Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire by Priya Atwal Book Review

Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire Priya Atwal C. Hurst & Co., 2020, 286 pages

Introduction

This book is a fresh analysis of the Sikh Empire (1799-1849). Throughout, it dissects the typical narrative, whether that be an Orientalist narrative or otherwise, and, amongst other things, superbly demarcates the social and cultural norms of Punjabi society and re-contextualises Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a man who achieved what he did within a broader context, paying particular attention to the women and children of the Empire.

Up until chapter five the book concentrates on the dynamism of the ruling house, and the ways they collectively built a new kind of kingdom and royal culture to cement their power and influence in the face of numerous challenges.[1] The remainder of the book paints a more complex story that raises new and critical questions about dominant narratives surrounding the fall of the Sikh Empire.[2]

It is obvious from the outset that a lot of care and attention has gone into the book. Priya has spent over a decade researching, diving deep into libraries and learning Punjabi and Persian, to expose a contemporary understanding and culture to the reader and provide a very vivid image of the lives of those who laid the foundation for Ranjit Singh, helped consolidate Ranjit Singh's power and continued his legacy until the downfall of the Sikh Empire orchestrated, in part, by the British.

Although numerous references and resources have been used to provide a detailed narrative, the main text seems to be Suri’s Umdat-ut-tawarikh. Sources are richly described and will peak the interest of any historian. For instance, the Sarvaisddhantattvacudamani (The Crest-Jewel of the Essence of all Systems of Astronomy), “is a manuscript, which was most likely begun in the 1830s and was produced in Benares, included a treatise and accompanying diagrams comparing Indian, Islamic and European ideas on astronomy. The first portion of the book included folios bearing delicately painted and richly coloured portraits of Ranjit Singh, together with depictions of the Sikh Gurus and various Hindu deities.”[3] This source is the primary focus of chapter four and from this one source, a complete reshaping of Kharak Singh emerges.[4]

I found it particularly interesting due to the information pertaining to Sada Kaur. I myself only a few weeks ago published a short article providing an overview of Sada Kaur. Priya has provided information, primary source extracts and further analysis to help shed further light on Sada Kaur. The information pertaining to Sada Kaur is just a small part of the greater cultural and social context of Punjab that Priya has brought to the forefront, often carefully pieced together to annihilate the prevailing Orientalist perspective.

For instance, when discussing Rani Jindan’s use of her purdah as a political tool, we are informed, “this subverts the standard Orientalist idea of Indian women being ‘imprisoned’ by purdah, with Jindan’s example highlighting how, in certain circumstances, it could actually be very useful for creatively asserting female agency and even enhancing a queen’s power.”[5]

The women's involvement in military campaigns and the daily trappings of Ranjit’s court challenges the assumption that women were ‘unmartial’, as well as completely overturning later Orientalist stereotypes of passive, secluded Indian royal women, who supposedly controlled and corrupted their sons' minds.[6]

The narrative is refreshing as it provides a more nuanced portrayal of the Sukerchakia dynasty. It goes beyond the simplistic and Orientalist binary of the British perspective (characterising Punjabi royals as unrefined people with an interest in land-grabbing and military aggression) and the idealised Khalsa perspective (Ranjit Singh being a model Sikh warrior, who took on a particular form of humble yet martial and masculine identity and renouncing some of the more self-aggrandising tendencies of the Mughals).[7] The author proposes instead that the use of martial imagery was a deliberate strategy for the construction of their social and political authority.

This ability to put forward the common, and often competing, narratives and then provide a nuanced alternative shines throughout the book. When discussing Sada Kaur’s fate, British and courtly sources from Ranjit’s darbar are analysed and critiqued before a nuanced and well argued alternative is proposed - female political activity was not eliminated altogether within the Punjab.[8]

Furthermore, when discussing Kharak Singh’s intellectual abilities British sources are expertly analysed and the conclusion reached is nuanced and balanced. [9] Another example is where we are informed of the real reason for Wade’s trip to Lahore in 1838 was due to Mai Nakain’s death, something historians have hitherto overlooked.[10]

