Misplaced Pages

This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (August 2024)

Part of a series on
Sikhism
People Topics Outline History Glossary
Sikh gurus Guru Nanak Guru Angad Guru Amar Das Guru Ram Das Guru Arjan Guru Hargobind Guru Har Rai Guru Har Krishan Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib
Selected revered saints Bhagat Kabir Bhagat Ravidas Bhagat Farid Bhagat Ramanand Bhagat Beni Bhagat Namdev Bhagat Sadhana Bhagat Bhikhan Bhagat Parmanand Bhagat Sain Bhagat Dhanna Bhagat Pipa Bhagat Surdas Bhagat Jaidev Bhagat Trilochan Bhatt Kalshar Bhatt Balh Bhatt Bhalh Bhatt Bhika Bhatt Gayand Bhatt Harbans Bhatt Jalap Bhatt Kirat Bhatt Mathura Bhatt Nalh Bhatt Salh Baba Sundar Satta Doom Balvand Rai
Philosophy Naam Japo Kirat Karō Vand Chakkō Charhdi Kalā Guru Maneyo Granth Five Thieves Five Virtues
Practices Sikh Rehat Maryada Prohibitions Ardās Kirtan Amrit Velā Dasvand The Five Ks Langar Sewa Simran Nitnem Dastar (Turban) Naam Karan Amrit Sanskar Anand Karaj Antam Sanskar
Scripture Guru Granth Sahib Dasam Granth Sarbloh Granth Five Banis
Places and Takhts Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib Akal Takht Keshgarh Sahib Damdama Sahib Patna Sahib Hazur Sahib
General topics Ik Onkar Khalsa Waheguru Panj Pyare Nirgun and Sargun Khanda Literature Music Names Nanakshahi calendar Criticism Jathedar of Akal Takht War Sects
Sikhism and other religions Sikhism and Hinduism Sikhism and Islam Sikhism and Jainism
Religion portal
v t e

A Sikh state is a political entity that is ruled by Sikhs. There were various Sikh states, empires, and dynasties, beginning with the first Sikh state established by Banda Singh Bahadur to the Sikh-ruled princely states of British India.

History

Theological underpinnings

The bards Satta Doom and Balvand Rai state the following in the Guru Granth Sahib regarding Guru Nanak establishing a raj (governance or rule):

Nanak established the Dominion by raising
the fort of Truth on firm foundations …
With might and bravery of One’s wisdom-sword,
Perfection bestowed the gift of life …
The Light and the method were same,
the Sovereign only changed the body.
Impeccable Divine canopy waves,
the Throne of Guru-ship is occupied.

— Satta Doom and Balvand Rai, Guru Granth Sahib, page 966

The Sikh concept of miri-piri emphasizes that spirituality and temporality are intrinsically linked to one another, legitimizing Sikh aims to establish their own sovereignty. Guru Gobind Singh taught the principles of Raj Karega Khalsa as forming the basis for Sikh-rule. In-response to a question posed by Bhai Nand Lal, the tenth guru responded as follows on the issue of sovereignty:

Nand Lal, listen to this truth:
I will establish the Raj (Sovereignty). (56)
The four categories will become one category,
I will recite Vahiguru (Awe-Wisdom) recitation. (57)
mount horses and fly hawks,
The Turks (empire) will flee seeing them. (58)
I will make one fight a hundred and twenty-five thousand.
I will free those Singhs (warriors) who ascend (die). (59)
The spears will wave and the elephants will be caparisoned,
The nine-instruments will resound from gate to gate. (60)
When a hundred and twenty-five thousand guns will discharge,
Then the Khalsa will be victorious from wherever the sun shines and sets. (61)
The Khalsa will rule and no one will be a dissenter,
All will unite after exhaustion, those who take refuge will survive. (62)

— Bhai Nand Lal of Goya, Nasihatnamah/Tankhahnamah, stanzas 56-62

Establishment of the first Sikh rule

The first Sikh polity, albeit a short-lived one, was founded by Banda Singh Bahadur in 1710, after his forces captured Sirhind and issued silver rupee coinage from the Mukhlisgarh Fort based at the Shivalik range. This was a republic that existed from 1710 to 1716. The issuing of coinage was a mark of sovereignty, marking the beginning of Banda's rule over Sirhind. Furthermore, Banda rejected using both the traditional Indic Bikrami calendar and the Islamicate calendar, creating his own calendar where the first year commenced on the date of his victory over Sirhind. Banda's state issued coins in the name of the Sikh gurus.

