Ⅰ．SIKH PLUNDERING BANDS，1739-45 1
Introductory 1
The Sikhs take advantage of Nadir＇s invasion 2
Sikhs rob Nadir＇s rear 5
Restoration of order after Nadir＇s departure 6
Persecution of the Sikhs 7
Sikh life in exile 10
Sikhs begin to visit Amritsar 13
Government policy of relaxa-tion 14
Zakariya Khan dies 16
appoint-ment of Punjab viceroy delayed 17
Sikhs revive their strength 18
Sikhs organize themselves into regular plundering bands 20
Ⅱ．THE DAL KHALSA，1745-48 24
The Sikh aggressions 24
Jaspat Rai＇s murder by the Sikhs 25
Lakhpat Rai＇s massacre of the Sikhs 26
Civil war between Zakariya Khan＇s sons 31
Recovery of strength by the Sikhs 33
The Sikhs build the fort of Ram Rauni at Amritsar 35
Shahnawaz Khan＇s Government 37
First Durrani campaign 38
Peaceful progress of the Sikhs 43
Sikhs fall upon ther etreating Afghans 45
The Dal Khalsa established 46
Constitution of the Dal Khalsa 52
Ⅲ．THE SIKHS AND MUIN-UL-MULK，APRIL 1748-NOVEMBER 1753 57
Muin-ul-mulk takes charge of the Govern-ment of the Punjab 57
Muin＇s difficulties in his new government 58
Punitive expedi-tions against the Sikhs 59
Siege of Ram Rauni Fort 60
Sikhs settle down to a peaceful life 62
Muin-ul-mulk＇s precau-tionary measures 62
Sikhs plunder Lahore during the second Durrani invasion 63
Renewal of Sikh persecution 65
Nasir Khan＇s rebellion 66
Revoit of Shahnawaz Khan 67
Renovation of Sikh oppression 69
The Sikhs are driven out of the Punjab plains 70
The third Durrani invasion 72
Punjab lost to the Mughal Empire 74
The Durrani conquers Kashmir 76
Sikh ravages 76
Persecution of the Sikhs renewed 78
Swelling of the Dal Khalsa 82
Death of Muin-ul-mulk 83
Ⅳ．THE＂RAKHI＂SYSTEM，NOVEMBER 1753-APRIL 1757 84
Sikhs are left unhampered 84
Baby rule and petticoat government provided for the Punjab 84
Death of Muhammad Amin Khan and the Begam＇s profligacy 85
Eunuchs＇rule at Lahore 87
Revolts and counter-revolts in Lahore 87
Dissolution of government in the Punjab 89
Rapid rise of the Sikhs 90
The establishment of the＂Rakhi＂System 93
The fourth Durrani invasion 95
Sikh lawlessness 99
Ⅴ．THE SIKHS AMD TIMUR SHAH，MAY 1757-MAY 1758 102
Introductory 102
Sikhs are disturbed in their quiet progress 103
Jahan Khan＇s fight with the Sikhs 104
Sodhi Barbhag Singh of Kartarpur belaboured 108
The Sikhs concert a plan of action 117
Defeat of the Afghans by Adina Beg and the Sikhs 110
The Sikhs baffle the Afghans 112
The Maratha invasion of the Punjab 113
The fall of Sirhind 114
Expulsion of the Afghans from the Punjab 115
Myth of Sikh occupation of Lahore in 1758 120
Ⅵ．BEGINNING OF TERRITORIAL ACQUISI-TION，JUNE 1758-OCTOBER 1759 121
Adina Beg Khan fights the Sikhs 121
Sadiq Beg Khan of Sirhind defeats the Sikhs 124
Adina Beg Khan dies 125
Anarchy in the Punjab 126
Settling of the Sikhs as territorial chieftains 130
Ⅶ．PEACEFUL PROGRESS OF THE MALWA SIKHS UNDER ALHA SINGH，1739-1761 133
Origin of the Malwa chiefs 133
Progress under Alha Singh 133
Alha Singh helps the Imperialists 135
Extension of territories 136
Aid to the Delhi Emperor 137
Change of policy 137
Alha Singh helps the Marathas at Panipat 138
Alha Singh receives a rescript from the Durrani 139
Ⅷ．SIKHS TAKE LAHORE AND COIN MONEY，OCTOBER 1759-DECEMBER 1761 141
The Durrani-Maratha struggle 140
Conse-quences of the battle 145
The appearance of numerous Sikh forts in the Punjab 146
The Sikhs attack Lahore 148
The Sikhs harass the Durrani 149
Administrative arrangements made by the Durrani 150
Sikhs spread havoc all over the Punjab 151
Abdali＇s general Nur-ud-din is defea-ted by the Sikhs 153
Khwajah Abed defeated and routed by the Sikhs at Gujranwala 155
Capture of the Capital and coining of money 157
Ⅸ．＂GHALLU GHARA＂AND AFTER，JANUARY-DECEMBER 1762 159
The Sikhs besiege Jandiala 159
Great＂Ghallu Ghara＂ 160
Alha Singh is taken prisoner 165
