17 April 1765[EoS][Gupta][EoS][EoS]
The Sikhs take Lahore
With Ahmad Shah Durrani gone from India, the Bhangi chiefs Lahna Singh and Gujar Singh and their ally Sobha Singh took Lahore in 1765. The Sikhs then struck their own rupee at the city in the name of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Sikhs had occupied Lahore before, in 1758 with Maratha allies and in 1761, without keeping it. Durrani left India around the end of March 1765, and the Sikhs gathered at Amritsar for Vaisakhi and repaired the sacred pool and its buildings.
Hari Ram Gupta gives the fullest account. The governor Kabuli Mal was absent and his nephew Amir Singh was in charge. Lahna Singh and Gujar Singh of the Bhangi misl camped at Baghbanpura with 2,000 men and won over the gardeners who worked at the fort, who made a way through the wall. Gujar Singh went in first with 50 men, and the fort fell with little fighting.
The troops began to plunder the city. A deputation of leading citizens came to the fort and appealed to the chiefs, reminding them of the city's link to the Gurus. The chiefs closed the gates, forbade oppression and punished looters themselves. They then divided Lahore among the three of them, with Lahna Singh holding the fort.
Gupta also records the coin struck at Lahore, whose Persian verse gave thanks for the kettle, the sword and victory, received from Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Bhangi rulers still held the city when Ranjit Singh drove them out in 1799.[EoS][Gupta][EoS][EoS]
Dates in the sources
- 1765-05-16: Hari Ram Gupta heads his account with this date, placing the capture about a month after the Vaisakhi gathering. The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism gives 17 April 1765.[Gupta]