Formation of the Sikh Confederacy

Between the period of 1726–1733, Zakaria Khan, the Mughal viceroy of Lahore province, enacted a genocidal policy against the Sikhs. After the oppressive anti-Sikh government policy failed to get rid of the Sikh threat, the Mughal government decided to try pacifying the Sikhs by granting them an official jagir (estate) grant. Upon Sikh request, a Nawab title was offered to the Sikhs, which was bestowed upon Kapur Singh in 1733 (since Darbara Singh had rejected it), alongside a khilat and bag of gold. In 1734, Nawab Kapur Singh divided the Sikh congregation into two groups: the Taruna Dal and the Buddha Dal. Each of these Dals ("armies") were further sub-divided into five groups (with Kapur Singh's own grouping being the additional). After a short period of peace between the Mughals and Sikhs, differences between them started to grow again due to the restless and provocative antics of the Taruna Dal, and the Nawab-ship that was bestowed upon the Sikhs earlier by the Mughal Empire was revoked and the jagir was confiscated in 1735. Thus, the former anti-Sikh genocidal policies of the Mughals was put in-place again and the Sikhs once again had to disperse to places of safe haven, such as the Lakhi Jungle. With the invasion of India by Nadir Shah between January–May 1739 and the total destruction of the Mughal administration in the Punjab as a result, the Sikhs saw an opportunity for themselves and pillaged and sought revenge on their enemies. On 1 July 1745, Zakarian Khan died and he was succeeded by less-effective Mughal administrators, such as Yahiya Khan. After this point, Kapur Singh divided the Sikh congregation into twenty-five bands (jathas), with each band consisting of about a hundred young Sikh men under the command of a respective leader. With this reform, a basic confederation structure for military activities of the Sikhs was forming shape. After an initial invasion of India by Ahmad Shah Abdali, Kapur Singh realized that the Afghan invader would surely return for more loot, additionally due to the strict ruling-style of Moin-ul-Mulk, Kapur Singh resolved to reform the then sixty-five (the number of Sikh bands had since swelled from the twenty-five bands that had been established earlier) Sikh bands into eleven misls on the annual Vaisakhi gathering at Amritsar on 29 March 1748, establishing the Sikh Confederacy and its constituent misls, with the united army of all the Sikhs called the Dal Khalsa. The earlier Taruna Dal and Buddha Dal division system that was established earlier in 1734 was retained, with each of the eleven misls being assigned as part of a dal, with the seminal division being as follows:

• Buddha Dal:
  • Ahluwalia Misl
  • Dallewalia Misl
  • Faizulpuria Misl
  • Karorasinghia Misl
  • Nishanwalia Misl
  • Shaheedan Misl
• Taruna Dal:
  • Bhangi Misl
  • Kanhaiya Misl
  • Nakai Misl
  • Ramgarhia Misl
  • Sukarchakia Misl

Establishment of Sikh monarchies

After the fall of Sirhind in 1763, many Sikh kingdoms began to take root after being founded by sardars of the precursory Sikh misls, such as Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Kalsia, Manimajra, and Kaithal. The sarkar of Sirhind was cut-up and distributed amongst hundreds of both petty and prominent Sikh sardars. The Sukerchakia Misl formed the Sikh Empire after the capture of Lahore in 1799.

Khalistan movement

Some segments of the Sikh community advocate for an independent state called Khalistan.

Administration

Parganas, 'ilaqa, and ta'alluqa administrative divisions of Sikh polities tended to much smaller scale in-size compared to the Mughal administrative system and more numerous. An example of this is the Gujranwala district, which consisted of twenty-six ta'alluqas during Sikh-rule but three or four parganas during Mughal-rule. An explanation of this is when Sikhs occupied formerly Mughal-controlled territory, they divvied up the Mughal parganas amongst the Sikh sardars. A subdivision of a pargana or ta'alluqa was a tappa or topes. Sikh-rule over Kashmir led to the establishment of four new Kashmiri parganas. The Mughal pargana was comparable in-nature to the Sikh ta'alluqa. At the ta'alluqa-level, the Mughal office of the 'amil was comparable to the Sikh office of the kardar. The basis of revenue administration came from the positions of the muqaddam, chaudhari, and the qanungo.

