Empire of the Sikhs
Author: Jyoti M Rai, Patwant Singh Category: Biography & Memoir ISBN: 9789380480527 Binding: Paperback Dimensions: 230 x 150 Number of Pages: 384
A long-awaited book on the epoch-making events that led to the creation of the Sikh empire and the role played by its founder, Ranjit Singh
Inheriting his father’s misl (or chiefdom) at a very young age, Ranjit Singh (1780–1839) soon made his presence felt. A school dropout who lost sight in his left eye due to a childhood illness, he was truly at home only in the saddle. His military and political genius united the twelve warring Sikh misls, absorbed numerous Hindu and Muslim territories, threw back the invading Afghans and held up British supremacy from spreading all over the Indian subcontinent for close to half a century.
He built up a kingdom in Punjab that virtually extended over the entire area north of Delhi, almost to Kabul in the north-west and to Tibet in the north-east. But what makes him unique among empire builders was his consummate humanity: he tortured no one, gave employment and responsibility to defeated foes, provided non-Sikhs a majority share in his government, and honoured other faiths.
Ranjit Singh’s powerful empire looked set to dominate the future of northern India for a long time, until soon after his death, the British encouraged and exploited treachery within the Sikh ranks and annexed his kingdom. Since then, his image and place in history have been dependent on often false British accounts and judgements.
Empire of the Sikhs sets the record straight on one of the great figures of Indian history. The authors have drawn on many different sources to tell their inspiring story of Ranjit Singh’s extraordinary achievements. These range from eyewitness accounts by both Europeans and Indians, court diaries, reports of Maratha spies at the Lahore court, British parliamentary papers and British and Indian archives.
Empire of the Sikhs is a welcome and vital new addition to India’s historical literature.
Jyoti M Rai
Jyoti M. Rai is an internationally renowned numismatist, who has built up one of the most impressive collections of Sikh coins anywhere in the world. She was on the Standing Committee of the American Numismatic Society from 1989 to 1999. She also possesses a large archive of rare books and documents relating to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Sikh history.
Patwant Singh
Patwant Singh’s uncompromising and critical analysis of national politics and international affairs has had a profound impact on his readers over the years. Published in the United States, the UK, Europe, Canada and India, his books include India and the Future of Asia (Knopf, Faber and Faber), The Struggle for Power in Asia (Hutchinson, Editions André Gérard-Marabout), Of Dreams and Demons – An Indian Memoir (Duckworth, Kodansha International, Rupa) and The Sikhs (Knopf, John Murray, Rupa). His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Canada’s Globe and Mail, and the UK’s Independent.