Lehal Library

206 Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism welcome hls guest. Thereafter the Maharajah was entertained lavishly and given assurances by the Malwa Sardars that they looked upon him as their sovereign. Ranjit Singh's verdict on the incident in the village of Daladi was to exonerate Nabha of responsibility for the murder and to compensate Patiala for the damage he had suffered by the grant of a jagir. llldhiana was given to Bhag Singh of Jind. Kangra, Kasur, Multan On his way back to Lahore, the Maharajah was approached by an emissary of Sansar Chand for help against the Gurkhas, who had occupied the hill tract between the Jumna and the Sutlej and were investing the fort of Kangra. Ranjit Singh had no love for Sansar Chand, but he realized that if the Gurkhas succeeded in taking Kangra. their power in the north would menace the Punjab. He spumed counteroffers made by the Gurkha commander, Amar Singh Thapa, and ordered his army to the relief of Kangra. The Gurkhas, who had been fighting for man> weeks. were suffering from the ill effects of heat and an epidemic of cholera that had broken out in their ranks. Fatigue and disease left them with no stomach to face the Punjah army, and they retired to Mandi, swearing vengeance on Ranjit Singh. Sansar Chand came to Jawa1amukhi, where the Maharajah was encamped, and paid tribute in horses and cash.~ 8 Ranjil Singh wa!t Mill in lhe hills when he rcceh·ed n<'Ws of the binh of bis twin sons lo his firsl wife, Mehlab Kaur, daughter of Sada Kaur. The young princes were gi\·en the names of Sher Singh and Tara Singh. Mosl English and Muslim hisLorians have stated that these children were not borne bv ~ehlab Kaur but were taken from women of menial classe!t and. at the instance of her molher, passed off as hers b) Ranjit. The) also state that Ranjil Singh din not believe the slory of I he binh of the Lwins and had very little lo do wiLh tht'm. Both these statements are absolutely inaccurate. Coon historians haH· much to say of Ranjit's joy al the birth of his sons and the jubilation in camp. What gave rise lo the suggestion of iUegilimacy was Rmtjil 's strained relations with his wife Mehtab Kaur and her mother Sada Kaur He saw little of the lWO princes for some year'!, and the first