Lehal Library

Perse01tion and Reorganization 119 The jagir did not prove as much of a sop to the Sikhs as 'Zakarya Khan had hoped. The Taruna Dal moved across the Bari Doab into Hariana and forcibly collected the revenue which was due the state. The policy of appeasement was given up. The jagir was confiscated and Zakarya Khan's minister, Lakhpat Rai, drove the Budha Dal out of Amritsar into the Bari Doab and then across the Sutlej. Ala Singh of Patia1a joined forces with the Budha Dal, and, as soon as Lakbpat Rai_ turned back to return to Lahore, they occupied a large portion of Malwa. Lakhpat Rai bided his time; when the Bud.ha Dal recrossed the Sutlej he intercepted it on its march towards Amritsar. In the skirmish that followed, many officers of the Lahore army, including Lakhpat Rai's nephew, were slain. Zakarya Khan took the field himself, re~stablished his authority in the region, and maintained it with an iron hand for almost two years. In the autumn of AD 1738 the aged Mani Singh, who was manager of the Harimandir, applied for permission to hold the Divali fair in Amritsar. He was given a licence on undertaking to pay Rs 5000 into the state treasury immediately after the festival. Mani Singh expected to raise this sum from the offerings of pilgrims. A few days before Divali, Zakarya Khan sent a large force towards Amritsar with the ostensible object of maintaining order in the city. This frightened away the pilgrims_, and Mani Singh was wiable to pay the fee. He was arrested,. brought to Lahore, and condemned to death. On his refusal to save his life by accepting conversion to Islam, Mani Singh was tortured and executed.9 The killing of the pious and venerable head priest caused deep resentment among the Sikhs. But before they could retaliate, the situation changed with dramatic suddenness with the news of a Persian invasion from the north-west. 9 Sohan Lai states that Mani Singh was tortured to death for his proselytizing activities. There is no doubt that the number of Sikhs increased rapidly under his influence and this may have been an additional factor against him. Orthodox Sikhs believe that he had rearranged the contents of the Granth and was the victim of a curse that any one who tampered with the holy book would die a horrible death.