THE SECOND ANGLO-SIKH WAR

With the Sikh empire crumbling due to internal issues about leadership, politics, corruption, and disloyalty, the British welcomed the Anglo-Sikh wars. The first one fought between 1845-46 was one that went on for a while at several different locations. However, internal politics toppled the Khalsa forces, and the British troops emerge victoriously. There were feelings of dissatisfaction that the Sikhs lost due to terrible leadership. The Sikhs believed that they would emerge victorious in the event of a second Anglo-Sikh war. Communal factors that the British endorsed did add fuel to the fire.

PRECURSORS OF THE WAR

Even after the end of the First Anglo-Sikh war, neither of the sides was satisfied. The Sikhs wanted a second chance to redeem their lost glory as well as their territory. The British, on the other hand, wanted more. Lord Dalhousie, who took over as the Governor-General for India, wanted more of Punjab. He was one of an imperialist nature and wanted to expand his territory as far as possible. However, the standard solution to both of their needs was the Second Anglo-Sikh War. All they needed was a little nudge.

THE CATALYST

This little nudge came from the revolt of Mulraj. What basically happened was the ruler of Multan was unable to pay his dues to the British government, so he was willing to give up his administrative position. He was replaced by Khan Singh, who was to take office in the presence of two English officers. However, on the appointment, the two officers were murdered, and it was the cherry on the cake. The revolt of Mulraj was the catalyst that began the second Anglo-Sikh war. There was another noteworthy equation where Chattar Singh, the son of Rani Jindhan, was stopped from marrying by the British for political reasons. This was the second catalyst.  

THE WAIT

When the revolt of Mulraj commented, only one side of the equation began preparations. The Sikh forces ensured that flames of the rebellion were spread across Punjab. What further irked them was the deportation of Rani Jhindhan on the counts of instigation. The Sikh forces decided to go all in. This is precisely what the English wanted. Dalhousie, being an imperialist, was familiar with the concept of “patience.” He wanted the Sikhs to get agitated and spread the revolt across the territory to have grounds to initiate the second Anglo-Sikh war and annex more of Punjab.

THE SECOND ANGLO-SIKH WAR

The English and the Sikhs’ first faceoff occurred in November 1848 in Ramnagar, which did not conclude. The next time the two forces met was at Chillianwala in January 1849. This, too, drew no clear, cut conclusion. However, it was symbolic. It was the surrender of Multan. The final battle occurred in Gujrat in February 1849, where the Sikhs were steamrolled. The Sikhs completely surrendered in March, and the second Anglo-Sikh war ended, with the British had annexed all of Punjab. After the anglo Sikh war, the prince and his mother, Rani Jhindan, were given a lump sum and deported to England.

WHAT THE WAR MEANT

Following the second Anglo-Sikh war, the English were now a supreme power in India. The Sikhs were the last force that could threaten them in India, but the English were unquestionable with the Sikh wars won. The solid and well-established kingdom of the Sikhs(significantly expanded under maharaja Ranjit Singh) fell, and Punjab no longer belonged to the Sikhs. A very significant finding or revelation of the war was the lack of coordination and lack of good leadership in India. During the entire war, the Lahore durbar stayed loyal to the British and played no part in the war. The Sikh leaders went from bad to worse as they fell for the British trap and even gave up Peshawar to Afghanistan to attempt an alliance/ However, they too fled Peshawar when Punjab fell to the British.

CONCLUSION

When seen objectively, the English had learned a lot from their previous experience in the first Anglo-Sikh war. They understood that morale plays a vital role in how one goes about the battle. Dalhousie patiently understood the scenario and waited for the right moment to improvise. On the other hand, Punjab consisted of terrible and inefficient leadership, unstrategic moves, and lack of uniform participation. In the coming 1857 revolt, this was still the case. When certain Indian princes stay loyal to the crown, the entire effort gets diluted.