When Maharaja Ranjit Singh Of Lahore Occupied Rahon

When Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba of Rahon was growing very old Maharaja Ranjit Singh Of Lahore was on his way to carving out a kingdom. The Maharaja had planned to annex the Sikh Misals and the Muslim principalities of the Punjab. Tara Singh’s Misal could be no exception to it. When Ranjit Singh crossed over to the cis Satluj areas in 1807, with territorial designs in his mind, Tara Singh accompanied him there, along with his contingent, and participated in the batde of Naraingarh, when he was about hundred years old. Naraingarh was conquered and handed over to the Ahluwalias. Tara Singh died at Naraingarh. His men secredy and hurriedly brought the dead body to Rahon and cremated it there. Ranjit Singh, at the head of his army, came to Rahon to mourn the death of Tara Singh. He waited upon Tara Singh’s widow, Rattan Kaur, and said, “Tara Singh was my father and you are my mother. He was also my teacher as I learnt the art of using arms from him. I have come for condolence.” Rattan Kaur made an offering of an elephant, five horses and six lakh rupees to him. The Maharaja wanted to go inside the fortress at Rahon and occupy it but Tara Singh’s widow did not allow him to do so. Fighting started from both sides and Ranjit Singh’s forces met with terrible resistance. In the words of Cunningham, “The widow of the aged leader equalled the sister of the Maharaja of Patiala in spirit, and she is described to have girded up her garments, and to have fought, sword in hand, on the battered walls of the fort of Rahon.” Ultimately, some servants of Tara Singh treacherously opened the gate of the fort from inside and Ranjit Singh’s forces entered it. The dependants of Tara Singh were deprived of most of their possessions. Thirty five lakhs of rupees in cash and large quantities of gold and jewellery and other valuable goods fell into the hands of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Tara Singh’s family was reduced to a state of sheer penury. Khushwaqat Rai writes that the family of Tara Singh was ruined {khandan-i-o ra barbad kard). Dakhni was left with Dasondha Singh and Nakodar and Mehatpur with his brother Jhanda Singh. Gujjar Singh possessed the pargana of Ghungrana.