THE FIRST ANGLO SIKH WAR 1845-46
	THE BRITISH AND DOGRAS PLAN SUBVERTION OF LAHORE KINGDOM
	WHETHER CROSSING THE SUTLEJ CONSTITUTED INVASION OF BRITISH TERRITORY
	BATTLE OF MUDKI
	BATTLE OF FEROZESHAH
	BETRAYAL OF LAL SING AND TEJ SINGH
	WHAT RANJODH SINGH MAJITHIA SHOULD HAVE DONE
	SHAM SINGH ATTARI ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
	BATTLE OF SUBHRAON

SHAM SINGH ATTARI ARRIVES ON THE SCENE

Sardar Sham Singh Attari was in Ludhiana District when the hostilities began. As soon as the Sikh forces crossed Sutlej he returned to his village Attari. When the news of defeat reached Maharani Jindan, she despatched ten horsemen to the Sardar with an urgent message. The Attari Chief hurried to the scene of battle to find the shameful part played by the traitors in the hope of being upheld as Ministers of a dependent Kingdom by the grateful conquerors.' When he fully apprised himself of the situation, he hesitated for a while to take command. But in view of the delicate political situation then existing, he decided to follow the course which the legendary Maharaja (Ranjit Singh) had taught them to take when honour and duty to his faith and country was involved. Accordingly he declared his resolve to resist the British and stop them from occupying the Punjab.

The Sikhs dejected at their defeat at Ferozeshah again took heart and were inspired anew by his noble example. Cunningham again describes the scene, The dangers which threatened the Sikh people pressed upon their mind and they saw no escape from foreign subjection. The grey headed chief, Sham Singh of Attari, made known his resolution to die in the first conflict with the enemies of his race and so to offer himself as a sacrifice of propitiation to the spirit of Gobind Singh ji and to the genius of his mystic Commonwealth.

Source:Anglo-Sikh Wars and its Inside Tale - Karnail Singh