Tej Singh

Tej Singh was born as Tej Ram in 1799 into a Gaur Brahmin family.[7][1] His father was Misr Niddha of Meerut district, who was commander of the Sikh Khalsa Army.[7][1] He was a relative of Jamadar Khushal Singh.[1] He first began working in the court of the Lahore Durbar in 1812.[1] In 1816, he underwent the Pahul and was rechristened as Tej Singh.[1]

After proving his worth as a soldier during the invasions of Kashmir in 1813, 1814, and 1819, alongside the operations against Mankera, Leiah, and Derajat, he was promoted to the rank of general in the Sikh army in 1818.[1] He played a role in the Peshawar operation of 1823, where he served as operational commander.[1] During this campaign, he took part in the battle of Teri.[1] By 1831, twenty-two battalions of the regular Sikh army came under his order.[1] In 1839, he assisted with a Colonel Wade's joint-invasion of Afghanistan and was based in Peshawar.[1]

After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh court became fractious and the various agents acted at cross purposes to each other.

He had a considerable deal of influence over Nau Nihal Singh.[1] He endorsed Chand Kaur's regency after the premature death of Nau Nihal Singh.[1]

Maharaja Duleep Singh in durbar on a terrace with Labh Singh and Tej Singh and an attendant Lahore, circa 1850

Tej Singh appears to have had loyalties to the Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu and he, along with Gulab Singh, believed it to be a mistake to be warring with the British. However, Rani Jindan, the Regent acting on behalf of the anointed prince Duleep Singh, ordered him to march the troops against the British. He did so reluctantly.[5]

According to Harbans Singh writing in The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, his actions and commands during both Anglo-Sikh Wars was "marked by duplicity" and that he had "established secret liaison with the British".[1] An instance revealing this duplicity is said to be his lack of action when two Sikh divisions under his command were near the vicinity of Firozpur and could have overwhelmed the locality's tiny British garrison but Tej Singh never gave the command to do so.[1] Another example given is his conduct during the Battle of Ferozeshah fought on 21–22 December 1845, where the force he commanded had clear opportunities to strike a victory over British forces but he stopped them from doing so, ordering his forces to cease fire when the British were in a vulnerable position.[1] He would abandon the battlefield for Lahore.[1]

In the Battle of Sobraon fought on 10 February 1846, General Tej Singh crossed a pontoon bridge on the Sutlej river and ordered its destruction. According to historian Amar Pal Sidhu, this incident led to the defeat of the Sikh Army, possibly as intended by Tej Singh.[8][1] Harbans Singh illustrates that Tej Singh also fled from the battle alongside Lal Singh, even though the tide of the battle was still up in the air and either side could still win.[1] He instructed Sham Singh Attariwala to do the same but the latter refused and fought til the end.[1] Whilst in retreat, he ordered troops under his command to destroy boats and a tete de pont (bridgehead) to hamper the withdrawal of Sikh forces and dooming them.[1]

After the defeat of Sikhs, the Treaty of Lahore was signed by which Kashmir was sold to Gulab Singh to pay war indemnities to the British as well as the army was regulated.[9]

Watercolour on paper depicting Tej Singh with his son and nephew, by William Carpenter, ca.1850–57

After the demise of the Sikh Empire in 1849, he enjoyed special benefits in the new colony that the British bestowed upon him, including all "rights and privileges" he enjoyed during the rule of the Sikh Empire.[1] He was bestowed the power of a magistrate in his estate and was given a high position with full powers for management of the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar.[1] He supported the British plight during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and sent cavalry troops to assist his British colonial masters.[1] He was awarded the title of Raja of Batala after his dispersed jagirs were amalgamated.[1] He died on 4 December 1862 and was succeeded by his adopted son (whom was actually his brother) Harbans Singh.[1] He also had a biological son named Narindar Singh.[1]