The First Anglo-Sikh War Memorial is located in
Aliwal, Taran Taran,
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
. It was built in 1853 by the
British in remembrance of the
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company in 1845 and 1846 in and around the Ferozepur district of Punjab. It resulted in defeat and partial subjugation of the Sikh empire and cession of ...
, to honour the bravery of the
Sikh
Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...
soldiers.
History
The British-built memorial was declared a protected monument in 1964 under the Punjab Ancient, Historical Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act.
Renovation at a cost of 1,000,000 Rupees was completed in 2011 by the Punjab Heritage and Tourism Promotion Board. Funs ran out before completion, attracting criticism over ignoring the project. With another investment of Rs. 30 lakh, the 55-feet memorial was constructed with ''Chhoti Nanakshahi'' brick, including a library with books on history, literature, and religion, the renovation was completed in October 2015.
In the presence of
Manpreet Singh Ayali
Manpreet Singh Ayali (born 6 January 1975) is an Indian politician and leader of Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab Legislative Assembly, and is currently Member of the Legislative Assembly (India), Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Dakha As ...
, the renovated memorial was inaugurated on 6 October 2015 by
Jathedar Avtar Singh Makad and the
Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee ( SGPC; "Supreme Gurdwara Management Committee") is an organization in India responsible for the management of Gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and the unio ...
.
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought in 1845-46, which put Punjab partially under British control. It is believed that British prepared for the war in 1843 when
Lord Ellenborough discussed the possibility of military occupation of Punjab with the home government. British military troops in Punjab numbered 86,023 men with 116 guns. 45,500 men armed with 98 guns were in the hill stations of Subathu and Kasauli, with 60,000 Sikh Soldiers. With more than 10,000 Sikhs killed, British won the battle and effective power went into the hands of Colonel Henry Lawrence, which also helped them to occupy
Kasur.
Maharani Jind Kaur
Maharani Jind Kaur ( – 1 August 1863) was regent of the Sikh Empire from 1843 until 1846. She was the youngest wife of the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, Ranjit Singh, and the mother of the last Maharaja, Duleep Singh. She was renowned fo ...
continued as the regent and Raja Lal Singh as servant of
Maharaja Duleep Singh
Maharaja Sir Duleep Singh, GCSI (4 September 1838 – 22 October 1893), or Sir Dalip Singh, and later in life nicknamed the "Black Prince of Perthshire", was the last ''Maharaja'' of the Sikh Empire. He was Maharaja Ranjit Singh's youngest son, ...
.
See also
*
Anglo Sikh War Memorial
References
{{coord missing, Punjab (India)
Monuments and memorials in Punjab, India
Anglo-Sikh wars