Sikh Political Thought & Sikh Raj

📘 Course Title: Sikh Political Thought & Sikh Raj: The Era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh


🎓 Level:

Undergraduate / Postgraduate


🕒 Duration:

12–14 weeks (1 semester) or 5–6 modules (intensive)


🎯 Course Objectives:

  • To explore the foundations of Sikh political philosophy.
  • To understand the emergence of the Sikh polity from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh.
  • To analyze the evolution and administration of Sikh Raj under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
  • To assess Sikh notions of sovereignty, justice, diplomacy, and secular governance.
  • To evaluate the legacy of the Sikh Empire in the context of modern South Asian politics.


🧩 Module-Wise Breakdown:

Module 1: Foundations of Sikh Political Thought

Topics:

  • Guru Nanak’s critique of political oppression
  • Miri-Piri doctrine and Guru Hargobind Sahib
  • Concept of Halemi Raj
  • Saint-Soldier ideal (Sant-Sipahi)
  • Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom and political defiance
  • Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa polity

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand core Sikh values of justice, sovereignty, and resistance.
  • Interpret Gurbani in political context.

Readings:

  • “Guru Nanak: His Life and Teachings” – Harish Dhillon
  • Selections from Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth

Module 2: Rise of Sikh Militancy and Confederalism

Topics:

  • Banda Singh Bahadur and early Sikh state formation
  • Fall of Banda Bahadur & Mughal suppression
  • Misls and Dal Khalsa structure
  • Political organization and confederal governance
  • Rakhi system and localized protection

Learning Outcomes:

  • Trace evolution from spiritual movement to political organization.
  • Explain decentralized Sikh political structures.

Readings:

  • “The Sikh Commonwealth” – Khushwant Singh
  • “History of the Sikhs” Vol. 1 – Hari Ram Gupta

Module 3: Consolidation of Sikh Raj under Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Topics:

  • Rise of Ranjit Singh and unification of Misls
  • Coronation and consolidation of Lahore
  • Military modernization and European officers
  • Secular governance and religious tolerance
  • Administrative structure: revenue, justice, military

Learning Outcomes:

  • Analyze the political genius of Ranjit Singh.
  • Compare Sikh Raj governance with other contemporary states.

Readings:

  • “The Lion of Punjab” – Jean-Marie Lafont
  • “Ranjit Singh: Maharajah of the Punjab” – Khushwant Singh

Module 4: Diplomacy and Foreign Relations

Topics:

  • Relations with British East India Company
  • Treaties: Amritsar (1809) and others
  • Afghan campaigns and relations with Dost Mohammad
  • Kashmir, Multan, Peshawar campaigns
  • Strategic frontier policy

Learning Outcomes:

  • Explain the geopolitical foresight of the Sikh Empire.
  • Discuss Sikh interactions with global colonial powers.

Readings:

  • “The Punjab and the Raj” – Ian Talbot
  • “Anglo-Sikh Relations 1799–1849” – Ganda Singh

Module 5: Decline and Annexation

Topics:

  • Death of Ranjit Singh and internal succession conflicts
  • Role of Dogra brothers and court politics
  • Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–49)
  • Treaty of Lahore and British annexation
  • Resistance: Bhai Maharaj Singh and others

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand causes of Sikh Empire's fall.
  • Examine colonial exploitation and Sikh resistance.

Readings:

  • “Fall of the Sikh Empire” – Sohan Lal Suri (Umdat-ut-Tawarikh)
  • “The First Anglo-Sikh War” – Amarpal Singh

Module 6: Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

Topics:

  • Political ideals of Sikh Raj in modern context
  • Impact on Punjabi identity and Sikh nationalism
  • Commemoration in Sikh memory and diaspora
  • Debates on secularism, pluralism, and sovereignty

Learning Outcomes:

  • Connect historical Sikh governance with modern Sikh thought.
  • Reflect on Sikh Raj as a model of pluralistic leadership.

Readings:

  • “Sikhism and the Politics of Identity” – Harjot Oberoi
  • “The Construction of Religious Boundaries” – Harjot Oberoi


📝 Assessment Methods:

  • Weekly reading reflections
  • Mid-term essay on Sikh political thought
  • Final paper: Critical evaluation of Ranjit Singh’s governance
  • Group presentation on Sikh diplomacy or military structure


🛠️ Supplementary Materials:

  • Primary texts: Zafarnama, Hukamnamas, Persian court chronicles
  • Maps of Sikh Empire
  • British colonial records
  • Documentaries and archival images