ANGLOSIKH TREATY (AMRITSAR, 1809). Napoleon`s victories in Europe had alarmed the British, who, fearing a French attack on the country through Afghanistan, decided to win the Sikhs over to their side and sent a young officer, Charles Theophilus Met caife, to Maharaja Ranjit Singh`s court with an offer of friendship. Metcaife met the Maharaja in his camp at Khem Karan, near Kasur, on 12 September 1808, taking with him a large number of presents sent by the Governor General of India. He told him how the English wished to have friendly relations with him and presented to him the draft of a treaty.Ranjit Singh did not credit the theory that the British had made the proposal to him because of the danger from Napoleon. On the other hand, he showed his willingness to cooperate with the British, provided the latter recognized his claim of paramountcy over all the Majha and Malva Sikhs.
DES RAJ. BHAI, a Khatri Sikh of Amritsar, was entrusted with the supervision of the reconstruction of the Harimandar during the sixties and seventies of the eighteenth century. Nothing is known about his early life or family except that he originally came from Sursingh village, 30 km southwest of Amritsar, from where he migrated to the town and flourished in business, with a reputation for honesty and truthfulness. When the Sikhs sacked Sirhind in January 1764 and allocated several hundred thousands rupees from the plunder for the restoration of Sri Harimandar Sahib at Amritsar, demolished by Ahmad Shah Durrani two years earlier, they assigned Bhai Des Raj to undertake the reconstruction.
DAUDHAR, village 22 km southeast of Moga (30° 48`N, 75° 10`E) in Faridkot district, claims a historical shrine called Gurdwara Patshahi Pahli the Chhevin (first and sixth), commemorating the visits of Guru Nanak and Guru Hargobind, Nanak VI. Situated on a sandy mound amidst cultivated fields about one kilometre to the northwest of the village, the Gurdwara is referred to in the Gurushabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh as Gobindgarh, but is locally known as simply Kutia, i.e. a cottage.
Explore the legacy of Karam Singh, a chief of the Nishanarivali misl, who played a pivotal role in 18th-century Sikh military campaigns.
Explore the significance of Mundavani, a vital hymn in Sikh scripture by Guru Arjan, likened to a seal symbolizing truth, contentment, and divine wisdom.
