Selections of these valuable papers originally intended to form an appendix to the present writer's work, Anglo-Sikh Relations, 1799-1849: A Reappraisal of the Rise and Fall of the Sikhs had to be abandoned on account of their bulk and historical importance. Although during the past few years advanced researches in the history of the Punjab have made considerable progress, yet it will be noticed that quest for new materials has unfortunately dwindled, and the publication of basic materials and public records, with rare exceptions, has almost ceased. Our local materials on the political history of the Sikhs being somewhat scanty, if not unauthoritative, it is essential that the scholars should delve deep into public records and private papers of the personages of the time, which exist in such an abundance in the India Office Library and the National Archives of India.
Various papers of historical import in the Ludhiana Agency and Delhi Residency Records, the Bengal Secret and Political Consultations (1), 1800-1834, the India Secret Proceedings (I), 1834-1856, and the Home Miscellaneous Series (1), still need reassessment. Although Wade furnished a one-sided account of British relations with the Punjab in 1823, and an interpretation of George Russell Clerk's public correspondence appeared as late as 1952, yet some of the public and most of the private correspondence of Ochterlony, Murray, Nicholson, Abbott, Clerk, Richmond, Broadfoot, Currie, Edwardes, Gough and the Lawrences awaits further examination. On the whole, the British records, irrespective of their bias and irrelevancies, give us authentic and contemporary information on the events of the time. These provide us with a mixed fare; and some furnish positive information on the Sikhs-as for instance, Metcalfe's Memoir of Hindoostan West of the Jumna in 1805-HMS (I), 506 A; Ranjit Singh-Minto Correspondence-Ibid. 593 (15-24); the Weekly News-Sheets (Lahore, Multan, Peshawar etc.) in the BSPC (I) and ISP (I). A paper of J. D. Cunningham: Narrative of Political conditions and Military Resources of the Punjab (1844)-ISP (I) 28 March, 1845 is of great interest; two papers of Colonel Richmond: Report on the Military Resources of the Punjab-ISP (I) 23 March, 1844, and a Memoir on the Jummu Rajahs-(EP) PRO 30/12 (60), deserve our attention.
The rise of the Sikhs as a political power in the Punjab and the establishment of a sovereign military monarchy in northern India during the closing decade of the 18th century by Ranjit Singh provides a fascinating study. It sounded the death-knell of the shadow of persistent Afghan suzerainty over Punjab, and led to the gradual obliteration of the various Sikh Misals, which had sprung up on the ruins of Abdali's empire in India. With amazing astuteness Ranjit Singh balanced his political relations for over 30 years in a spirit of suspicious amicability with an highly imperialist neighbour across the Sutlej. It is however, a disappointing fact that in recent times no balanced and authenticated study of the life and times of this great monarch has either been attempted or written. For too long have we clung to the one-sided and out-of-date opinions of Smyth (1847), Steinbach (1845), Osborne (1840), Macgregor (1846), Cunningham (1849), Griffin and others-these worthy gentlemen wrote worthier works in their own times; but now that our regional histories are being written by Indians themselves, it is of utmost importance that a fresh interpretation of this most eventful period of the history of the Punjab should be seriously undertaken in all earnest.
It is earnestly hoped that the publication of selections from these rare and valuable private papers of Auckland, Ellenborough, Hardinge and Dalhousie will provide positive information on the crucial period of the history of the Sikhs from 1836-1849. and would lead to many sober revisions of current fallacies and myths, in particular to some of the main events referred to in the Introduction.
The stray selections from the Auckland Papers (Book 1) furnish information of great value on Sikh diplomacy, persons and politics at Ranjit Singh's Court. Auckland designates the Sikhs "as a swaggering and restive nation, proud of their military strength," and in dealing with the Lahore Darbar, he exhibits British distrust of the Sikh military power; yet he values Ranjit Singh's friendship, his moderation, and prudence.
Selections from the Ellenborough Papers (Book II) provide a prelude to the first Sikh War. They reveal that but for British unpreparedness and a weak frontier on the Sutlej, Ellenborough would have gambled into a premature war with the Sikhs. He, instead, adopted an uncanny and bellicose attitude towards Lahore: "I will never threaten when I cannot strike," he said, "and I will never strike unless I strike very hard, and one blow will be enough."
Selections from Hardinge's Private Papers (Book III) unfold the real story of the first Sikh War. They disclose that his scrupulous avoidance of the annexation of the Punjab in 1846 aimed at the utter annihilation of Sikh military and political power. His claim, however, proved illusory; and his "political experiment" in the Punjab failed, as is evidenced by the subsequent events. That his Punjab policy was vehemently opposed at home by the Whig Opposition and brazenly winked at by Peel's Government, is evidenced by his sardonic comment: "I had rather go than be turned out !"
Selections from the Dalhousie Papers (Book IV) include those of his private letters to Sir John Hobhouse, Lord John Russell, Sir George Couper and others. These revealing papers tell the untold story of the so-called second Sikh War. "Our acts," declared the Marquess of Dalhousie. "require no explanation.
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