The Sikh polities did not made radical changes to the pre-existing system but rather made slight changes, which do make them discernible from their predecessors. Whilst in main areas during the Mughal-period the zabt method was predominant, during Sikh-rule it was the ghallabakhshi and kankut that were dominant. However, the most dominant systems of assessment and collection during Sikh-rule were the batai and kankut, however the zabt method was employed in some areas. Outside of main areas, older methods continued unabated for the most part. The ijara practice became popularized during Sikh-rule but this method led to lower shares of produce being received by the state due to lower rates of assessment.

The jagirs bestowed by Sikh states were similar to the mansabdari jagirs that were granted by the Mughals. The dharmarth grants issued by Sikh states were similar to the madad-i-ma'ash grants of the Mughals. A key difference however was the proportion of revenue alienated by the way of jagir was much smaller during Sikh-rule in-comparison to Mughal-rule. However, the proportion of revenue alienated by the way of dharmarth was much larger during Sikh-rule compared to the predecessor Mughals. Another difference was that the proportion of hereditary jagirs was larger during Sikh-rule.

The three classes in-relation to land tenures was the same between Mughal and Sikh-rule:

1. Peasant proprietor – the most important position
2. Superior owner (zamindar or ta'alluqdar)
3. Tenant

During Sikh-rule, the position of the peasant proprietor improved in-relation to the ta'alluqdar whilst the position of the tenant improved in-relation to the other two classes above it. Sikh ruling classes received a relatively smaller share of surplus land revenue in-comparison to their Mughal counterparts, with the revenue during Sikh-rule being distributed to many sardars and rajas (with both being relatively equal in importance). Thus, the peasant proprietor and tenant classes were able to enjoy much of the produce they produced. During the reign of Ranjit Sikh of Lahore State, there were no instances of agricultural crises.

List of historical Sikh states and dynasties

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2024)

The following list enumerates historical Sikh states, empires, and dynasties in chronological order, ordered by their establishment year:

