Treaty of Lahore

Forced Labor of Muslim Women by Dogra ruler in 1930 before Kashmir agitation

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Painting of the signing of the Treaty of Bhairowal on 26 December 1846 between the Sikh Empire and British East India Company

Treaty of Lahore was a peace agreement signed on March 9, 1846, marking the end of the First Anglo-Sikh War between the Sikh Empire, based in the Punjab region, and the East India Company, representing British interests in India. This treaty is a significant event in the history of the Indian subcontinent, leading to the annexation of substantial parts of the Sikh Empire by the British and laying the groundwork for further British expansion into the region.

Background

The First Anglo-Sikh War broke out in 1845 due to escalating tensions between the Sikh Empire, which had grown powerful under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the British East India Company, which had been expanding its territories in India. Following Ranjit Singh's death in 1839, the Sikh Empire faced internal instability, which the British sought to exploit.

Terms of the Treaty

The Treaty of Lahore was negotiated and signed after the British emerged victorious in the war. The main terms of the treaty included:

• Cession of significant portions of the Sikh Empire's territories, including the valuable region of Jammu and Kashmir, to the British East India Company.
• A war indemnity imposed on the Sikhs, which required them to pay a substantial sum to the British. Unable to pay this amount, part of the indemnity was later remitted in exchange for further territorial concessions.
• The installation of a British resident in Lahore, effectively placing the Sikh Empire under British influence and control.
• Limitation of the Sikh Army to a specified number, thereby reducing its capability to challenge British authority in the future.

Aftermath

The Treaty of Lahore significantly weakened the Sikh Empire and increased British influence in the region. It led to the annexation of more territories and eventually the complete control over the Punjab by the British after the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1849. The treaty also paved the way for the British to sell the region of Jammu and Kashmir to Gulab Singh in the Treaty of Amritsar, which further altered the geopolitical landscape of the Indian subcontinent.

Legacy

The Treaty of Lahore is remembered as a pivotal moment in the colonial history of India, marking the beginning of the end for the Sikh Empire and the expansion of British rule in Punjab. It has been a subject of historical study and debate, reflecting on the consequences of colonialism and the reshaping of borders and identities in South Asia.