THE RISE OF SIKHS (1799-1849)

Introduction

During the late 15th century, Guru Nanak established the Sikh empire, which witnessed
the conversion of Jat farmers and individuals from lower castes in Punjab to the Sikh religion.
Guru Hargobind played a significant role in transforming the Sikhs into a combative and militant
group from 1606 to 1645. However, it was under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth
and final Guru of the Sikhs (1664-1708), that they emerged as a prominent political and military
force.

Geographical Extent of The Sikh Empire

 Based on the Khalsa, Maharaja Ranjit Singh established the Sikh Empire (1801–
1849) by uniting several separate Sikh misls into a single political force.
 The empire stretched from the Khyber Pass in the west to Kashmir in the north, Sindh in
the south, and Tibet in the east.
 The main geographic footprint of the empire was in the Punjab region.

Rise of Sikh As A Military Power

The rise of the Sikhs as a military power was a result of their strong religious identity, the
guidance of their Gurus. Following are the key points on the rise of Sikh as a military power:

 Guru Hargobind’s Initiatives: Guru Hargobind played a pivotal role in initiating the
Sikhs’ transformation into a combative and militant group.
 Guidance of Guru Gobind Singh: Under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh, the
Sikhs rose to prominence as a political and military power, establishing the brotherhood
of Khalsa.
 Banda Bahadur’s Efforts: Following the death of Guru Gobind Singh, Banda Bahadur
emerged as a leader and united lower castes and peasants of Punjab. He engaged in a
fierce conflict with the Mughal army but faced opposition from the upper classes and
castes as well as the still powerful Mughal center.
 Aurangzeb’s Initial Approach: Initially, Aurangzeb was not overtly hostile to the
Sikhs, but as their influence expanded and challenged Mughal central authority, his
attitude shifted.
 Religious Intolerance and Sikh Resistance: Religious intolerance under Aurangzeb
faced resistance from the Sikhs as they continued to assert their identity.
 Opportunity for Ascendancy: Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions
disrupted Punjab’s governance, providing an opportunity for the Sikhs to rise again.
 Filling the Political Void: After Abdali’s departure, the Sikhs started to fill the political
void, gaining control over Jammu and Punjab between 1765 and 1800, leading to a shift
in their source of power.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839)

 He earned the title Sher-e-Punjab (Lion of Punjab) after liberating his capital city of
Lahore from the Afghan invaders.
 To instruct his men, he also hired a sizable number of European officers, particularly
French.
 He built Asia’s most potent indigenous force at the time by fusing Western military
innovations with the best aspects of the traditional Khalsa army.
 He covered Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar in gold, transforming it into the Golden
Temple.

Nature of Sikh Administration

The Sikh Empire, which reached its zenith under the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the early
19th century, had a distinct nature and administration that reflected the unique characteristics of
the Sikh community. A brief account of their administration is given below:

 Horizontal Organisation: With the emergence of misls, which were combinations based
on familial relationships, lands were held as units, leading to a more horizontally
organized society.
 Ranjit Singh’s Centralisation Efforts: Ranjit Singh, the ruler of the Sukerchakia misl,
made attempts to establish a more centralized Sikh state in the late 18th century.
However, political power in Punjab remained decentralized and scattered horizontally
throughout this entire period.
 Recognition and Extent of Rule: Ranjit Singh was acknowledged as the sole sovereign
ruler of Punjab by the English through the Treaty of Amritsar in 1809. By the time of his
death, his rule was acknowledged in the regions between the Sutlej River and the
Hindukush, Karakoram, and Sulaiman mountain ranges.
 Durbar Politics: Ranjit Singh maintained a delicate balance between powerful Sikh
chiefs, newly recruited military commanders from central Punjab’s peasants, and non-
Punjabi nobles like Dogra Rajputs from Jammu in the central level of durbar politics.
 Effective Balancing Game: This careful balancing act functioned well until Ranjit
Singh’s death in 1839, ensuring a balanced administration.
 Distinctive Sikh Identity: The Khalsa aimed to create a unique Sikh social and political
identity by drawing upon cultural resources such as sacred texts and emphasizing
initiation and other life-cycle rituals. These efforts were made to bring order to the
otherwise chaotic Sikh community of the 18th century.
List of 10 Sikh Gurus
The First Sikh Guru, revered as the founder of Sikhism,
1. Guru Nanak
introduced its teachings and principles, leaving a lasting spiritual
(1469- 1539)
legacy.
Guru Angad, the second Sikh Guru, compiled the writings of
2. Guru Angad Guru Nanak and his own compositions in the Gurmukhi script,
Dev (1504-1552) which became the exclusive medium for Sikh sacred texts,
including the revered Guru Granth Sahib.
The third Sikh Guru played a pivotal role in fortifying the Sikh
3. Guru Amar
movement through the establishment of institutions such as
Dass (1479-
Manjis and Piris, which served to strengthen and expand the Sikh
1574)
community.
4. Guru Ram Being the fourth Sikh Guru, he established the groundwork for
Dass (1534- the sacred city of Amritsar, which subsequently evolved into
1581) the spiritual epicenter of the Sikh faith.
As the fifth Sikh Guru and the son and successor of Guru Ram
5. Guru Arjun Dass, he constructed the Harmandar, widely known as
Dev (1563-1606) the Golden Temple, and diligently compiled and enshrined
the Holy Book, the Guru Granth, within its sacred premises.
6. Guru Being the sixth Sikh Guru, he constructed Akal Takhat, also
Hargobind referred to as the Throne of the Immortal, and designated it as
(1595-1644) the focal point of Sikh temporal power and authority.
As the seventh Sikh Guru, he carried forward the mission
7. Guru Har
initiated by his predecessors, diligently advancing the principles
Rai (1630-1661)
and teachings of Sikhism.
As the eighth Sikh Guru, he earned renown for his remarkable
8. Guru Har healing abilities, having cured smallpox-afflicted individuals in
Kishan (1656- Delhi. His profound impact is acknowledged in the daily Sikh
1664) prayer, where he is revered as the alleviator of all miseries
through his mere presence.
He was the 9th guru of Sikh who founded the town of
9. Guru Teg
Anandpur and was executed in Delhi by Aurangzeb for refusing
Bahadur (1621-
to convert to Islam. He referred to himself as “Sachcha
1675)
Badshah.”
The tenth and final Sikh Guru organized the Sikh community
10. Guru into a disciplined, martial order known as Khalsa (the
Govind Singh pure). He introduced the five symbols of Sikhism, which include
(1666-1708) Kangha (comb), Kesh (long hair), Kada (iron bracelet), Kachcha
(underwear), and Kirpan (sword or dagger).
Conclusion

The rise of the Sikhs between 1799 and 1849 marked a transformative period in their history.
From the establishment of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh to the consolidation of
their political and military power, the Sikhs emerged as a prominent force in Punjab and beyond.
With their roots in the teachings of Guru Nanak and the formation of the Khalsa, the Sikhs
showcased resilience, religious identity, and military prowess. The administration under leaders
like Ranjit Singh brought a delicate balance to Punjab’s governance, while the distinctive
Sikh identity was strengthened through cultural resources and rituals. Overall, this era
witnessed the rise of the Sikhs as a significant political and military power in the Indian
subcontinent.