Dogra Brothers
Dogra Brothers of Kashmir – Dhian Singh & Gulab Singh (Dogra)
Generals of Khalsa Sarkar Army – Lal Singh & Tej Singh (UP)
How they killed khalsa sarkar?
Maharaja Ranjit singh died in June 1839. The powerful Dogras from Jammu, Gulab Singh Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh- played a subtle role and put into motion a chain of proceedings which brought about the demolition of Sikh power. At the time of Sikh ruler’s death. Dhian singh was prime minister of Punjab to Kharak Singh, son of Ranjit singh. Gulab Singh and Suchet singh also held offices under Dhian Singh dogra. They were not content with this. They had their eyes on the throne itself and the main object of their grand strategy was to crown Dhian Singh’s son, Hira Singh, king of the Punjab.
One night, Suchet singh led his men into Maharaja Kharak Singh’s chamber and killed his trusted aide and tutor, Chet Singh Bajwa. Kharak singh was removed from the Fort and remained virtually prisoner in the hands of Dhian Singh. Sham Singh attariwala and other good officers were sent to far places like Kashmir, North West frontier provinces, just like Nau Nihal singh. Nau Nihal singh knew about the treacherous dogras. He did not came to Lahore until the day his father Kharak Singh, died due to slow poisoning by Dogra brothers. On the same day of his father’s cremation, a huge concrete piece fell on Nau Nihal Singh and he also died. It is said that this conspiracy was hatched by Dogra brothers. English doctor of Lahore which operated on prince, later reported that prince was alive and well after injury but mysteriously next day his skull was found crushed. Dhian singh then openly suggested Maharani Chand Kaur to adopt his son and declare him Maharaja of Punjab, she refused and was put in house arrest. She was also killed by the maid servants. Gulab Singh carried away all the money and valuables belonging to Maharani. Then the next Maharaja other son of Ranjit Singh, Maharaja Sher singh was put to death by the Sandhawalia sardars, who later killed Dogra Dhian Singh and his son Hira Singh. All chaos were treacherous work of Dogra clan who guided British to take over the Khalsa Sarkar.
Betrayal of Lal Singh and Tej Singh in Battle field
Lal Singh and Tej Singh again came to the rescue of the English. The former suddenly deserted the Khalsa army during the night and the latter the next morning (22 December) which enabled the British to turn defeat into victory. The British loss was again heavy, 694 killed and 1,721 wounded. The number of casualties among officers was comparatively higher. The Sikhs lost about 2,000 men and 73 pieces of artillery.
A temporary cessation of hostilities followed the battle of Ferozeshah. The English were not in a position to assume the offensive and waited for heavy guns and reinforcements to arrive from Delhi. Lal Singh and Tej Singh allowed them the much needed respite in as much as they kept the Sikhs from re crossing the Sutlej.
To induce desertions, Lord Hardinge issued a proclamation on the Christmas day inviting all natives of Hindustan to quit the service of the Sikh State on pain of forfeiting their property and to claim protection from the British government. The deserters were also offered liberal rewards and pensions.
A Sikh sardar, Ranjodh Singh Majitha, crossed the Sutlej in force and was joined by Ajit Singh, of Ladva, from the other side of the river. They marched towards Ludhiana and burnt a portion of the cantonment. Sir Harry Smith (afterwards Governor of Cape Colony), who was sent to relieve Ludhiana, marched eastwards from Ferozepur, keeping a few miles away from the Sutlej. Ranjodh Singh Majitha harried Smith’s column and, when Smith tried to make a detour at Baddoval, attacked his rear with great vigor and captured his baggage train and stores (21 January). But Harry Smith retrieved his position a week later by inflicting a defeat on Ranjodh Singh Majitha and Ajit Singh, of Ladva, (28 January).
Gulab Singh Dogra’s Treacherous Negotiations with the British
More dangerous than the treachery of Tej Singh and Lal Singh in the battle field was the political intrigue of Gulab Singh Dogra, who was then conducting negotiations with the Governor General. As the plenipotentiary of the Lahore Darbar, Gulab Singh did not hesitate to sell his country for silver. He had already agreed to the following conditions dictated by the British: (i) that the Sikh Army should be attacked by the British, (ii) that after being defeated it should be abandoned by its own Government and (iii) that the passage of the Sutlej should be unopposed and the road to the capital laid open to the victor.
Luckily for the Sikhs the main hitch still remained : the dispersal of the Sikh Army. Gulab Singh had shown his inability to accomplish this and had left it entirely to the British, whose immediate aim was to drive the Sikhs across the Sutlej by force of arms and secure the unconditional submission of the chiefs and delegates of the army. But a single defeat could not completely disperse so large and well-equipped an army of the brave Khalsa.