In which year did the East India Company occupy Punjab?

Key Points

• The East India Company occupied Punjab in the year 1849.
• This event occurred after the defeat of the Sikh Empire in the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
• The Battle of Gujrat was a decisive battle that led to the annexation of Punjab.
• The British took control of Punjab, marking the end of the Sikh Empire and integrating Punjab into British India.

Additional Information

• East India Company:
  • The East India Company was an English company formed for the exploitation of trade with East and Southeast Asia and India, incorporated by royal charter on December 31, 1600.
  • It was originally formed for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but ended up trading mainly with Qing China and seizing control of large parts of the Indian subcontinent.
  • The company eventually came to rule large areas of India with its own private armies, exercising military power and assuming administrative functions.
• Second Anglo-Sikh War:
  • The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849) was a military conflict between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company.
  • The war resulted in the fall of the Sikh Empire and the annexation of Punjab and what subsequently became the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) by the British East India Company.
  • The war was triggered by the rebellion of Mulraj, the Diwan of Multan, and was further exacerbated by the discontent among the Sikh aristocracy and military leadership.
• Battle of Gujrat:
  • The Battle of Gujrat was the last and decisive battle in the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
  • It took place on February 21, 1849, near the town of Gujrat in Punjab.
  • The British forces, commanded by Sir Hugh Gough, defeated the Sikh forces led by Sher Singh Attariwalla.
  • The defeat of the Sikhs at Gujrat led to the annexation of the Punjab region by the British East India Company.
• Annexation of Punjab:
  • The annexation of Punjab took place in 1849 after the British victory in the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
  • Punjab was formally annexed on March 29, 1849, by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India.
  • The annexation marked the end of the Sikh Empire and brought the entire region under British control.
  • The British administration implemented several reforms in the region, including the construction of infrastructure and the establishment of a centralized government system.