More often than not, to undertake to write a book is far easier than actually to write it. But it is rare so thoroughly to enjoy a task after reluctantly agreeing to do it that an unexpected sense of loss sets in as the work nears its end, and all the vital, valorous, colourful, conspiring, violent and wilful persons whom we encountered in it every day are no longer around. So we cannot thank our friend enough who wishes to remain nameless but who compelled us to write this book. The very idea of writing about a larger-than-life figure like Ranjit Singh was in fact a challenging and alluring prospect that was difficult to turn down. So, in the end, although it took time to finish the biography of this very exceptional man, it was more than worth it.
Our understanding of his true genius was made possible by knowledgeable men and women and those many friends who generously shared their insights with us. Some, alas, are no more, and the one among them who stood out for his intellect and impressive scholarship was Lieutenant General Joginder (Jogi) Singh Dhillon. Ranjit Singh’s life and times were one of Jogi’s fields of interest, and he had the ability to cut incisively through accounts of him that were hyperbolic, churlish, inaccurate, or which failed to gauge his real worth. His analysis was stimulating, instructive and inspiring, because of his endorsement – as an outstanding soldier himself – of Ranjit Singh’s military genius. Jogi also had a knack for analysing and exposing the extent to which the colonial powers would go to achieve their imperial goals. Their misdeeds come through with startling clarity in the later stages of this book. The East India Company’s subversive strategies against the Sikh empire after Ranjit Singh’s death were base beyond belief; especially since few colonial powers in their heyday have so persistently proclaimed their own virtues as the British have. Nobody could dismantle their specious and deceptive arguments as convincingly as Jogi could. It was his conviction that nations conspire at events and no level is too low to stoop to for achieving their ends, no lie too outrageous if it serves the larger national interest. As George Bernard Shaw said: ‘You will never find an Englishman in the wrong.’
As he always has in the past, Jasdev Singh rose magnificently to the occasion by opening up for us the archives of the Imperial Hotel, New Delhi, which have some fine paintings, drawings, sketches and prints of the Sikh period. But it would be an unforgivable oversight not to acknowledge first our deep gratitude to Jasdev’s mother, Bibi Nirlep Kaur, an exceptionally gifted person whose profound admiration and respect for the founding Gurus of the Sikh faith sowed the seeds of Jasdev’s increasing interest in his own heritage. The veritable treasure house he is creating for it is a tribute to her. The invaluable help of Chowdhary Ominder Singh Mander, the archivist of Jasdev’s collection, in putting together the information we needed is gratefully acknowledged.
Four other friends who gave unstintingly of their time and were generous and forthcoming all the way were Harbinder Singh Rana, Hon. Director of the Maharaja Duleep Singh Centenary Trust, Indarjit and Kanwal Singh and Indar Singh Uppal.
The coinage illustrated in this book comes from the Jyoti M. Rai Collection, a private collection of the rarest Sikh coins. Another friend, Narinder Singh Kapany, who has gradually built up a superb collection of Sikh artefacts, very generously allowed us to reproduce whatever we wished out of his collection in California. As in the past, Susan Stronge responded magnificently each time we asked her for her insightful advice and comments. Bhupinder Singh Bance (Peter Bance), Robert Scoales and Sukhbinder Singh Paul were generous with their time and the wealth of information they shared with us, as also were Ros Savill and Jeremy Warren who were most helpful when we visited London’s Wallace Collection. Martin Lutyens was no less generous in setting aside an entire morning to show us around Sir John Soane’s Museum. Each of these goodwill gestures helped us locate material for further enriching this book.
We are equally indebted to Rasil Basu and Deidi Von Schaewen and to Rewa Singh who generously loaned us for an indefinite period the very rare (1840) edition of W.G. Osborne’s book The Court and Camp of Runjeet Sing. We gratefully acknowledge the many insights that were provided by Harjit Partap Rai and the Judge family of Kapurthala, Prabeen Singh, Bubli Brar, the Mool-gavkars, and thank Pat Rai for his consistent encouragement, guidance and wise counsel.
Warmest thanks are also due to Dr Michael Bates, the Curator of Islamic Coins of the American Numismatic Society and its wonderful members who so willingly shared their wisdom and knowledge.
As always, Antony Wood rose heroically to the occasion and read the manuscript with a sharp and critical eye from the first to the last page. The book has benefited enormously from his editorial advice, despite some rather tense moments over some of his suggestions, which actually helped further strengthen our friendship!
The wizardry of Jagjit Singh Anand, the librarian at Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, New Delhi, was much in evidence as he produced with ease books that were impossible to lay hands on elsewhere.
While on the subject of wizardry, Jaya Nair, too, worked miracles with her computer, with her unending secretarial responsibilities and her occasional forays into research. She took on every task confidently and performed it convincingly each time.
We reached port because it was Meher who steered the ship – as she always has in the past. No matter how difficult the task, she was not only there to share the burden but would help us cross yet another hurdle with effortless ease. This book could not have been written without her wondrous interventions.