CH03- Rise of EIC__L03- Rise of EIC (Part 03)

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 21

‭Modern History‬

‭CH03: Rise of EIC‬


‭L03: Rise of EIC (Part 03)‬

‭British vs Marathas:‬
‭Fall of the Maratha Power:‬
‭●‬ ‭The Successors of‬‭Shivaji‬‭were very‬‭weak and inefficient.‬‭Real power passed into the‬
‭hands of the Peshwa.‬‭Under Sahuji,‬‭the office of the Peshwa also‬‭became hereditary.‬
‭●‬ ‭Though the first two Peshwas were empire-builders, the‬‭Maratha power received a‬
‭staggering blow at the‬‭Battle of‬
‭Panipat in 1761‬‭.‬
‭●‬ ‭Marathas lost the cream of their army‬
‭and their political prestige suffered.‬
‭●‬ ‭Most of all, their defeat gave an‬
‭opportunity to the‬‭English East India‬
‭Company‬‭to consolidate their power in‬
‭Bengal and South India.‬
‭●‬ ‭In the‬‭absence of a settled system,‬‭the‬
‭state descended into a terrible engine of‬
‭oppression.‬
‭●‬ ‭There was an‬‭absence of central authority.‬‭In the words of‬‭J.N.‬‭Sarkar‬‭,‬‭“the cohesion‬
‭of the peoples in the Maratha state was not organic but artificial, accidental and‬
‭therefore precarious.”‬
‭●‬ ‭They did not try to develop a new economy and they were mainly interested in raising‬
‭revenue from the helpless peasantry.‬
‭●‬ ‭The English were superior to the Marathas in the game of diplomacy. They divided the‬
‭mutually warring Maratha Sardars and overpowered them in separate battles.‬
‭●‬ ‭Unfortunately, most of the eminent leaders died towards the end of the eighteenth‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭century.‬
‭○‬ ‭Ahalya Bai Holker died in 1765‬
‭○‬ ‭Peshwa Madhav Rao II in 1795‬
‭○‬ ‭Nana Phadnavis in 1800‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1765 the‬‭Treaty of Allahabad‬‭occurred, and between 1765 to 1772 there was a dual‬
‭government system in 1772 the new governor of Bengal was Warren Hasting.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1773 they set up a‬‭Regulating Act.‬

‭First Anglo-Maratha War:‬


‭●‬ ‭The‬‭primary cause of the First Anglo-Maratha War‬‭was the interference of the English‬
‭government in Bombay in the internal affairs of the Marathas.‬
‭●‬ ‭Peshwa Madhav Rao died in 1772.‬‭He was succeeded by his‬‭younger brother Narayan‬
‭Rao.‬
‭●‬ ‭His uncle‬‭Raghunath Rao‬‭wanted to become the Peshwa and got him killed in 1773.‬
‭●‬ ‭Narayan Rao's widow, Gangabai,‬‭gave birth to a son after her husband's death.‬
‭●‬ ‭The newborn infant was named‬‭'Sawai' Madhav Rao‬‭and he was legally the next Peshwa.‬
‭●‬ ‭The 12 Maratha chiefs led by‬‭Nana Fadnavis supported it.‬
‭●‬ ‭Raghunath Rao‬‭approached the Bombay govt for help and signed the‬‭Treaty of Surat in‬
‭1775‬‭to gain the empire with the help of English subsidiary troops.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭Bombay‬‭government aimed to set up a‬‭Dual government at Poona‬‭(like Clive did in‬
‭the past).‬
‭●‬ ‭By this treaty, he also promised to cede Salsette and Bassein and refrain from entering‬
‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭into alliance with the enemies of the company.‬
‭●‬ ‭English forces occupied Salsette and Bassein and fought an indecisive battle with the‬
‭Poona forces at Arras.‬
‭Treaty of Surat - 1775:‬
‭●‬ ‭By this treaty, an‬‭English contingent of 2500 men‬‭was to be placed at the disposal of‬
‭Raghoba to support his candidature for the Peshwaship.‬
‭●‬ ‭Raghoba‬‭was to deposit jewelry worth‬‭Rs 6,00,000 as security in British custody‬‭as well‬
‭as pay half a lakh rupee every month for the upkeep of the army.‬
‭●‬ ‭He agreed to cede to the British‬‭Bassein, Salsette, and four islands adjacent to‬
‭Bombay.‬
‭●‬ ‭He also agreed to‬‭revenue share in Surat and Bharuch.‬
‭●‬ ‭Maratha raids into Bengal and the Carnatic‬‭were to cease and any peace made by‬
‭Raghoba with the authorities in Poona was not to exclude the English.‬
‭●‬ ‭The British Calcutta Council condemned the Treaty of Surat,‬‭sending Colonel Upton to‬
‭Pune to annul it and make a new treaty with the regency.‬
‭The Treaty of Purandar (March 1776):‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭Treaty of Purandar‬‭was annulled that of Surat, Raghunathrao was pensioned and his‬
‭cause abandoned, but the revenues of the Salsette and Broach districts were retained by‬
‭the British.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Bombay government rejected this and‬‭gave refuge to Raghunath.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1777 the treaty was violated by Nana Phadnavis and granted a port to the French. This‬
‭antagonized the English now.‬

‭Impact of American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783):‬


‭●‬ ‭The American War of Independence was fought‬‭between 1775 - 83 and by 1778 France had‬
‭joined against England.‬
‭●‬ ‭A French adventurer‬‭Chevalier de St. Lubin‬‭reached Poona and alarmed the Governor General.‬
‭●‬ ‭He ordered the seizure of all the French settlements in India and sent a large force under‬
‭Goddard to strengthen the Bombay army.‬
‭●‬ ‭He also neglected the‬‭Treaty of Purandar‬‭and sanctioned operations against Marathas.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭Bombay Government‬‭sent a force under‬‭Col. Egerton was under Maratha attack‬‭. Finally,‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭the British were forced to retreat back to Wadgaon but were soon surrounded.‬

