The Origin of Sikh Sovereignty in 18th Century’s Punjab

Abstract

In the first decade of eighteenth century the leadership of Punjab was handover to Banda Singh Bahadur by last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Banda established an organized system during his short span of political career. Sikh scattered after the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur because of anti-Sikh Farmans of the then Governor of Punjab. They established on hills, in dessert and the plan land of northern Indian for some time. With the weakening of Mughal central governance due to the repeated invasions and the rising power of Marathas, Sikhs got an opportunity to gather power and resettlement under the banner of Khalsa. Gurmatta and SarbatKhalsawere made foundations for sovereignty in state. Sikh gathered in form of twelve organized groups, which called Misls. Functioning of these Misls continued for forty years until the end of eighteenth century. Later in the first decade of nineteenth century almost all Sikh groups were emerged in SukerchakiaMisl and formulate a Sikh state under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.