MAHARANI JINDAN KAUR

Subject : History

Context : Maharani Jindan Kaur, the last wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, is in news for the auction of some of her jewellery at Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art sale in London.

Concept :

• Rani Jindan (1817-1863) was the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh empire, whose boundaries stretched from Kabul to Kashmir and the borders of Delhi.
• She was also the mother of Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the empire, who was raised by the British and she acted as a regent queen.
• Duleep Singh was five years old when he was placed on the throne in 1843 after the death of two heirs to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
• Since he was just a child, Maharani Jindan was made the regent.
• Not a rubber stamp, she took an active interest in running the kingdom, introducing changes in the revenue system.
• As the only surviving widow of Ranjit Singh, Jindan Kaur led a spirited resistance to the encroachment of the British into the Punjab, but was eventually forced to surrender.