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April 27, 2003
EXCERPTS: In regal style
H.L.O. Garrett and G.L. Chopra invite the readers to spend some time in the court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and observe his fascinating lifestyle
1810: News of the Deohri of Sirdar Ranjit Singh Bahadur. Thursday, dated December 20, 1810 (Ziqaad 22, 1225 AH); the Royal Fort, Lahore
Yesterday the Noble Sarkar remained in the zenana until the day advanced a quarter and a half, and continued merry-making, drinking wine and enjoying the dance of the dancing girls. At noon he took his meals and went to rest. He awoke at about the third quarter of the day and came out to the Saman Burj. The sirdars usually present at the court came in and made obeisance.
Duni Chand, the Vakil of Raja Bagh Singh of Jind, sought permission to depart. The Noble Sarkar said that it would be given, and ordered Munshi Devi Dass to write out and address a letter on his behalf to the said Raja acknowledging the receipt of the “Khass” tent sent by him through his representative and explaining the latter’s departure. The Noble Sarkar granted Duni Chand one fine woollen shawl, one turban, one roll of “Gulbadan” and rupees one hundred and twenty-five in cash, and entrusting him the letter, allowed him to depart.
Rama Nand Sahu, the agent, was ordered to deliver to Duni Chand a letter for two thousand rupees for the purchase of oxen from the district of Banker in Jind to be made by his master for the Noble Sarkar. Munshi Devi Dass presented the letter of authority regarding the forts of Kota, of Sobha Singh, and several other places which had been granted to Jamna Dass, the agent, Rama Nand Sahu and Mathra Dass, the Noble Sarkar’s accountants, according to his (Sarkar’s) orders against two lakhs and five thousand rupees. The Noble Sarkar said that it would be given to the aforesaid person on the following day and that it must remain for the time being with Devi Dass himself.
It was stated that Diwan Bhawani Dass of the low stature, Nawab Kutub-ud-Din Khan of Kasur, Sarbuland Khan Bareech and several others had proceeded towards Multan from the village of Saidpur which was situated at a distance of six kos from Lahore and three kos from Shahdara. Munshi Devi Dass was ordered to purchase flint for the guns to the value of two hundred and fifty rupees. When the night had passed by two hours the sirdars and others, who were present, walked out. The Noble Sarkar went into the zenana and engaged himself in enjoying the music of the dancing girls after taking his meals. When the night had passed by one quarter, he retired to rest. The night passed away uneventfully.
Today he woke up early in the morning and came out when the day had advanced two hours. The sirdars, who are usually at his court, presented themselves, making obeisance. It was stated that during the night the dacoits had raided the quarter of the goldsmiths and had carried away property worth two hundred and seventy-five rupees. The Noble Sarkar summoned Bahadur Singh in charge of the police station of the city, showed his annoyance, peremptorily ordered him to start investigation and produce in his presence all the robbers, warning him at the same time that failure to do so would not be to his credit.
Munshi Devi Dass presented news of the various parts. It became known that Mirza Mahmud Shah and Sardar Fateh Khan were still in the town of Peshawar; that negotiations for peaceful settlement continued between Ata Muhammad Khan, the Subedar of Kashmir and Mirza Mahmud Shah through Muhammad Azim Khan, the brother of Fateh Khan and the representatives of the Province of Kashmir; and that it was hoped that some settlement might speedily be reached. It was also reported that Mahmud Shah had distributed twenty rupees to each horseman in his army, and Zaman Shah had shifted his camp from Rawalpindi to Pind Dadan Khan.
Raja Sahib Singh was still reported to be at Patiala, and was engaged in making arrangements for the marriage of Khalsa Karam Singh and in insisting on his officials discharging their duties in that matter very carefully. It was also stated that his officials had reported that there was great dearth of money and that he must procure some from the villages of the Afghans. Tej Singh, the brother of Raja Chain Sukh, had been sent to fetch Raja Bhagh Singh and Mai Khem Kaur from Jind; and Budh Singh Nami, a reliable person of Raja Bhagh Singh, had also been allowed to depart for Jind in the company of Tej Singh, with a farewell gift of twenty rupees.
The Noble Sarkar heard all this and then went into the zenana and the sirdar and others present, walked out. He took his meals and went to bed. All else went on well until noon. This is written according to the verbal statement of Khushal Singh, the news agent or the informant.
Excerpted with permission from
Events at the Court of Ranjit Singh, 1810-1817
Edited by Lt Col H.L.O. Garrett and G.L. Chopra
Sang-e-Meel Publications, 20 Shahrah-i-Pakistan, Lahore Tel: 042-7220100.
Email: smp@sang-e-meel.com
ISBN 969-35-1352-5
278pp. Rs600
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