History

Anglo-Sikh Wars and Punjab under British Rule

First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46) Causes of the War British Policy of Annexation The British had long coveted Punjab, especially after the death of Ranjit Singh. While they did not manage to annex Punjab directly during his reign, they pursued strategies...

Ranjit Singh’s Lineage

Ranjit Singh's Lineage After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June 1839, the succession of the Sikh Empire became a critical issue, as there was no strong and capable ruler to take his place. Ranjit Singh is said to...

Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Description Fact Birth 13 November 1780, Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan) Parents Maha Singh and Raj Kaur Mother-in-Law Sada Kaur Clan Sandhawalia Misl Sukerchakia (became chief in 1792) Title of Maharaja 1801 Treaties Treaty of Amritsar (1809,...

Origin of the Sikh Misls

The Sikh community, facing continuous persecution, began organizing themselves into small armed bands. By 1748, approximately 65 such bands were consolidated into a larger, structured force known as the Dal Khalsa. Over the next two decades, this force evolved into...

Punjab Under Mughal Rule: The First Decade After Banda Singh Bahadur’s Execution

The execution of Banda Singh Bahadur was a devastating blow to the Sikh community. It left them leaderless and vulnerable, especially since Emperor Farrukhsiyar was determined to eradicate Sikhism. He commanded Abdal Samad Khan, the Subedar of Lahore, to execute...

Banda Singh Bahadur

Banda Singh Bahadur Birth: October 27, 1670, Rajouri, Kashmir Father: Sri Ramdev Wife: Susheel Kaur Son: Ajai Singh Also Known As: Lachhman Das, Madho Das, Banda Bairagi, Gurbaksh Singh Death: June 9, 1716, Delhi Banda Singh Bahadur, originally named Lachhman...

Sufi Movement in Punjab

Sufi Movement in Punjab  The Sufi movement emerged as a significant socio-religious movement between the 14th and 16th centuries. Rooted in Islamic mysticism, it was influenced by Vedantic philosophy, Buddhism, Christianity, and Jainism. The Sufis, who were unorthodox Muslim saints,...

The Mughal Dynasty in Punjab (1526-1707 CE)

The Mughal dynasty, derived from the Persian word Mughul meaning Mongol, was a Muslim dynasty of Turkic-Mongol origin that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid-18th century. It was renowned for its strong governance and...

Ghaznavid Empire in Punjab (10th AD – 12th AD)

Ghaznavid Empire (10th AD - 12th AD) The Ghaznavid Empire emerged in the late 10th century AD, marking the culmination of a shift in military power that had begun under the Samanid amirate. Initially, the Samanids relied on the Iranian...

Hindu Shahis in Punjab (9th AD – 11th AD)

Hindu Shahis (9th AD – 11th AD) The Hindu Shahi dynasty ruled over Kabul and the ancient province of Gandhara from the decline of the Kushan Empire in the 3rd century until the 9th century. Initially known as the Kabul...