#Maharani Jind Kaur

[histroy-of-punjab]

Fall of Sikh Empire

Welcome to our new video series examining the fascinating history of the fall of the Sikh Empire, also known as the Khalsa Raj, under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (Sher - E - Panjab). In this series, we'll take a closer look at the factors that contributed to the decline and eventual dissolution of this once-great kingdom. Through a mix of stunning visuals and insightful vocals by Bhai Lakhwinder Singh Sohal Dhadi Jatha, we'll explore the key events and personalities that shaped this critical period in South Asian history. From the internal conflicts and political turmoil that weakened the Sikh empire from within, to the external pressures and military campaigns that eventually overpowered it from without, we'll delve into the many challenges that the Sikh people faced in the waning years of their empire. Join us as we uncover the legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Khalsa Raj, and examine the lessons that can be learned from this pivotal chapter in South Asian history. Be sure to subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on the latest episodes, and don't forget to hit the like button and share with your friends. Let's explore the fall of the Sikh Empire together.

[husn-e-bahar]

Chand-Tikka from the collection of Maharani Jind Kaur (The Last Queen), wife of Maharajah Ranjit Singh (Punjab)

Source: Bonhams

[lightofasia]

Woodcut depicting twelve heroes of the Sikhs. Front row: Sher Singh, Ranjit Singh (blind left eye clearly shown), Dilip Singh, Maharani Jind Kaur(wife of Ranjit Singh). Second row: Dhian Singh, Gulab Singh, Sher Singh Atarivala, Chatar Singh Atarivala. Third row: Dina Nath, Moolraj Governor of Multan, Dost Mohammed (Ruler of Kabul), Phoola Singh of Amritsar. ca.1870 Currently held in the Victoria & Albert Museum

[women-throughout-history]

Maharani Jind Kaur

Maharani Jind Kaur, also known as Rani Jindan, was a significant figure in Sikh history, serving as the last queen of the Sikh Empire from 1843 to 1846. Born in 1817 in Gujranwala, she became the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire. After Ranjit Singh's death in 1839, Jind Kaur took on the role of regent for her son, Maharaja Duleep Singh. Jind Kaur's reign as regent was marked by political turmoil and conflict with the British East India Company. In 1845, during the First Anglo-Sikh War, she dispatched the Sikh Army to confront the British, leading to the annexation of the entire Punjab in 1849. After her son's dethronement, she faced imprisonment and exile by the British. Despite challenges, Jind Kaur escaped captivity in 1849, disguising herself as a slave girl and finding refuge in Nepal. Her efforts to resist British dominance continued through correspondence with rebels in Punjab and Jammu-Kashmir. She later reunited with her son in Calcutta in 1861, influencing him to return to Sikhism. Jind Kaur's exile took a toll on her health, and she passed away in her sleep on August 1, 1863, in Kensington, England. Denied the opportunity to be cremated in Punjab, her ashes were eventually brought back to India in 1924 and reburied in the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore. Despite her challenging life and exile, Maharani Jind Kaur's legacy endures as a symbol of resilience and resistance against colonial rule. In 2009, a memorial plaque was unveiled at the Kensal Green Dissenters Chapel, honouring her contributions to Sikh history.

[iamcryinlikeafool]

Books I read in the first half of 2023

I wanted to use this space to keep track of the books I read this year and give my thoughts about it. Now, I am no big critique and all that, but this would be like a diary entry I make. I wanted to do this on a platform where I wouldn't get too much attention or traction, so this is perfect. I may post this on my personal Instagram too. Not sure yet. So here it is:

The Last Queen- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni:

It is a historical fiction about the last queen of Punjab, Maharani Jind Kaur. I enjoyed the book immensely. I love historical fiction genre in the first place, and especially if it is about India and you know my own history. It is a story of a strong woman who fought for a long time, and most of her fights were completely internal. Complex family dynamics, forced migration, colonialism (of course), great found family love, religion and politics are the themes. As far as I am aware it does not diverge from the actual reality too much. I learnt a lot about Sikhism and politics at that time.

