Tempo:
CHAP. VI
RANJIT SINGH'S FAVOURITES
161
or master of the entry, about the year 1811. His bro- 1802-21^ ther seemed likely to supplant him, but his refusal to become a Sikh favoured Khushal Singh's continuance in power, until both yielded to the Jammu Raj- '^^^ '^siputs in the year 1820. Gulab Singh, the eldest of three J"^^^^ sons, claimed that his grandfather was the brother of iggo "' the well-known Ranjit Deo; but the family was perhaps
and had become impoverished, and Gulab Singh took service as a horseman in a band commanded by Jamadar Khushal Singh. He sent for his second brother, Dhian Singh, and then, again like the reigning favourite, they both became running footmen under Ranjit Singh's eye. Their joint assiduity, and the graceful bearing of the younger man, again attracted the Maharaja's notice, and Dhian Singh speedily took illegitimate,
the place of the Brahman chamberlain, without, however, consigning him to neglect, for he retained his estates
and
his position
as
a noble.
Gulab
Singh
obtained a petty command and signalized himself by the seizure of the turbulent Muhammadan Chief of Rajauri. Jammu was then conferred in jagir or fief upon the family, and the youngest brother. Suchet Singh, as well as the two elder, were one by one raised to the rank of Raja, and rapidly obtained an engrossing and prejudicial influence in the counsels of the Maharaja, excepting, perhaps, in connexion with his English relations, the importance of which required and obtained the exercise of his own unbiassed opinion.
The smooth and crafty Gulab Singh ordinarily remained in the hills, using Sikh means to extend his
own authority over his brother Rajputs, and eventually Ladakh; the less able, but more polished, Dhian Singh, remained continually in attendance upon the Maharaja, ever on the watch, in order that he might anticipate his wishes; while the elegant Suchet Singh Ranjit fluttered as a gay courtier and gallant soldier, without Singh's grasping at power or creating enemies. The nominal <^hosen fakir or devotee, the Muhammadan Aziz-ud-din, never ^^''^3'^*^. held the place of an ordinary favourite, but he attached ud-din. himself at an early period to Ranjit Singh's person, and was honoured and trusted as one equally prudent and faithful; and, during the ascendancy both of Khushal Singh and Dhian Singh, he was always consulted, and invariably made the medium of communication with the British authorities. The above were the most conspicuous persons in the Lahore court; but the mind of Ranjit Singh was never prostrate before that of others, and ne conferred the government of Multan Diwan on the discreet Sawan Mai, and rewarded the military sawan Mai. into
.
RANJIT SINGH'S FAVOURITES
161
or master of the entry, about the year 1811. His bro- 1802-21^ ther seemed likely to supplant him, but his refusal to become a Sikh favoured Khushal Singh's continuance in power, until both yielded to the Jammu Raj- '^^^ '^siputs in the year 1820. Gulab Singh, the eldest of three J"^^^^ sons, claimed that his grandfather was the brother of iggo "' the well-known Ranjit Deo; but the family was perhaps
and had become impoverished, and Gulab Singh took service as a horseman in a band commanded by Jamadar Khushal Singh. He sent for his second brother, Dhian Singh, and then, again like the reigning favourite, they both became running footmen under Ranjit Singh's eye. Their joint assiduity, and the graceful bearing of the younger man, again attracted the Maharaja's notice, and Dhian Singh speedily took illegitimate,
the place of the Brahman chamberlain, without, however, consigning him to neglect, for he retained his estates
and
his position
as
a noble.
Gulab
Singh
obtained a petty command and signalized himself by the seizure of the turbulent Muhammadan Chief of Rajauri. Jammu was then conferred in jagir or fief upon the family, and the youngest brother. Suchet Singh, as well as the two elder, were one by one raised to the rank of Raja, and rapidly obtained an engrossing and prejudicial influence in the counsels of the Maharaja, excepting, perhaps, in connexion with his English relations, the importance of which required and obtained the exercise of his own unbiassed opinion.
The smooth and crafty Gulab Singh ordinarily remained in the hills, using Sikh means to extend his
own authority over his brother Rajputs, and eventually Ladakh; the less able, but more polished, Dhian Singh, remained continually in attendance upon the Maharaja, ever on the watch, in order that he might anticipate his wishes; while the elegant Suchet Singh Ranjit fluttered as a gay courtier and gallant soldier, without Singh's grasping at power or creating enemies. The nominal <^hosen fakir or devotee, the Muhammadan Aziz-ud-din, never ^^''^3'^*^. held the place of an ordinary favourite, but he attached ud-din. himself at an early period to Ranjit Singh's person, and was honoured and trusted as one equally prudent and faithful; and, during the ascendancy both of Khushal Singh and Dhian Singh, he was always consulted, and invariably made the medium of communication with the British authorities. The above were the most conspicuous persons in the Lahore court; but the mind of Ranjit Singh was never prostrate before that of others, and ne conferred the government of Multan Diwan on the discreet Sawan Mai, and rewarded the military sawan Mai. into
.
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