MANGLAN

MANGLAN, a slave girl in the service of Maharani Jind Kaur who gained considerable influence in state affairs during the latter`s regency (1844-46). She was born about 1816 in a village near Kangra. Her father Piru, a water bearer, lived in extremely narrow circumstances. She was sold at the age of ten in 1825 for a paltry sum of Rs 25 to a Dum or minstrel, who brought her up as a courtesan.

When she was about fourteen years old, she was purchased by one Jassa, who brought her to Lahore. She soon deserted him and came to live with a palace servant, who introduced her to Rani Jind Kaur. She worked in her household and soon won her complete confidence. To fortify her position further, she developed intimacy with the Rani`s brother, Jawahar Singh.

She became Rani Jind Kaur`s most trusted confidante and secured control of the to shakhana as well as of the royal seal. She dabbled in politics and accepted gifts from courtiers and others. She lost her influence after the Anglo Sikh war of 1845-46, when she was compulsorily retired from the court, and instructed by the Political Agent at Lahore to proceed on a pilgrimage. Manglan accordingly went to live at Haridvar. Her jagirs, worth about seven lakhs, were confiscated in 1847.

References :

1. Smyth, G. Carmichael, A History of the Reigning Family of Lahore. Lahore, 1847
2. Chopra, Barkat Rai, Kingdom of the Punjab,Hoshiarpur, 1960