1 Administration of Ranjit Singh, ill
2 high in the Maharaja's service. Dhian Singh, as
3 controller of the royal household, was the most in-
4 fluential officer in the State. Ghulab Singh held a \ * A
5 high command in the army, and was afterwards |
6 installed by the British Government as the first J ^u ^
7 independent ruler of Kashmir. Suchet Singh held
8 no office of importance, but was a prominent figure at
9 the Maharaja's court. Amongst other "foreigners"
10 who obtained favour or preferment may be mentioned
11 the two sons of Nawab Muzaffar Khan, the defender
12 of Miiltan, both of whom received pensions and
13 positions at court. Khuda Yar Khan, the chief of
14 the conquered Tiwanas, received like consideration ;
15 while jdgirs and minor appointments were conferred
16 on many lesser chiefs, both Hindu and Muhammadan,
17 who had been forced to surrender their independence.
18 This liberal policy, though it helped to heal the
19 wounds of the conquered, was viewed with con-
20 siderable alarm by the Sikh sirdars, who remembered
21 the warnings of Guru Govind Singh, and looked
22 upon the advancement of the Brahmin, the Rajput,
23 and the Mussalman as a violation of the fundamental
24 principles of their faith, and a menace to the very
25 existence of the Khalsa as the brotherhood of the
26 Sikhs. Towards the end of his life, even Ranjit
27 Singh found it difficult to control the diversified and
28 antagonistic elements of which his court was com-
29 posed ; and when the reins of government passed
30 from his hands to those of his incompetent successor,
31 order speedily gave way to anarchy and bloodshed.
32 The army became supreme, and the rival princes and
33 politicians who endeavoured to buy its support