Kharak Singh was the second Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, ruling from June 1839 until his dethronement and imprisonment in October 1839. He was the eldest son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, and his consort, Maharani Datar Kaur.
 | |
| Maharaja of Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu | |
| Reign | 27 June 1839 – 8 October 1839 |
| Coronation | 1 September 1839 |
| Predecessor | Ranjit Singh |
| Successor | Nau Nihal Singh |
| Wazir | Dhian Singh |
| Born | 22 February 1801 Lahore, Punjab, Sikh Empire |
| Died | 5 November 1840 (aged 39) Lahore, Punjab, Sikh Empire |
| Consort | Chand Kaur Kanhaiyā |
| Spouses | Bibi Khem Kaur Dhillon Kishan Kaur Samra Inder Kaur Bajwa |
| Issue | Nau Nihal Singh |
| House | Sukerchakia |
| Father | Ranjit Singh |
| Mother | Datar Kaur |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Kharak Singh's reign was brief and marked by internal strife and political intrigue. His leadership was contested, leading to his deposition shortly after ascending to the throne. He was succeeded by his only son, Nau Nihal Singh, after his untimely death in November 1840.
Early Life
Kharak Singh was born on 22 February 1801 in Lahore, Punjab, as the first son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his second wife, Maharani Datar Kaur Nakai. His mother was the daughter of Ran Singh Nakai, the third ruler of the Nakai Misl.
The prince was named "Kharak" (ਖੜਕ), meaning "Wielder of the Sword," after the unconquerable warrior referenced in the Dasam Granth. His birth is said to have inspired his father to proclaim himself as the Maharaja of Punjab. According to historian Gyani Sher Singh, Ranjit Singh had memorized the entire Dasam Granth, highlighting its significance in the naming of his son.
Marriages and Family
Kharak Singh married four times:
Chand Kaur Kanhaiya (1812): At the age of 11, Kharak Singh married Chand Kaur, the daughter of Sardar Jaimal Singh, chief of the Kanhaiya Misl. Their union produced a son, Nau Nihal Singh, born in 1821.
Bibi Khem Kaur Dhillon (1816): She was a Jat Sikh, the daughter of Jodh Singh Kalalvala and granddaughter of Sahib Singh Dhillon. Following the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849, her jagirs were reduced by the British Raj due to her anti-British role.
Kishan Kaur Samra (1818): The daughter of Chaudhari Raja Singh of Amritsar and a member of the Samra clan. Kishan Kaur was the only queen to survive after the fall of the Sikh Empire in 1849. She received an annual pension of Rs. 2,324 from the British Raj and lived at Lahore Fort until her death in 1876.
Inder Kaur Bajwa (1815): Married by proxy in a "chadar dalna" ceremony, she was a relative of Chet Singh Bajwa.
Kharak Singh's familial ties and marriages were significant in strengthening alliances among Sikh misls, but his later rule faced challenges and controversies that overshadowed his early life.
Early Military Campaigns and Administration as the Crown Prince
Military Expeditions
Kharak Singh was raised in the martial traditions of his family and was entrusted with military responsibilities from a young age. At just six years old, he was given command of the Sheikhupura expedition. By 1811, he was placed in charge of the Kanhaiya estates, and in 1812, he led a campaign to subdue the rebellious chiefs of Bhimbar and Rajauri. That same year, he received the principality of Jammu as his jagir.
Crown Prince
From his birth, Kharak Singh was regarded as the heir to Ranjit Singh's throne. However, Sada Kaur, the influential mother-in-law of Ranjit Singh, considered him merely an heir presumptive, favoring her daughter Mehtab Kaur as the rightful queen. To solidify Kharak Singh’s position and end any disputes, Ranjit Singh officially declared him the Tikka Kanwar Yuvraj (Crown Prince) in 1816.
Training and Multan Campaign
After this declaration, his mother, Mai Nakain, took charge of his training. For 18 months, she supervised his education and accompanied him during the expedition to Multan. During the campaign, she played an active logistical role, overseeing the supply of grain, horses, and ammunition from Kot Kamalia, strategically located between Multan and Lahore.
In 1818, Kharak Singh, alongside Misr Diwan Chand, led a decisive expedition against the Afghan ruler of Multan, Nawab Muzaffar Khan, achieving victory at the Battle of Multan. The campaign marked a significant expansion of the Sikh Empire.
Battle of Shopian and Kashmir Annexation
Kharak Singh played a key role in the Battle of Shopian in 1819, which resulted in the annexation of Srinagar and Kashmir into the Sikh Empire. Upon entering Srinagar, he guaranteed the safety of its citizens and prevented plundering, earning respect and ensuring a peaceful transition. The city's capture was significant due to its importance as a hub for the shawl industry and trade between Punjab, Tibet, Skardu, and Ladakh.
Other Campaigns
Kharak Singh also participated in other critical campaigns, including the conquest of Peshawar and actions against the Mazaris of Shikarpur, further solidifying the Sikh Empire's territorial dominance.
Role as Kashmir's Governor
In 1839, Ranjit Singh awarded Kashmir to Kharak Singh as a measure to check the growing ambitions of Gulab Singh Dogra.
