Ranjit Singh's policy towards his rival Sikh chiefs

Ranjit Singh was not only a military genius but was also endowed with great political wisdom. At the very outset of his military carrer, he realised that it would be disastrous for him by invade the territories of the strong misls like Ramgarhia,Kanhyia and Ahluwalia. The enmity of these misls was dangerous, their friendship would be valuable to him in the achievement of his ambitious plan of becoming the undisputed ruler of the Punjab.So he thought it expedient to cement friendship with the powerful Sikh chiefs. On the contrary, he determined to crush the power of those misladars who were too weak to resist and to absorb their territories into his own kingdom.Ranjit Singh thus followed a twofold policy towards the Sikh Misaldars i.e, the policy of friendship as regards the stronger Misls and the policy of ruthless aggression towards the weaker misls.

Ranjit Singh’s Policy towards Powerful Misls :

In order to secure the support of the Kanhyas, one of the most powerful Sikh misls in the Central Punjab, Ranjit Singh married Mehtab Kaur, the daughter of the late Gurbaksh Singh Kanhya and Sada Kaur.As a result of this marriage, Ranjit Singh procured the friendship of the Kanyhas and all their lands and treasure. Besides, Ranjit Singh’s mother-in-law Sada Kaur assisted him in his important campaigns and more than any one else directed his unbounded energy towards establishing a powerful Sikh Kingdom in the Punjab. Next, Ranjit Singh decided to befriend the Ahluwalia chief Fateh Singh. A significant meeting between the two took place at Fatehabad where they exchanged their turbans as a mark of peripheral friendship.Thereafter, Fateh Singh became the greatest supporter of Ranjit Singh and rendered him valuable assistance in most of his dangerous campaigns. Ranjit Singh’s alliance with Sada Kaur based on Kinship and his political friendship with Fateh Singh Ahluwalia served as the ladder by which Ranjit Singh climbed to political supremacy.

Ranjit Singh’s also avoided conflict with the Ramgarhia chief Jassa Singh. In 1803, however, Jassa Singh died and was succeeded by Jodh Singh. Ranjit Singh at once contracted friendship with the new Ramgarhia chief and guaranteed him the possession of his territories. In order to humour him, he used to call him “Baba Ji”. Jodh Singh helped Ranjit Singh loyally in many of his expeditions.

Ranjit Singh Policy Towards the weaker Misls :

As regards the weaker misls, Ranjit Singh followed a policy of blood and iron. He attacked their territories without any provocation and even without any justification and did not take rest till he had annexed all their possessions. At the time of Ranjit Singh’s accession to power, the Bhangi Misl was witnessing its decline. The Bhangi chiefs were at variance with one another and were constantly engaged in mutual hostilities. Ranjit Singh took full advantage of the situation and captured Lahore, Amritsar and Gujarat from various Bhangi chiefs. Through an unprovoked war, he invaded territories of Dallewala Misl. The widow of Tara Singh, the leader of the Dallewala Misl, surrendered after a feeble resistance and Ranjit Singh annexed her territories. Another example of Ranjit Singh’s aggressive policy towards the weaker misls was his dealing with Kahan Singh, the Nakkai chief, who was one of his near relatives. Without any pretended excuse, he attacked his territories and annexed them. Similarly, Ranjit Singh attacked and captured the territories of Faizalpuria and Karor Singhia Misls without any provocation on their part.
Thus Ranjit Singh practically crushed all the weak misaldars and annexed their possessions. Phulkian Misl, however, remained an exception. Ranjit Singh had definite designs to annex the territories of the Phulkian chiefs and even made inroads into their territories in 1806, 1807, and 1808. But the Treaty of 1809 prevented him from expansion towards the east and thus put a check on his ambititon.

Abolititon of Gurmatta :

In order to establish a strong military despotism of his own and to break the unity of the misl organisation. Ranjit Singh abolished the institution of Gurmatta in 1805. It was the centrak institution of the Sikh chiefs representing various misls. It used to meet at Akal Takhat to direct the military policy of the Sikhs against their common enemies, generally the Muslim governors. It was the only popular institution of the Khalsa and was also a symbol of unity and equality of the Sikh chiefs. The abolition of the Gurmatta deprived the Sikh Misaldsars the opportunity of meeting together and of claiming equality with one another. Ranjit Singh was now free to assume the role of Supreme ruler of the Khalsa.

Criticism of Ranjit Singh’s Policy :

Ranjit Singh’s policy towards his rival Sikh chiefs has been dubbed as aggressive and unscrupulous.Whenever Ranjit Singh decided to attack the territory of any Misaldar he did not care to find out even a pretext to justify his aggression.In pursuance of his policy of absorption of the Misls he did not spare even those who were his near relatives and those who had served him faithfully.It was aptly remarked, “No ties of kinship, no sentiment of gratitude was strong enough to stand in his way.”

Conclusion :

However aggressive Ranjit Singh’s policy might be, it was a grand success.It proved to be a boon for the people of the Punjab. He brought the scattered people of the Punjab under a uniform system of government and thereby a young and a vigorous nation. He relieved the people from the misrule of the Sikh Misaldars and established a degree of law and order, peace and security which the people of the Punjab had not enjoyed for about a century. “Herein lies the justification, if this be at all necessary, for that policy of blood and iron, “which Ranjit Singh employed to achieve his end.

By: Harman Sandhu