1 DULiP SINGH. 521
2 occasion. He was in the prime of youth (being 25 years of age) when
3 exalted to the rank of wazir. The young king, eight years old, had, therefore,
4 a young minister who might have had a long political career before him had
5 he not allowed himself to be influenced in State affairs by a crafty and fanatic
6 He falls entirely
7 under the influence af
8 Brahmin from the mountains, named Jallé Alissar. This man exercised 2 Brahmin, Jails
9 great control over the young wazir, who regarded him as a deity. He
10 amused him with recitals of astrological dreams and false prophecies. A
11 rancorous enmity existed between him and Rdj4 Suchet Singh, younger
12 brother of Raja Guléb Singh, having its origin in the rivalry that existed in
13 the zendud of the late Mahardj& Ranjit Singh, to which both of them had
14 Afissare
15 free access. Rdni Jinddn, the mother of the infant Maharaja, wished to ,,Jelousy between |
16 favour Rajé Suchet Singh, and induced him to aspire to the wazirdt, to the his uncle Suchet Singh.
17 exclusion of his nephew, Hiré Singh, who was regarded as a stripling,
18 inexperienced in business and incapable of discharging the duties of the
19 office entrusted to him. This brought the Rdjé into collision with Jall4
20 Pandit, who clearly foresaw his own ruin if his patron Hird Singh
21 were supplanted in power by his uncle. The ambitious views of Suchet
22 Singh created a bitter jealousy between him and Hird Singh, who saw
23 his own position endangered, and on this account fully shared the feel-
24 ings of Jdllé Pandit. Suchet Singh had the full support of the Réni _ rans sinadn supports
25 and was also countenanced by her eldest brother, Jawdhir Singh, and Ses?
26 some of the sardars. Hird Singh increased his popularity with the
27 soldiery by adding 24 rupees to the pay of the common soldiers, and
28 discharging the arrears of pay due to them. He made them other lavish
29 promises and rewarded them with a liberal hand. At this juncture he
30 sent a message to his uncle, Rdjé Guldb Singh, requesting his presence
31 at the capital.
32 agh,
33 Guldb Singh reached Lahore on 10th November and was honourably ,Gulé» Singh's arrival
34 received. Throngh his influence, Lahna Singh, Majithia, who had been previ- |
35 ously suspected by Hird Singh of intrigue against him, was reconciled with
36 the latter. The wily old chief was, however, cautious in his proceedings,
37 and cared little whether his brother or his nephew held the title of wazir,
38 as long as his own independence was recognised. In the meantime, Suchet
39 Singh became impatient for the honours promised him by the Queen
40 hore.
41 Jawahiy Singh tha
42 Jinddn, and intrigued with Jawdhir Singh, the maternal uncle of Dulip Beirne wal
43 Singh, to inflict a sudden blow on the power of his nephew. At a review
44 of the Khdlsé troops, Jawdhir Singh was induced to mount an elephant,
45 with the young Mahardjd4 in his arms, and to complain to the troops of
46 the harsh treatment to which the royal boy and his mother had been
47 subjected at the hands of the minister and his party. He threatened the
48 troops that, if prompt redress were not afforded him, he would, with his
49 nephew, be compelled to seek protection with the British across the Sutlej.
50 This course was adopted in the expectation that the Khdlsé would pity the
51 royal child thus exhibited to their view and by a unanimous voice elect
52 Suchet Singh, or Jawdhir Singh, as the future wazir. It being late in the
53 evening, and an unusual hour fora review, the troops suspected something
54 wrong. The very idea of British protection was repugnant to ther.
55 They wanted time for deliberation, and for the night kept Jawahir Singh
56 and his young charge under a strong guard. The Khdlsé troops were at
57 this time under the command of Missar Jodha Ram, a Brahmin, father-in-
58 law to Jalld, and he inflicted on Jawdhir Singh the utmost disgrace, giving
59 him a blow in the face; for which he lost his nose when Jawdhir Singh was
60 installed as wazir. During the night a council of panches was convened,
61 and the result of their discussions was that Jawahir Singh and Suchet
62 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gm
63 His unsuccessful
64 appeal to the soldiery.
65 Missar Jodha Ram.
66 ail.com