‭The Course of War:‬


‭●‬ ‭The English and the Maratha armies met on the‬‭outskirts of Pune.‬
‭●‬ ‭Mahadji lured‬‭the English army into the‬‭ghats near Talegaon.‬
‭●‬ ‭He trapped the English‬‭from all sides and attacked the‬‭English supply base at‬‭Khopoli.‬
‭●‬ ‭He took measures aligning with the‬‭scorched earth policy‬‭, burning‬‭farmland‬‭and‬
‭poisoning wells.‬
‭●‬ ‭The English surrendered by mid-January 1779 and signed the‬‭Treaty of Wadgaon.‬
‭○‬ ‭By this treaty, the English returned all acquired territories‬
‭○‬ ‭Thus, the advantages of the‬‭Treaty of Purandar‬‭were lost.‬
‭Treaty of Salbai - 1782:‬
‭●‬ ‭In the meanwhile,‬‭Warren Hastings‬‭rejected the‬‭Treaty of Wadgaon.‬
‭●‬ ‭Colonel Goddard captured‬‭Ahmedabad and Bassein‬‭in 1780.‬
‭●‬ ‭Captain‬‭Popham captured Gwalior‬‭in August 1780 (Scindia).‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1781, under‬‭General Camac‬‭, the English‬‭finally defeated Sindhia at Sipri‬‭.‬
‭●‬ ‭Scindia proposed a‬‭new treaty which was ratified by Hastings and by‬‭Phadnavis.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Main Provisions of the Treaty of Salbai were:‬
‭○‬ ‭Salsette should continue in the‬‭possession of the English.‬
‭○‬ ‭Bassein and other territories conquered since the‬‭Treaty of Purandar‬‭(1776) should‬
‭be restored to the‬‭Marathas.‬
‭○‬ ‭In Gujarat‬‭, Fateh Singh Gaekwad should remain in possession of the territory.‬
‭○‬ ‭The English should not offer any further support to Raghunathrao.‬
‭○‬ ‭Haidar Ali should return all the territory taken from the‬‭English and the Nawab of‬
‭Arcot.‬
‭○‬ ‭The English should enjoy the privileges of trade as before.‬
‭○‬ ‭The Peshwa should not support any other European nation.‬
‭○‬ ‭Mahadji Scindia‬‭should be the mutual guarantor.‬
‭○‬ ‭The status quo was maintaine‬‭d which gave the British‬‭20 years of peace with‬
‭the Marathas‬‭.‬
‭○‬ ‭The treaty also enabled the‬‭British to have a free hand in Mysore.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭Maratha Confederacy:‬
‭●‬ ‭After the fall of Mysore in 1799–1800, the Marathas‬
‭were the only major power left.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Maratha Empire‬‭confederacy‬‭of five major chiefs:‬
‭○‬ ‭The Peshwa (Prime Minister) capital city of‬
‭Poona,‬
‭○‬ ‭The Gaekwad chief of Baroda,‬
‭○‬ ‭The Scindia chief of Gwalior,‬
‭○‬ ‭The Holkar chief of Indore, and‬
‭○‬ ‭The Bhonsle chief of Nagpur.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Maratha chiefs were engaged in internal quarrels‬
‭among themselves. The British had repeatedly offered a‬‭subsidiary treaty‬‭to the Peshwa‬
‭and Scindia‬‭, but‬‭Nana Fadnavis refused strongly.‬

