Tempo:
256
Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
to do anything about it. He was too ashamed to face the people of Peshawar, and he returned to Afghanistan, where he died soon after.I> The Punjabis paid a heavy price in men and material for the victory at Pir Sabak. Among the generals who fell were Phula Singh6 and the Gurkha commander Balbhadra. But it was a crushing defeat for the Afghans, and it convinced the Pathan tribesmen of the superiority of Ptmjabi arms. Three days later the Maharajah entered Peshawar at the head of his victorious troops. 7 The citizens welcomed him and paid him homage with nazariinas (gifts). The Maharajah's sojourn was, however, not a peaceful one. What the tribesmen could not achieve in open combat, they tried to gain by the cold-blooded murder of Puajabi soldiers under cover of darkness. The Punjabis wearied of the uibesmen's tactics. A few days later, when both Yar Mohammed and Dost Mohammed preseuted themselves at court and craved the Maharajah's pardon, he forgave them readily and accepted their tribute of presents and horses. Yar Mohammed was reinvested governor of Peshawar on promising an annual revenue of Rs 110,000 to the Lahore Dnrbar. 5 For a sumewhal clifl'ercnt version of the battle sec Olaf Caroe, The Patlums. pp. 294-7. 6 Phula Singh's horse was shol under him. He took an elephant and pressed on. The error cost him his life. The ghazis saw lhe man who had S<> often humblccl them. and trained 1hdr muskets on him. Phula Singh was riclclkcl with bullets. He collapsed in his howdah exhorting lhe nihangs with the lasl breath of his ho<ly not Lo give way. (Akali Phulll. Singh, by Prem Singh.) 7 The Pal11an version of Ranjit Singh's advance is quite rliffereru from Soban Lal's. Olaf Caroe wriles: 'Aft.er the battle Ranjit Singh advanced 1.0 Peshawar, .slaying and plundering as he wenl. He battered down the Bala Hissar and sacked the fair palace within. He cul the cypresses and muddied the basins of lhe garden of Shah Zaman before the fort, and allowed his cavalry to ravage the square miles of delicious orchards, plum, peach, apricot, and pear, the glory of Peshawar. The name of the Sikhii Suh.-tbe Sikh Rule-is a synonym for misgovernment and oppression in the mouths of leachers and children lo this day.' (The Pathans, pp. 297-8.)
Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
to do anything about it. He was too ashamed to face the people of Peshawar, and he returned to Afghanistan, where he died soon after.I> The Punjabis paid a heavy price in men and material for the victory at Pir Sabak. Among the generals who fell were Phula Singh6 and the Gurkha commander Balbhadra. But it was a crushing defeat for the Afghans, and it convinced the Pathan tribesmen of the superiority of Ptmjabi arms. Three days later the Maharajah entered Peshawar at the head of his victorious troops. 7 The citizens welcomed him and paid him homage with nazariinas (gifts). The Maharajah's sojourn was, however, not a peaceful one. What the tribesmen could not achieve in open combat, they tried to gain by the cold-blooded murder of Puajabi soldiers under cover of darkness. The Punjabis wearied of the uibesmen's tactics. A few days later, when both Yar Mohammed and Dost Mohammed preseuted themselves at court and craved the Maharajah's pardon, he forgave them readily and accepted their tribute of presents and horses. Yar Mohammed was reinvested governor of Peshawar on promising an annual revenue of Rs 110,000 to the Lahore Dnrbar. 5 For a sumewhal clifl'ercnt version of the battle sec Olaf Caroe, The Patlums. pp. 294-7. 6 Phula Singh's horse was shol under him. He took an elephant and pressed on. The error cost him his life. The ghazis saw lhe man who had S<> often humblccl them. and trained 1hdr muskets on him. Phula Singh was riclclkcl with bullets. He collapsed in his howdah exhorting lhe nihangs with the lasl breath of his ho<ly not Lo give way. (Akali Phulll. Singh, by Prem Singh.) 7 The Pal11an version of Ranjit Singh's advance is quite rliffereru from Soban Lal's. Olaf Caroe wriles: 'Aft.er the battle Ranjit Singh advanced 1.0 Peshawar, .slaying and plundering as he wenl. He battered down the Bala Hissar and sacked the fair palace within. He cul the cypresses and muddied the basins of lhe garden of Shah Zaman before the fort, and allowed his cavalry to ravage the square miles of delicious orchards, plum, peach, apricot, and pear, the glory of Peshawar. The name of the Sikhii Suh.-tbe Sikh Rule-is a synonym for misgovernment and oppression in the mouths of leachers and children lo this day.' (The Pathans, pp. 297-8.)
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