HP GK

Q-1 What were the positions of Hill States during the Anglo-Sikh Wars and why?

The Anglo-Sikh wars were a series of conflicts between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company during the mid-19th century.

• These wars were influenced by several factors that led to tensions and ultimately armed confrontations between the two powers.

Position of Hill States:

• During the First Anglo-Sikh War:

• Hill States Supported Britishers – During the First Anglo-Sikh War, the Hill States supported the Britishers.
• Reason for Their Position:
  • The Hill States of Kangra Hill states were tired of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s annexation policy, and they were looking for an opportunity to regain their territory from the Sikh.
  • The Punjab Hill chiefs were expecting the same generous treatment from the British as it was given in the case of Shimla Hills states at the end of Anglo-Gurkha in 1815.
  • Thus, Punjab Hill states were expecting that they would be liberated from the Sikhs and provided with independence or Sanad as was given to Shimla Hill states.
  • So, the Punjab Hill state ruler decided to support the British in the First Anglo-Sikh War.

• During the Second Anglo-Sikh War:

• Hill States Supported Sikhs – During the Second Anglo-Sikh War, leaders of the Kangana Hill State openly supported Sikh rebels and rose against British authority.
• Reason for Their Position:
  • During the First Anglo-Sikh War, Kangra Hill States supported Britishers in the hope that they would liberate their land from Sikhs and hand it over to Hill Chiefs in the same manner as Chiefs of Shimla Hill states were liberated from Gurkha in 1814–15 war.
  • Instead of restoring the seeded territory from Sikhs to the Hill Chiefs, the British occupied it as British territory and dispersed the rest to Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu.
  • Thus, during the Second Anglo-Sikh War, leaders of the Kangana Hill State openly supported Sikh rebels and rose against British authority.

Hence, the shifting allegiances of the Hill States during the Anglo-Sikh Wars were driven by their strategic interests and expectations of territorial restoration and autonomy.

Q-2 What factors contributed to the Shimla Hill States becoming a battleground between the British and Gurkhas?

The Anglo-Gurkha War took place in 1814–15 in Shimla Hill State. The various social, economic, and political factors led to the conflict between Britishers and Gurkhas in Hill States.

The major causes of the War were:

– Rivalry Before Hill State

• Gurkhas attacked Kathmandu and Tibet, and requested Britishers to help them against Gurkhas.
• Gurkhas and Britishers also had conflicting interests in Sikkim.

– Enter of Gurkhas in Hilly Areas

• Gurkhas have entered the Sirmaur, Kangra, and Gharwal, causing a fresh challenge to East India Company.

– Restricted Commercial Interest of EIC

• The Gurkha policy of excluding foreign traders and controlling all trade between Tibet and the plain prevented the British merchants from commercial exploitation of hill markets.

– Political Safety for Britishers

• Britishers were afraid that there could be a possibility of Hindu unity among Marathas, Sikhs, and Gurkhas that may cause challenges for EIC in Shimla Hill States.

– Humanitarian Ground

• Gurkhas kept plundering and harassing the upper Shimla Hill States and its people.
• People of the state requested the Britishers to eliminate the threat of Gurkhas and in response, EIC wedged a war against Gurkhas in Hill State.

– Justified Expansion of Britishers

• The circumstances of the time created an ideal opportunity for the British to justify their expansion into the hill regions.

All these factors led to the Anglo-Gurkha War in Shimla Hill States, which ended with the Treaty of Sangauli in December 1815.

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