‭Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–05):‬


‭●‬ ‭Richard Wellesley‬‭(1798-1805) was the Governor General.‬
‭●‬ ‭Towards the War:‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1795,‬‭Peshwa Madhavrao Narayan committed suicide.‬
‭●‬ ‭Bajirao II, the worthless son of‬‭Raghunath Rao‬‭, became the‬‭Peshwa, and Nana Phadnavis‬
‭became the Chief Minister.‬
‭●‬ ‭There were internal conflicts, which gave the English an opportunity to intervene.‬‭Nana‬
‭Phadnavis died in 1800.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Course of War:‬
‭○‬ ‭In 1801‬‭, the Peshwa brutally‬‭murdered the brother of Jaswantrao Holkar, Vithuji.‬
‭○‬ ‭Jaswant fought against the‬‭combined forces of Scindia and Bajirao II‬‭and‬
‭defeated them in 1802.‬
‭○‬ ‭He made‬‭Vinayakrao, son of Amritrao, Peshwa seat.‬‭As a result of it, Bajirao II‬
‭fled to Bassein.‬
‭○‬ ‭On December 31,‬‭1802, signed a treaty with the English.‬
‭Treaty of Bassein - 1802:‬
‭●‬ ‭Bajirao II had to maintain a subsidiary force‬‭of 6000 infantry with proportionate artillery,‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭the annual expense of which was estimated to be Rs 26 lakh.‬
‭●‬ ‭Bajirao II agreed not to entertain any foreign national hostile‬‭to the British in his‬
‭service.‬
‭●‬ ‭He needed to accept British intercession to settle his differences with the‬‭Nizam and the‬
‭Gaekwad and not to negotiate with any other state‬‭his differences between the two of‬
‭them.‬
‭●‬ ‭Bajirao II had to surrender the city of Surat to the British.‬
‭●‬ ‭He also needs to give up all claims for‬‭Chauth on Nizam’s‬‭dominions; thus, this treaty is‬
‭regarded as the‬‭"death knell of the Maratha Empire”.‬
‭Significance of the Treaty of Bassein:‬
‭●‬ ‭The Treaty is sometimes regarded as something that‬‭gave the English the key to India‬‭.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Treaty allowed stationing‬‭a Permanent English force in the Maratha territory‬‭and‬
‭gave huge strategic benefits to the English.‬‭This made the company's troops much more‬
‭evenly distributed and rushed to crisis anywhere without much delay.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Company already had troops in‬‭Mysore, Hyderabad, and Lucknow.‬
‭●‬ ‭The company was now in a position to expand its area of influence in a much more‬
‭effective way.‬
‭●‬ ‭The acceptance of the‬‭Subsidiary Alliance‬‭on the part of the Peshwa disgusted the‬
‭Maratha chieftains; in particular, the Scindia rulers of Gwalior and the Bhonsle rulers of‬
‭Nagpur and Berar contested the agreement.‬
‭●‬ ‭The British had available over 53,000 men to help accomplish their goals. The British won‬
‭decisively.‬
‭●‬ ‭British forces were led by‬‭Arthur Wellesley.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1804, Yashwantrao Holkar‬‭attempted to form a coalition of Indian rulers to fight‬
‭against the English.‬
‭●‬ ‭Treaties Signed:‬
‭○‬ ‭1803 - Bhonsle → Treaty of Deogaon‬
‭○‬ ‭1803 - Scindia → Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon‬
‭○‬ ‭1806 - Holkar → Treaty of Rajpurghat‬
‭●‬ ‭By these above treaties, all were reduced to vassalage.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–18):‬
‭●‬ ‭Lord Hastings‬‭made the imperialistic design of imposing‬‭British Paramountcy.‬
‭●‬ ‭During his tenure,‬‭the Charter Act of 1813,‬‭the East India Company’s monopoly of trade‬
‭in India (except tea and China) was ended. The company needed more markets.‬
‭●‬ ‭Pindaris were attached to the Maratha armies as mercenaries.‬
‭●‬ ‭They started plundering neighboring territories, including those of the Company.‬
‭●‬ ‭The English charged the Marathas with giving‬‭shelter to the Pindaris.‬
‭●‬ ‭Pindari leaders like Amir Khan and Karim Khan surrendered‬‭, while Chitu Khan fled into‬
‭the jungles.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Treaty of Bassein was seen as an absolute surrender of independence.‬
‭●‬ ‭Lord Hastings' actions taken against the Pindaris were seen as a transgression of the‬
‭sovereignty of the Maratha.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭United Maratha Confederacy under Baji Rao II‬‭started the Third Anglo-Maratha War.‬
‭●‬ ‭Maratha made a desperate last attempt to regain their independence and prestige in 1817.‬
‭●‬ ‭This led to the formation of a united front of the Maratha Chiefs‬‭and was taken over‬
‭by the Peshwa who were uneasy under the rigid control exercised by the British Resident.‬
‭●‬ ‭However,‬‭once again the Marathas failed to evolve any plan of action.‬
‭○‬ ‭The Peshwa attacked the‬‭British Residency at Poona in 1817.‬
‭○‬ ‭Appa Saheb of Nagpur attacked the Residency at Nagpur‬
‭○‬ ‭Madhav Rao Holkar made preparations for war.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭political and administrative conditions‬‭of all the Maratha were‬‭confused and‬
‭inefficient.‬
‭●‬ ‭Jaswant Rao Holkar‬‭had died, which made‬‭Tulsi Bai, Holkar's favorite mistress, come to‬
‭the helm of affairs in Poona.‬
‭●‬ ‭Bhonsle at Nagpur and Scindia at Gwalior‬‭grew weak.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Peshwa was‬‭defeated at Khirki, Bhonsle at Sitabuldi, and Holkar at Mahidpur.‬
‭●‬ ‭Some important treaties were signed.‬‭These were:‬
‭○‬ ‭Treaty of Poona - Peshwa‬
‭○‬ ‭Treaty of Gwalior - Scindia‬
‭○‬ ‭Treaty of Mandasor - Holkar‬
‭●‬ ‭In June 1818, the‬‭Peshwa finally surrendered, and as a result of it:‬
‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭○‬ ‭The Maratha confederacy dissolved.‬
‭○‬ ‭Peshwaship abolished.‬
‭○‬ ‭Bajirao became a pensioner at Bithur, near Kanpur.‬
‭●‬ ‭Pratap Singh, a lineal descendant of Shivaji,‬‭was made ruler of Satara.‬
‭Why was Marathas Lost?‬
‭●‬ ‭Inefficient Leadership:‬‭Maratha leaders such as‬‭Bajirao II, Daulatrao Scindia, and‬
‭Jaswant Rao‬‭were inefficient and selfish leaders. Their leadership was of no match in front‬
‭of English officials like‬‭Elphinstone, John Malcolm, and Arthur Wellesley.‬
‭●‬ ‭Inefficient Political Organization:‬‭The confederation of the Maratha Empire was loose,‬
‭first under‬‭Chhatrapati and later under Peshwa‬‭. Hostilities existed among different‬
‭confederations which made the empire internally very weak.‬
‭●‬ ‭Inferior Military:‬‭The inferiority of Marathas to the English was in terms of weak‬
‭organization of forces, inferior firearms, and ineffective leadership. Treachery played a‬
‭pivotal role in weakening the Maratha army. Negligible use of artillery.‬
‭●‬ ‭Unstable Economic Policy:‬‭Marathas failed to evolve a sound economic policy to ensure a‬
‭smooth flow of revenue. The lack of industries and foreign trade led to a lack of revenue.‬
‭●‬ ‭Defective Nature of State:‬‭Marathas’ rise was on account of the religion-national‬
‭movement. The cohesion of people was not organic but artificial and accidental.‬
‭●‬ ‭Efforts towards educating and unifying people were lacking‬‭. On the other hand, English‬
‭was highly organized and clear in their approach.‬
‭●‬ ‭Diplomatic skills of English:‬‭It helped them in winning allies and isolating enemies. The‬
‭English maintained an organized network of spies while the Marathas were ignorant and‬
‭lacked information about their enemies.‬
‭●‬ ‭Progressive outlook of English:‬‭English was rejuvenated by the Renaissance. They were‬
‭deeply indulged in scientific innovations, ocean exploration, and the acquisition of colonies.‬
‭On the other hand, Indians were deeply engulfed in old dogmas and superstitions.‬
‭●‬ ‭With respect to the fall of Marathas, it can be well said that:‬‭The English attacked a‬
‭divided house which started crumbling with the first push.‬

