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Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
was a valuahle acquisition. It yielded an annual revenue of nearly Rs 7 lacs.~ An important change in the Durbar which took place in the year 1818 was the appointment of the Dogra Dhian Singh as deorhidar (chamberlain) in place ofjemadar Khushal Singh. The new incumbent was soft-spoken and a man of impeccable manners. He introduced two brothers to the court. The elder, Guiab Singh, was an w1scrupulous and ambitious man. The younger, Suchet Singh, who was appointed conveyor of petitions, was in addition to his native courtesy, strikingly handsome. So also was Dhian Singh's son, Hira Singh, who soon became a great favourite of the Maharajah. The influence of the Dogras increased sLeadily until they became the dominant element in the Punjab Durbar.
Across the Indus to Peshawar In August 1818 Wazir Fateh Khan Barakzai was murdered by Prince Kamran, whose father, Shah Mahmud, had been placed and kept on the throne of Kabul fo1· many years by the Wazir. The Wazir's numerous brothers called for vengeance and Afghanistan was plunged imo civil war. In the heal of the stJifc both the Barakzai kinsmen of the late Wazir Fateh Khan and Mahmud's branch of the Saddo7.ais left their south-easterly outposts on the Punjab frontier weakly defended. This was a good opportunity to secure Anock, which was like an island in the midst of a sea of hostile tribesmen, by pushing the frontier fanher north towards Peshawar, or, if possible, up to the Khyber Pass. In the middle of October 1818 the Maharajah led his troops towards the north-west. Among the generals with him were two 8 According lo Sohan Lal, Multan wa.s leased oul Lo one Dewan Sham Singh of Peshawar at Rs 6 lacs per year, the remaining lac being appropriated towards expenses of administration. The exact figure of income from Mullan, according to Sita Ram Kohli, was Rs 680.975 per annum. (Mali.amjah Ranjit Si11gfl, p. 148.)
Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
was a valuahle acquisition. It yielded an annual revenue of nearly Rs 7 lacs.~ An important change in the Durbar which took place in the year 1818 was the appointment of the Dogra Dhian Singh as deorhidar (chamberlain) in place ofjemadar Khushal Singh. The new incumbent was soft-spoken and a man of impeccable manners. He introduced two brothers to the court. The elder, Guiab Singh, was an w1scrupulous and ambitious man. The younger, Suchet Singh, who was appointed conveyor of petitions, was in addition to his native courtesy, strikingly handsome. So also was Dhian Singh's son, Hira Singh, who soon became a great favourite of the Maharajah. The influence of the Dogras increased sLeadily until they became the dominant element in the Punjab Durbar.
Across the Indus to Peshawar In August 1818 Wazir Fateh Khan Barakzai was murdered by Prince Kamran, whose father, Shah Mahmud, had been placed and kept on the throne of Kabul fo1· many years by the Wazir. The Wazir's numerous brothers called for vengeance and Afghanistan was plunged imo civil war. In the heal of the stJifc both the Barakzai kinsmen of the late Wazir Fateh Khan and Mahmud's branch of the Saddo7.ais left their south-easterly outposts on the Punjab frontier weakly defended. This was a good opportunity to secure Anock, which was like an island in the midst of a sea of hostile tribesmen, by pushing the frontier fanher north towards Peshawar, or, if possible, up to the Khyber Pass. In the middle of October 1818 the Maharajah led his troops towards the north-west. Among the generals with him were two 8 According lo Sohan Lal, Multan wa.s leased oul Lo one Dewan Sham Singh of Peshawar at Rs 6 lacs per year, the remaining lac being appropriated towards expenses of administration. The exact figure of income from Mullan, according to Sita Ram Kohli, was Rs 680.975 per annum. (Mali.amjah Ranjit Si11gfl, p. 148.)
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