HISAB-I-AFWAJ MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH, Persian MS. No. 622, in the Oriental Public (Khuda Bux) Library, Patna, is a manual of the accounts of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army. It is a highly illuminated manuscript with gold-ruled borders, size 12″x 7⅛”, 477 folios, written in mixed shikasta and nasta‘liq, with equivalents of essential details, especially the figures, given in Gurmukhi. The anonymous author gives no date of its completion. The work provides information concerning Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s military administration, recruitment, equipment, scales of pay, organization, and composition of the different branches of the Sikh army and its accounts.
The three main sections it deals with are: Infantry (ff. 1–135), Cavalry (ff. 136–203a), and Artillery (ff. 204a–477a). The entries in most cases commence with bardwards or muster rolls prepared by the commanding officers of different units. There are also bardwards of the paltans or battalions and of the zamburkhana or light artillery (of swivel guns), and of the topkhana or arsenals. The regimental staff of the regular state-paid army consisted of generals, colonels, kumedans or commandants, ajitans or adjutants, mehajars or majors, subahdars, jamadars, havaldars, naiks, and sarjans or sergeants.
The regimental list is invariably followed by an account of the camp followers under the title amid, and these include quartermaster, munshi or writer, mutasaddi or accountant, granthis or scripture readers, jhanda bardar or ensign, langar cook, saqqa or water carrier, dafan, sarban or camel driver, bugler, drummer, trumpeter, piper, khalsi or tent pitcher, beldar, spadesman or sapper and miner, dhangar or blacksmith, najjir or carpenter, and gharyali who struck the hour. The zamburkhana, which came under infantry, had a kumedan or commandant with a monthly salary of 340 rupees.
Here, in place of the amid, we have lawahiqs, i.e., followers or domestics: munshi, mutasaddi, mistari, sarban, sipahis, and nafars, each of whom received a monthly salary between seven to nine rupees. The military accounts of the three arms are given under subheads: infantry regiments, cavalry squadrons, and artillery, partly organized on the European model. The accounts of each infantry regiment and cavalry squadron are shown under their respective commanding officers. Each regiment was divided into companies, and the pay and allowances of the officers of the eight companies of infantry and the cavalry squadrons are given under their respective names.
The account of each regiment closes with a statement about the amid and the mufarriqdal or general miscellaneous expenditures, such as those on repairs, light, stationery, and pensions called dharamarth, ranging from two to five rupees to the heirs, widows, and children of those incapacitated or killed in action. In a similar format is the account of artillery establishments. Each commanding officer, under whose name the expenses of his establishment are shown, was attached to or had been in charge of a field gun. Each gun had a figurative designation representing a concept in terms secular, religious, or mythological.
The pay and allowances of officers attached to each gun are shown under their respective names. The account closes with a statement of miscellaneous expenses. A large number of officers attached to the artillery were Muslims. No distinctions of caste or creed were made in recruitment. In the Sikh army, several races and nationalities were represented. Besides Sikhs, there were Hindus, Gurkhas, Afghans, Punjabi Muslims, Rajputs, and Europeans. References occur in the work to the French General, Allard. Among other foreigners who figure in it are John Holmes Kumedan and his son, Perron Feringhee Kumedan, Lawrence Feringhee, Monsieur Court, Francis Bahadur, and de la Roche.
HISAB I AFWAJ MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH is a remarkable Persian manuscript (MS. No. 622) held in the Oriental Public (Khuda Bux) Library in Patna. It functions as a detailed manual of the accounts of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army, uniquely combining administrative precision with an aesthetic brilliance that is evident in its illuminated, gold-ruled borders. The manuscript, which measures approximately 12″ by 7⅛” and spans 477 folios, is composed in mixed calligraphic styles—shikasta and nasta‘liq—while essential numerical details are rendered in Gurmukhi. Although the anonymous author does not provide a completion date, the work stands as an invaluable source for understanding the military organization and administrative practices of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh .
The content of the manuscript is structured into three main sections that correspond to the different branches of the Sikh army: Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery. In many instances, the entries commence with muster rolls, known locally as bardwards, prepared by the commanding officers of various units. Aside from detailing the formations and scales of pay, recruitment, and equipment, the text also provides information on the organization and composition of each branch. Particularly noteworthy are the comprehensive accounts of the camp followers—referred to as the amid—which include roles such as quartermasters, scribes (munshi), accountants (mutasaddi), cooks, water carriers, and even musicians like buglers and drummers. These various roles are carefully itemized, underscoring the complexity and thoroughness of the military administration .
Further, the manuscript meticulously records the pay and allowances of officers and men in the infantry and cavalry units, dividing each regiment into companies. The accounts extend to include miscellaneous expenditures—for instance, costs related to repairs, provisions for lighting and stationery, and pensions awarded to the families of soldiers injured or killed in action. Similar detailed accounts are provided for the artillery establishments, where each field gun, often adorned with a figurative designation that blends secular, religious, or mythological symbolism, has its supporting staff and associated costs itemized. Notably, the document also reflects the diversity of the Sikh army, which included not only Sikhs but also Hindus, Afghans, Punjabi Muslims, Rajputs, Gurkhas, and even Europeans. This pluralistic composition is a testament to the integrative and pragmatic approach of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s military recruitment .
In essence, HISAB I AFWAJ MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH is more than just an administrative record—it is a window into the sophisticated military machinery of the Sikh Empire. It reveals details of recruitment, pay scales, unit organization, and even the logistical support provided by camp followers, thereby offering modern scholars and enthusiasts a vivid portrayal of an era when administrative acumen and military prowess went hand in hand.