‭Punjab before Ranjit Singh:‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭Guru Gobind Singh‬‭transformed the Sikhs into a militant sect to defend their religion and‬
‭liberties.‬
‭●‬ ‭After Guru Gobind Singh,‬‭Banda‬
‭Bahadur‬‭assumed the leadership of‬
‭Sikhs. He revolted against the‬‭Mughals‬
‭during Bahadur Shah's reign.‬
‭●‬ ‭In‬‭1715, Farrukhsiyar defeated and‬
‭killed Banda Bahadur‬‭, for which the‬
‭Sikhs faced a major setback.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Sikh polity became leaderless and‬
‭got divided into‬‭Bandai (Liberal) and Tat Khalsa (Orthodox).‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1784, Kapur Singh Fazullapuria united the Sikhs under Dal Khalsa.‬
‭●‬ ‭Two sections emerged out of it:‬
‭○‬ ‭Budha Dal: Army of Veterans‬
‭○‬ ‭Taruna Dal: Army of young‬
‭●‬ ‭Invasion by‬‭Ahmed Shah Abdali‬‭helped Sikhs to wrest the benefit of instability and‬
‭organize themselves better.‬
‭●‬ ‭They‬‭consolidated themselves into misls‬‭which were a military brotherhood and had a‬
‭democratic set-up.‬
‭●‬ ‭From 1763 to 1773‬‭, many misls ruled the Punjab region under Sikh chieftains.‬
‭●‬ ‭The credit for organizing the misls and strengthening the strong kingdom goes to‬‭Ranjit‬
‭Singh of Sukerchakia misl.‬
‭●‬ ‭12 misls:‬‭Ahluwalia, bhangi, Dallewwalia, Fazilpuria, kanhaiya, krosasinghiya, Nakkai,‬
‭Nishaniya, Phulakiya, Ramgarhiya, Sukerchakiya and Saheed.‬
‭●‬ ‭Misl was technically a‬‭group‬‭or small‬‭state‬‭which was more of a military base, and they‬
‭had an equal and good brotherhood.‬
‭●‬ ‭Misl was administered by Gurumatta Sangh, a‬‭socio-political and economic system.‬

‭Sukerchakia Misl and Ranjit Singh:‬


‭●‬ ‭The credit for organizing the misls and strengthening the strong kingdom goes to Ranjit‬
‭Singh of‬‭Sukerchakia misl.‬
‭●‬ ‭He was 12 years old when‬‭Mahan Singh‬‭died.‬
‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭All the important misls (except Sukarchakia) were in a state of disintegration.‬
‭●‬ ‭Afghanistan was engulfed in civil war.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ranjit Singh adopted a ruthless policy of‬‭‘blood and iron’.‬
‭●‬ ‭He carved out for himself a kingdom in central Punjab.‬

