Treaty of Lahore
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The Treaty of Lahore was signed on March 9, 1846 after the First Sikh War. After the defeat of the Sikhs at the Battle of Sobraon, the Sikhs had to cede Kashmir and Hazara and Jalandhar Doab to the British.[1]
The treaty also resulted in the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond falling into British hands.
| “ | The gem called the Koh-i-Noor which was taken from Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk by Maharajah Ranjit Singh shall be surrendered by the Maharajah of Lahore to the Queen of England. [2] | ” |
Gulab Singh negotiated terms for surrender, the Sikhs ceded the valuable agricultural lands of the Jullundur Doab to the British Honourable East India Company, and allowed a British Resident and a British contingent at Lahore with subordinates in other principal cities.
Also, under the treaty, the Sikhs were obliged to pay an indemnity of 1.2 million pounds. As they were unable to pay Gulab Singh was able to acquire Kashmir from the Punjab government by paying 750,000 pounds to the East India Company.
The Sikhs were also forced to give up the territory between the Satluj and the Beas rivers to the British. The Sikh army was also reduced. Maharaja Duleep Singh was recognised as the new ruler of Punjab with Rani Jindan as the regent and Lal Singh as the Chief Minister. The new rulers were forbidden to employ any European without the permission of the British.
| “ | A treaty was made at Lahore on the 9th of March with the chiefs and ministry who were to hold the government on behalf of the young maharaja, Duleep Singh. By this treaty the Jullundur Doab and the hill district of Kangra were ceded to the British, also the possessions of the maharaja on the left bank of the Sutlej. In addition the British demanded a money payment of £1,500,000. The services of Gulab Singh, raja of Jammu, to the Lahore state, in procuring the restoration of friendly relations with the British, were specially recognized. His independent sovereignty in such lands as might be made over to him was granted. The Sikh government, unable to pay the whole of the money demand, further ceded, as equivalent for £1,000,000, the hill country between the Beas and the Indus, including Kashmir and Hazara. Gulab Singh was prepared to give the amount in place of which Kashmir was to have become British, and by a separate treaty with him, on the 16th of March 1846, this was arranged. At the urgent request of the durbar a British force was left at Lahore for the protection of the maharaja and the preservation of peace. To restore order and introduce a settled administration a British resident was appointed, who was to guide and control the council of regency, and assistants to the resident were stationed in different parts of the country.[1] | ” |
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