Maharani Chand Kaur was a significant figure in Sikh history, known for her role as the regent of the Sikh Empire during a tumultuous period. Her life was marked by personal tragedies, political challenges, and a steadfast commitment to her family's legacy.
Early Life and Marriage
Maharani Chand Kaur was born in 1802 in Fatehgarh Churian, which is now part of Gurdaspur district, Punjab. She belonged to the Kanhaiya Misl, one of the influential Sikh misls that played a significant role in Punjab's history. Her father, Sardar Jaimal Singh, was chief of the misl.
At the age of ten, in February 1812, she was married to Prince Kharak Singh, the eldest son and heir of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Datar Kaur. This marriage strengthened the alliance between the ruling Sukerchakia dynasty and the Kanhaiya Misl, further consolidating Sikh power in Punjab.
In 1821, Chand Kaur gave birth to Nau Nihal Singh, her only son, who was the second in line to the throne after his father, Kharak Singh. Her life as a queen was largely spent in the royal palace, overseeing household affairs while her husband assisted Maharaja Ranjit Singh in administrative and military matters.
Tragic Losses and Ascendancy
The political landscape of Punjab changed dramatically after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh on 27 June 1839. Following the Maharaja's passing, Kharak Singh ascended the throne, but his reign faced immediate challenges. Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, the powerful prime minister of the empire, played a crucial role in court politics during this period.
Kharak Singh’s rule was short-lived and unstable. Due to growing differences between him and Dhian Singh, and his perceived inefficiency in governance, he was deposed in October 1839. His own son, Nau Nihal Singh, along with Dhian Singh, removed him from power and placed him under house arrest. Kharak Singh was kept in captivity until his death in November 1840, allegedly due to slow poisoning.
Following Kharak Singh's cremation ceremony, tragedy struck again. While Nau Nihal Singh was returning from the funeral, an archway collapsed as he passed underneath. Initially, witnesses believed his injuries were minor, but he was later found dead under mysterious circumstances. His sudden and unexpected death created a power vacuum in the Sikh Empire, leading to a struggle for succession.
Claim to Regency
Following the deaths of her husband, Kharak Singh, and son, Nau Nihal Singh, Maharani Chand Kaur put forward her claim to the throne of the Sikh Empire. She argued that her daughter-in-law, Sahib Kaur, was pregnant, and until the unborn child’s legitimacy as the heir was confirmed, she should serve as the regent of Punjab.
To strengthen her position, Chand Kaur gained the support of several influential courtiers, including:
- The Sandhanvalia brothers – Atar Singh, Lahina Singh, and Ajit Singh
- Bhai Ram Singh and Bhai Gobind Ram
- Gulab Singh Dogra
- Jamadar Khushal Singh
These leaders backed her regency claim, recognizing the importance of keeping the empire within her family’s lineage.
Chand Kaur took an unconventional and bold approach to leadership. Unlike traditional royal women of the time, she removed her veil, dressed in a turban and royal attire, and personally inspected military parades to assert her authority. She famously declared,
"Why should I not do as Queen Victoria does in England?"
Her actions reflected her determination to rule and maintain her family's control over the empire. However, her claim faced strong opposition, which eventually led to political conflicts and power struggles within the Sikh court.
Conflict with Sher Singh
After Chand Kaur claimed the regency, her authority was challenged by Sher Singh, another son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Sher Singh, believing himself to be the rightful heir, gathered military support and marched on Lahore to stake his claim. He was backed by Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, a powerful figure in the court, along with a faction of the Sikh army.
To prevent a direct confrontation, a compromise was reached:
Chand Kaur remained regent, ruling in the name of the unborn heir of Nau Nihal Singh.
Raja Dhian Singh was reinstated as the prime minister, maintaining his political influence.
However, this arrangement did not last long. Dhian Singh, aiming to secure his own family’s power, tried to persuade Chand Kaur to adopt his son, Hira Singh, as the next ruler. When she refused, Dhian Singh withdrew his support and aligned himself fully with Sher Singh.
In January 1841, the army declared Sher Singh as the new Maharaja, effectively ending Chand Kaur’s regency. With no remaining political backing, she was forced to step down.
As part of the settlement, Chand Kaur was granted a pension and allowed to retire to her late son Nau Nihal Singh’s palace in Lahore. Though she was removed from power, her presence remained a symbol of resistance against the court's shifting alliances. However, her retirement would not ensure her safety, as further conspiracies unfolded.
Assassination
In July 1841, Chand Kaur’s claim to the regency was permanently weakened when Sahib Kaur, her daughter-in-law, delivered a stillborn child. This meant that there was no heir from Nau Nihal Singh’s lineage, eliminating any future challenge to Sher Singh’s rule through Chand Kaur’s family.
Although she had stepped away from politics, Chand Kaur remained a threat to the new power structure. Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, fearing that her continued presence might lead to future instability, decided to eliminate her.
To carry out the plan, Dhian Singh replaced her trusted maidservants with women from his own region, who were instructed to poison her. However, this attempt failed. On 11 June 1842, the assassins brutally attacked Chand Kaur, crushing her skull with wooden pikes.
To cover up the conspiracy, Dhian Singh ordered that the assassins be executed immediately. Their bodies were mutilated to prevent any further investigations or revelations about who had planned the murder. This act ensured that the true details of the plot remained hidden, though it was widely believed that Dhian Singh had orchestrated the killing.
Legacy
Maharani Chand Kaur’s life reflects the turbulence and power struggles that defined the decline of the Sikh Empire. Despite facing multiple betrayals and immense personal losses, she fought to uphold her family’s legacy.
Her samadhi (memorial) stands near Gumat in Jammu, where a Gurudwara, known as Gurudwara Maharani Chand Kaur, has been built in her honor.
In Lahore, her memorial is located in the Royal Lahore Garden, alongside those of her mother-in-law, Maharani Datar Kaur, and her daughter-in-law, Maharani Sahib Kaur. These memorials recognize the important roles that the women of the Sikh Empire played during a time of political turmoil.
Maharani Chand Kaur’s story is a reminder of the challenges faced by Sikh royalty during the empire’s final years. Her life and tragic end highlight the intense power struggles that ultimately contributed to the downfall of the Sikh Empire.
Conclusion
Maharani Chand Kaur's life was shaped by political upheavals, personal tragedies, and power struggles during the decline of the Sikh Empire. Despite losing her husband and son, she fought to protect her family’s legacy and took on an active role in governance. However, the shifting political landscape and betrayals led to her tragic assassination.
Today, her memorials in Jammu and Lahore serve as reminders of her place in Sikh history. Her story reflects the challenges faced by Sikh rulers in the empire’s final years and the determination of a queen who refused to surrender easily.
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