The Last Punjabi Maharaja - Dalip Singh
Kulbir
Maharaja Dalip Singh
Maharaja DALIP SINGH, the youngest son of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh, who was born in Lahore, on Feb. 1837, to mother
Maharani Jind Kaur. His date of birth is disputed by some and
alternately suggested as Sept. 4, 1838. Many foreign journalists
have wrongly named him as Dhalip Singh and Duleep Singh.
However, it should be noted that his correct name is Maharaja
Dalip Singh. He assumed the Punjab throne as a child, after
Maharaja Sher Singh, on Sept. 18, 1843. During his reign several
wars were fought with the British. Unfortunately, he was
surrounded by corrupt advisors as illustrated by the following
quote.
"Among the Sikh barons who stood around the throne of the
young Maharaja Dalip Singh, there was not one, who
honestly labored for his country, or who have made the
smallest sacrifice to save her."
- The Punjab Chiefs by L.H. Griffin
The agreement of March 9, 1846, after the first Sikh war with the
British, included the following conditions:
1) There shall be peace and friendship among Maharaja
Dalip Singh and the British government.
2) Lahore darbar would have to relinquish control of the
region between Satluj and Bias.
3) War compensation of one and a half crore rupees to be
paid by Lahore darbar. Since this amount was beyond the
capabilities of Lahore Darbar at that time, Kashmir region
was offered for 75 lakhs. However, Maharaja Gulab Singh
stepped forward and paid this amount to buy back this
region from the British.
4) Maharaja Dalip Singh's forces were restricted to 50
platoons and 12,000 horse-back soldiers.
5) No foreigner from Britain, Europe, or America could be
employed in Lahore Darbar without explicit permission of
the British government.
6) British government shall refrain from interference in the
internal affairs of the Lahore Darbar.
However, towards the end of this year, another set of
arrangements were made, under which a council was established
to run the Punjab affairs. This council was headed by a British
Resident. Further, British forces were brought in to maintain
peace in the country. Lahore darbar was charged 22 lakh
annually for the maintenance and upkeep of such forces.
However, this arrangement did not last for too long. As in April
of 1848, a war erupted among the Sikhs and British. At the end
of this war, Sikh kingdom was annexed and Maharaja Dalip
Singh was sent out of Punjab to FatehGadh (Uttar Pradesh, dist.
Karrukhsbad) under the care of Sir John Spencer Login.
Maharaja Dalip Singh was still a child at the time of the
annexation of Punjab and there was no one to dispense any
religious education to him. His companions (AudiyaPrasad,
Purohit GulabRai, Fakir Jahurudeen) had absolutely no interest
or sympathy with GurSikh Dharam. As a result, BhajanLal, a
local resident brahmin who had converted to christianity, was
given the responsibilities of Dalip Singh's education. Under his
influence, Maharaja Dalip Singh adopted christianity on March
8, 1853. A few days prior to adopting christianity, Dalip Singh
had presented his hair as a gift to lady Login.
On April 19, 1858, Dalip Singh left for England and started
residing at Elveden resident in Norfolk. Dalip Singh married a
german lady, Bamba Muller (educated form Cairo missionary
school) on June 7, 1864. This marriage resulted in three sons
(Victor Dalip Singh, Frederick D.S., and Edward D.S.) and three
daughters. Two of his sons were brought up as english
gentlemen. The elder, Prince Victor, held a commission in the 1st
Royal Dragoons and married a daughter of the Earl of Coventry.
He died in 1918 at the age of 58. The younger brother, Prince
Frederick was educated at Eton and Magdalene College,
Cambridge, where he took history Tripos and later took his M.A.
He held a commission in the Suffolk Yeomanry and then
transferred to the Norfolk Yeomanry. He resigned his
commission in 1909 but rejoined the corps in 1914 and was two
years on active service in France. He was awarded the Territorial
Decoration. Prince Frederick was deeply interested in
archaeology and became a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
and contributed articles to various periodicals on this subject. He
died in August 1926, at the age of 58. One of Maharaja's
daughters married Dr. Sutherland, lived in Lahore, and was
popularly known after her parents as Princess Bamba Sutherland.
