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Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
In the summer of 1829, Prince Sher Singh took the initiative and inflicted a severe defeat on them. But even this reverse did not hold them back. A few months later they killed Yar Mohammed in a skirmish and would have slain his brother, Sultan Mohammed7, ifhe had not been saved by Ventura. Syed Ahmed8 got bo]der and attacked a force under Harl Singh Nalwa and Allard in the Hazara hills and kept the Punjabis on the defensive while he went forward and recapnrred Peshawar. He was proclaimed caliph and coins were struck in his name with the inscription 'Ahmed the Just: The glitter of whose scimitar scatters destruction among the infidels.' Success went to Syed's head. As Muslims from all over India, Sindh, and Kashmir flocked to his banner, he began to assume the airs of a monarch. Pathan tribesmen became restive at the influx of foreigners on their soil and the demands they made for food and women, particularly women. Durbar agents exploited the growing feeling of resentment and bribed some tribal leaders to tum against Syed Ahmed and murder the Hindustanis. Syed Ahmed was compelled to retire from Peshawar. The city was reoccupied by Prince Sher Singh and given to Sultan Mohammed Khan. Syed Ahmed found himself sandwiched between the Punjabis and hostile tribesmen. He was at Balakot at the bottom of the Kaghan Valley when Prince Sher Singh caught up with him. In a short, sharp engagement, be completely decimated the small band of ghazis, including the Syed.9 The jihad was fitfully carried on by one of Syed Ahmed's disciples, Nasiruddin, and met with little success. But soon after 7 Sul.Lan Mohammed presented Ranjil Singh 'Leili,' the mosl famous horse in the royal stables. PC 19 of 23.10.1829. 8 A slightly different version of the conflict wilh Syed Ahmed is given in The Pathans, by Olaf Caroe, pp. 301-5. 9 The Punjabis did not display any fanaticism in their behaviour towards the man who bad roused a million people against them and vilified their faith with contemptuous abuse. The Prince himself draped the body of the Syed with an expensive shawl before it was buried with the honours due to a brave adversary. (Umdiit-ut-TawariM, Daft.arm, p. 35.) When the news of the Prince's homage to lhe dead crusader reached the Maharajah, he fully approved of it. Syed Ahmed was a good, if misguided, man.
Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism
In the summer of 1829, Prince Sher Singh took the initiative and inflicted a severe defeat on them. But even this reverse did not hold them back. A few months later they killed Yar Mohammed in a skirmish and would have slain his brother, Sultan Mohammed7, ifhe had not been saved by Ventura. Syed Ahmed8 got bo]der and attacked a force under Harl Singh Nalwa and Allard in the Hazara hills and kept the Punjabis on the defensive while he went forward and recapnrred Peshawar. He was proclaimed caliph and coins were struck in his name with the inscription 'Ahmed the Just: The glitter of whose scimitar scatters destruction among the infidels.' Success went to Syed's head. As Muslims from all over India, Sindh, and Kashmir flocked to his banner, he began to assume the airs of a monarch. Pathan tribesmen became restive at the influx of foreigners on their soil and the demands they made for food and women, particularly women. Durbar agents exploited the growing feeling of resentment and bribed some tribal leaders to tum against Syed Ahmed and murder the Hindustanis. Syed Ahmed was compelled to retire from Peshawar. The city was reoccupied by Prince Sher Singh and given to Sultan Mohammed Khan. Syed Ahmed found himself sandwiched between the Punjabis and hostile tribesmen. He was at Balakot at the bottom of the Kaghan Valley when Prince Sher Singh caught up with him. In a short, sharp engagement, be completely decimated the small band of ghazis, including the Syed.9 The jihad was fitfully carried on by one of Syed Ahmed's disciples, Nasiruddin, and met with little success. But soon after 7 Sul.Lan Mohammed presented Ranjil Singh 'Leili,' the mosl famous horse in the royal stables. PC 19 of 23.10.1829. 8 A slightly different version of the conflict wilh Syed Ahmed is given in The Pathans, by Olaf Caroe, pp. 301-5. 9 The Punjabis did not display any fanaticism in their behaviour towards the man who bad roused a million people against them and vilified their faith with contemptuous abuse. The Prince himself draped the body of the Syed with an expensive shawl before it was buried with the honours due to a brave adversary. (Umdiit-ut-TawariM, Daft.arm, p. 35.) When the news of the Prince's homage to lhe dead crusader reached the Maharajah, he fully approved of it. Syed Ahmed was a good, if misguided, man.
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