Punjab was the last major kingdom to be annexed by the East India Company in India. With the annexation of Punjab in 1849, almost the entire Indian subcontinent came under the Company’s control. It is said that when a map of India, showing British territories in red, was shown to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, he remarked, “All will become red.”
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, Maharaja Ranjit Singh established a powerful empire in north-west India, which included present-day Punjab, large parts of Pakistan, some regions of Afghanistan, and Jammu and Kashmir. He built a strong and modern army known as the Khalsa Army, which was one of the most formidable forces in Asia.
In 1809, the East India Company and Ranjit Singh signed the Treaty of Amritsar, by which the Sutlej River was fixed as the boundary between the Sikh Kingdom and the British territories.
Ranjit Singh died in 1839, after which Punjab witnessed a series of succession disputes, assassinations, and political instability. Ultimately, Duleep Singh, only five years old, became the ruler, with his mother Maharani Jind Kaur acting as regent.
After Ranjit Singh’s death, the East India Company increased its military presence along the Sutlej, which provoked the Khalsa Army. This led to the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846). Although the Sikh army fought bravely, it was defeated. The Treaty of Lahore (1846) was imposed, under which the Jalandhar Doab (between the Sutlej and Beas rivers) was ceded to the Company. A British Resident was stationed at Lahore, and Sikh sovereignty was severely curtailed. Because the Sikhs could not pay the heavy war indemnity, Kashmir was sold to Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu for 75 lakh rupees, leading to the creation of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Sikhs were deeply dissatisfied with the increasing British interference in Punjab’s administration. Diwan Mulraj, the governor of Multan, revolted when the British attempted to replace him. During this uprising, two British officers were killed, which escalated into the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849). Dost Mohammad Khan of Afghanistan also supported the Sikhs. However, the Sikh forces were again defeated.
In 1849, Punjab was formally annexed by the East India Company. Maharaja Duleep Singh was exiled to Britain and was given a pension. Thus, the independent Sikh Kingdom came to an end, and British paramountcy was established over almost the whole of India.
