European adventurers, scholars and officials

GUISE, WALTER (d. 1857), tutor to Maharaja Duleep Singh from 1850 to 1853 at Fatehgarh in present day Uttar Pradesh to which place the young prince had been taken by the British after the occupation of the Punjab. In contemporary records,he has been described as "a very good fellow, patient and attentive, of mild manners and gentlemanly appearance and demeanour." Before Duleep Singh was to convert to Christianity, Guise was assigned to instruct him in the gospel as well, and he was one of those who signed the register of witnesses to the baptism of Maharaja Duleep Singh. In 1853, Walter Guise received an offer from an indigo planter near Fatehgarh to take charge of his plantation as a partner. When in 1857 the Maharaja`s house at Fatehgarh was pillaged and most inmates killed by mutineers, Walter Guise was among the Europeans who lost their lives.

Discover Sir Henry Lawrence's key role in British-Sikh relations, administration in Lahore, and his moderate policies in turbulent times.

OMS (d. 1828), a Spaniard, also known as Amise, Musa Sahib, Urns and Hommus, served in Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s army. As a young man, he had enlisted in Napoleon`s artillery. After France`s defeat in 1815, he set out on his travels and reached Persia where he obtained employment declaring himself to be a Frenchman. He left Persia in 1824, reaching Lahore in 1826. He took up service under Maharaja Ranjit Sihgh on a salary of Rs 1,200 per month and was given command of two battalions of infantry and a regiment of cavalry. 

Discover VIESKENAWITCH's thrilling journey from Russian brigand to Maharaja Ranjit Singh's commander, with key roles in Persia and Peshawar's artillery.

andrew freer

ANDREWS, CHARLES FREER (1871-1940). Anglican missionary, scholar and educationist, was born to John Edwin Andrews on 12 February 1871 in NewcastleonTyne in Great Britain. His father was a minister of the Evangelical Anglican Church. Andrews grew up in an intense and emotional religious environment. A nearly fatal attack of rheumatic fever in childhood drew him to his mother with an intense affection and her love created in his mind the first conscious thoughts of God and Christ, and by the time he entered Cambridge, at the age of 19, he had already had "a wonderful conversion of my heart to God." In 1893, Andrews graduated first class in Classics and Theology from Pembroke College, Cambridge.

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Uncover the story of Francis John Canora, an Irishman in 19th century Lahore who rose to Colonel in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's army. Discover his intrigue and downfall.

henry fane

FANE, SIR HENRY (1778-1840), commander-in-chief of the British Indian army, who visited the Punjab in 1837 on the occasion of the marriage of Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh, Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s grandson. Sir Henry Fane`s visit to Ranjit Singh was an event of considerable interest. He was highly impressed by the extraordinary discipline of the Maharaja`s troops and the splendour of his court. In his several meetings with the British commander-in-chief, Ranjit Singh questioned him on the strength and composition of the British army, on the extent of Russian influence in Persia, and on the ability of the Shah of Persia to give effective aid to the Russians.

Discover the incredible journey of Josiah Harlan, a 19th-century adventurer who navigated allegiance between the British, Sikhs, and Afghans.

Discover William Leigh's epic journey from Irish soldier to a Muslim cartographer in 1800s India, serving Maharaja Ranjit Singh with skills and intrigue.

général perron

Discover how Pierre Cuillier Perron shaped Maratha influence in Northern India, facing British diplomacy while navigating alliances and conflicts.

Discover VOCHUS, a Russian employed in 1823 at Lahore's Sikh-run gunpowder factory. Learn more about European adventurers in Northern India.

argoud

Explore the adventurous and tumultuous life of Benoit Argoud, a quarrelsome Frenchman who joined Maharaja Ranjit Singh's infantry in 1836.

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4 years Ago

Explore the deeper meaning of Aarti in Hinduism and Sikhism, where true worship goes beyond rituals and embraces the beauty of nature and truth.

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4 years Ago

Explore the profound concept of Aatma and its connection to Paramaatma, God, and the transcendental self in Sikh and Hindu philosophies.

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Explore the distinctive and largely unknown Sikh architectural style, with its rich history in gurdwaras, forts, and palaces, by S.S. Bhatti.

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Discover the captivating history and architecture of Samman Burj, the octagonal Mughal marvel in Lahore Fort, known for its royal and administrative legacy.

The Sikh Encyclopedia

This website based on Encyclopedia of Sikhism by Punjabi University , Patiala by Professor Harbans Singh.