The Last Sunset: The Rise & Fall of the Lahore Durbar

by Amarinder Singh

The Last Sunset spans the rise of the Sikh Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Punjab, north India. By 1825 the empire had annexed eastern Afghanistan and the whole of what is now Kashmir going well into Tibet. The Maharaja was first among non Muslims to annex the Pathan -Pushtun- territories where the Taliban is now active. This brought to an end a one thousand year of loot by Muslim raiders from the north west.Though the Muslim population of the Maharaja was 90% but his rule was, what we now the most secular. More than half the ministers in his Durbar -Court- were Muslim or Hindus and many of his Generals were Europeans who modernized his army.His army was so powerful and modern for the times that even the East India Company of the English, having occupied most of the Indian subcontinent by 1805, were not keen to threaten him. The Sikh Khalsa army was the best and even better than what the English had.This book covers in detail the demise of his empire after his death due to lack of an able ruler. The book shows very nicely how the English cultivated certain elements in the Durbar and how the two armies fought Nine battles in two Anglo-Sikh wars of 1845 and 1849 before the Sikh empire could be annexed.The author brings out references to show that the English never had to pay such a high prize for annexing any other Indian kingdom as they had to pay for subduing the Sikhs. The Sikhs never asked for a quarter in battle and never gave one. The English lost so many Generals in those battles that they had never lost that many before or even there after, in all the wars they fought until now.Impressed by the fighting tenacity of the Sikhs, the English enrolled them in large numbers so much so that by the time the Second World War ended, more than half the Indian army was from Punjab of which Sikhs alone were 50%.A very well written book.

Genres: History, India, Nonfiction

347 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Chetanbir Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal man! What a legacy to leave behind!! Truly the one and only Lion of Punjab!
We read about the man as a human figure; denuded of all the myths and over-the-top (guru like) reverence which usually accompanies any story/fact related to him.
The book is extremely readable and opinions are generally balanced. The battles are beautifully described and strategies explained in detail. Maharaja Ranjit Singh's personality, his way of thinking and everyday conduct, administration, preferences, ideas of justice, religion, society etc are discussed in detail; making me understand why he deserves to be called Maharaja in every sense of the word, why he deserves such a special place in Indian history and why he is almost pivotal to the history of Punjab.

[Susheil Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last Sunset is an outstanding military history book by probably best soldier administrator of present times. He describes both Anglo Sikh wars in detail and has put a balanced and unbiased views on sequence of action during the war.

He has remained above prejudice while discussing the weakness of Sikh side during the battle. Primarily relying on war despatches of units who participated in British side and other British personnel who scribbled their experiences, he makes the Transsatlej of early nineteenth century come alive to you.

[Amarjeet Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenal undertaking by a man whose own ancestors were contemporaries of Sher-e-Punjab, "The Last Sunset" is a meticulous narration of the meteoric rise and cataclysmic fall of the Sikh Empire.

Leaving aside theological variations, Amarinder Singh weaves a tantalizing picture of the Lahore Darbar's last days with the British at its doors. While the fall of their Empire still haunts the Sikhs, accounts of it's last days are still poignant for the community which weeps to see an undivided Punjab.

Amarinder Singh's research is exceptional, but his allegation of Jind Kaur being the progenitor of the Empire's demise somewhat mitigates the Dogras trio's role in the affair as well as that of his own forefathers. Otherwise, his work is a must-read. Good writer but shit politician.

[Gurkamal Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

very nice book