Maharani Jind Kaur, popularly known as Rani or Mai Jindan, was the younger daughter of Sardar Manna Sigh Aulakh, a rich and influential zimindar of village Chahr, district Sialkot. She was the youngest, most beautiful, and best loved queen of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. By virtue of her exquisite beauty, bright intelligence, ‘sound common sense, and win “some manners, she had completely captivated the Lion of Punjab. He was extremely fond of her. Her talks and company delighted him more than anything else; He had given her the title of “Mahbuba’ or the Beloved.
On September 4, 1838, she gave birth to a son whom the fond father gave the name of Dalip Singh. In his looks and features the prince was an image of his mother. Needless to say that the Maharaja was deeply fond of the charming shield. The Maharaja’s joy knew no bounds. But soon, alas, too soon, her bright and blissful life was rendered extremely dark, unhappy, and miserable. The Maharaja breathed his last on the afternoon of the 27th June, 1839. Kanwar Dalip Singh was then only nine months and 24 days of age, a mere suckling in the arms of his hapless widowed mother.
Other genes sitting on the pyre were going to be joining their lord in the other world. With one bold step they were about to end their unhappy state of widowhood. Should she, the dearest and most beloved one, remain behind as a widow, to live life of loneliness and separation from her lord, who knows for how many wretched years? As these thoughts were running through her mind, she felt in her an impulse to mount the pyre. But just then the tiny child clinging to her breast gave out a shrill cry. Her thought train was suddenly interrupted. Her attention was drawn to the lovely royal baby.
She pressed him still more firmly to her bosom, kissed him passionately, and said to her, “I must agree to live behind as a widow, away from my beloved lord, in order to take care of his dear Dalip. If I go after him in this way, he will rebuke me. He will say, “In whose care have you left our dear little son? You have forgotten your duty as a mother in pursuit of a selfish end. You have proved unworthy of being my son’s mother.” What shall I say in reply? No, I must not think of joining him now, in this manner. I must stay in this world as a widowed mother, for as long as He wills it.’ She pressed Dalip to her bosom, kissed him, and said, ‘my sweet child, I live for thee.’ At the time she was about 22years old.
Maharaja’s death was followed by what may be called the Deluge, in which kings, queens, princes, ministers, darbaris, and army men were killed in quick succession. Asa result, when Maharaja’s body was placed on funeral pyre, some of his queens and maid servants married the pyre in order to become ‘Sati.’ Maharaja Jindan, who was only 22years at that time, had to make a tough decision. Finally she decided to live as a widow for the sake of the little prince.
When the British finally took over the Sikh empire, after the death of the Maharaja Ranjeet Singh, due to the treacherous designs of Dogras and Brahman’s, her young son Dalip Singh was made Maharaja though in name only. Rani Jindan was arrested and moved to Sheikhupura prison where she was kept under house arrest. Then on 19 Aug. 1849, she was moved to Chunnar fort in U.P. (Distt. Mirzapur) and imprisoned there. She was able to escape with the help of one of her faithful servant and she moved to Nepal.
In 1861 she went to England to stay with her son. She died in England on 1st Aug. 1863. She was 45yearsold at that time; her body was taken back to India as per her wishes. But the British Government of India did not allow her body to be taken to Punjab. She was cremated in Nasik near Bombay. On March 27, 1924, Maharaja Dalip Singh’s daughter Princess Bamba Daleep Singh took her ashes from Nasik and buried them next to the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Musuleum. The last prayers were done by Sardar Harbanns Singh Attari. The last Queen of Punjab came home finally.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 31, 1996
