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Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
Singh's easygoing, indolent, and uncouth ways were his worst enemies. But he was quick to react to the snub his father had administered. Later that year, when Ranjit Singh was taken ill, he opened communication with the British to assure himself of their support for his succession.9 The filial situation was still unsettled when Ranjit Singh's old friend and brother-in-arms, Fateb Singh Ahluwalia, suddenly panicked and fled across the Sutlej. His nervousness was not altogether unreasonable. The Maharajah had liquidated all the misls and principalitic::s of the:: trans-Sutlej region one after another: only the Ahluwalia household remained. People began to say it was just a matter of time until Fateh Singh would go the way of the other Sardars. The chief mischief-makers were Fateh Singh's own agents at Lahore, who exhorted him to escape from the Punjab while he could. Fateh Singh crossed the Sutlej and sought the protection of the English. The English were as embarrassed at the arrival of the Sardar as the Maharajah was pained to bear of the suspicions that his closest friend had secretly harboured against him. Fortunately neither party tried to exploit the situation. The Maharajah sent his personal envoys to convince Fateh Singh that his fears had been absolutely imaginary and the British agent persuaded him to go back and make his peace with Ranjit Singh. The crestfallen Fateh Singh returned to his home in the Punjab. The Maharajah sent his grandson, Nao Nihal Singh, and Dhian Singh (who had only a few days earlier been given the title of raja and made chief of the Council of Ministers) to receive him and escort him to Lahore. The Ahluwalia estates were .guaranteed forever, and he was loaded with expensive presents.
9 It was through these communications thal Kharak gave currency to the gossip that neither Sher Singh nor Tara Singh were the real sons of Ranjit Singh but foundlings planted on the Maharajah by Sada Kaur. &e Kharak Singh's letter to Elphinstone (PC 18 of 15.6.1827) and Metcalfe to the govemor general (PC 38 of 22.6.1827) .
Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
Singh's easygoing, indolent, and uncouth ways were his worst enemies. But he was quick to react to the snub his father had administered. Later that year, when Ranjit Singh was taken ill, he opened communication with the British to assure himself of their support for his succession.9 The filial situation was still unsettled when Ranjit Singh's old friend and brother-in-arms, Fateb Singh Ahluwalia, suddenly panicked and fled across the Sutlej. His nervousness was not altogether unreasonable. The Maharajah had liquidated all the misls and principalitic::s of the:: trans-Sutlej region one after another: only the Ahluwalia household remained. People began to say it was just a matter of time until Fateh Singh would go the way of the other Sardars. The chief mischief-makers were Fateh Singh's own agents at Lahore, who exhorted him to escape from the Punjab while he could. Fateh Singh crossed the Sutlej and sought the protection of the English. The English were as embarrassed at the arrival of the Sardar as the Maharajah was pained to bear of the suspicions that his closest friend had secretly harboured against him. Fortunately neither party tried to exploit the situation. The Maharajah sent his personal envoys to convince Fateh Singh that his fears had been absolutely imaginary and the British agent persuaded him to go back and make his peace with Ranjit Singh. The crestfallen Fateh Singh returned to his home in the Punjab. The Maharajah sent his grandson, Nao Nihal Singh, and Dhian Singh (who had only a few days earlier been given the title of raja and made chief of the Council of Ministers) to receive him and escort him to Lahore. The Ahluwalia estates were .guaranteed forever, and he was loaded with expensive presents.
9 It was through these communications thal Kharak gave currency to the gossip that neither Sher Singh nor Tara Singh were the real sons of Ranjit Singh but foundlings planted on the Maharajah by Sada Kaur. &e Kharak Singh's letter to Elphinstone (PC 18 of 15.6.1827) and Metcalfe to the govemor general (PC 38 of 22.6.1827) .
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