Ascension as Maharaja
Before his death, Ranjit Singh, on the advice of Fakir Azizuddin, officially declared Kharak Singh as the Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, ensuring the succession was uncontested.
Maharaja of the Sikh Empire
Ascension to the Throne
Kharak Singh ascended to the throne of the Sikh Empire following the death of his father, Maharaja Ranjit Singh. He was officially proclaimed Maharaja and installed on the throne at Lahore Fort on 1 September 1839.
Patron of the Arts
As a patron of the arts, Kharak Singh commissioned works like the Sanskrit astronomy manuscript, the Sarvasiddhantattvacudamani, reflecting his intellectual interests and support for scholarly pursuits.
Character and Challenges
Though courageous and skilled in battle, Kharak Singh was often perceived as simple-minded and lacking his father’s shrewdness and diplomatic acumen. His reliance on his tutor, Chet Singh Bajwa, after the death of his mother, drew criticism. Chet Singh gained significant influence over him, reducing the Maharaja to a figurehead and creating tensions with Prime Minister Raja Dhian Singh.
Western Accounts and Reassessment
European observers at the time painted conflicting portraits of Kharak Singh. The Austrian physician Johann Martin Honigberger described his reign as a "dark day for Punjab" and dismissed him as a blockhead, claiming that Kharak Singh indulged in behaviors that rendered him ineffective. However, this perception is challenged by historians and other contemporary accounts:
- Alexander Burnes referred to Kharak Singh as "imbecile" but also acknowledged his kind-heartedness, impressive military command, and administrative skills in strategic matters.
- Claude Martin Wade, who spent 16 years at the Lahore Durbar, contradicted the negative assessments, describing Kharak Singh as mild, humane, and loved by his dependents. Wade suggested that his reputation suffered due to his reserved nature and low public profile.
- Historians such as Dr. Priya Atwal and Sarbpreet Singh argue that Kharak Singh was politically astute, highly educated, and multilingual. They note his active participation in both military campaigns and diplomatic efforts, highlighting his competence.
Historical Perspective
Kharak Singh’s reign is often seen through the lens of political turmoil within the Sikh Empire following Ranjit Singh’s death. Some scholars, including Sarbjeet Singh, have likened his story to a "Shakespearean tragedy," suggesting that Kharak Singh and his brothers were victims of the circumstances and intrigue surrounding the empire during its decline.
Death of Maharaja Kharak Singh
The reign of Maharaja Kharak Singh was marked by political intrigue and betrayal. His downfall is closely tied to the resentment of Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, who opposed the influence of Chet Singh Bajwa, the Maharaja's trusted tutor and confidant.
Court Intrigue and Estrangement
Rumors spread within the court that Kharak Singh and Chet Singh Bajwa were secretly conspiring to:
- Sell Punjab to the British by allocating six annas from every rupee of state revenue.
- Disband the Sikh Khalsa Army, a move that deeply alarmed the court and the military.
These rumors alienated both the court and Kharak Singh’s son, Nau Nihal Singh, from the Maharaja.
Assassination of Chet Singh
On 9 October 1839, conspirators entered the Maharaja's residence in the Lahore Fort and assassinated Chet Singh Bajwa in Kharak Singh's presence. The Maharaja reportedly begged the assailants to spare Chet Singh’s life, but his pleas were ignored.
Poisoning and Decline
Kharak Singh himself was poisoned with white lead and mercury, a lethal combination that left him bedridden within six months. Over the next 11 months, his health deteriorated until his death on 5 November 1840 in Lahore. While the official announcement attributed his demise to a "sudden mysterious illness," contemporary accounts widely suspected Dhian Singh Dogra of orchestrating the poisoning.
Additionally, Rani Inder Kaur, one of Kharak Singh’s wives, was reportedly murdered by Dhian Singh, who set her on fire.
Removal from the Throne
Before his death, on 8 October 1839, Dhian Singh engineered Kharak Singh’s removal from the throne. His son, Nau Nihal Singh, was installed as the de facto ruler of the Sikh Empire.
Legacy
Kharak Singh's Haveli
The Haveli of Kharak Singh, located in Shahi Qila, Lahore, remains a historical site associated with the Maharaja. In 2023, a treasure trove of artifacts and historical documents was discovered at the haveli, shedding light on the history of the Sikh Empire and Kharak Singh’s life.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Kharak Singh’s reign and death illustrate the volatile nature of the Sikh Empire’s court politics during its decline. Despite his contributions as a prince and ruler, his legacy remains overshadowed by the betrayals and intrigues that led to his untimely demise.
References
- (No date) Maharaja Kharak Singh. Available at: https://dvnetwork.org/page/maharaja-kharak-singh (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
- 23 kharak singh images: Picryl - Public Domain Media Search Engine Public Domain Search (no date) PICRYL. Available at: https://picryl.com/topics/kharak+singh (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
- Kharak Singh (no date) Kharak Singh - Jatland Wiki. Available at: https://www.jatland.com/home/Kharak_Singh (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
- Maharaja Karak Singh (no date) Maharaja Karak Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Maharaja_Karak_Singh (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
- Maharaja Kharak Singh (no date) ਸ੍ਰੀ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ. Available at: https://sridarbarsahibsriamritsar.com/sikh-history/maharaja-kharak-singh/ (Accessed: 22 January 2025).
