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 Sham
singh attariwala, was born in 1790's
in the house of well known Sikh farmers
in the town of Attari (Few kms from
the border of Indian and Pakistan punjab
in India) . At his early he was educated
in Gurmukhi and Persian. When Ranjit
singh became maharaja of Punjab he got
himself at his disposal. Ranjit singh
knowing his qualities and fighting abilities
made him a jathedar of 5000 horsemen.
He participated actively in many campaigns,
notably like the campaign of Multan,
campaign of Kashmir, Campaign of the
frontier province.
For a brief period of 3 years He was
made governor of Kashmir by Maharaja
Ranjit singh. Later, Maharaja Ranjit
singh recalled him to Lahore, since
he was trusted aide of Maharaja Ranjit
singh, Maharaja feared treacherous dogras.
It is said that Sham Singh Attari and
Maharaja Ranjit singh were good friends.
Sham Singh Attari could be called truely,
one of the unofficial ministers of Ranjit
Singh's court. Later, he educated himself
to read and write English. Lord William
Bentick's meeting with Maharaja Ranjit
Singh at Ropar, on the bank of the Sutlej,
in the spring of 1831 October 15 was
an occasion of a immpressive ceremony
and display. Both sides met on the either
side of Satluj with their full forces.
Sham Singh Attariwala was in the forefront
everywhere. Kharak Singh was declared
the heir apparent of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. Kharak Singh's son Nau Nihal
Singh was sixteen years old in 1837
when Sham Singh Attariwala proposed
the marriage of his daughter to Nau
Nihal Singh, grandson of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. Maharaja agreed. Marriage was
held at Amritsar in the month of April.
It was a gala event. Almost all the
rulers of India were invited as well
as those of Kabul, Iran, etc. The two
days of festive and and merriment is
still remembered by the people of Amritsar
and Lahore. In honour of Nau Nihal Singh's
wedding, Ranjit Singh started an Order
of Merit which was known as Kaukab-i-Iqbal-i-Punjab,
star of the Prosperity of Punjab. But...
all was not well.
Maharaja Ranjit singh died in June
1839. The powerful Dogras from Jammu,
Gulab Singh Dhian Singh and Suchet Singh-
played a subtle role and put into motion
a chain of proceedings which brought
about the demolition of Sikh power.
At the time of Sikh ruler's death. Dhian
singh was prime minister of Punjab to
Kharak Singh, son of Ranjit singh. Gulab
Singh and Suchet singh also held offices
under Dhian Singh dogra. They were not
content with this. They had their eyes
on the throne itself and the main object
of their grand strategy was to crown
Dhian Singh's son, Hira Singh, king
of the Punjab. One night, Suchet singh
led his men into Maharaja Kharak Singh's
chamber and killed his trusted aide
and tutor, Chet Singh Bajwa. Kharak
singh was removed from the Fort and
remained virtually prisoner in the hands
of Dhian Singh. Sham Singh attariwala
and other good officers were sent to
far places like Kashmir, North West
frontier provinces, just like Nau Nihal
singh. Nau Nihal singh knew about the
treacherous dogras. He did not came
to Lahore until the day his father Kharak
Singh, died due to slow poisoning by
Dogra brothers. On the same day of his
father's cremation, a huge concrete
piece fell on Nau Nihal Singh and he
also died. It is said that this conspiracy
was hatched by Dogra brothers. English
doctor of Lahore which operated on prince,
later reported that prince was alive
and well after injury but mysteriously
next day his skull was found crushed.
Dhian singh then openly suggested Maharani
Chand Kaur to adopt his son and declare
him Maharaja of Punjab, she refused
and was put in house arrest. She was
also killed by the maid servants. Gulab
Singh carried away all the money and
valuables belonging to Maharani. Then
the next Maharaja other son of Ranjit
Singh, Maharaja Sher singh was put to
death by the Sandhawalia sardars, they
were together with Dogra brothers.
English saw the oppurtunity and they
attacked. Sham Singh attariwala, who
was more of a soldier than a politician.,
got the troops together. But.. he was
not assigned the general, rather a small
number of horsemen was put under his
command. Generals like Lal singh and
Tej Singh led the Khalsa forces. They
did not attacked British at Ludhiana
but waited until their reinforcement
arrived from Delhi. On December 13,
1845 Governor General Lord Hardinge
issued a proclamation, announcing war
on the Sikhs. Lal Singh, the prime minister
of Sikhs was in treasonable communication
with Captain Peter Nicholson, the Assistant
Political agent. He advised Lal singh
to not to attack Ferozepur, Sikhs could
have won it easily. Sikhs came into
contact with British on December 18
1845 at Mudki, a Battle took place.
Lal Singh who headed the Sikh attack,
deserted his army and precipitantly
fled the field when Sikhs stood firm
in their order fighting in a resolute
and determined manner. The commander's
action disturbed the ranks and Sikhs
retired with the loss of 17 guns, British
suffered heavy casualties of 872 dead.
Among the dead was General Robert Sale,
the defender of Jalalabad. Sham Singh
Attariwala did not took part in this
action he was deployed at another point.
The second battle of Mudki was fought
and it seemed that Sikhs had won it
easily. Here is what the British commander
in chief acknowledged "We were
in critical and perilous stage"
. But.. Lal singh and Tej Singh came
again to the rescue of the English.
They both deserted the Khalsa army,
Sikh soldiery without their leaders
was stood waiting for orders and lost
the battle once ammunition was done.
In this battle British lost 1000 men
1721 were wounded, Sikhs lost about
2000 men and about 73 pieces of guns.
Sikh Sardars were alarmed. A Sikh Sardar
named Ranjodh Singh Majithia crossed
the Satluj in full force along with
another Sardar named Ajit Singh Ladwa.
They marched to Ludhiana and burned
down the British cantonment. Sir Henry
Smith who was sent to intercept them
was defeated at Baddowal on January
11. Then the last battle of the Anglo
Sikh wars was fought at Sobharaon. It
was do or die for the Sikh Sardars like
Ranjodh Singh, Ajit Singh and Sham Singh
Attariwala. Sham Singh attariwala who
was about 60 years of age vowed before
Guru Granth Sahib to fight unto the
last in battle rather than retire in
defeat. But... Lal singh and Tej Singh
had already given British their positions
of guns, etc. Gulab Singh Dogra stopped
sending rations from Lahore. Tej Singh
fled on the very first day of the action.
Sham Singh and Ranjodh Singh led the
forces. Sham Singh Attariwala clad in
white silks and riding a white steed,
the grey bearded hero went unto the
field of action, pledged to victory
or death. He rallied the ranks depleted
by traitorous desertions. His courage
inspired the Sikhs to make a determined
bid to save the day, but the odds were
against them. Sham Singh fell fighting
in the foremost ranks. So did his dauntless
comrades. Cunningham, who was present
as an additional aid-de-camp to the
Governor-General, describes the last
scenes of battle vividly in his book
History of the Sikhs : "...although
assailed on either side by squadrons
of horse and battalions of foot, no
Sikh offered to submit and no disciple
of Guru Gobind Singh asked for quarter.
They everywhere showed a front to the
victors, and stalked slowly and sullenly
away, while many rushed singly forth
to meet assured death by contending
with a multitude. The victors looked
with stolid wonderment upon indomitable
courage of the vanquished..."
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copyright © Harbans Singh "The
encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol III."
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