Published: 3 February 2021

Other books I'd recommend from the same author: The Palace of Illusions

Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth-Hermann Hesse:

When I decided to do this way back in January, I had decided that I would not include books that I read for academic purposes. But I had to include this story here, because it indulged in themes that I had not read before. It was worth it.

The story revolves around a young boy named Emil Sinclair, living in Germany. It details his journey as a child to a young man. As a young child he develops a friendship with another, slightly older boy named Demian. Male-friendship, homoeroticism, homosocial friendship, growing up with war, influences of people in life, guilt, what is good, what is bad, dreams (not life goals, but sleep dreams) and religion are some themes in this book. As I said before, I had read this in an academic capacity, and most of my reading (even the first) is overly critical. It has made sit back, and honestly recoil at some point, because it was a lot.

Another note: I read the book both in German and English translation. The translation does not do the justice to the book. There are many instances where the translated work writes off the relationship between the two as a 'brotherly' affection, using the word brother in place of the word 'Freund' in German (which could mean a friend, or a boyfriend or S.O).

Published first: 1919

Other books I'd recommend: Siddhartha

(Will keep adding to the post. This is something I wanted to do for a long time, and posting just two of these to make me start somewhere. )

[orangeba11s]

Progress Sketch of Maharani Jind Kaur - soon to be painted

[meherya]

If I gotta see the patiala royal family pics one more time I s2g

[jeannepompadour]

Maharani Jind Kaur by George Richmond, 1862

[sgtechs-in]

Empire of the Sikhs: Rare items on display in London exhibition | world news

Empire of the Sikhs: Rare items on display in London exhibition | world news

[ad_1]

Over 100 rare items from private and public collections went on display on Thursday as part of a major ‘Empire of the Sikhs’ exhibition that narrates the life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), whose tenure challenged the supremacy of British rule.

The exhibition at the School of Oriental and African Studies organised by the UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) with Kashi…

[jatindersinghdurhailay]

The last queen ( Maharani Jind Kaur ) 2018

Gouache on handmade hemp paper

31x20.5cm

[histroy-of-punjab]

Hari Singh Nalwa Birthday 1st May

 Hari Singh Nalwa was a prominent Sikh general and commander during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire. He was born on 1st May 1791 in Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan) and was the son of Gurdas Singh Uppal.

Hari Singh Nalwa served as the governor of Peshawar and was known for his bravery and leadership qualities. He was instrumental in expanding the Sikh Empire's territory and played a key role in many battles, including the Battle of Multan, Battle of Jamrud, and the Battle of Nowshera.

He also built many forts, including the famous Jamrud Fort, to protect the empire's territories in northern areas. He was considered a fierce warrior and was known to fight in the frontline alongside his soldiers.

Hari Singh Nalwa died in the Battle of Jamrud in 1837, fighting against the Pashtun tribes. His death was a huge loss for the Sikh Empire, and he is still remembered as a legendary figure in the Sikh community. His legacy lives on through the many forts and structures he built and the sacrifices he made for his people.

[historybehindassassinscreed]

In Game:

Duleep Singh was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire and the youngest son of Ranjit Singh, ruling from 1843 to 1846. He was also an associate of, and great-uncle to, the Assassin Henry Green.

In 1868, Duleep was asked by his great-nephew, Henry Green, to procure architectural plans of Buckingham Palace. However, he was foiled in this endeavor, as the schematics had already been obtained by men in the employ of Crawford Starrick. Duleep subsequently told Henry, and his acquaintance Evie Frye, where the plans had been taken, so they could get them back.

Ultimately, Henry and Evie did not succeed in acquiring the schematics, leading the latter to contact Duleep again later on. Passionate as he was about returning to his home country, the Maharaja bartered with Evie; in exchange for her help in recruiting politicians to his cause, Duleep would tell her where she could find copies of the plans she sought.

