Sardarni Dharam Kaur

Rulers have to engage in various deceitful activities to strengthen their power base. To
avoid embarrassment, such activities are commonly referred to as politics. Politics is
simply a convenient acronym for deceitful activities. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh
took control of the city of Lahore, he too used such tactics to bring all neighboring
rulers, big and small, under his control. He used every conceivable means to
successfully accomplish his vision. The Bhangi and Ramgariha Sardars (Rulers) were
his strongest opposition. Ranjit Singh wanted to badly crush them and soon. The
opposition leader, Sahib Singh Bhangi, was ruling Gujarat at the time.
Sardar Dal Singh was the ruler of Akalgadh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s father, Sardar
Maha Singh, had conquered Akalgadh and established Sardar Dal Singh as its ruler.
However, now Sardar Dal Singh was making overtures of self-independence. He even
participated in opposition against Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The validity and correctness
of his stance can not be justified, but it served as a reason enough for Maharaja Ranjit
Singh’s decision to establish control over the region.
However, Maharaja Ranjit Singh could not pick up enough courage to attack Sardar
Dal Singh. He was afraid that Sardar Dal Singh would seek assistance from the
opposition leaders, thus making his task even more difficult. Therefore, he sought the
diplomatic route and initiated a web of deceit and deception. Sardar Dal Singh was
sent an invitation, stating, "Dear friend, please come to Lahore. I need to discuss some
important issues with you." Sardar Dal Singh reached Lahore based on this invitation,
but Maharaja Ranjit Singh had something else in mind for him. Sardar Dal Singh was
detained in Lahore fort while Maharaja himself left with a heavy force to conquer
Akalgadh.
With Sardar Dal Singh neutralized, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was now sure that no one
will oppose him and that he will be able to move into the city with open doors. He
was very happy with his deceitful tactic and confident of his success. When Maharaja
Ranjit Singh left Lahore for Akalgadh, he thought that the citizens of Akalgadh would
come out in large numbers to welcome him. Indeed, he was welcomed but not with
flowers and garlands but with cannon fire. This welcome spoiled his whole scheme
and caused him serious anguish.
When Sardar Dal Singh’s young spouse, Sardarni Dharam Kaur, learned of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh’s deceitful tactics resulting in imprisonment of her husband and his
moves to capture the city, she was filled with anger. She immediately decided to
protect her independence and honor at any cost. As the attacking forces edged closer
to town, she closed the doors of Akalgadh fort and started pounding them with cannon
fire. Maharaja sent a demanding message, saying, "empty the fort, else your
husband’s life will not be spared."
Sardarni Dharam Kaur responded "You are deceitful. Why should I listen to you, my
husband listened to you and you imprisoned him! I will avenge my husband’s
dishonor even if this means both of us die."
Maharaja was quite shaken by this response. What could he do? He put the Akalgadh
fort under seize. Several months passed by, but the fort couldn’t be captured. Sardarni
Dharam Kaur was fighting bravely. From time to time, she would come out of the fort
with a few brave soldiers for surprise attacks. Causing serious casualties among the
royal forces they would disappear back into the fort with lightening speed. Her
surprise attacks were causing havoc among the royal forces.
It was nighfall and Maharaja was reviewing the battle status with his Generals
(Sardars) : Sardar Hari Singh Naluya, Sardar Nihal Singh Attariwalla and a few
others. They had attacked Akalgadh expecting no resistance and instead it had turned
into a long seize. Sardarni Dharam Kaur’s frequent surprise attacks were forcing him
to abandon the seize. They desperately wanted to abandon the seize but now the seize
did not want to abandon them. Additionally, they would lose the respect of Lahore if
they returned empty handed.
Suddenly, there was there was the sound of fighting outside. Sardarni Dharam Kaur
had thrown another surprise attack. She was heading towards the Maharaja’s tent and
was killing many soldiers along the way. The Maharaja and the Sardars quickly drew
their weapons and raced outside. Sardarni Dharam Kaur looked down at them from
horseback, with a blood-red sword raised in her hand she looked straight into the
Maharajas eyes - "It’s time to talk Ranjit Singh!"
"Ranjit Singh, you deceitfully arrested my husband, thinking no one else would
challenge you. You made a grave mistake. I have been blessed with same ‘khandabatta-
da-amrit’ of Guru Gobind Singh Jee that you have. Each Khalsa values
independence and honor. So you have no right to steal it from us. Abandon the seize
and leave by tomorrow, otherwise you will find yourself in a major war."
The Sardars stepped forward and attempted to arrest her but pulling their horses
around Sardarni Dharam Kaur and her soldiers easily escaped through the Maharaja’s
royal forces as a knife cuts through butter. The Maharaja slowly uttered these words
to his Sardars : "there is no hope of capturing this fort when it is protected by such a
brave woman."
Early next morning, one of the Maharaja’s Sardars came rushing into the royal tent.
He reported,’ Sardarni Dharam Kaur’s troops have begun intense fighting. We also
have news that Sahib Singh Bhangi and Jodh Singh Vajiraba are heading towards us
with large armies.’
Maharaja had never dreamt that a woman could do all this. Now, Sardarni Dharam
Kaur’s threat of last night had some significant weight attached. Maharaja gave orders
for immediate abandonment of the seize and quickly left for Lahore. He immediately
released Sardar Dal Singh saying, "My dear friend, no worldly power can subjugate a
man whose wife is so brave, intelligent, and diplomatic."
Sardarni Dharam Kaur’s bravery, courage, intelligence and political manoevures
remain exemplary in Sikh history. It boldly announces to the world that the brave
daughters of Guru Gobind Singh Jee are capable leaders.