JAWAHAR SINGH

JAWAHAR SINGH (1814-1845), son of Manna Singh Aulakh, was wazir or prime minister of the Sikh kingdom for a few months from 14 May 1845 to 21 September 1845 during the regency of his sister, Maharani Jind Kaur. He was appointed guardian to his young nephew, Dulcep Singh, who came to the throne in September 1843. After the fall of Hira Singh and his adviser Pandit Jalla in December 1844, three persons, Lal Singh, Gulab Singh and Jawahar Singh, staked their claim to prime ministership. Maharani Jind Kaur, who kept tlie control of Lahore affairs in her hands, had ultimately Jawahar Singh appointed prime minister on 14 May 1845.

Jawahar Singh`s tenure of office proved to be the briefest. He was drawn into the vortex of courtly intrigue and was instrumental in having Karivar Pashaura Singh murdered after he had thrown himself at the mercy of the troops and was being brought back to Lahore from Attock. This enraged the army who resolved to punish him forthwith. Jawahar Singh was required by the army Ranches (leaders) to present himself before them on 21 September 1845. He prevaricated, and even tried to win them over by free distribution of gold, but to no avail. At last he appeared before them on the given date in the company of his sister, Maharam Jind Kaur, and the Maharaja. Paying no heed to the entreaties of the wailing sister, the soldiers speared him to death as he came within their reach.

References :

1. Khushwant Singh, A History of the Sikhs, vol. 11. Prince ton, 1966
2. Harbans Singh, The Heritage of the. Sikhs. Delhi, 1983
3. Gill, Avtar Singli, Lahore Dnrbnr and Rain jindiin. Ludhiana, 1983