Jind Kaur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maharani Jind Kaur (1817 - London, August 1, 1863), also popularly known as Rani Jindan, the Messalina of Punjab. She was the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the mother of the last Sikh maharaja, Maharaja Duleep Singh. In 1845 she became Regent of Punjab for Duleep Singh.

Shortly after the First Anglo-Sikh War saw the British gain hold of Punjab, and in 1846 she was deposed as Regent and banished to Sheikhupura near Lahore.

After moving around several gaols, Rani Jindan eventually escaped from Chunar fort, Uttar Pradesh on April 19, 1849 and left a note for the British "You put me in the cage and locked me up. For all your locks and your sentries, I got out by my magic ... I had told you plainly not to push me too hard — but don’t think I ran away, understand well, that I escape by myself unaided ... When I quitted the Fort of Chunar I threw down two papers on my gaddi and one I threw on the European charpoy, now don’t imagine, I got out like a thief". The British confiscated her jewelry and rescinded her pension. Rani Jindan arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 29, 1849 and was given political asylum by Prime Minister Jung Bahadur. She was assigned a residence at Thapathall and given an allowance by the Nepalese government.

In 1860 she was permitted to see her son, Maharaja Duleep Singh, in Calcutta and was brought to the shores of England.