Maharani Bamba died in 1890. Later, Maharaja Dalip Singh
married an english lady, A.D. Etherill, who lived after
Maharaja's death. Maharaja's later years were extremely
difficult. He was barred from returning to Punjab, and his
pension severed. He died pretty much as an orphan, in Oct. 22,
1893 in Grand Hotel of Paris.
-Ref. Mahan Kosh
The Anglo-Sikh wars resulted in ultimate liquidation of
the Sikh power, and on 30th March, 1849, Maharaja Ranjit
Singh's short lived kingdom was annexed by the British.
Maharaja Dalip Singh was taken away to Fatehgarh in the
U.P., and put under the tutelage of Sir John Login
of the Bengal Army., with the result that after two years the
young Maharaja expressed desire to renounce his faith and
embrace Christianity. He was baptised, granted a pension, sent
to England and given an estate in Suffolk. The married Bamba
Muller, daughter of a European merchant and an Abyssinian mother.
Maharani Bamba spoke and understood only Arabic, and in the
beginning the Maharaja had amusing difficulties when
attempting to converse with his fiancee. She bore him Prince
Victor Dalip Singh, (b. 1866, d. 1918), Prince Fredrick Dalip
Singh (b. 1886, d. 1926), Princess Bamba Jindan (b. 1869, d. 1957),
Princess Katherine, Prince Albert Edward Dalip Singh (b. 1879,
d. 1893), and Princess Sophia Alexandria (b. 1874, d. 1948).
The children of Maharaja Dalip Singh died issueless. Dalip
Singh came to India twice and was reconverted to his paternal
faith. In 1886 he made an attempt to leave England for good
and settle down in Punjab, but his attempt failed and he was
not allowed to proceed beyond Aden. He did not return to
England and died in Paris in 1893.
Princess Bamba Dalip Singh, who later married an English
gentleman Dr. Sutherland, continued to keep in her custody
the collection of paintings and objects of arts, belonging to her
father. She died in Lahore on March 10, 1957, without having
any issue, and thus her death ended the line of the Sikh
ruling dynasty. She bequeathed the collections to Pir Karim
Bakhsh Supra of Lahore who sold it recently to the
Government of Pakistan.
The collection consists of 18 oil paintings, 14 water colours,
22 ivory paintings, 17 photographs, 10 metallic objects and
7 miscellaneous articles.
-Ref. "The Princess Bamba Collection" an official publication
of Department of Archeology, Pakistan
Maharaja Dalip Singh's life is a tragedy in the true sense of
the word. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but
died very poor in a hotel in Paris.
Most people do not know that he wanted to reclaim his kingdom
by launching a war against the British. Although he had become
Chritain at one time, yet he re-entered Khalsa Panth by taking
Khade di Pahul (amrit).
Maharaja wrote the following letter to Sardar Sant Singh who
was his relative from his mother's side. Here is the text of
the letter:
Carlton Club, Pall Mall, S. W.
March 9th, 1886
My Dear Sirdar Ji,
Wah ! Gooroo ji dee Futteh.
I am pleased to receive your letter, but I advise you not
to come near me without the permission of Government as you
might get into trouble with the authorities.
I intend to leave England with my family on the 31st of this
month, but it is possible a little longer delay may occur.
I need not tell you how pleased I shall be (if the Government
permits) for you to be present at my receiving Powhl [Amrit]
which I trust my cousin Thakur Singh Sindhaanwalla will
administer to me.
I am now longing to return to India although Government are
afraid to let me reside in the North Western Provinces and
desire me to live at Ootakamand, but I put my faith entirely
in Sutgooroo who now that I turn to Him for forgivenss I know
will forsake me.
Your sincere friend and welwisher
Duleep Singh
Maharaja.
