Lehal Library

Suzerain of Malwa 203 The Frenchman's dreams of a Perronistan in the Punjab were shattered by the Brilish, who defeated Sindhia's forces in a series of engagements and became masters of Delhi, Agra, and the Mughal emperor. With the setting of Sindhia's sun, Perron faded out of the Indian scene and the English came a step closer to the Punjab: all that separated them was the remaining Maratha chief, Holkar, and the Sikh chiefs of Malwa. One year later the English clashed with Holkar and, despite an initial reverse, Lord Lake was able to wrest the initiative from Holkar and his Rohilla ally, Amir Khan. The Marathas and Rohillas made a cowardly dash to safety through Malwa (where they mulcted the Sikh chiefs) and crossed the Sutlej. They also invited the Afghans to re-invade India. Lake baited on the Beas and sent a request to the Durbar to expel Holkar and Amir Khan from the Punjab. Ranjit Singh was in the neighbourhood of Multan when he beard that the Maratha and Rohil1a armies had entered the Punjab. He sent word to his principal Sardars and hurried north to join them at Amritsar. The Sarbat Khalsa considered both sides of the case. The Marathas and the Rohillas had a large enough army to be a serious menace to the security of the Punjab. Holkar played upon the religious and patriotic semiments of his hosts. He made a handsome offe,;ng at the Harimandir and flattered Ranjit Singh as the only hope of the Hindus oflndia.~ (Fortunately Ranjit knew are anived here wi1b presents for nw. Th~ have proposed to me 10 enter into Lenns of amity and friendship \\1th General Perron.. As Raja Bhag Sin~ is under many obligations to General Pt·rron, be sought to gam me b, l·,·en mode of persuasion, urging at the ..ame time the grea1 desire of 1he general to have a meeting ,\;th me. In fint.". although my friendship for lhe :\'lost Honorable the Governor-General and you is great beyond the possibili1 y of what I can Ieel towards an>,)ne else, yet I must preserve appearances on this occasion in consideration nf what is due hy me io the will of m\ uncle.· 3 Jaswam Rao Holkar impressed on tht' Maharajah the need to train ltis army in the European style, as he (Holkar) had trained his Maiathas. The modernization begun a few years earlier was speeded np.