‭Ranjit Singh (1792-1839):‬


‭●‬ ‭The British wanted to create a barrier between Russia and British India.‬
‭○‬ ‭Metcalfe-Lahore‬
‭○‬ ‭Elphinstone-Kabul‬
‭○‬ ‭Malcolm-Teheran‬
‭○‬ ‭Nicholas Smith-Sindh‬
‭○‬ ‭Amir agreed to a treaty - their first-ever treaty with‬
‭the English.‬
‭○‬ ‭Both Sides Agreed to:‬
‭➢‬ ‭Excluded the French from Sindh.‬
‭➢‬ ‭Exchange Agents‬
‭➢‬ ‭And he renewed it in 1820 and Americans were excluded.‬
‭●‬ ‭He‬‭belonged to Sukerchakia Misl.‬
‭●‬ ‭He‬‭captured Lahore in 1799‬‭and‬‭Amritsar in 1802.‬
‭●‬ ‭He was a‬‭military genius.‬‭It is said that he possessed one of the largest armies in Asia.‬
‭●‬ ‭He was very tolerant towards other religions. Most of his trustworthy nobles were‬
‭non-Sikhs.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1799, he was appointed as a‬‭governor of Lahore by Zaman Shah (Afghan ruler)‬‭and‬
‭made it a political capital.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1805, he‬‭acquired Jammu & Amritsar‬‭and as a result, Amritsar as the religious capital‬
‭of Punjab also came under the rule of Ranjit Singh.‬
‭●‬ ‭He maintained good relations with the‬‭Dogras and Nepalese‬‭and enlisted them in his‬
‭army.‬
‭Ranjit Singh and the English:‬
‭●‬ ‭The prospects of‬‭a Franco-Russian‬‭invasion of India alarmed the English.‬
‭○‬ ‭In 1807, Charles Metcalfe offered Ranjit Singh to‬‭accept the proposal of alliance.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭○‬ ‭English would remain neutral in case of a‬‭Sikh-Afghan war.‬
‭○‬ ‭The English would accept Ranjit Singh, sovereign of Punjab including the Malwa‬
‭territories.‬
‭○‬ ‭But the negotiations failed.‬
‭●‬ ‭But, once‬‭Napoleonic‬‭danger receded, the English became more assertive, and Ranjit Singh‬
‭agreed to sign the‬‭Treaty of Amritsar in 1809.‬
‭Punjab under Ranjit Singh:‬
‭●‬ ‭Napoleon's victories in Europe had alarmed the British‬‭, who, fearing a French attack on‬
‭the country through Afghanistan, decided to win the Sikhs over to their side and sent a‬
‭young officer,‬‭Charles Theophilus Metcalfe‬‭, to Maharaja Ranjit Singh's court with an offer‬
‭of friendship.‬
‭●‬ ‭Metcalfe met the Maharaja in his camp at Khem Karan‬‭, near Kasur, on 12 September‬
‭1808, taking with him a large number of presents sent by the Governor-General of India.‬
‭He told him how the English wished to have friendly relations with him and presented to‬
‭him the draft of a treaty.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ranjit Singh did not credit the theory that the British‬‭had made the proposal to him‬
‭because of the danger from Napoleon. On the other hand, he showed his willingness to‬
‭cooperate with the British, provided the latter recognized his claim of paramountcy over all‬
‭the Sikhs.‬
‭●‬ ‭He suspected that the real object of the British‬‭was to put a seal on his southern‬
‭boundary and draw a permanent line between his dominions and their own. Finally, the‬
‭Treaty of Amritsar‬‭was signed in Amritsar, on the 25th April 1809, by Mr. Charles‬
‭Theophilus Metcalfe & Ranjit Singh.‬
‭Treaty of Amritsar - 1809:‬
‭●‬ ‭The Treaty was signed between‬‭Ranjit Singh and Charles‬
‭Metcalfe in 1809.‬
‭●‬ ‭The perpetual friendship shall subsist between the British‬
‭Government and the State of‬‭Lahore.‬
‭●‬ ‭The British will have no concern with the territories‬‭and‬
‭subjects of the Rajah to the northward of the Sutlej.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭The Rajah will never maintain in the territory occupied by him and his dependents on‬
‭the left bank of the River Sutlej,‬‭more troops than are necessary for the internal duties‬
‭of that territory, nor commit or suffer any encroachments.‬
‭●‬ ‭In the‬‭event of a violation,‬‭this‬‭Treaty shall be considered to be null and void.‬
‭●‬ ‭The treaty was significant both in terms of immediate as well as potential effects.‬
‭●‬ ‭It checked the ambitions of Ranjit Singh to extend his rule‬‭over the entire Sikh nation‬
‭by accepting the river‬‭Sutlej as the boundary line.‬
‭●‬ ‭The result was he directed his energies towards the west and captured:‬
‭○‬ ‭Multan (1818)‬
‭○‬ ‭Kashmir (1819)‬
‭○‬ ‭Peshawar (1834)‬

‭Anglo-Afghan Relation:‬
‭●‬ ‭In Persia, the English influence was getting diminished and Russian influence was‬
‭increasing.‬
‭●‬ ‭After the‬‭Treaty of Turkmanchai in 1827‬‭(which concluded‬
‭the Russo-Persian war), the English had a firm belief that‬
‭Russia could invade India.‬
‭●‬ ‭In such a scenario, the English wanted to create‬
‭Afghanistan as a buffer state to protect their Indian‬
‭occupation from potential Russian invasion.‬
‭●‬ ‭There were‬‭three conflicts in 1839–42; 1878–80 and 1919‬‭.‬
‭●‬ ‭Britain tried to extend its control over Afghanistan and‬
‭oppose Russia‬‭so as to have influence in Afghanistan.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ranjit Singh signed the‬‭Tripartite Treaty (1838)‬‭with Lord Auckland and Shah‬‭Shuja to‬
‭place the latter on the thrones of Afghanistan by invasion.‬
‭●‬ ‭However, he refused to give access to the‬‭British Army through his territory to attack‬
‭Dost Mohammed, the Afghan Amir.‬
‭●‬ ‭Raja Ranjit Singh had a weak position vis-a-vis the Company from 1809 to 1839.‬
‭●‬ ‭Despite this, he took no step to organize a coalition of other Indian princes or‬‭maintain a‬
‭balance of power.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭After the‬‭death of Ranjit Singh in 1839,‬‭the region witnessed political instability due to‬
‭the quick succession of rulers in the Punjab‬
‭●‬ ‭The high-handedness of the military and Sikh allies like:‬
‭○‬ ‭Prime Minister Rajan Lal Singh,‬
‭○‬ ‭The Commander-in-Chief Misar Tej Singh‬
‭○‬ ‭Dogra Raja Gulab Singh‬
‭●‬ ‭All these issues made the British intervention possible.‬