See also

• List of monarchs of Punjab

Notes

References

1. Singh, Gurbachan; Gyani, Lal Singh (1946). The Idea of the Sikh State. Lahore Book Shop.
2. Ramusack, Barbara; Copland, Ian (2004). Singh, Harbans (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Vol. 4: S–Z (2nd ed.). Patiala: Punjabi University. pp. 166–177. ISBN 817380530X.
3. ^ Singh, Harinder (15 June 2020). "Raj Karega Khalsa: The Khalsa & The Rule". Sikh Research Institute. Retrieved 2023-05-10.
4. ^ Madra, Amandeep Singh; Singh, Parmjit (27 September 2016). "Introduction". Sicques, Tigers or Thieves: Eyewitness Accounts of the Sikhs (1606–1810). Springer. p. xxx. ISBN 9781137119988.
5. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Comrnonwealth or Rise and FalI of Sikh Misls. Vol. IV. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 71–77. ISBN 978-8121501651.
6. Sharma, Suresh K. (2006). "History of Karnal: The Sikh Rule". Haryana: Past and Present. Mittal Publications. pp. 132–33. ISBN 9788183240468.
7. Singh, Bhagat (1993). "Chapter 14 - The Phulkian Misl". A History of the Sikh Misals. Publication Bureau, Punjabi University.
8. ^ Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History of the Sikhs: Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls. Vol. 4. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 158–160. ISBN 978-8121501651.
9. Sarkar, Jadunath (1964). Fall of the Mughal Empire. Vol. 3: 1771–1788 (3rd ed.). Orient Longman. p. 106.
10. Singh, Ganda, ed. (1986). The Punjab Past and Present. Part 2. Vol. 20. Patiala: Punjabi University, Patiala. pp. 396–398.
11. Bond, J. W.; Wright, Arnold (2006). Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 232–242. ISBN 978-81-206-1965-4. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
12. ^ Banga, Indu (20 August 2023). Agrarian System of the Sikhs: Late Eighteenth and Early Nineteenth Century (Reprint ed.). Manohar Publishers and Distributors. pp. 68–69, 192–193. ISBN 9789388540193.
13. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ranjit Singh" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 892.
14. Grewal, J. S. (1990). The Sikhs of the Punjab, Chapter 6: The Sikh empire (1799–1849). The New Cambridge History of India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-63764-3. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
15. "Khalistan: Why are some Sikhs calling for a separate homeland in India?". BBC. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
16. Truhart, Peter (2017). Regents of Nations: Asia, Australia-Oceania, Part 2 (Reprint ed.). Walter de Gruyter. p. 1395. ISBN 9783111616254.
17. ^ Truhart, Peter (2017). Regents of Nations: Asia, Australia-Oceania, Part 2 (Reprint ed.). Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783111616254.
18. "Nabha | Princely State, Maharaja, Punjab | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
19. Sharma, Suresh K. (2006). "History of Karnal: The Sikh Rule". Haryana: Past and Present. Mittal Publications. pp. 132–33. ISBN 9788183240468.
20. Bal, Sarjit Singh (1974). A Brief History of the Modern Punjab. Lyall Book Depot. p. 3.
21. Mittal, Satish Chandra (1986). "Revolt of Ajit Singh of Ladwa 1845–46". Haryana: A Historical Perspective. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 41.
22. Sharma, Suresh K. (2006). "History of Karnal: The Sikh Rule". Haryana: Past and Present. Mittal Publications. pp. 132–33. ISBN 9788183240468.
23. Pasha, Mustapha Kamal (1998). Colonial Political Economy: Recruitment and Underdevelopment in the Punjab. Oxford University Press. p. 158. ISBN 9780195777628.
24. Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History of the Sikhs: Sikh Commonwealth or Rise and Fall of Sikh Misls. History of the Sikhs. Vol. 4. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. ISBN 8121501652.
25. Arora, Amit (8 September 2017). "Amalgamation of History". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
26. Sarkar, Jadunath (1964). Fall of the Mughal Empire. Vol. 3: 1771–1788 (3rd ed.). Orient Longman. p. 106.
27. Gupta, Hari Ram (2007). History of the Sikhs: The Sikh Comrnonwealth or Rise and FalI of Sikh Misls. Vol. IV. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. pp. 60–66. ISBN 978-8121501651.
28. Dogra, R. C.; Mansukhani, Gobind Singh (1995). Encyclopaedia of Sikh Religion and Culture. Vikas Publishing House. p. 249. ISBN 9780706983685.

