Question

Who was the British governor-general when the first Anglo-Sikh war took place?
A) William Bentick
B) Lord Harding
C) Lord Metcalf
D) Lord Elphinstone

Answer 1

Hint: In and around the Ferozepur district of Punjab, the Sikh Empire and the East India Company fought the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1845 and 1846. It culminated in the defeat and partial subjugation of the Sikh monarchy, as well as the cession of Jammu and Kashmir to British suzerainty as a separate princely state.

Complete answer:
The first Anglo-Sikh war –
- The first Anglo-Sikh war took place, and the Khalsa were defeated. The Sikh kingdom surrendered certain Punjabi regions to the British at the end of the battle. In addition, the Sikhs were forced to surrender over Kashmir to the British as a fine. This was later sold for ten lakh pounds to Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu.
- In 1843, Major Broad was appointed as the East India Company's agent in Amritsar.
- The British were keeping a careful eye on the political situation in Punjab, as well as other parts of the subcontinent because they had territorial ambitions there.
- In December 1845, Sikh forces crossed the Sutlej and took offensive positions against the English army.
- Following that, engagements were fought in other locations, with the English victory at Sobraon leading to the signing of the Lahore Treaty in 1846, which brought the war to a close.
- So, between 1845 and 1846, the first Anglo-Sikh war was fought. The Sikh Empire and the East India Company were at odds. During the First Anglo-Sikh War, Lord Harding served as Governor-General.

Therefore, Option ‘B’ i.e, Lord Harding is the correct answer because when the first Anglo-Sikh war broke out, he was the British governor-general.

Note:
- Mutual distrust and the instability of the Sikh army sparked the first conflict. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who governed Punjab from 1801 until 1839, had transformed the Sikh state into a formidable force.
- The first Sikh governor of India was Ranjit Singh. In July 1799, he conquered Lahore, Punjab's capital (now the capital of Punjab province, Pakistan). The Afghan king, Zaman Shah, acknowledged Ranjit Singh as the city's governor, but Ranjit Singh declared himself Maharaja of Punjab in 1801.