A further example is when re-evaluating the negative and harsh judgement that Ranjit Singh was weak and mistaken in the face of the aggressive Company elite when he signed the Tripartite Treaty.[11] The nuanced conclusion is that, Ranjit Singh repeated throughout his reign that a renewed and increasingly deep commitment to friendship with both the Company and the British Crown was in the best interests of his kingdom and dynasty and was part of Ranjit’s wider strategy to form alliances with the East India Company and British Crown and project the name and fame of his kingdom onto a global royal stage in order for the Sukerchakia dynasty to remain steadfast for the future.[12]

Furthermore, attention is paid to details and information that have been largely ignored until this point. For instance, the increasing physicality of the meetings between the Sukerchakia dynasty and British officials, and the less innocent reasons for presenting Ranjit Singh with horses from England in 1838.[13]

The narrative is cleverly pieced together in such a way that although you know the conclusion, you are holding your breath in certain parts due to just how close things could have been completely different.

Chapter by Chapter Breakdown

Chronologically it starts with the Sukhercakia misldars - Maha Singh and Charat Singh - the misl system, its eventually evolution, socially, culturally, and militarily, and then delves into the Sukhercakia dynasty, the significance of the princes and women of the realm, Anglo-Punjabi relations, and the eventual demise of the dynasty.

Chapter one puts forward an argument on the Punjabi/Sikh relationship with monarchy and it’s complex relationship with republicanism and democracy. This primarily focuses on the Sikh Gurus and Mughal concepts of polity.

Personally, I think two individuals should have been mentioned - Banda Singh Bahadur, who established the first Sikh polity and Akali Phula Singh, the Jathedar of Budha Dal and Akal Takht, who fought alongside Ranjit Singh. Not only would it add further credence to statements put forward, such as how Indo-Persian royal culture was reshaped by Sikhs to meet their own interests, but, more importantly, it would have provided a more complete understanding of the relationship between the differing forms of polity and Sikh leaders.

For instance, Sikh sources indicate that Guru Gobind Singh Ji sent Baba Binod Singh Ji, the 1st Jathedar of Budha Dal, along with four other Singhs to accompany Banda Singh Bahadur to Punjab and they eventually established a short lived Sikh polity.[14]

Akali Phula Singh is suggested to have been the individual to call Ranjit Singh to the Akal Takht for tankah (chastisement). This is mentioned in the book but as the Akalis are devout Khalsa Sikhs, followers of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, chakravarti (nomadic rulers of the world) and contemporary to Ranjit, a closer analysis of Khalsa polity would have added a further layer of depth to an already incredibly interesting discussion of Sikh polity.

More importantly, the concept of ‘halemi raj’, a core Sikh concept of polity, is provided no adequate explanation and is simply translated into ‘just and humble rule’.  However, all of the aforementioned could, in itself, be a book on its own.

Chapter two ends after exemplifying how the Sukherchakias reinvented older forms of courtly culture and adapted the institution of monarchy. Amongst other things, it is evidenced that a formal and secluded women’s sphere - an institutionalised zenana or harem - simply did not exist at Lahore and that princes, alongside Punjabi queens could be requested to participate in diplomatic activities - something that differed from other Indian royal houses. [14]

Chapter three turns to the ‘royal family’s engagement with its foreign neighbours’ and delves into the role played by the Punjab’s ruling dynasty in diplomatic encounters and the nature of the political culture driving these activities. [14]. The chapter then leads into the making of the Anglo-Punjabi Alliance and it is a fascinating section, providing very minute and gritty detail of the formation of said alliance not just for Ranjit Singh but also the Cis-Sutlej Rajahs. Ultimately, the agreements with the British simply introduced a new player into the rapidly evolving political world. [14] The Anglo-Punjabi partnership was mutually beneficial for Ranjit Singh and the British but it had numerous twists and turns that signify the competing intentions and ambitions of the powers of the day.

