Dogras enjoyed a lot of influence and authority in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Lahore Darbar. Dogras were loyal to Maharaja Ranjit Singh throughout his life and his family after his death. Dogras got backstabbed, murdered and their land was sold to Britishers after the first Anglo Sikh War. Dogras were a dominant force in Lahore Darbar for almost 50 years and founded the Dogra Empire which lasted for almost 100 years. We should know more about the unadulterated allegiance of Dogras towards the Lahore durbar and how they were eliminated from there.
Assassination of Raja Dhyan Singh Dogra
Dhyan Singh Dogra, Raja of Poonch Jagir was the longest serving Wazir (Prime Minister) of Lahore Darbar. He was Wazir for a record 40 years out of a total 50 year rule. Tallest Dogra in Lahore Darbar was Raja Dhyan Singh who was protecting Lahore Darbar after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. When Nau Nihal Singh was murdered along with Uddham Singh S/o Raja Gulab Singh while returning from the cremation of Kharak Singh, father of Nau Nihal Singh , Raja Dhyan Singh took very important steps to protect Lahore Darbar. He sent Rani Jind Kour along with next heir Duleep Singh to Raja Suchet Singh’s jagir in Ramnagar. Chand Kour after the deaths of both her husband Kharak Singh and son Nau Nihal Singh, declared herself regent for the unborn child of Nau Nihal Singh and his pregnant widow Sahib Kaur. Wazir Dhyan Singh Raja protected Chand Kour and Lahore Darbar till one day Sher Singh challenged Lahore Darbar and encircled it with his cavalry. Chand Kour had to leave Lahore Darbar and it was Raja Gulab Singh who gave her refuge in Jammu and saved her life from Sher Singh. Dhyan SIngh Dogra remained wazir of Lahore Darbar till he was assassinated along with Sher Singh 15 September 1843.
Murder of Raja Suchet Singh Dogra, Wazir Hira Singh Dogra
Hira Singh Dogra was the son of the great Dhyan Singh Dograwho was very Loyal to Lahore Darbar. He told Hira SIngh Dogra if any unfortunate event happens , he should bring in Duleep Singh and his Mother Jind Kour from Raja Suchet Singh’s Jagir and instate the right heirs on the throne. Hira SIngh Dogra followed the orders of his father like an obedient son and did exactly what he was asked to do.
Jind Kour became the regent, as Duleep Singh was too young to be on the throne. Jind Kour in Ramnagar got close to Raja Suchet Singh and wanted to bring Suchet Singh Dogra to Lahore Darbar as Wazir by replacing Hira Singh Dogra. It is said that Hira Singh Dogra on the recommendations of his tutor and mentor Pandit Julla, ordered the killing of his own uncle Raja Suchet Singh Dogra when he was invited to Lahore by Maharani Jind Kaur. Raja Suchet Singh Dogra was killed on 27 March 1844, while leading a failed coup against Hira Singh Dogra. After the murder of Raja Suchet Singh Dogra the relationship between Maharani Jind Kaur and Wazir Hira Singh Dogra became jittery.
Maharaja Ranjit SIngh treated the son of Dhyan Singh Dogra as his own son. He was the only one who was allowed to sit beside the Maharaja. Most of the soldiers wanted Hira Singh Dogra to be on the throne but he was following orders of his father.
When Maharani Jind Kaur turned against Hira Singh Dogra, Lal Singh supported Maharani and her brother Jawahar, helping them to persecute Hira Singh. Maharani Jind Kour gave orders to kill Hira Singh Dogra and Pandit Julla for conspiracy to dethrone her. With allegations of coup ,
Wazir Hira Singh Dogra, Pandit Julla and Sohan Singh Dogra, son of Maharaja Gulab Singh were killed when they were escaping. Hira Singh Dogra was the last Dogra protecting Lahore Darbar and after this Dogras were out of Lahore Darbar
End of Dogras lead to End of Lahore Darbar
Every single dogra in Lahore Darbar was murdered which included Raja Dhyan Singh Dogra, Raja Suchet Singh Dogra, Wazir Hira Singh Dogra, Uddham Singh Dogra, Sohan SIngh Dogra. Raja Gulab SIngh was devastated after losing two brothers , two sons and a nephew while protecting Lahore Darbar.
Jind Kaur on the behest of Lal Singh wanted to break the treaty with Britishers and cross river Satluj. Raja Gulab Singh being a battle hardened warrior and a great negotiator in Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army advised not to do so. Jind Kour ignored his advice and jumped into the first Anglo Sikh War in 1945-46 and was defeated.
Real Betrayal and the Betrayer, Wazir Lal Singh
In 1846 Lal Singh Wazir of Regent Jind Kour betrayed Dogras and he tried to sell Duggar Land between river Ravi and river Jhelum to Britishers. Britishers demanded war indemnity of 1 lakh sterlings (1 Crore Nanakshahi) after the first Anglo-Sikh war to which Lal Singh decided to give away land belonging to the Dogra Rajas in lieu of the war indemnity. Three Dogra brothers were Raja’s of Poonch Jagir, Jammu Jagir and Ramnagar Jagir. Raja Gulab Singh and Raha Dhyan Singh. Raja Gulab Singh negotiated for his land and got it for 75 Lakh Nanakshahi and few more things as defined in the Treaty of The Treaty of Lahore (9 March 1846) and the Treaty of Amritsar (1846) (16 March 1846).
Dogras had no looking back once Maharaja Gulab Singh got his land back from Britishers. Dogras ruled the toughest battlefield in the world and conquered Chitral bordering Afghanistan and touching Central Asia. Dogra Empire is the only empire which extended the borders of Bharat by capturing parts of Tibet. Lahore Durbar was nothing without the prowess and valour of Dogras. Maharaja Gulab Singh led many conquests but it is known to the masses. Maharaja Gulab Singh was with Maharaja Ranjit SIngh when he was uniting Misls of Punjab. Maharaja Gulab Singh rushed to the battlefield when Hari SIngh Nalwa was injured and he took his place.
Fall of Lahore Durbar is because Dogras were eliminated from Lahore Durbar and this fact rattled few who have read distorted historical facts. Embarrassing defeat of Lahore Durbar without Dogras on the battlefield haunts many and they start paddling lies about Dogras.This snippet from the history is an attempt to educate the masses about the loyalty of Dogras to the Lahore Durbar , their bravery and how they were betrayed by the Lahore Durbar.
This hidden facts of Dogra rulers is unknown to common Dogras . How dogras were betrayed & eliminated from Lahore Durbar & how without valiant Dogras – an empire was lost in the oblivion.
A very well written article – needs lot of Appreciation. for the author. Well done Sir