Note: Maharaja Dalip Singh stayed sometime in Aden. During his
stay at Aden, the Maharaja Dalip Singh was baptised and re-entered
the Sikh faith. He was baptised on May 26, 1886. There is a
photograph of Maharaja with full beard (which is tied back) and
beutiful uniform and turban. In this picture he looks very handsome
and a true Maharaja. This picture must have taken when he was
around 35-40. This picture is not the one that most of us have seen
where the handsome Maharaja is standing with a sword in his right
hand.
-Ref. "History of Freedom Movement in the Punjab - Maharaja
Duleep Singh Correspondence, Vol III," published by
Punjabi University Patiala.
*************************************************************************
Slaves have nothing but their chains to lose!
Jodi Eurchuk (a friend)
*************************************************************************
Abhaijeet Singh
dear mr. kulbir singh
thanks a million for the info on maharaja dalip singh.
with your permission i would like to post it on the bulletion board at our
gurudwara so that the new generation can read about the treachery of the
english on our religion and our kingdom.
regards
aj singh
Jassa
ian.gujarati,soc.culture.bengali,soc.culture.indian.delhi,alt.culture.kerala,alt.culture.us.asian-indian
Followup-To: soc.culture.punjab,soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.telugu,soc.culture.indian.kerala,soc.culture.indian.marathi,alt.politics.india.progressive,alt.culture.tamil,soc.culture.punjab,alt.culture.karnataka,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.in
:dian.gujarati,soc.culture.bengali,soc.culture.indian.delhi,alt.culture.kerala,alt.culture.us.asian-indian
References: <4m35fj$3...@cs.sfu.ca>
Organization: Home Base
Distribution: world
Oi Jatt nein chakk thitey phattey - the gorey screwed our country, Dalip
Singh screwed their women, 'nuff respect to the Maharajah!!
Kulbir (kul...@cs.sfu.ca) wrote:
: Maharaja Dalip Singh
: March 9th, 1886
: My Dear Sirdar Ji,
: Duleep Singh
: Maharaja.
: *************************************************************************
: Jodi Eurchuk (a friend)
: *************************************************************************
:
Bikham
4h...@qlink.queensu.ca (Jassa) wrote:
>Oi Jatt nein chakk thitey phattey - the gorey screwed our country, Dalip
>Singh screwed their women, 'nuff respect to the Maharajah!!
>
Remember that sikhism is larger than what this (*!@*) says above.
Remember that there are a lot of gorey sikhs, who follow the gurus more closer
than many "indian" sikhs.
Dalip Singh was not a jatt u castiest (*!@*) !!
Bikham
Yamuna and the Sutlej. They walked over to the British, forcing Ranjit Singh
to sign the treaty of Amrtisar.
Pardee95
Kulbir,
That was a good post, keep it up.
Sincerely,
Pardeep Singh.
Jassa
Followup-To: soc.culture.punjab,soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.telugu,soc.culture.indian.kerala,soc.culture.indian.marathi,alt.politics.india.progressive,alt.culture.tamil,soc.culture.punjab,alt.culture.karnataka,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.in
d
References: <4m69ro$b...@knot.queensu.ca> <4m7oqq$h...@hardcopy.ny.jpmorgan.com>
Organization: Home Base
Distribution:
Bikham (bksm@genetic) wrote:
: 4h...@qlink.queensu.ca (Jassa) wrote:
I am sure you think he was a rajput, tho, don't you? There weren't any
gorey sikhs back then anyhow, the fact remains the gorey took our land,
the maharajah bopped their women ;)
JasSA (THE BIG BADD JATT)
Mrinal Kr. Mandal
Mr. Kuldip and Pardeep,
Can you show one good reason why this thread should be posted to so
many newsgroups (including sc-bengali, sci-telegu, etc.)
I will appreciate if you refrain from adulterating other newsgroups.
Thanks.
Mrinal Mandal
Hassan Haider Naqvi
Now wait a minute, you mean "Last Sikh Maharaja"
--
Hassan Haider Naqvi
Pardee95
Dear Mrinal,
No I cannot explain why the thread is in so many newsgroups, nor do I want
to since I did not originate it, nor do I have control to which groups it
goes to once I respond via AOL.
However, as a Sikh I enjoyed it.