In between escorting politicians to their destinations, Duleep spoke with Evie on a variety of topics, including his attempts at returning to India, her parents and her relationship with Henry. After bringing William Ewart Gladstone, who had been quite abrasive during his conversation with the Maharaja, to the Sinopean Club, Duleep told Evie that the plans she sought were located in the White Drawing Room in Buckingham Palace. The two then bid each other goodbye.

Singh was later aided by Evie and her brother Jacob in his quest to reclaim his birthright as Maharaja.

In Real Life:

Maharaja Duleep Singh later in life nicknamed the Black Prince of Perthshire, was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, was born on September 6th, 1838. He was Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest son, the only child of Maharani Jind Kaur.

After the death of his father in 1839, Duleep Singh lived quietly with his mother, Jind Kaur, at Jammu, under the protection of the Vizier, Raja Dhian Singh. He and his mother were recalled to Lahore in 1843 after the assassinations of Maharaja Sher Singh and Dhian Singh, and on 16 September, at the age of five, Duleep Singh was proclaimed Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, with Maharani Jind Kaur as Regent.

On December 13th, 1845, when Duleep was six, the British declared war on the Sikhs and, after winning the First Anglo-Sikh War, retained the Maharaja as nominal ruler, but replaced the Maharani by a Council of Regency and later imprisoned and exiled her. Over thirteen years passed before Duleep Singh was permitted to see his mother again.

After the close of the Second Anglo-Sikh War and the subsequent annexation of the Punjab on March 29th, 1849, he was deposed at the age of ten and was put into the care of Dr John Login and sent from Lahore to Fatehgarh on December 21st, 1849, with tight restrictions on who he was allowed to meet. No Indians, except trusted servants, could meet him in private. As a matter of British policy, he was to be anglicised in every possible respect. His health was reportedly poor and he was often sent to the hill station of Landour near Mussoorie in the Lower Himalaya for convalescence, at the time about 4 days’ journey. He would remain for weeks at a time in Landour at a grand hilltop building called The Castle, which had been lavishly furnished to accommodate him.

In 1853, under the tutelage of his long-time retainer Bhajan Lal (himself a Christian convert), he converted to Christianity at Fatehgarh with the approval of the Governor-General Lord Dalhousie. His conversion remains controversial, and it occurred before he turned 15. He later had serious doubts and regrets regarding this decision and reconverted to Sikhism in 1886.

Duleep Singh’s arrival on the shores of England in late 1854 threw him into the European court. Queen Victoria showered affection upon the turbaned Maharaja, as did the Prince Consort. Duleep Singh was initially lodged at Claridge’s Hotel in London before the East India Company took over a house in Wimbledon and then eventually another house in Roehampton which became his home for three years. He was also invited by the Queen to stay with the Royal Family at Osborne, where she sketched him playing with her children and Prince Albert photographed him, while the court artist, Winterhalter, made his portrait.

(Image source)

He eventually got bored with Roehampton and expressed a wish to go back to India but it was suggested by the East India Company Board he take a tour of the European continent which he did with Sir John Spencer Login and Lady Login. He was a member of the Photographic Society, later Royal Photographic Society from 1855 until his death.

On his return from Europe in 1855 he was given an annual pension, and was officially under ward of Sir John Spencer Login and Lady Login, who leased Castle Menzies in Perthshire, Scotland, for him. He spent the rest of his teens there but at 19 he demanded to be in charge of his household. Eventually, he was given this and an increase in his annual pension.

When he was 18, Singh wrote to his mother in Kathmandu, suggesting that she should join him in England, but his letter was intercepted by the British in India and did not reach her. He then sent a courier, Pundit Nehemiah Goreh, who was also intercepted and forbidden to contact the Maharani. Duleep Singh then decided to go himself. Under cover of a letter from Login he wrote to the British Resident in Kathmandu, who reported that the Rani had ‘much changed, was blind and had lost much of the energy which formerly characterised her.’ The British decided she was no longer a threat and she was allowed to join her son on January 16th, 1861 at Spence’s Hotel in Calcutta and return with him to England.