Sacred buildings of the Sikhs at Amritsar are destroyed 167
Abdali stays in the Punjab 168
Abdali re-conquers Kashmir 169
Sikhs run to Malwa where they are maltreated by the Brar Jats 170
The Sikh feelings：the alloy is gone and the purified Khalsa remains 171
The Sikhs attack Zain Khan 172
The Durrani is baffled by the Sikhs 173
Confusion caused in the country by the Sikhs 174
Sikhs muster strong in the neighbourhood of Karnal 174
Abdali fails in dispersing the Sikhs from Amritsar 175
Ahmad Shah leads an expedition against the Sikhs towards the Lakhi Jungle 179
Shah leaves for Afghanistan 180
Ⅹ．THE CONQUEST OF THE SIRHIND PROVINCE，JANUARY 1763-JANUARY 1764 182
The exploits of the Sikhs 182
Sack of Kasur 183
The Jullundur Doab is over run 185
Jahan Khan is defeated on the Chenab 185
Malerkotla is laid waste 186
Plunder and massacre of Morandah 187
Fall of Sirhind 189
Partition of Sirhind territory 192
Possessions of the various Misls 195
Ⅺ．SIKH RAVAGES IN THE PUNJAB AND GANGETIC DOAB，FEBRUARY 1764-JANUARY 1765 197
First Sikh raid into the Gangetic Doab 197
The Sikhs intimidate Kabuli Mal，the Lahore Governor 198
Jahan Khan is routed 200
Ahmad Shah is harassed at Batala，Jandiala and Lahore 201
Charat Singh takes Rohtas 202
Sarbuland Khan is taken captive 203
The Sikhs ravage south-westem Punjab 204
Second Sikh invasion across the Jumna 206
Sikh-Jat alliance against Najib-ud-daulah 207
The Sikh-Rohila eontest outside Delhi 208
Ⅻ．SIKHS MOLEST THE DURRANI DURING HIS EIGHTH CAMPAIGN，DECEMBER 1764-MARCH 1765 211
Ahmad Shah Durrani reaches Lahore 211
Ahmad Shah destroys Amritsar 212
Ahmad Shah＇s march to Batala 213
The battle of the Jullundur Doab 214
Ahmad Shah advances to Kunjpura via Pinjor 215
Plans for crushing the Sikhs dropped 215
Alha Singh＇s submission to the Durrani 216
Beginning of the pitched battles of the Sikhs 218
The battle of the Sutlej 218
Second day＇s fight with the Sikhs 220
The battle of the Beas 222
Ahmad Shah leaves India 223
Possessions of the Sikh chiefs 224
ⅩⅢ．ASSUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY APRIL-SEPTEMBER 1765 226
The Sikhs take Lahore and issue their coin 226
The Sikhs extend their territories 230
Bari Doab 231
Rechna Doab 232
Chaj Doab 234
Sind Sagar Doab 236
ⅩⅣ．SIKHS AND NAJIB-UD-DAULAH，SEP-TEMBER 1765-MAY 1766 237
Sikhs plunder Najib＇s country 237
battle between the Sikhs and Najib near Shamli 239
Sikhs plunder the Jat country Rewari and Jaipur 241
The Sikhs fight Marathas near Dholpur 243
The Sikhs plunder the country of Najib but are defeated by him 244
ⅩⅤ．TRIUMPHANT EMERGENCE OF THE SIKHS，JUNE 1766-DECEMBER 1768 248
The Sikhs consolidate and extend their holdings 248
Ahmad Shah Abdali invades India 259
Ahmad Shah at Lahore 251
Jahan Khan is defeated at Amritsar 253
The Durrani in the Jullundur Doab 254
Ahmad Shah returns home 256
Amar Singh receives the title of＂Rajai Rajagan，＂ 258
The Shah encamps on the Sutlej 259
The Sikhs ravage Najib＇s country 260
Ahmad Shah leaves India，Sikhs re-occupy Lahore 261
Sikh exten-sions of territory 262
Sikh invasion into the Gangetic Doab 264
Najib feels himself beaten by the Sikhs 266
The Sikh posse-sions in 1768 269
The Sikhs emerge triumphant 271
CONCLUSION 273
Ⅰ．LIFE AND MANNERS OF THE SIKHS 273
Physique 273
Disposition 274
Character 275
Recruitment，drill and discipline 280
Equipment 281
Method of warfare 282
Horses 286
Food 288
Dress 290
Amusements 291
Women 292
Fairs 293
Ⅱ．THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY 295
A period of anarchy and confusion 295
Character of the people 297
The village 301
The village measures of defence 302
Village functionaries 306
The Panchyat 307
Education 309
Modes of irrigation 311
Poverty of the people 312
Fairs 313
Trade 314
Sikh rule 316
BIBLIOGRAPHY 321
INDEX 335
ERRATA 348