Tempo:
Consolidation of the Punjab
233
Wazir Fateb Khan discovered to bis great chagrin that a fort which was considered the sentinel of India was in the hands of the Punjabis. 11 He was loud in his protestations of a breach of faith. He left his brother, Azim Khan, in charge of Kashmir and returned to Peshawar. From there he wrote offensive letters to the Maharajah to evacuate Attock or take the consequences.
The Koh-i-noor Episode Shah Shuja was received at Lahore with the pomp and ceremonial that had marked his brother's reception a year earlier. He was delivered to Wafa Begam and she was asked to redeem her promise to hand over the Koh-i-noor. Kashmir had been a costly venture. The Durbar had lost over a thousand men, the Barakzais had taken the province and the loot, and the state treasury was empty. The Begam evaded the Durbar's request for the diamond. The Maharajah understood her reluctance to part with so rare an object and offered to make a token payment of 3 lacs and assign a jagir of Rs 50,000 to the family. Even this did not bring the Begam or her husband around. Ranjit Singh lost patience, made a peremptory demand for the Koh-i-noor, and placed a heavy guard on the Afghan family. After some days on reduced rations, the Afghans handed over the diamond to Ranjit Singh on 1 June 1813. 12 11 The British welcomed the passing of the fort from Afghan to Punjabi hands because it made an Afghan (or any other foreign) invasion of India more difficult. According to Soban Lal, Metcalfe senL a letter of congratulations Lo Ranjit and advised him never to give up the fort-and even obliquely hinted at the possibility of British help if necessary for the purpose. (Da.ftar, II, 142.) 12 The Koh-i-noor episode has been distorted by historians inimical to Ranjit Singh. Fortunately Shah Shuja mentions the incident himself in some detail. The rrarrative after his release from Shergarh runs as follows: 'Mohkam Chand, on tl1e pan ofRunjeet Singh, informed us LhaL his master was anxious that we should proceed to Lahore as soon as at liberty and visit the residence of our seraglio in that city; he also mentioned that bis master's fame would increase by our going.' The Shah arrived in Lahore
233
Wazir Fateb Khan discovered to bis great chagrin that a fort which was considered the sentinel of India was in the hands of the Punjabis. 11 He was loud in his protestations of a breach of faith. He left his brother, Azim Khan, in charge of Kashmir and returned to Peshawar. From there he wrote offensive letters to the Maharajah to evacuate Attock or take the consequences.
The Koh-i-noor Episode Shah Shuja was received at Lahore with the pomp and ceremonial that had marked his brother's reception a year earlier. He was delivered to Wafa Begam and she was asked to redeem her promise to hand over the Koh-i-noor. Kashmir had been a costly venture. The Durbar had lost over a thousand men, the Barakzais had taken the province and the loot, and the state treasury was empty. The Begam evaded the Durbar's request for the diamond. The Maharajah understood her reluctance to part with so rare an object and offered to make a token payment of 3 lacs and assign a jagir of Rs 50,000 to the family. Even this did not bring the Begam or her husband around. Ranjit Singh lost patience, made a peremptory demand for the Koh-i-noor, and placed a heavy guard on the Afghan family. After some days on reduced rations, the Afghans handed over the diamond to Ranjit Singh on 1 June 1813. 12 11 The British welcomed the passing of the fort from Afghan to Punjabi hands because it made an Afghan (or any other foreign) invasion of India more difficult. According to Soban Lal, Metcalfe senL a letter of congratulations Lo Ranjit and advised him never to give up the fort-and even obliquely hinted at the possibility of British help if necessary for the purpose. (Da.ftar, II, 142.) 12 The Koh-i-noor episode has been distorted by historians inimical to Ranjit Singh. Fortunately Shah Shuja mentions the incident himself in some detail. The rrarrative after his release from Shergarh runs as follows: 'Mohkam Chand, on tl1e pan ofRunjeet Singh, informed us LhaL his master was anxious that we should proceed to Lahore as soon as at liberty and visit the residence of our seraglio in that city; he also mentioned that bis master's fame would increase by our going.' The Shah arrived in Lahore
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