While in exile, he sought to learn more about Sikhism and was eager to return to India. Though previous efforts were thwarted by his handlers, he reestablished contact with his cousin Sardar Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, who on 28 September 1884, left Amritsar for England along with his sons Narinder Singh and Gurdit Singh and a Sikh granthi (priest), Pratap Singh Giani. He also brought a list of properties held by Duleep Singh in India. All this renewed his connection with Sikhism.

The British Government decided in 1886 against his return to India or his re-embracing Sikhism. Despite protests from the India Office, he set sail for 'home’ on 30 March 1886. However, he was intercepted and arrested in Aden, where the writ of the Governor General of India began. He could not be stopped from an informal re-conversion ceremony in Aden, far less grand and symbolic than it would have been in India, done by emissaries sent by Sardar Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, who was earlier planning the Pahaul ceremony at Bombay. Duleep was forced to return to Europe.

(Image source)

Duleep Singh died in Paris in 1893 at the age of 55, having seen India after the age of fifteen during only two brief, tightly-controlled visits in 1860 (to bring his mother to England) and in 1863 (to cremate his mother’s body).

Duleep Singh’s wish for his body to be returned to India was not honored, in fear of unrest, given the symbolic value the funeral of the son of the Lion of the Punjab might have caused and the growing resentment of British rule. His body was brought back to be buried according to Christian rites, under the supervision of the India Office in Elveden Church beside the grave of his wife Maharani Bamba, and his son Prince Edward Albert Duleep Singh. The graves are located on the west side of the Church.

Sources:

https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/themes/trails/black-and-asian-history-and-victorian-britain/maharaja-duleep-singh-and-family

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duleep_Singh

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/maharaja-dalip-singh/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28106083

[philomaela]

6 and 16!

6. A historical figure you think is underrated

I think Maharani Jind Kaur is absolutely underrated as a historical figure, her life is very interesting and tragic in many ways but she’s not really that prominent, at least in fandom circles which tbf... is probably not the best place to judge the popularity of historical figures but you know... it’s what I know lol.

16. A piece of heraldry, historical symbol, badge, flag, e.t.c. you like/associate with

Well, I definitely don’t associate with it but I do really love the raven banners of the Viking Age. There’s that story about Lodbrocus, whose three daughters sewed a raven banner for him and overall I find it to be a nice symbol.

[historicwomendaily]

hi! different anon here, i second the request of the anon you just got (also would be cool to see some more african history outside of egypt & latin american/caribbean history) but i also have some suggestions to help out: from India: Jahanara Begum and her niece Zeb-un-Nissa, Lakshmibai the Rani of Jhansi, Maharani Jind Kaur, Gulab Kaur, Harita Kaur Deol, Mai Bhago, Mata Sahib Kaur, Sardani Sada Kaur, Lakshmi Sehgal, and Inderjit Kaur. from Hawaii: Juliana Walanika and Princess Ka'iulani. 1/3

cont’d. from Japan: Sei Shōnagon, Murasaki Shikibu, Yukiko Kikuchi wife of Cgiune Sugihara, Mitsuko Countess of Coudenhove-Kalergi and her daughter Ida Friederike Görres. from China: Lee Sun Chau and Ching Shih. from Georgia: Tamar the Great. from Mongolia: Khutulun. from Bengladesh: Zohra Begum Kazi. from Korea: Jang-geum and Queen Seondeok of Silla. from Singapore: Lee Choo Neo. from Thailand: Pierra Vejjabul and Parinya Charoenphal. from Vietnam: Henriette Bùi Quang Chiêu. 2/3

cont’d. from Tunisia: Fatima al-Fihri. Chinese-Americans: Chien-Shiung Wu, Mary Tape, Hazel Ying Lee and Virginia Wong. Japanese-Americans: Ruby Hirose and Ruth Asawa. 3/3

more jewish and non-ottoman muslim history would be really great too!

Thank you for all the lovely suggestions! I haven’t heard of many of these so they’ll be very fun to tackle and learn about~ and they help a bunch! We’re going to divide and conquer between all the moderators and get started on some right away :) hopefully we’ll be able to cover every single one of these interesting women with time eventually!!

-G