Chapter four turns to how the British viewed Anglo-Punjabi relations and the terms on which it would evolve both within the Punjab and beyond after Ranjit Singh’s demise.[18] This chapter includes another example where Priya’s research has uncovered a clearer, more nuanced narrative, that rewrites the history put forward by the British Library.[19] In instances where information is scant, Priya is honest in stating that, ‘we simply do not know’ and where an evidenced conclusion cannot be met the reader is asked to decide.[20] For instance, when discussing Dhyan Singh Dogra the reader is asked, “was Dhyan Singh really a loyal minister who did everything he could to preserve the safety and security of his late master’s kingdom? Or was he a dangerous upstart who secretly hoped to replace the Maharaja’s family with his own on the Lahore throne?”[21]

The chapter goes on to demarcate how a particular image and characterisation of him was made as the gold standard for measuring achievement in all matters of rulership. A standard against which his heirs and successors were compared by both contemporaries and later historians.[22] The narrative of Maharaja Ranjit Singh being the only man whose authority was worth respecting in the Punjab was much the result of leading British officials and their descriptions not just of the Maharaja but also the princes.[23] Starting with an up to now ignored text, the Sarvaisddhantattvacudamani, Priya expertly dissects British Orientalist narratives of the Princes and sheds fresh light on Kharak Singh, Sher Singh, Tara Singh and Duleep Singh.

The chapter moves on to the fall of the Empire, a story which cuts across interlocking agendas about the history of sovereignty, nationalism and imperialism, and looks at fragments of evidence that tell us something far more interesting about the lived experiences of the key figures involved in these pivotal events.[24] Amongst other things, much importance is placed around the deaths of Kharak Singh and Nau Nihal Singh within just five days of each other in November 1840 for turning upside down the relative sense of stability and continuity that their successions had previously provided.[25]

Much of the remainder of the chapter focuses on how a legitimate succession should be defined, how new players managed to justify their interventions in the Sikh Empire’s politics, both at the time and in subsequent histories of the events, along with their ultimate impact.[26] New light is shed upon the underlying gender politics of the clash between Chand Kaur and Sher Singh, the period up to Rani Jindan being made regent by the Khalsa Army in 1843, the Dogra family, Rani Jindan’s regency and style of politics.

Something you won’t find in most works relating to the Sikh Empire is the analysis of gender and politics. Interestingly, in chapter four, the 1840s are depicted as a time where there were more overt misogynistic attacks on female power in Punjab, in contrast, to the early days of the Sikh Empire, and the less misogynistic actions of Ranjit Singh who sought to restrict powers of his female kin.[27]

“All of these important gendered shifts in the political world of this period have been entirely missed by commentators and scholars thus far and have shown little interest in the political role of women and the evolving culture surrounding the Punjabi monarchy. This oversight is particularly surprising because these very changes to royal and political culture had a considerable impact on how the government would run in the remaining years of the Sikh Empire’s existence.”[28]

The remainder of the book provides expert detail regarding the relationship between the Khalsa Army, Rani Jindan and the British.

However, there is one thing that I took notice of - the Khalsa Army is seen towards the 1840s as trying to restore power to the Panth rather than letting it remain in the hands of the increasingly centralised imperial state. This assumes the Khalsa Panth had lost power during the Sikh Empire, something which is challenged by Akali Phula Singh and Akali Hanuman Singh, the Jathedar of Budha Dal/Akal Takht.

Chapter five outlines the consequences of the Sikh Kingdoms fall for the wider region’s evolving political culture and power relations, and for the last guardians of the Sikh power in the Punjab - Jind Kaur and Duleep Singh.[29] The chapter proposes the array of popular narratives that have been spun about Rani Jindan, the political circumstances in which her and her son found themselves, as well as objecting to the narrative that they were somehow exceptional for having ruled as a woman or as a child.[30] Like the chapters before it, chapter five provides a broader cultural and political story that helps to understand the terms on which Jindan and Duleep came into power as well as the true nature of the opportunities and challenges they were facing.[31]

The chapter sheds light on why Hardinge declared peace in the Punjab after the Battle of Sobraon, the treachery of Sardar Tej Singh, Rajah Lal Singh and Rajah Gulab Singh and the remainder focuses on how and why Hardinge and his deputies in the Punjab chose to continue supporting the royal family at Lahore after beating their army in the field, the eventual change in attitude and the demise of the Sikh Kingdom.[32] Focus moves to the change in gender norms when Lawrence becomes regent of Punjab, how this impacted Rani Jindan and how things had changed since the days of Ranjit Singh. [33]

Eventually this moves onto the deliberate separation of Duleep Singh from his mother, Duleep Singh’s education and legacy, the Multan rebellion of 1848, Rani Jindan’s exile to Chunar, the fate of Chattar Singh Attariwala, the role of the Governor-General James Broun-Ramsey in the lead up to the Second Anglo-Sikh War, how Lawrence attempted to instruct his new boss (Broun-Ramsey) not to annex Punjab and the destruction of Ranjit Singh’s dynasty forever.

