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Sher Singh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people with the same two names, see Sher Singh (disambiguation).

Sher Singh
Maharaja of Punjab
Maharaja of Lahore
Sarkar-i-Wallah[1]
Sarkar Khalsaji[1]
Painting of Maharaja Sher Singh wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond (on his right bicep), by August Schoefft, ca.1841–42
Maharaja of Punjab
Maharaja of Kashmir
Maharaja of Jammu
Reign18 January 1841 – 15 September 1843
Coronation
PredecessorNau Nihal Singh (as monarch until 1840)
Chand Kaur (as regent in 1840–1841)
SuccessorDuleep Singh
Prime ministerDhian Singh Dogra
Born4 December 1807
Died15 September 1843(1843-09-15) (aged 35)
ConsortPrem Kaur Waraich (m.1822)
Spouses
Desa Kaur Nakai
​
​
(m. 1819; died 1821)​
Bibi Pratap Kaur Jagat Singh Brar
​
​
(m. 1825)​
Dakno Kaur Mai Sahiba
​
​
(m. 1842)​
IssueBy Maharani Desa Kaur:
* None
By Maharani Prem Kaur:
* Yuvraj Pratap Singh Bahadur
By Maharani Pratap Kaur:
* Kanwar Deva Singh Bahadur
By Maharani Dakno Kaur:
* Shahdeo Singh Bahadur
HouseSukerchakia
FatherMaharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab
MotherMehtab Kaur Kanhaiyā
ReligionSikhism
Seal or stamp of approvalSher Singh's signature

Sher Singh (4 December 1807 – 15 September 1843) was the fourth Maharaja of the Sikh Empire. Elder of the twins of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. His reign began on 18 January 1840 following his assault on Lahore which ended the brief regency of Maharani Chand Kaur.[2] He was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia.[2]

Birth

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Sher Singh was the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Mehtab Kaur, he had a younger twin brother Tara Singh (1807–1859).[a]

Early life

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In 1820, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted him the privilege of being seated in the Darbar and bestowed civil and military honors on him. From 1831 to 1834 he acted as Governor of Kashmir and in 1834 he was a commander of the force that captured Peshawar from the Afghans.[3]

Military campaigns

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Barelvi declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a camp in Balakot. Along with Shah Ismail Dehlvi and his tribesmen, in 1831, Sher Singh accompanied by Pratab Singh Attarwala and Akali Hanuman Singh arrived in Balakot. He invested Balakot on all sides. The Sikh slowly advanced narrowing the besieged area gradually. On reaching near the Sayyid residence, the Sikh drew out their swords, cut down the sayyid troops and shot down Sayyid Ahmed Khan. His head cut off for display, and about 500 followers of Sayyid were killed including Shah Ismail Dehlvi. The entire property of Sayyid fell into the hands of Sikhs. A sum of Rs. 50,000 along with a letter of appreciation was sent to Sher Singh promising an additional Jagir.[4]

Reign

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The Maharaja Sher Singh

Sher Singh became the maharaja on 27 January 1841,[3] after the sudden death of Nau Nihal Singh whose death was set in motion, some say purposely while returning from his father's cremation. He was the half-brother of Nau Nihal Singh's father, former Maharaja Kharak Singh.

Proclaimed Maharaja by his wazir (prime minister) Dhian Singh Dogra, he won the throne after a protracted siege of the Lahore Fort which was held by the royal family. Thousands died in the siege.

Sher Singh was a patron of the arts, with one of his court painters being Kehar Singh.[5] The painter August Schoefft arrived in the Punjab and worked during his reign.[5] Sher Singh was also a fan of wrestling and often would take wrestlers outside the walled city of Lahore to the tomb of Qasim Khan.[5] One of these wrestlers were Sultan Muhammad, who later became a contractor under the British colonial administration.[5]

Death

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Maharaja Sher Singh (1807–1843) seated, attended by his council in the Lahore Fort.
Depiction of the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh by the Sandhawalia Sardars

Sher Singh was killed as he was asked to inspect a new shotgun brought by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia. Sandhawalia then pulled the trigger and then killed the wounded Sher Singh with his sword by cutting off his head.[6] Ajit Singh Sandhawalia had served as Prime Minister first for Ranjit Singh then for Sher Singh's brother Kharak Singh then Karak Singh's son Nau Nihal each of whom had died shortly after taking office. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia then served as Prime Minister for Kharak Singh's widow Chand Kaur who served as regent. Ajit Singh Sandhawalia preferred having Chand Kaur as regent ruler as it allowed him more power. Chand Kaur had been removed as the expected heir her late son Nau Nihal's daughter in law was about to deliver died stillborn. Sher Singh only had time to utter, "what treachery." The Sandhawalias also murdered Dhian Singh. The Sandhawalias were thought to have also had designs on the empire.[citation needed]

Legacy

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His palace is leased to Baring Union Christian College.[7][8]

Notes

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  1. ^ Mehtab Kaur, who was also known as Mahitab Kaur, is not to be confused with Maharani Mahtab Devi Sahiba, another wife, who committed sati in 1839 with Ranjit Singh's body lying with his head on her lap.

References

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  1. ^ a b Suri., Sohan Lal (1961). Umdat-ut-tawarikh ['Umdat at-tawārīh, engl.] An outstanding original source of Panjab history by Lala Sohan Lal Suri. OCLC 163394684.
  2. ^ a b Syad Muhammad Latif, Lahore: Its History, Architectural Remains and Antiquities: With an Account of Its Modern Institutions, Inhabitants, Their Trade, Customs, Printed at the New Imperial Press, 1892
  3. ^ a b Hasrat, B.J. "Sher Singh, Maharaja". Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Editor-in-Chief Harbans Singh. Punjab University Patiala.
  4. ^ Patwant Singh (2008). Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Peter Owen. pp. 73–76. ISBN 978-0-7206-1323-0.
  5. ^ a b c d Khalid, Kanwal (July–December 2015). "Miniature Painters as Historiographers" (PDF). Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society. 28 (2): 124–132.
  6. ^ Khalid, Haroon (13 May 2016). "In Lahore, overflowing garbage marks the spot where the final blow was dealt to the Sikh Empire". Scroll.in. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  7. ^ "BUCC, Batala - College History". www.buccbatala.org. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Maharaja Sher Singh's mansion: Amid row over possession, minority panel seeks report". Hindustan Times. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
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Preceded by
Chand Kaur as regent
 Maharaja of the Sikh Empire
18 January 1841– 15 September 1843 		Succeeded by
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