JANGNAMA LAHOW, by Kahn Singh, is a poem describing the battles fought between the British and the Sikhs during 1845–46. Kahn Singh belonged to Banga, Jalandhar district, and undertook the work at the instance of the British Deputy Commissioner of the area, Mr. Vanistar. Though there is no internal evidence to date the work, we can safely assume it to have been completed sometime before 1853, as one of the several manuscript copies of the work which are extant is dated 1910 Bk/AD 1853 by the scribe. The only printed text available is in the anthology Prachin Varan te Jangnama, edited by Shamsher Singh Ashok.
The Jangnama, written in a language that is a mixture of Punjabi, Hindi, and Persian, has 444 couplets composed in the masnavi style. After the customary invocation to the Divine, the Jangnama proper begins with the treaty of friendship signed between the British and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who is praised for his qualities of valour and justice. However, after his death on Thursday, Har Sudi Ekam 1896 Bk/27 June 1839, the intrigues and machinations of courtiers and officials led to internal feuds resulting in the fall of the Sikh kingdom. Since the Jangnama was written on the instruction of a British official, the poet tends to be biased in favour of the British, though at places he does give credit to the Sikh soldiers for their stamina and chivalry.
The sole responsibility for the Anglo-Sikh war is fastened upon Jind Kaur, the widow of Ranjit Singh, who, according to the author, wished to avenge the murder of her brother, Jawahar Singh, by having the Sikh forces punished by the British. The battles of Mudki, Pheru (Shahr), Baddoval, and Sahhraori have been dealt with in detail by the poet, and in the process he has given the names of some Sikhs who got killed in action.
Among them are Bhat Jaimal Singh Akali (26465) and his brother Buddh Singh Akali (29698), Afar Singh Kaliarivala (29495), Kaur Singh (290), Ganda Singh Bhandan of Butala (299), Nidhan Singh of Turig (32224), Sham Singh Alarivala, Hira Singh (38S84), Hukam Singh Malvai (38), Parijab Singh, Bela Singh (381), General Mcva Singh Majithia (380), and Makhe Khan (377). This feature is especially noteworthy, for no other contemporary or near contemporary work records the names of so many of the warriors who were killed in the first Anglo-Sikh war.
References:
- Ashok, Shamsher Singh, ed., Prachin Varan te Jangnama. Amritsar, 1950
Origin, Authorship, and Context
Jangnama Lahow is attributed to Kahn Singh, a poet from Banga in Jalandhar district. Commissioned by the British Deputy Commissioner of the area—Mr. Vanistar—Kahn Singh undertook this work to celebrate and record the martial encounters between the British forces and the Sikh army during the tumultuous years of 1845–46. Although the poem contains no internal datable evidence, one of the surviving manuscript copies is dated 1910 Bk/AD 1853 by the scribe. Today, the only printed text available is found within the anthology Prachin Varan te Jangnama, edited by Shamsher Singh Ashok.
Language, Form, and Structure
- Multilingual Composition:
The poem is written in a unique blend of Punjabi, Hindi, and Persian—a linguistic mixture that mirrors the diverse cultural milieu of the period. This fluid language reflects the oral traditions and the cosmopolitan interactions prevalent in Punjab during the mid-19th century. - Masnavi Style and Metrical Elegance:
Comprising 444 couplets, the work follows the masnavi style—a form well-suited for narrating heroic events. The verse, with its rhythmic paired couplets, is designed to be both recited and memorized, evoking the powerful cadence of traditional Punjabi ballads. - Narrative Layout:
Beginning with a customary invocation to the Divine, the poem then introduces a treaty of friendship between the British and Maharaja Ranjit Singh—a gesture that both praises the Maharaja for his discernment in matters of valor and justice and sets the stage for the subsequent military narrative. Following this preamble, the poem shifts focus to the series of battles that, after Ranjit Singh’s death (noted as occurring on Thursday, Har Sudi Ekam 1896 Bk/27 June 1839), marked the decline of the Sikh kingdom due to internal intrigues and infighting. Themes and Content - Heroic Valor and Martial Spirit:
The primary purpose of the Jangnama is to sing the praises of Sikh heroism. Rather than attempting to produce a linear, fact-based military history, Kahn Singh’s work is a panegyric that extols the bravery, stamina, and chivalry of Sikh warriors. The battles of Mudki, Pheru (Shahr), Baddoval, and Sahhraori are depicted not with exact historical precision but as emblematic combats that capture the raw energy of conflict. - Selective Historical Recapitulation:
While the poem omits detailed factual data—such as precise dates, locations, or complete battle narratives—it does include the names of numerous Sikh warriors who fell in combat. This feature is particularly noteworthy, as the inclusion of personal names (for example, Bhat Jaimal Singh Akali, Buddh Singh Akali, Afar Singh Kaliarivala, and others) provides rare insight into the human cost of the Anglo-Sikh war, a detail that few contemporary or near-contemporary works record. - Bias and the British Perspective:
Composed on the instruction of a British official, the narrative sometimes exhibits a favorable bias toward the British. However, despite this bias, the poet does not shy away from recognizing the valor of the Sikh soldiers even when attributing blame for the ensuing conflict—for instance, by pointing to the controversial role of Jind Kaur, the widow of Ranjit Singh, whose actions are portrayed as having contributed to the breakdown of the Sikh kingdom. Historical Value and Legacy - A Unique Historical Document:
Though not intended as an exact historical record, Jangnama Lahow is invaluable for its role as an oral and poetic chronicle of one of the critical periods in Sikh history. Its detailed enumeration of fallen warriors, along with its evocative descriptive style, provides a culturally rich but unconventional perspective on the first Anglo-Sikh war. - Cultural Memory and Oral Tradition:
The poem exemplifies how oral tradition, artistic expression, and martial valor coalesce in Punjabi ballads. It serves not only as an artistic tribute but also as a mnemonic device that preserves the memory of Sikh sacrifices, ensuring that the heroic deeds and the turbulent experience of war remain embedded in the popular consciousness. - Impact on Sikh Literary Tradition:
As a work that bridges languages and cultural discourses, Jangnama Lahow has contributed to the broader tapestry of Sikh literature. Its style and thematic focus have influenced later compositions that celebrate Sikh martial spirit and resonate with the ethos of resistance against oppression.
Jangnama Lahow: Sikh-British Battles in 1845–46 Poem remains a compelling example of how poetry can encapsulate both the fury of battle and the collective memory of a people. Its rhythmic meter, its recitative form, and its vivid imagery work together to immortalize the valor of Sikh warriors during a defining moment in Punjab’s history. While it may not provide exhaustive chronological details, the poem’s evocative narrative and the inclusion of personal names render it an essential cultural artifact.
