 | |
| Maharaja of Punjab, Kashmir and Jammu | |
| Reign | 18 January 1841 – 15 September 1843 |
| Coronation |
|
| Predecessor | Nau Nihal Singh (as monarch until 1840) Chand Kaur (as regent in 1840–1841) |
| Successor | Duleep Singh |
| Prime minister | Dhian Singh Dogra |
| Born | 4 December 1807 Batala, Sikh Empire(present-day Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India) |
| Died | 15 September 1843 (aged 35) Shah Bilaal gardens, Lahore, Sikh Empire(present-day Kot Khawaja Saeed, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan) |
| Consort | Prem Kaur Waraich (m.1822) |
| Spouses | Desa Kaur Nakai (m. 1819; died 1821) Bibi Pratap Kaur Jagat Singh Brar (m. 1825) Dakno Kaur Mai Sahiba (m. 1842) |
| Issue | By Maharani Desa Kaur: * None By Maharani Prem Kaur: * Yuvraj Pratap Singh Bahadur By Maharani Pratap Kaur: * Kanwar Deva Singh Bahadur By Maharani Dakno Kaur: * Shahdeo Singh Bahadur |
| House | Sukerchakia |
| Father | Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab |
| Mother | Mehtab Kaur Kanhaiyā |
| Religion | Sikhism |
Sher Singh (4 December 1807 – 15 September 1843) was the fourth Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, the elder of the twin sons of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the founder of the Sikh Empire, and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. His reign commenced on 18 January 1840, following his successful assault on Lahore, which concluded the brief regency of Maharani Chand Kaur. He was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia.
Early Life
Sher Singh was born on 4 December 1807 to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Mehtab Kaur. He had a younger twin brother, Tara Singh (1807–1859). In 1820, Maharaja Ranjit Singh granted Sher Singh the privilege of being seated in the royal Darbar and honored him with civil and military distinctions. Between 1831 and 1834, he served as the Governor of Kashmir. In 1834, he commanded the Sikh forces that captured Peshawar from the Afghans.
Military Campaigns
In 1831, Syed Ahmad Barelvi declared jihad against the Sikhs and established a camp at Balakot. Accompanied by Pratab Singh Attariwala and Akali Hanuman Singh, Sher Singh besieged Balakot and decisively defeated Barelvi's forces. Sayyid Ahmad Khan and Shah Ismail Dehlvi were killed in the battle, and approximately 500 of their followers perished. Sher Singh received a reward of Rs. 50,000 and a letter of appreciation, along with the promise of an additional jagir.
Reign
Sher Singh officially ascended the throne on 27 January 1841, following the sudden death of Nau Nihal Singh, whose demise occurred under suspicious circumstances while returning from his father's cremation. Sher Singh was proclaimed Maharaja by his wazir, Dhian Singh Dogra, after a prolonged siege of the Lahore Fort, which resulted in thousands of casualties.
As a ruler, Sher Singh was a patron of the arts and supported artists such as Kehar Singh and August Schoefft. He also had a keen interest in wrestling, frequently organizing matches near the tomb of Qasim Khan in Lahore. One of the prominent wrestlers associated with his court was Sultan Muhammad, who later became a contractor under British colonial administration.
Death
Sher Singh was assassinated on 15 September 1843 by Ajit Singh Sandhawalia. Ajit Singh deceived the Maharaja by presenting a new shotgun for inspection. While Sher Singh examined the weapon, Ajit Singh shot him and subsequently decapitated him with a sword. Following this, Dhian Singh Dogra was also murdered by the Sandhawalia clan. The Sandhawalias were suspected of aspiring to control the Sikh Empire, especially after Chand Kaur, who had served as regent, was removed from power following the stillbirth of her grandson.
Legacy
Sher Singh's palace is presently leased to Baring Union Christian College.
References
- (No date) R/punjab on reddit: On this day in Punjabi history, Maharaja Sher Singh, the son of sher-e-punjab and last capable ruler of the Sikh Empire, was treacherously betrayed and assassinated by the Sandhawalia brothers by being shot to death with a shotgun. the Empire would wither and crumble in a few years after his death. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/punjab/comments/16jm2vd/on_this_day_in_punjabi_history_maharaja_sher/ (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- Maharaja Sher Singh (no date a) Maharaja Sher Singh | Discover Sikhism. Available at: https://www.discoversikhism.com/sikhs/maharaja_sher_singh.html (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- Maharaja Sher Singh (no date b) Maharaja Sher Singh - Jatland Wiki. Available at: https://www.jatland.com/home/Maharaja_Sher_Singh (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
- Maharaja Sher Singh (no date c) Maharaja Sher Singh - SikhiWiki, free Sikh encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Maharaja_Sher_Singh (Accessed: 16 January 2025).
