Rulers have to engage in various deceitful activities to strengthen their power base. To avoid embarrassment, such activities are commonly referred to as politics. Politics is simply a convenient acronym for deceitful activities. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh took control of the Lahore, he too used of such tactics. He initiated schemes to bring all neighboring rulers, big and small, under his control. He used every conceivable means available for successful accomplishment of this vision. Then, the Bhangi and Ramgariha Sardars were his strongest opposition. Ranjit Singh wanted to badly crush them and soon. The opposition leader, Sahib Singh Bhangi, was ruling Gujarat at the time.
Sardar Dal Singh was the ruler of Akalgadh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s father, Sardar Maha Singh, had conquered Akalgadh and established Sardar Dal Singh as its ruler. However, now Sardar Dal Singh was making overtures of self-independence. He even participated in opposition against Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The validity and correctness of his stance can not be justified, but it served as a reason enough for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s decision to establish control over the region.
However, Maharaja Ranjit Singh could not pick up enough courage to attack Sardar Dal Singh. He was afraid that Sardar Dal Singh would seek assistance from the opposition leaders, thus making his task even more difficult. Therefore, he sought the diplomatic route and initiated a web of deceit and deception. Sardar Dal Singh was sent an invitation, stating, “Dear friend, please come to Lahore. I need to discuss some important issues with you.” Sardar Dal Singh reached Lahore based on this invitation, but Maharaja Ranjit Singh had something else in mind for him. Sardar Dal Singh was detained in Lahore fort while Maharaja himself left with a heavy force to conquer Akalgadh.
With Sardar Dal Singh neutralized, Maharaja Ranjit Singh was now sure that no one will oppose him and that he will be able to move into the city with open doors. He was very happy with his deceitful tactic and confident of his success. When Maharaja Ranjit Singh left Lahore for Akalgadh, he thought that the citizens of Akalgadh would come out in large numbers to welcome him. Indeed, he was welcomed but not with flowers and garlands but with canyon fire. This welcome spoiled his whole scheme and caused him serious anguish.
When Sardar Dal Singh’s young spouse, Sardarni Dharam Kaur, learned of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s deceitful tactics resulting in imprisonment of her husband and his moves to capture the city, she was filled with anger. She immediately decided to protect her independence and honor at any cost. As the attacking forces edged closer to town, she closed the doors of Akalgadh fort and started pounding them with canyon fire. Maharaja sent a demanding message, saying, “empty the fort, else your husband’s life will not be spared.”
Sardarni Dharam Kaur responded after seriously listened to Maharaja’s message. She said “Maharaja did not do right with his deceitful act. Now he should not expect me to follow his command. I will not spared anything to avenge my husband’s dishonor. Even if this means losing both lives, mine and my husbands.”
Maharaja was quite shaken by this response. What could he do? He put the Akalgadh fort under seize. Several months passed by, but the fort couldn’t be captured. Sardarni Dharam Kaur was fighting bravely. From time to time, she would come out of the fort with a few brave soldiers for strike attacks, cause grave casualties among the royal forces, and disappear into the fort with lightening speed. Her surprise attacks were raising havoc among the royal forces.
It was nighfall and Maharaja was reviewing the battle status with his Sardar after dinner. He had attacked Akalgadh expecting no resistance and instead it had turned into a long seize. Sardarni Dharam Kaur’s frequent surprise attacks were forcing him to abandon the seize. He desperately wanted to abandon the seize but now the seize did not want to abandon him. Additionally, the respect of Lahore rule could not allow him to move and left him few options to pursue.
Maharaja had summoned his Sardars specifically to explore his options, what to do? Sardar Hari Singh Naluya, Sardar Nihal Singh Attariwalla and other Sardars were at this meeting with Maharaja, reviewing the status of the battle.
Suddenly, there was commotion in the cantonment. Sardarni Dharam Kaur had again come out of the fort for a surprise attack. She was advancing rapidly, killed many along the way, and had by now moved next to Maharaja’s tent. Maharaja’s forces were trying to stop her advance and a grave battle ensued.
Hearing the commotion, Maharaja came out of his tent along with his Sardars. At the same moment Sardarni Dharam Kaur reached there with lightening speed. She challenged announcing: “I want to have a few words with Ranjit Singh.”
What Maharaja saw was a young woman with sword in her hand riding a horse was challenging Ranjit Singh. Maharaja sneaked a peek at her and lowered his eyes. She said, “Maharaja, you deceitfully arrested my husband, thinking no one else would challenge you. You made a grave mistake. I have partaken the amrit of the same Guru that you have. Just as independence and honor are dear to you, they are also dear to us as well. Now excesses have taken place here. So it in your best interest to abandon the seize and leave by tomorrow, else it will not be safe for you.”
After this encounter, she quickly joined her soldiers and escaped the royal forces. Every effort of royal Sardars to arrest her remained unsuccessful. She easily escaped through the royal forces as hair moves through butter. Maharaja himself was left wondering with fingers in his mouth. He slowly uttered these words, “there is no hope of capturing the fort that is protected by such a brave woman.”
Next day, Maharaja received yet another disturbing news. Sardarni Dharam Kaur was not only fighting bravely but also engaging in diplomatic maneuvers. She had successfully sought agreement with Sahib Singh Bhangi and Jodh Singh Vajirabad for assistance. They were moving towards Akalgadh with their forces.
Maharaja had never dreamt that a woman could do all this. Now, Sardarni Dharam Kaur’s threat of last night had some significant weight attached. Maharaja gave orders for immediate abandonment of the seize and quickly left for Lahore. He immediately released Sardar Dal Singh, upon reaching Lahore, saying, “friend, no worldly power can subjugate a man whose wife is so brave, intelligent, and diplomat.”
Today, there is no rule of Akalgarh. But neither is Sikh rule. They came and disappeared like a dream. However, Sardarni Dharam Kaur’s bravery, courage, and intelligence remain exemplary among our history pages. It is boldly announcing to the world that the brave daughters of Sri Guru Gobind Singh too are capable.
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