‭Punjab After Ranjit Singh:‬


‭Beginning of Court Factions:‬
‭●‬ ‭Kharak Singh:‬
‭○‬ ‭He was‬‭Ranjit Singh’s son and successor‬‭.‬
‭○‬ ‭He was not efficient and thus court factions became active.‬
‭○‬ ‭Kharak Singh’s sudden death in 1839 and the‬‭accidental death of his son, Prince‬
‭Nau Nihal Singh 1840 left Punjab in a state of anarchy.‬
‭○‬ ‭The quarrel over succession provided an opportunity for decisive action by the‬
‭English.‬
‭●‬ ‭Chand Kaur (1841):‬
‭○‬ ‭Chand Kaur was the wife of Kharak Singh and became the‬‭only female ruler of‬
‭the Sikh Empire.‬
‭○‬ ‭She assumed the title of‬‭Malika Muqaddasa.‬
‭○‬ ‭She was abdicated in 73 days.‬
‭●‬ ‭Sher Singh (1841 - 43):‬
‭○‬ ‭He was also the‬‭son of Ranjit Singh but was murdered in 1843.‬
‭○‬ ‭Thereafter discontent was growing among the‬‭troops as a result of irregularity of‬
‭payment.‬
‭○‬ ‭Moreover, the appointment of unworthy officers led to indiscipline.‬
‭○‬ ‭The Lahore government permitted the British troops‬‭to pass through its territory‬
‭for his Afghan conquest.‬
‭○‬ ‭These marches resulted in‬‭commotion and economic dislocation in Punjab‬‭.‬
‭Rani Jindal and Daleep Singh (1843 – 49):‬‭‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭Daleep Singh, a minor son of Ranjit Singh,‬‭was proclaimed as Maharaja in 1843, while‬
‭Rani Jindan was a regent.‬
‭●‬ ‭Hira Singh Dogra‬‭was a wazir. However, he was murdered in 1844.‬
‭●‬ ‭Jawahar Singh‬‭became the new wazir, he was the brother of Rani Jindan and he was also‬
‭killed in 1845 by the Army.‬
‭●‬ ‭Lal Singh became‬‭the new wazir, he was a lover of Rani Jindan. He won over the army‬
‭and Teja Singh was appointed as the commander of the army.‬

‭First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46):‬


‭The causes of the First Anglo-Sikh War were as follows:‬
‭●‬ ‭The power struggle between the court and the army.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭annexation of Gwalior, Sindh‬‭in 1843 annexation‬
‭and the‬‭Afghanistan campaign‬‭in 1842.‬
‭●‬ ‭Increase in the number of English troops stationed near‬
‭the border with the Lahore kingdom.‬
‭●‬ ‭The crossing of the River Sutlej by the Sikh army‬‭on‬
‭December 11, 1845, provided the justification to the‬
‭English to declare war.‬
‭Course of the War:‬
‭●‬ ‭In December 1845 - with‬‭20,000 to 30,000‬‭British troops and‬‭50000 Sikhs‬‭under the‬
‭command of Lal Singh.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭treachery of Lal Singh and Teja Singh‬‭caused five successive defeats to the Sikhs‬
‭and Lahore fell to the British forces on February 20, 1846.‬
‭Treaty of Lahore (March 8, 1846):‬
‭●‬ ‭The conclusion of the Anglo-Sikh war forced the Sikhs to sign a humiliating treaty on‬
‭March 8, 1846.‬
‭●‬ ‭The main features of the treaty were:‬
‭○‬ ‭War indemnity of‬‭1 crore rupees,‬
‭○‬ ‭The Jalandhar Doab (between Beas & Sutlej) was annexed,‬
‭○‬ ‭British residents at Lahore were under‬‭Henry Lawrence‬
‭○‬ ‭The strength of the Sikh army was reduced,‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭○‬ ‭Daleep Singh‬‭was recognized as the ruler under‬‭Rani‬
‭Jindan as regent and Lal Singh as wazir,‬
‭○‬ ‭Since the Sikhs were not able to pay the entire war‬
‭indemnity, Kashmir, including Jammu, was sold to‬
‭Gulab Singh in lieu of‬‭Rupees 75 lakh.‬
‭●‬ ‭Treaty of Bhairowal (1846):‬
‭○‬ ‭The Sikhs were unhappy with the transfer of Kashmir‬
‭Sikhs rebelled.‬
‭○‬ ‭Rani Jindan‬‭was removed as regent.‬
‭○‬ ‭The‬‭council for the regency‬‭of Punjab was set up‬
‭with 8 Sikh sardars presided over by Resident‬‭Henry‬‭Lawrence.‬
‭The causes of the First Anglo-Sikh War was as follows:‬
‭●‬ ‭The defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War.‬
‭●‬ ‭The‬‭treaties of Lahore and Bhairowal‬‭were highly humiliating.‬
‭●‬ ‭Inhuman treatment to Rani Jindan sent to Benares as a pensioner.‬

‭Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49):‬


‭●‬ ‭Mulraj, the governor of Multan‬‭on being replaced, revolted and murdered two English‬
‭officers.‬
‭●‬ ‭Sher Singh‬‭was sent to suppress the revolt, but he himself joined Mulraj, leading to a‬
‭mass uprising in Multan.‬
‭●‬ ‭Lord Dalhousie‬‭, a hardcore expansionist, got the pretext to annex Punjab completely.‬
‭Course of the War:‬
‭●‬ ‭Lord Dalhousie himself proceeded to Punjab.‬‭Three important battles were fought:‬
‭○‬ ‭Battle of Ramnagar,‬‭led by Sir Hugh Gough, the commander-in-chief of the‬
‭Company.‬
‭○‬ ‭Battle of Chillianwala,‬‭in January 1849.‬
‭○‬ ‭Battle of Gujrat,‬‭in February 1849.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Sikh army surrendered at Rawalpindi and the Afghans chased out of India.‬
‭Result at the End of the War:‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭It surrendered the Sikh army and Sher Singh in 1849‬‭and subsequently the English‬
‭annexed the Punjab.‬
‭●‬ ‭Dalhousie for his service was given thanks and promotion by the British Parliament.‬
‭●‬ ‭Three-member board to govern Punjab‬‭with Lawrence brothers (Henry & John) and‬
‭Charles Mansel.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1853,‬‭the board was nullified and‬‭Punjab was placed under a chief commissioner.‬
‭●‬ ‭John Lawrence became the first chief commissioner.‬
‭●‬ ‭Significance:‬‭Both sides developed a mutual respect for each other’s fighting spirit. Sikhs‬
‭fought on the British side on many occasions including in the 1857 revolt.‬
‭●‬ ‭They were accompanied in other campaigns and wars until the‬‭Indian independence in‬
‭1947.‬

