RAJAS OF THE PUNJAB, by Sir Lepel H. Griffin, first published in 1870 and reprinted in 1970 by the Languages Department, Punjab, Patiala, contains accounts of the principal Sikh princely states in the Punjab and of their political relations with the paramount power. The author admits that the title of the work is open to objection because of the omission from it of some of the important chiefs of the Punjab such as those of Kashmir and Bahawalpur.
The work is based mainly on the official records and papers of Delhi, Ambala and Ludhiana political agencies as well as on the despatches of Malcolm, Ochterlony, Matcalfc, Murray, Wade, Macnaghten and Prinscp, and official correspondence emanating from Port William, Calcutta, with regard to the relations of the British government with the protected states. The hook is divided into eight chapters, each dealing with an individual Sikh state.
The book opens with the history of the Patiala state, the largest in the Malva region. Its founder, Ala Singh (1691-1765) became as a result of his conquests “the most distinguished” among the Sikh chiefs of his day in that region. He allied himself with the Dal Khalsa to take possession of the Sirhind subdivision. He made Patiala his capital in 1752. In 1761 he was invested by Ahmad Shah Durrani with the title of Raja. Griffin considers him a “gallant and at the same time prudent” leader of men who “laid strongly the foundations of the most important of the cis Sutlej states.”
His successor Amar Singh (1748-1782) was the strong man of Patiala, Griffin being of the view that had he lived longer or had he been succeeded by a ruler as capable as he was, “the cis Sutlej states might have been welded into one kingdom and their independence might have been preserved, both against the Lahore monarchy on the one hand and the British Government on the other.” A notable feature in the history of the family was the emergence of women of extraordinary courage and political wisdom at periods of crisis. One of them was Rani Rajinder Kaur, granddaughter of Ala Singh, whom Griffin descibes as “one of the most remarkable women other age, possessing all the virtues which men pretend as their own.”
In 1785 she marched on Patiala from Phagwara where she had been and reinstated Nanu Mall as Diwan. She formed a coalition of the leading Sikh Sardars against Dhara Rao, the Maratha invader. In 1790 when the Maratha force commanded by Rane Khan Dadaji and `All Bahadar Peshwa knocked at the gates of Patiala, she made a journey to Mathura to settle the matter with Mahadji Scindia, viceregent of the Mughal empire. Sahib Kaur, daughter of Raja Amar Singh, was another prominent name in the Patiala annals. In 1791, she became the chief minister of Patiala at the young age of eighteen.
In 1795, when the cis Sutlej region was invaded by Nana Rao Maratha, she, gathering round her the forces of Jind, Kalsia, Thanesar and Bhadaur in addition to those of Patiala, defeated him at Mardanpur on the banks of the River Ghaggar near Ambala. Rani As Kaur, the wife of Raja Sahib Singh of Patiala, was a woman of great ability and her wise administration of the Patiala state during her husband`s reign and during the minority of her son, won the admiration of the neighbouring states, and was warmly praised by the British Government. Raja Hamir Singh, the builder of Nabha state, and his wife, Desu, have received tribute from the author.
He calls Hamir Singh “a brave and energetic chief,” and has all praise for Desu who fought bravely against Gajpat Singh of Jind who had taken her husband prisoner by treachery and attacked Sarigrur. Griffin agrees with Sir David Ochterlony`s assessment of Jasvant Singh, son of Hamir Singh, whom he called “one of the principal Sirdars under our protection, and by far superior in manner, management, and understanding to any of them I have yet seen.” He also refers to the continuous hostility between the states of Nabha and Patiala. Gajpat Singh, the founder of the Jind State, was on friendly terms with Patiala, but an enemy of Nabha.
His daughter, Raj Kaur, was the mother of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.The chiefs of Bhadaur, who trace their ancestry to Chaudhari Dunna, also belonged to the Phulkiari stock. The most famous chief of Bhadaur was Gauhar Singh. The village bards used to sing ballads in praise of his martial skill, his victories and his charity to the poor. Jassa Singh Ahluvalia, the founder of the Kapurthala state, was the leader of the Dal Khalsa and had fought many battles against the Mughals and the Durranis. His grandson, Fateh Singh, gave full support to Maharaja Ranjit Singh in war as well as in diplomacy.
He was the architect of the Tripartite treaty of 1805 between the British, Ranjit Singh and Jasvant Rao Holkar. The ancestors of the rulers of Faridkot had their seat initially at Kot Kapura. Hamir Singh made Faridkot his headquarters. Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s general, Muhkam Chand, seized Faridkot, but it was restored to the family after the Anglo Sikh treaty of 1809. Mandi, one of the Kangra hill states, first became tributary to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, but later on accepted British paramountcy. The minor Phulkiari families of Badrukhari, Dialpura,Jiundari, Kot Dunna, Laudhgharia, Malaud and Rampuria are touched upon in passing. B.J.H.
The Rajas of the Punjab by Sir Lepel H. Griffin:
Summary
The Rajas of the Punjab is a detailed historical work written by Sir Lepel Henry Griffin in the mid‑19th century. The book offers a comprehensive account of the principal states and ruling families (the “Rajas”) of the Punjab region. Griffin meticulously compiles genealogical records, biographical sketches, and descriptive details about the territorial extent, military prowess, and administration of these princely rulers. Moreover, the work examines the evolving political relationships between these native states and the British colonial administration, thereby providing readers with a window into the transformation of indigenous power structures in the context of colonial expansion.
Key elements of the work include:
Genealogical and Biographical Detailing:
Griffin traces the lineage of various ruling families, offering extensive family trees, succession details, and personal accomplishments. These details not only highlight the hereditary nature of power in the region but also serve as a record of traditional governance in Punjab.
Analysis of Territorial Control and Governance:
Through geographic descriptions and administrative accounts, the work delineates how these states maintained authority over their regions. Griffin explains the interplay of local customs, martial traditions, and formal administrative practices that defined these princely states long before full-scale British control was established.
Colonial-Indian Political Relations:
An important section of the work focuses on how the Rajas interacted with the British government. Griffin documents negotiations, treaties, and various political maneuvers that illustrate the transition from independent regional authority to a more hybrid scheme under colonial influence. Exploration
Historical Context and Methodology:
Sir Lepel H. Griffin’s work is a product of its time—a period when British administrators were deeply involved in cataloging the political and social landscapes of the Indian subcontinent. His rigorous approach, which combined archival research, correspondence, and local oral histories, was designed both to inform colonial policy and to satisfy European scholarly curiosity. Although his method was thorough, modern readers must also be aware that his perspective was influenced by the orientalist and administrative biases typical of colonial documentation.
Cultural and Political Insights:
Griffin’s narrative goes beyond mere description or administrative record; it provides valuable insights into the cultural dynamics of Punjab. The detailed portrayal of heraldry, matrimonial alliances, and ceremonial practices reveals much about the societal values and traditions that underpinned princely rule. In exploring topics like the role of military strength and the symbolic importance of regal insignia, the book helps modern scholars appreciate how indigenous rulers maintained legitimacy in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Impact on Historiography:
Today, The Rajas of the Punjab serves as an essential reference for historians, anthropologists, and researchers interested in the evolution of regional power in northwestern India. Its extensive genealogical data and descriptive accounts remain a basis for understanding the historical context of Punjab’s princely states. However, because it reflects colonial-era viewpoints, contemporary scholars often complement Griffin’s findings with indigenous records and later historical studies to obtain a more balanced perspective.
