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Ranjodh Singh Majithia
military commander and jagirdar of the
Sikh Darbar was the son of Desa Singh
Majithia and forster-brother of Lahina
Singh Majhithia. Details of his early
career under Maharaja Ranjit Singh are
scarce. British records, however locate
him as the governor of Hazara and the
commander of Darbar troops in 1844.
He was called to lead Sikh military
operations against Jasrota to forestall
the machinations of Raja Gulab Singh
Dogra of Jammu. General Sham Singh attariwala
and General Ratan Singh Man followed
separetely the main Sikh army under
Ranjodh Singh. The fortress was reduced
and Gulab Singh obliged to surrender.
The latter also made over to the Sikhs
Raja Hira Singh's treasure brought from
Lahore and hidden there.
With the withdrawl of Lahina Singh
Majithia from Lahore to British territory
in March 1844, the political influence
of the Majithias had sunk low at the
Darbar. Finding the fortunes of family
declining Ranjodh Singh Majithia joined
Jawahar singh's faction. In the first
Anglo-Sikh war Ranjodh Singh commanded
a division of the Khalsa army with 70
guns. He entered the Jalandhar Doab,
and having joined his forces with the
Ladva chief, seriously threatened Ludhiana.
He had a skirmish at Baddowal, 11 KM
on the road to Jagraon, with Maj-General
Harry Smith, who had hastened to the
relief of Ludhiana, on 21 January 1846.
Outnumbered, the British general was
chary of giving battle. He made a detour
to the right, and hastingly retreated
towards Ludhiana. Ranjodh Singh's artillery
opened up a cannonade on the retiring
British force. A portion of it was worsted,
with 77 men taken prisoner. General
Smith was however able to save Ludhiana,
but the Sikhs claimed victory at Baddowal.
Ranjodh Singh marched on Jagraon in
order to cut off British communications
with Firozpur. He took part in the battle
of 'Alival' on 28 January 1846. After
the treaty of Bharoval, Ranjodh Singh
was made a member of the Council of
Regency. In 1848, he was arrested following
interception of his correspondence with
Diwan Mul Raj of Multan., but was released
after the war. His jagir was confiscated
and he was given a pension of Rs 2,500
per annum. Ranjodh Singh Majithia died
in 1872.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Harbans Singh "Heritage
of the Sikhs. "
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