Cheers aye,
Pardeep.
Jassa
ian.gujarati,soc.culture.bengali,soc.culture.indian.delhi,alt.culture.kerala,alt.culture.us.asian-indian
Followup-To: soc.culture.punjab,soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.indian.telugu,soc.culture.indian.kerala,soc.culture.indian.marathi,alt.politics.india.progressive,alt.culture.tamil,soc.culture.punjab,alt.culture.karnataka,soc.culture.pakistan,soc.culture.in
:dian.gujarati,soc.culture.bengali,soc.culture.indian.delhi,alt.culture.kerala,alt.culture.us.asian-indian
References: <4m7p18$h...@hardcopy.ny.jpmorgan.com> <4m84qh$h...@newsbf02.news.aol.com> <4m8fl0$23...@mercury.cc.uottawa.ca>
Organization: Home Base
Distribution:
Mrinal, why does the post upset you so much, really, what is your problem
with it? Does it not deal with indian history or was the Sikh kingdom
just a fairytale dreamt up by khalistanis?
Mrinal Kr. Mandal (man...@marge.genie.uottawa.ca) wrote:
: Mr. Kuldip and Pardeep,
Harpreet Singh
Hassan Haider Naqvi wrote:
>
> Now wait a minute, you mean "Last Sikh Maharaja"
He was no Sikh, he had become a Christian. later, he came to his senses
and became a Sikh.
> --
> Hassan Haider Naqvi
Sandeep Singh Brar
In article <31891D1D...@isis.com>, Harpreet Singh <si...@isis.com> wrote:
>Hassan Haider Naqvi wrote:
>>
>> Now wait a minute, you mean "Last Sikh Maharaja"
>
>He was no Sikh, he had become a Christian. later, he came to his senses
>and became a Sikh.
Sat Sri Akal
The sad and tragic tale of Maharaja Dalip Singh is yet another example of how
the british raped and looted the glory of what was once a great country.
Just imagine if you were raised in an alien land with english people and no
contact with your own kind. The poor Maharaja was not to blame for what became
of him.
The lesson to be learned is that whatever you are, Hindu, Muslim or Sikh you
should be proud of your culture and religion and not try to loose them or
think them 'infirior' in any way or you will loose your identity as Maharaja
Dalip Singh and his children did.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Sandeep Singh Brar
The Sikhism Home Page
www.io.org/~sandeep/sikhism.htm
Sikh Memories: Photographs From Another Era
www.io.org/~sandeep/photos.htm
Kulbir Singh Bhatia
: >Kulbir,
: >
: >That was a good post, keep it up.
: >
: >Sincerely,
: >Pardeep Singh.
: Mr. Kuldip and Pardeep,
: Can you show one good reason why this thread should be posted to so
: many newsgroups (including sc-bengali, sci-telegu, etc.)
In case you wanted to address me, I am of the opinion that cross-cultural
exchanges are important for human understanding. Readers on
all the ngs would love to read about the struggles of the Maharaja
of your region. Please don't hesitate to post it if you can.
regards,
kulbir singh
Kulbir Singh Bhatia
: thanks a million for the info on maharaja dalip singh.
: with your permission i would like to post it on the bulletion board at our
: gurudwara so that the new generation can read about the treachery of the
: english on our religion and our kingdom.
You don't need my permission for using any thing which I post. It's public
property once it's on the net. I myself didn't take permission from
the source where this material first appeared. I just hoped that
since the information promotes Punjabiyat the source didn't mind my
stealing it.
regards,
kulbir singh
: regards
: aj singh
Pardee95
Yes, the British were very devious and cunning following Machivelli's
teachings to the hilt - divide & conquer, forget morality, whatever is
expedient is good, the ends jsutify the means, etc.
Even the corrupt priesthood was beaten.
Pardee95
Dear Mrinal,
Ftom America Online I have no option to edit which newgroups my response
goes to. By default it goes to all that were originally listed in the
header.
Pardeep Singh.
Mansoor Khan
Thanks for posting the following article.
Mansoor Khan
Cleveland, Ohio