Lehal Library

Maharajah of the Punjab 189 The leading citizens sent a secret invitation to Ranjit Singh to come and take the city. Ranjit Singh accepted the offer. His forces and those of his mother-in-law, Sada Kaur, encircled Lahore during the night when the citizens were engaged in watching the celebrations of the Shia festival of Muharram. The siege operations began the next morning before the three Sardars could prepare their defences. After the first breach was made in the wall, the gates of the city were thrown open. Ranjit Singb's first public act on entering the capital was to pay homage at the Badshahi mosque and then at the mosque ofWazir Khan, which was the one most frequented in the city. On 7 July 1799 the massive gates of the fort were opened and its eighteen-year-old conqueror entered the citadel to the boom of guns firing a royal salute. Shah Zaman, who was still dreaming ofan empire in Hindustan, made overtures to Ranjit Singh by sending him presents of horses and expensive dresses. Raajit Singh took the hand of friendship proffered by the Afghans. Among the gifts he sent in return were some pieces of cannon Zaman had lost in the rivers of the Punjab in his hurry to escape.$ 3 There is little doubt thal this gift was made after Ranjit Singh had taken Lahore and not before, as has been erroneously stated by most historians: Prinsep, O.mningham, Wade, Griffin, Latif, and Sinha. Two letlers from Resident Collins to the Earl of Momington written in April 1800 (SC 54 and 73) clarify the position; one states: 'My private age111 at Delhi informs me that Shah Zaman is endeavouring to attach to his interests Ranjil Singh the usurper of Lahore, who bas lately received a rich luii/.at from the Durrani Prince. Hence it would appear that the Shah has by no means relinquished his designs on Hindustan.' The other letter states: 'Advices from Lahore mention that Ranjit Singh has lately delivered to Shah Zaman's Vakeel, 15 pieces of artillery which the Durrani prince lost in his retreat from the Puajab last year by the overflowing of the Chenab.' The affair of the return of the cannons has assumed some importance because of the views expressed by these historians that it was this gesture which led to Zaman granting the siibedarl of Lahore to Ranjit. It is true that following the return of the cannon Shah Zaman promised to deliver the keys of Labore to the dependents of Ranjit Singh when next he should visit that city (SC 87 of 30.12.1800) and Ranjit Singh diplomatically kept Shah Zam.an informed of his activities at Labore; but these were more in