Ranjit Singh and the Consolidation of the Sikh State

At a Glance

• What it is How the Sikhs built a state in Punjab and how Ranjit Singh united it
• Twelve misls Sikh confederacies in the late eighteenth century
• Ranjit Singh Born November 1780; son of Mahan Singh of the Sukarchakiya misl
• Capitals Lahore (political) and Amritsar (religious)
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Conquest of Sindh and Punjab

Where Does It Fit?

This is the second topic of the category on the conquest of Sindh and Punjab. The previous topic described the English conquest of Sindh. This topic traces how the Sikh state rose. The next topic covers Ranjit Singh’s dealings with the English. Previous topic: Rise of the Talpur Amirs and the Conquest of Sindh.

What Happened to the Sikhs After Banda Bahadur?

After the death of Guru Gobind Singh, a section of the Sikhs under Banda Bahadur revolted against the Mughals in the time of Bahadur Shah. Banda Bahadur was defeated by Farrukhsiyar in 1715 and put to death in 1716. The Sikh polity thus became leaderless again and later split into two groups, the Bandai (liberal) and the Tat Khalsa (orthodox). The rift ended in 1721 under the influence of Bhai Mani Singh. Later Kapur Singh Faizullapuria organised the Sikhs under the Dal Khalsa, to unite followers politically, culturally and economically. The Khalsa was formed into two sections: the Budha Dal, the army of the veterans, and the Taruna Dal, the army of the young.

What Were the Misls?

The weakness of the Mughals and the invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali created confusion and anarchy in Punjab. These conditions helped the organised Dal Khalsa to consolidate. The Sikhs consolidated in misls, which were military brotherhoods with a democratic set-up. Misl is an Arabic word meaning equal or alike, and another meaning is state. Between 1763 and 1773 many misls began to rule the Punjab region under Sikh chieftains, from Saharanpur in the east to Attock in the west, and from the mountainous north to Multan in the south.

When Ranjit Singh was born in November 1780 there were twelve important misls: Ahluwaliya, Bhangi, Dallewalia, Faizullapuria, Kanhaiya, Krorasinghia, Nakkai, Nishaniya, Phulkiya, Ramgarhiya, Sukarchakiya and Shaheed. The central administration of a misl rested on the Gurumatta Sangh, which was essentially a political, social and economic system.

How Did Ranjit Singh Rise?

Ranjit Singh was the son of Mahan Singh, the leader of the Sukarchakiya misl. Mahan Singh died when Ranjit was only 12 years old, but Ranjit showed an early acumen in political affairs. Towards the close of the eighteenth century all the important misls except the Sukarchakiya were disintegrating, and Afghanistan was caught in a civil war that lasted three decades. Ranjit Singh exploited these events and, following a ruthless policy of “blood and iron”, carved out a kingdom for himself in central Punjab.

With Lahore and Amritsar, the political capital and the religious capital of Punjab came under the rule of Ranjit Singh. He maintained good relations with the Dogras and the Nepalese and enlisted them in his army.

Why Was His Army Important?

The Sikh state rested on its army. Ranjit Singh modernised it with the help of Europeans, who served as officers, including French and Italian soldiers of fortune, and he paid standing troops from the treasury. A strong army and able generals let him extend the kingdom from the Sutlej to the Jhelum and beyond. His generals, Mohkam Chand, Dewan Chand, Hari Singh Nalwa and Ram Dayal, were already dead when the crisis after his death came, as described in First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845-46.

As an analytical point, Ranjit Singh built the state on personal loyalty and military strength, not on institutions. This explains why the state weakened quickly after his death, as covered in First Anglo-Sikh War, 1845-46.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Rise of the Sikh state It explains the last major Indian power the English faced
• Direct facts The twelve misls, Mahan Singh and the years 1799 and 1801 are common Prelims items
• Link to Macro 7 The Sikh state prepares the two Anglo-Sikh wars

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Ranjit Singh and the English: the Treaty of Amritsar and the Tripartite Treaty.

Key People and Terms

• Misl A Sikh military brotherhood or confederacy, from an Arabic word meaning equal
• Gurumatta The resolution of the Sikh assembly that guided misl administration
• Dal Khalsa The united Sikh force organised to unite the Sikhs
• Budha Dal and Taruna Dal The armies of the veterans and of the young
• Sukarchakiya misl The misl of Mahan Singh and Ranjit Singh
• Blood and iron A ruthless policy of war and force

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask how Ranjit Singh built the Sikh kingdom. These points add depth.

• Opportunity The collapse of Mughal power and the Afghan civil war let him rise
• Method Military strength and a policy of blood and iron
• Weakness A state built on a single man faded after he died