‭Sindh:‬
‭Kallora Chiefs‬
‭●‬ ‭In the 18th century, Sindh was ruled by the‬‭Kallora chiefs.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1758, an English factory was built at‬‭Thatta.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1761, Ghulam Shah ratified the earlier treaty and excluded other‬
‭Europeans from trading there.‬
‭●‬ ‭This advantage was enjoyed by the English up to 1775. Later Sarfaraz ruled and closed the‬
‭factory.‬

‭Rise of Talpura Amirs:‬


‭●‬ ‭In the 1770s, the‬‭Baloch tribe of Talpura‬‭started settling in Sindh.‬
‭●‬ ‭The Talpuras rose in influence and power very quickly and in 1783‬
‭established their total control over Sindh under the leadership of Mir‬
‭Fateh Ali Khan.‬
‭●‬ ‭The ruler‬‭Mir Fateh Khan‬‭ruled the country with his brothers known as‬
‭Char Yar.‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1800,‬‭Mir died and his brothers divided the kingdom among‬
‭themselves. They called themselves Amirs.‬

‭Gradual Ascendancy over Sindh‬‭:‬


‭●‬ ‭There was a belief that Napoleon was conspiring with Tipu Sultan to invade India.‬
‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭●‬ ‭Lord Wellesley counteracts the alliance of the French, Tipu Sultan and Shah Zaman - the‬
‭Kabul monarch.‬
‭○‬ ‭Tipu Sultan‬‭tried to increase his influence in Sindh.‬
‭○‬ ‭Mir Fatah‬‭declined Lord Wellesley’s proposals.‬
‭○‬ ‭As a result, the British agent Crow left Sindh.‬

‭Tilsit Alliance:‬
‭●‬ ‭In 1807, the alliance of Tilsit - Alexander I of Russia was joined by Napoleon of France.‬
‭●‬ ‭The alliance had a condition of combined‬‭invasion of India by Land route.‬
‭●‬ ‭This compelled the British to create a barrier between India and Russia.‬

‭Treaty of ‘Eternal Friendship’ - 1807:‬


‭●‬ ‭The British wanted to create a barrier between Russia and‬
‭British India.‬
‭●‬ ‭As per the treaty, Charles Metcalfe was sent to Lahore,‬
‭Elphinstone to Kabul, Malcolm to Teheran, and Nicholas‬
‭Smith to Sindh.‬
‭●‬ ‭Amirs agreed to a treaty and it was their first-ever treaty‬
‭with the English.‬
‭●‬ ‭Both sides agreed to:‬
‭○‬ ‭Exclude the French from Sindh.‬
‭○‬ ‭Exchange agents‬
‭●‬ ‭The Treaty was renewed in 1820 with the exclusion of Americans.‬
‭Treaty of 1832:‬
‭●‬ ‭William Bentinck sent Colonel Pottinger to Sindh to‬‭sign a treaty with the Amirs:‬
‭○‬ ‭Free passage through Sindh would be allowed to the English traders.‬
‭○‬ ‭No English merchant would settle down in Sindh.‬
‭○‬ ‭Tariff rates could be altered by the Amirs if found high and no military dues or‬
‭tolls would be demanded.‬
‭○‬ ‭The Amirs would work with the Raja of Jodhpur to put down the robbers of‬
‭Kachchh.‬
‭○‬ ‭The old treaties were confirmed and the parties would not be jealous of each other.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭Lord Auckland and Sindh‬‭(1838):‬
‭●‬ ‭He started preparation for a possible‬‭Russian invasion.‬
‭●‬ ‭The English consolidated their position in Sindh and it was the first step for their plans for‬
‭Afghanistan.‬
‭●‬ ‭The treaty can’t coerce Punjab.‬
‭●‬ ‭The fight between Punjab and Sindh led to a‬‭new treaty with the East India Company.‬
‭○‬ ‭The Company assured protection to the Amirs.‬
‭○‬ ‭The Company troops would be kept in the capital at Amir’s expense or‬
‭○‬ ‭Alternatively, the English would be given suitable concessions in return.‬
‭●‬ ‭Amirs agreed reluctantly and the treaty provided the British to establish the presence of a‬
‭British resident who could go anywhere he liked escorted by English troops.‬
‭●‬ ‭Soon Sindh turned into a British protectorate.‬
‭Tripartite Treaty of 1838:‬
‭●‬ ‭Tripartite treaty (1838) -‬‭Ranjit Singh, Lord Auckland, and Shah Shuja‬‭to place the‬
‭latter on the thrones of Afghanistan by invasion.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ranjit Singh agreed to British mediation in his disputes with the Amirs.‬
‭●‬ ‭The treaty made Emperor Shah Shuja to give up his sovereign rights in Sindh.‬
‭●‬ ‭Main objective was:‬
‭○‬ ‭To obtain finances for the Afghan adventure.‬
‭○‬ ‭Amir’s territory operation against Afghanistan through Sindh.‬

