Written By –
S.S. Baliyan.
One of the most complex periods in history of the Punjab is early 19th century Jat sikh states’ relationships.One such is the story of Sidhu Jat Kingdom of Jind and Bhatti Jat Empire of Lahore.People often ignore the fact that Sukerchakias( Later Lahore Empire) and Phulkian houses had a matrimonial alliance as Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s maternal family was that of Jind! Now with the signing of treaty of Amritsar prevented Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s from gaining more territories in Malwa and making other Jat sikh states British protected, it often serves as breaking of two regions and states of Punjab. This is not the case.Both Jat sikhs and British accounts say that even though British acted as protectors of Malwa states, Malwa states like Jind acted de fac to independently when it came to Lahore Durbar. Jind had a permanent diplomat or Vakil at Lahore though illegal according to British conditions as protected states can’t do that and Jind’s Raja Sangat Singh, nephew of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was awarded a great number of Jagirs in Lahore’s territories, even if British didn’t like it and he even spent a great amount of time in Lahore’s territory, As this 1835 Map of Malwa region shows territories of Lahore (yellow), British and its allies (red) in Ludhiana district, Ludhiana was originally Jind’s territory utilised as temporary British cantonment which became permanent anyways!
Jind and Lahore still governed some villages together, which you can see big yellow dots ,in a half half share when these villages were gifted to Raja Bhag Singh by Ranjit Singh back in 1806 and after Raja Sangat Singh’s death, the status of these villages wasn’t altered by 1809 Amritsar treaty and Maharaja Ranjit Singh still exercised control over them.