v t e Sikhism
Glossary and History
Gurus	Guru Nanak Guru Angad Guru Amar Das Guru Ram Das Guru Arjan Guru Hargobind Guru Har Rai Guru Har Krishan Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Gobind Singh Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book)
Philosophy	Beliefs and principles Guru Maneyo Granth Sikh Rehat Maryada The 52 Hukams Prohibitions Cannabis and Sikhism Diet in Sikhism
Practices	Khalsa Sikh practices Sikh rites Ardās Kirtan Langar Naam Karan Anand Karaj Amrit Sanchar Amrit Velā Antam Sanskar Three Pillars Kirat Karo Naam Japo Vand Chhako The Five Ks Simran Sewa Charhdi Kala Dasvand Jhatka
Scripture	Guru Granth Sahib Dasam Granth Sarbloh Granth Gurbani Mul Mantar Japji Sahib Chaupai Jaap Sahib Rehras Sukhmani Sahib Tav-Prasad Savaiye
Architecture	Gurdwara Harmandir Sahib Janam Asthan Darbar Sahib Kartarpur List Africa Asia Europe North America Bahadurgarh Fort Fateh Burj Hazuri Bagh Baradari Kesgarh Qila Khanda museum Moti Bagh Palace Nanak Shahi bricks Pul Kanjri Qila Mubarak, Patiala Ramgarhia Bunga Samadhi of Ranjit Singh Well of Dina Nath
By country	Diaspora Afghanistan Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Canada Vancouver China Denmark Fiji Finland France Germany Greece India Jammu and Kashmir Kochi Punjab Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Malaysia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Niue Norway Pakistan Panama Poland Singapore South Africa South Korea Sweden Switzerland Thailand United Arab Emirates United Kingdom England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland United States U.S. Military
Groups, sects and communities	Sects of Sikhism Khalsa Mina Namdhari Nanakpanthi Nihang Nirankari Sewapanthi Nirmala Ramraiya Udasi Mazhabi Sikh Piara Singh Bhaniara Agrahari Sikh Jatha Damdami Taksal Akhand Kirtani Jatha Singh Sabha Contemporary Sant Mat movements 3HO
Sikh Empire	v t e Sikh Empire Rulers Ranjit Singh Kharak Singh Nau Nihal Singh Chand Kaur Sher Singh Jind Kaur Duleep Singh Military conflicts Mughal-Sikh Wars Battle of Bhangani Nadaun Basoli 1st Anandpur 2nd Anandpur Chamkaur Sarsa Muktsar Sonepat Samana Sirhind Sadhaura Chappar Chiri Rahon Lohgarh Jalalabad Jammu Gurdas Nangal Delhi Afghan–Sikh wars Battle of Attock Battle of Multan Battle of Shopian Battle of Nowshera Battle of Peshawar Battle of Jamrud First Anglo-Sikh War Battle of Mudki Battle of Ferozeshah Battle of Aliwal Battle of Sobraon Second Anglo-Sikh War Battle of Ramnagar Battle of Chillianwala Siege of Multan Battle of Gujrat Others Nepal–Sikh War, Sino-Sikh war, Katoch–Sikh War, Hill States–Sikh Wars, Panchayati Revolution, List of battles involving the Sikh Empire Military forces Sikh Khalsa Army Fauj-i-Khas Fauj-i-Ain Kampu-i-mu'alla Adversaries Mughal Empire Durrani Empire Emirate of Afghanistan British East India Company Kingdom of Nepal Qing Empire Hill States Alliance Kingdom of Mankera Namgyal dynasty Barakzai dynasty Sudhans of Poonch Maqpon Dynasty Forts Jamrud Fort Multan Fort Harkishangarh Lahore Fort Zorawar Fort Bahu Fort Gobindgarh Fort Phillaur Fort Officials and warriors Natives Dhian Singh Diwan Dina Nath Diwan Bhawani Das Diwan Buta Singh Pratap Singh Misr Diwan Chand Diwan Mulraj Hari Singh Nalwa Mahan Singh Mirpuri Dewan Mokham Chand Khushal Singh Jamadar Zorawar Singh Tej Singh Lal Singh Gulab Singh Balbhadra Kunwar Jawahar Singh Mehta Basti Ram Sham Singh Attariwalla Sher Singh Attariwalla Chattar Singh Attariwalla Desa Singh Majithia Amar Singh Majithia Lehna Singh Majithia Ranjodh Singh Majithia Surat Singh Majithia Mangal Singh Ramgarhia Akali Phula Singh Chandu Lal Ajit Singh Sandhawalia Kahan Singh Nakai Sangat Singh Saini Hukma Singh Veer Singh Jarnail Ghaus Khan Ilahi Bakhsh Fakir Azizuddin Sultan Mahmud Khan Malik Fateh Khan Tiwana Sohan Lal Suri Moti Ram Diwan Ram Dayal Diwan Kirpa Ram Foreigners Jean-François Allard Jean-Baptiste Ventura Claude Auguste Court François Henri Mouton Alexander Gardner Paolo Avitabile Josiah Harlan Johann Martin Honigberger Henry Lawrence Influential families Sandhawalia family Majithia family Tiwana family Treaties Treaty of Amritsar (1809) Tripartite Treaty (1838) Treaty of Chushul (1842) Treaty of Lahore (1846) Treaty of Amritsar (1846) Miscellaneous Khalsa Darbar records
Festivals	Bandi Chhor Divas Hola Mohalla Maghi Mela Maghi Vaisakhi
Other topics	History Culture Art Music Ik Onkar Waheguru Khanda Panj Pyare Films Literature Music Names Places Politics Sikhs in the British Indian Army 11th Sikh Regiment Sikh Regiment Sikh Light Infantry Nanakshahi calendar Ramananda Fariduddin Ganjshakar Kabir Sardar Dastar Dharamyudh Islam Jainism Hinduism Rama Sikhs Ravidassia Women in Sikhism Sikhism and sexual orientation In Fiction Idolatry in Sikhism Criticism Punjab History Punjabis Punjabi language (Gurmukhī) Sacred trees
Takht	Akal Takht Damdama Sahib Kesgarh Sahib Hazur Sahib Patna Sahib
Outline Category

• Sikh politics
• Former countries in Indian history