1 ANNEXATION OF THE PANJAB, 573
2 The Government has no desire for conquest now, but it is bound in its duty to provide
3 fully for its own security and to guard the interests of those committed to its charge.
4 fo that end, and as the only sure mode of protecting the State from the perpetual
5 recurrence of unprovoked and wasting wars, the Governor-General is compelled to resolve
6 upon the entire subjugation of a people whom their own Government has long been
7 unable to control, and whom (as events have now shown) no punishment can deter from
8 violence, no acts of friendship can conciliate to peace. Wherefore the Governor-General has
9 declared, and hereby proclaims, that the kingdom of the Panjab is at an end; and that
10 all the territories of Maharaja Ranjit Singh are now and henceforth a portion of the
11 British empire in India, His Highness the Maharaja shall be treated with consideration
12 and with honour. The few chiefs who have not engaged in hostilities against the
13 British shall retain their property and their rank. The British Government shall leave to all
14 the people, whether Mussalmans or Hindus or Sikhs, the free exercise of their own religion,
15 but is will not permit any man to interfere with others in the observance of such forms
16 and customs as their respective religions may either enjoin or permit. The jagirs and all
17 the property of sardars and others who have been in arms against the British shall be
18 confiscated to the State. The defences of every fortified place in the Panjab which is
19 not occupied by British troops shall be totally destroyed, and effectual measures shall be
20 taken to deprive the people of the means of renewing either tumult or war, The
21 Governor-General calls upon all the inhabitants of the Panjab, sardars and people, to
22 submit themselves peaceably to the authority of the British Government which has
23 hereby been proclaimed. Over those who shall live as obedient and peaceful subjects
24 of the State, the British Government will rule with mildness and beneficence, But if
25 resistance to constituted authority shall again be attempted, if violence and turbulence
26 be renewed, the Governor-General warns the people of the Panjab that the time for
27 leniency will then have passed away, and that their offence will be punished with prompt
28 and most rigorous severity.
29 The policy initiated by the Governor-General’s manifesto was crowned
30 with success, By it the Sikhs were treated, not as conquered enemies, but
31 as free subjects of the Crown, enjoying the same protection and privileges
32 as the rest of the Queen’s subjects. A pension of five lakhs of rupees was
33 conferred on the young Mahardj&é Dulip Singh, who was to come of age
34 in 1854, All the State property was confiscated to the East India Com-
35 pany. The celebrated diamond, the Kokiniér, or Mountain of Light,
36 one of the most precious and beautiful gems in the world, was surrendered
37 to the British. It was presented to Her Majesty Queen Victoria by the
38 Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East India Company at a levée
39 held on the 8rd of July 1850, and was subsequently exhibited at the Great
40 Exhibition of 1851. All the Sikh chiefs who had not taken part in the late
41 wars were endowed with pensions suitable to their rank and settled in
42 their hereditary villages. The conquest of the Panjd&b was a great military
43 achievement for the British. By the acquisition of that vast province, the
44 conquest of India by the British nation may be said to have been com-
45 pleted, and the empire of Hindostdén brought within its natural boundaries,
46 the Indus, that ‘forbidden river, the historical boundary of India, the
47 stupendous Himdlayas and the great Indian Ocean. :
48 The young Mahardjé Dulip Singh was placed under the tutelage of
49 Doctor Sir John Logan, of the Bengal Army, and sent to the North-West
50 Provinces, and afterwards to England, with his mother, the Mahardni Chand
51 Kour or Jinddn, All his personal effects and jewels were made over to his
52 guardians. The whole of the State property was put up to public sale.
53 Although these measures were calculated to cause some excitement among the
54 people, they were, nevertheless, carried out without any ebullition of feeling
55 on their part. Under the wise ministration and guidance of Dr. Logan, Dulip
56 Singh embraced Christianity and became an English country gentleman, own-
57 ing extensive estates in.Suftolk.. He conducted himself with dignity and pru-
58 - dence, and the Queen regarded him with sympathy and honoured him with
59 invitations to select dinner parties. On.public occasions he appeared in rich
60 oriental costume and decorated with the richest gems, He was a frequent
61 The kingdom of
62 LdAhore suppressed,
63 The Governor-Geue-
64 ral insures peace to all
65 the lovers of tranquil-
66 lity,
67 The Sikhs treated
68 not as conquered
69 enemies,
70 Dulip Singh deposed.
71 The great diamond
72 the Kohinur surrender-
73 ed to the Queen of
74 England.
75 Pensions allowed to
76 the Sikh chiefs,
77 The conquest of
78 India completed by the
79 conquest of the Panjab.
80 Dulfp Singh is sent
81 to England.
82 He embraces Christi-
83 anity
84 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com