The Sikh Misals and The Punjab States

The eighteenth century history of the Punjab is significant for more than one reason. On account of the decline of the Mughal Empire, the Punjab, became the cockpit for various political forces. The Nadir's invasion and subsequent Afghan-Mughal conflict plunged the Punjab into chaos and anarchy. The Afghan invasion destroyed the Mughal administrative machinery without replacing it with a stable government. The first four invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan Emperor, were aimed to defeat the Mughals. In 1758 the Marathas entered the arena of political conflict. They conquered Punjab and turned out the Afghans from the land of five rivers. But the Marathas thought themselves too strong to solicit the help of the Sikhs to consolidate their victory The Afghan Emperor was not to tolerate this insult. He made huge preparations and invaded India for the fifth time. This invasion was aimed to destroy the Marathas power in the north-west of India Sambaji finding himself too weak to confront the Afghans fell back from Lahore which was occupied by Jehan Khan. The officers appointed by the Marathas, like Sadiq Beg Khan, the Faujdar of Sirhind, Adina Beg's widow and son fled away from their places to Delhi at the report of the advance of the Afghans, Ahmad Shah Abdali entered Sirhind in November 1759 A.D. The Peshwa sent Sadashive Bhau with a large Maratha force to check the advance of Abdali and reconquer the lost Maratha dominions in the north After conquering Delhi, Sadashive Bhau marched towards Kunjpura (near Karnal) and conquered it securing huge booty.

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