‭Sindh Accepts Subsidiary Alliance (1839):‬


‭●‬ ‭The Company persuaded Amirs:‬
‭○‬ ‭to pay the money,‬
‭○‬ ‭to consent to the abrogation 1832 treaty.‬
‭●‬ ‭Under threat of superior force, Amirs accepted a new treaty:‬
‭○‬ ‭British subsidiary force to be stationed at Shikarpur and Bukkar.‬
‭○‬ ‭Pay Rs 3 lakh annually for the maintenance of the Company’s troops.‬
‭○‬ ‭No negotiations with foreign states without a Company.‬
‭○‬ ‭Provide a storeroom in Karachi for military supplies.‬
‭○‬ ‭Abolishing all tolls on the Indus.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭○‬ ‭Furnish an auxiliary force for the Afghan war if required.‬

‭Capitulation of Sindh:‬
‭●‬ ‭Amirs of Sindh did not like:‬
‭○‬ ‭The‬‭1st Anglo-Afghan War (1839–42),‬‭which fought on their soil.‬
‭○‬ ‭The presence of the British troops in their region.‬
‭○‬ ‭They were asked to pay for all this, which they did.‬
‭○‬ ‭They were neither rewarded nor thanked but were charged with hostility.‬
‭○‬ ‭They were also charged with treasonable activities against the British.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ellenborough‬‭was in a precarious position due to the:‬
‭○‬ ‭Recent Afghan war reverses.‬
‭○‬ ‭He‬‭sent Outram to Sindh‬‭to negotiate a new treaty in which Amirs were required:‬
‭➢‬ ‭to cede important provinces as the price of their past transgressions,‬
‭➢‬ ‭to supply fuel to the Company’s steamers plying on the Indus.‬
‭➢‬ ‭And to stop minting coins.‬
‭○‬ ‭Also, a succession dispute intervened through Napier and started a war when the‬
‭Amirs rose in revolt.‬

‭Battle of Miani & Battle of Dobo:‬


‭●‬ ‭Battle of Miani & Battle of Dobo, wherein 3000 British troops defeated 12,000 Baluchis‬
‭in 1843 under Charles Napier.‬
‭●‬ ‭Amirs made captives and were banished from Sindh.‬

‭○‬ ‭In 1843, under GG Ellenborough,‬‭Sindh was merged into the British Empire and‬
‭Charles Napier was appointed its first governor.‬

‭Criticisms of the Conquest of Sindh:‬


‭●‬ ‭Historians criticized the acquisition of Sindh and‬
‭condemned it in the following ways:‬
‭○‬ ‭As per their understanding, the causes were‬
‭manufactured.‬
‭○‬ ‭In the First Afghan War, the English suffered‬
‭terribly and faced a loss of prestige.‬
‭○‬ ‭To compensate, they annexed Sindh.‬
‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭Why and how did the British become the Master of India?‬
‭●‬ ‭The entire process of annexation and consolidation of the British Empire in India took‬
‭almost 100 years. During this‬
‭period English relied on‬‭both‬
‭war and administrative‬
‭policies‬‭to impose their‬
‭power.‬
‭●‬ ‭They even resorted to using‬
‭various unscrupulous tactics‬
‭to exploit regional politics and finally to consolidate their own rule over the entire India.‬

‭Treaty with other Marathas (for reference only)‬


‭●‬ ‭In 1803 Raghuji Bhosle and the Company concluded the Treaty of Deogaon‬‭in the‬
‭course of the Second Anglo-Maratha War.‬
‭○‬ ‭Under the treaty,‬‭Bhonsle agreed to Cede the province of Cuttack including‬
‭Balasore‬‭which gave the Company control over a continuous stretch of the‬
‭eastern seaboard and linked the presidencies of Bengal and Madras.‬
‭○‬ ‭Expel all foreigners‬‭from his service‬
‭●‬ ‭1803:‬‭the‬‭Daulat Scindia signed the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon‬‭with the British after‬
‭the Battle of Assaye and Battle of Laswari‬
‭○‬ ‭Cede all territory between the Ganga and the Yamuna.‬
‭○‬ ‭Give up his control over the imperial cities of Delhi and Agra as well as the‬
‭Rajput states.‬
‭○‬ ‭Have an accredited minister at his court.‬
‭○‬ ‭Surrender parts of Bundelkhand, Ahmednagar, Broach and territories west of the‬
‭Ajanta hills.‬
‭○‬ ‭Accept the treaty of Bassein.‬
‭○‬ ‭Renounce all claims on the Peshwa, the Mughal emperor, the Nizam, the Gaikwad‬
‭and the English Company and to accept the latter as a sovereign authority.‬
‭○‬ ‭Not to employ in his service any European without the consent of the British. In‬
‭return, the Company promised to‬
‭○‬ ‭Provide Sindhia a force of 6 battalions of infantry, its expenses being defrayed‬
‭from the revenues of lands ceded by him.‬
‭○‬ ‭Restore to Bhonsle Asirgarh, Burhanpur, Powanghur and Dohud and territories in‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬
‭Kandesh and Gujarat depending on these forts.‬
‭○‬ ‭By the supplementary treaty of Burhanpur (1804) the British agreed to support‬
‭him with a subsidiary force.‬
‭●‬ ‭The British started hostilities against‬‭Yashwantrao Holkar.‬‭The‬‭Treaty of Rajpurghat,‬
‭signed on 24 December 1805, forced Holkar to give up Tonk, Rampura, and Bundi‬
‭●‬ ‭Treaty of Rajpurghat(1805):‬‭To renounce all claims to the area north of the Bundi hills.‬
‭Never to entertain in his service any European.‬
‭○‬ ‭On their part, the British promised not to disturb Holkar's possessions in Mewar‬
‭and malwa or interfere with the rulers south of the Chambal.‬
‭○‬ ‭To restore those of his possessions situated south of the River Tapti.‬

‭PW Web/App:‬‭https://smart.link/7wwosivoicgd4‬

You might also like