The rumblings of resentment

Book review of 'The Second Anglo-Sikh War 1848-49'

The Second Anglo-Sikh War 1848-49

Amarpal Singh

HarperCollins India

513 pages; Rs 899

Amarpal Singh’s first book on the Anglo-Sikh wars, The First Anglo-Sikh War 1845-46, ended with the East India Company’s conquest of Punjab a mere seven years after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the posting at the Lahore court of a British resident with sweeping powers. The resident’s numerous district political agents reduced Sikh officials to ciphers, and in the sequel, The Second Anglo-Sikh War 1848-49, Mr Singh captures the sense of resentment that this gave rise to, leading to the killing in April 1848 of two young British army