How did the Britishers annexe Punjab?
Answers
Sikhs
After the defeat of Bengal, Mysore and Marathas, the only major Indian power that still retained its independence was Punjab under Ranjit Singh, who came to power in AD 1792.
He organised an alliance of Sikh Misls West of the Sutlej in 1798, which was successful in countering the invasion of the Afghan ruler Zaman Shah.
First Anglo-Sikh War(1845-1846)
During the rule of Dalip Singh, the English forces under Sir Henry Hardinge invaded Punjab, defeated the Sikhs at the Battle of Sobraon, occupied Lahore and imposed a peace treaty (Treaty of Lahore) on 9th March, 1846, which include the following:
- The Sikhs to surrender all their territories lying to the south of the river Sutlej.
- A war indemnity of ₹1.5 crore was imposed on Lahore Durbar.
- The Sikh Army was limited to 20000 infantry and 12000 cavalry. A British resident was posted at Lahore.
Since, the Lahore Durbar was unable to pay the war indemnity, it agreed to transfer the company the hill territories situated between the river Beas and Indus, including the province of Kashmir.
Second Anglo-Sikh War(1848-1849)
The Sikhs felt humiliated with the settlement of Punjab after the first war. The Sikhs didn't like the interference of the English resident in the internal affairs of Punjab. The British, on their part was anxious to occupy the Punjab.
Dalhousie, the new Governor-General, was a strong imperialist. He was simply looking for a reason for the annexation of Punjab, which was provided by rebellion of Mulraj, Governor of Multan, against the Britishers. The English forces attacked Punjab(1848) and in the battle that followed, the Sikhs were badly defeated. Punjab was annexed to the British empire in March, 1849. Raja Dalip Singh, the youngest son of Ranjit Singh, and his mother, Rani Jindan, who acted as his regent, were sent away to London on fixed annual pensions.