Chapter five, like the rest of the book, challenges Orientalist, misogynistic and racist perspectives and contains snippets of information worth noting, for instance, the Lilliputian Regiment, Rani Jindan’s town of Duleepgurh, Rani Jindan attempting to take her case regarding representations of her in the Anglo-Indian press to the British Parliament and Rani Jindan’s eventual escape to Nepal.[36]

The sixth and final chapter can be summarised by the following extract, “We may never have all the answers about lingering questions or controversies in history; and, our reflections on the past will always be coloured by our own contemporary concerns and bias. However, by at least questioning the hagiography, misogyny and Orientalism that have infused the dominant narratives about this fascinating kingdom and its society, and by unravelling how these have coloured our perceptions, I think it's fair to say that we noy only reach a richer, more insightful understanding of what really contributed to the rise and fall of the SIkh Empire; but also, in a broader sense, we can more fully appreciate what this history meant to generations of people interested in its fate, and the continual evolution of the narratives constructed around it by political, cultural and scholarly observers to this day.”

It must also be mentioned that there are 28 illustrations included in this book, ranging from the Sikh Gurus to the Kings, princes and women of the Sukerchakia dynasty and honestly, I would have bought the book just for the prints. The most interesting and unpublished until now are the fresco’s from Mai Nakain’s apartments at Sheikhupura fort. My personal favourite is figure 10 of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his attendants.

Conclusion

The writing style is a neat balance of storytelling and factual analysis to ensure you do not put this book down. For example, when analysing the significance of Nau Nihal’s wedding, we are informed that, “Mai Nakain and Ranjit were also the first to rub the vatna paste on the face of the young bridegroom. It was obviously a joyful occasion, as the Maharani’s sister was even able to get away with playfully rubbing paste and oil into Ranjit Singh’s beard.”[37] Time and time again, a vivid image of events is painted and skilfully entwined with expert historical analysis.

Priya was inspired by a Sikh Society lecture she attended whilst at university which after a decade's worth of research has culminated in a fantastic and refreshing book on one of the most popular and proud periods of Sikh history.

This fills me with hope, as there should be numerous other history students (or other disciplines) that were/are inspired or motivated to help contribute and provide a more complete narrative. At the same time, I hope that the relevant support and guidance is there for those individuals who do wish to make a contribution. I myself was motivated to create Ramblings of a Sikh to share information pertaining to Sikh history, due to a Sikh Society lecture which, in contrast to Priya’s, was absolutely abysmal, but similarly to Priya’s made me think, we can tell these narratives in a much better and complete manner.

Rating

Although I have made an issue of a couple of instances within this book, I must admit, overall it is an excellent book and deserves a 5 star rating. It provides a more complete picture of what is popularly known as the ‘Sikh Empire’ which is quite aptly re-labelled the ‘Sukerchakia dynasty’ and certainly steps away from the traditional narrative surrounding Ranjit Singh, and provides detailed historical analysis like no other book.

More power to Priya Atwal and this generation of historians!

Get your copy here.

Footnotes

[1] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 137 [2] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 139 [3] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 81 [4] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 134 [5] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 160 [6] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 82 [7] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 81 [8] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 83 [9] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 129 [10] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 86 [11] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 90 [12] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 90 [13] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 104,105
[14] Amarnama, A Perspective Last Phase of Guru Gobind Singh’s Life by Kavita R. Gur Sobha by Sainpati.
[15] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 112
[16] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 84, 89
[17] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 84, 97
[18] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 124
[19] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 126
[20] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 127
[21] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 142
[22] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 127
[23] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 130
[24] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 137
[25] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 141
[26] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 143
[27] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 152
[28] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 152
[29] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 139
[30] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 167
[31] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 168
[32] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 171 - 173
[33] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 186-187, 193-195
[34] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 199
[35] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 213
[36] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 177 - 178, 184 - 187, 206
[37] Royal and Rebels, The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire. Priya Atwal, 2020. Page 118