then from 1843 to 1863. He was the 11th son of Sardar Pāyendah Khan who was killed by Zaman Shah Durrani in 1799...
.
After hearing of the rebellion in Attock, Jawahar Singh ordered Chattar Singh Attariwalla
Chattar Singh Attariwalla
General Chattar Singh Attariwalla, was a military commander and a member of the Sikh nobility during the period of the Sikh Empire in the mid-19th century in Punjab. He was also Governor of Hazara province and fought in the Second Anglo-Sikh War against the British...
and Fateh Khan Tiwana to recapture the fort and defeat Pashaura Singh. After besieging Attock they managed to force the prince to agree to terms. Having secured assurances that he received safe passage to Lahore and the retention of Sialkot
Sialkot
Sialkot is a city in Pakistan situated in the north-east of the Punjab province at the foothills of snow-covered peaks of Kashmir near the Chenab river. It is the capital of Sialkot District. The city is about north-west of Lahore and only a few kilometers from Indian-controlled Jammu.The...
, the fort was surrendered on 30 August 1845, with the prince placed at the disposal of Chattar Singh. They then proceeded to Lahore with the troops.
Meanwhile, Jawahar Singh had sent instructions to the effect that Pashaura Singh be disposed of. The prince was sequestered
Sequestration (law)
Sequestration is the act of removing, separating, or seizing anything from the possession of its owner under process of law for the benefit of creditors or the state.-Etymology:...
from his personal bodyguard on 11 September 1845, and secretly taken back by Fateh Khan Tiwana to Attock where he was strangled to death.