Tempo:
14. Consolidation of the Punjab
Capture of Kangra and the Expulsion of the Gurkhas he Treaty of Lahore brought little credit to the Durbar in the eyes of a people well-known for their pugnacity. Fortunately, an opportunity to recover face presented itself a few months after the departure of the English envoy. Sansar Chand, who was fighting a losing battle against Lhe Gurkhas, appealed to the Ourbar and to the English for help. To counteract Sansar Chand's move, the Gurkhas asked the British to join them in taking Kangra and offered tribute to the Maharajah if he stayed his hand. The British turned down Sansar Chand's appeal and the Gurkha request on the grounds that they could not interfere in the affairs of the people living to the west of the Sutlej. 1 The Durbar decided to help Sansar Chand on the basis that Kangra was a part of the Punjab; but the offer was on the condition that Sansar Chand hand over the fort of Kangra. Sansar Chand accepted these terms and the Durbar' s troops quickly moved into position to cut the Gurkha supply lines with
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1 Sansar Chand later wrote to Minto; 'Even imagination itself could scarcely have found a path through these d.ifficulL passes'; the Gurkhas, however, did so and compelled Sansar Chand to deliver the fort to Ranjit Singh. 'Why was I not given protection by the British?' wailed Sansar Chand. 'Whal wonder if Kings show favour to the poor!'
Capture of Kangra and the Expulsion of the Gurkhas he Treaty of Lahore brought little credit to the Durbar in the eyes of a people well-known for their pugnacity. Fortunately, an opportunity to recover face presented itself a few months after the departure of the English envoy. Sansar Chand, who was fighting a losing battle against Lhe Gurkhas, appealed to the Ourbar and to the English for help. To counteract Sansar Chand's move, the Gurkhas asked the British to join them in taking Kangra and offered tribute to the Maharajah if he stayed his hand. The British turned down Sansar Chand's appeal and the Gurkha request on the grounds that they could not interfere in the affairs of the people living to the west of the Sutlej. 1 The Durbar decided to help Sansar Chand on the basis that Kangra was a part of the Punjab; but the offer was on the condition that Sansar Chand hand over the fort of Kangra. Sansar Chand accepted these terms and the Durbar' s troops quickly moved into position to cut the Gurkha supply lines with
T
1 Sansar Chand later wrote to Minto; 'Even imagination itself could scarcely have found a path through these d.ifficulL passes'; the Gurkhas, however, did so and compelled Sansar Chand to deliver the fort to Ranjit Singh. 'Why was I not given protection by the British?' wailed Sansar Chand. 'Whal wonder if Kings show favour to the poor!'
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