After the demise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh the Lahore Durbar entered an era of complete disarray- with influential families and his descendants tussling for more power. ^[3] The Khalsa Panchayat was very patient with the next three rulers as they were either able administrators or they were not able to hold a firm grip on the political situation of the Punjab. ^[4] The Sikh jaghirdars who held vast swathes of land in West Punjab all assisted the formation of the Khalsa Panchayat who embarked on a resurgence of Sikh principles in the Lahore Durbar and a collective fight against the Dogras, British and Europeans who threatened their sovereignty. ^[4] They highly respected Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Jarnail Hari Singh Nalwa for their devotion to the Khalsa Panth and following the Khalsas' demands. ^[5] They believed that the new rulers of the Punjab were weak hearted and could not contain the Khalsas' rampant bloodlust that was accumulating as the days went by. ^[6]

Events in Punjab

After the transfer of the beloved Maharaja Sher Singh to the throne and the death of Malika Muqaddasa Chand Kaur- the Sikh Khalsa Army agreed to many of his terms and allowed for some level of consensus. ^[7] Although they grew used to him- the wars in Ladakh and Afghanistan fought by, mostly, Dogras and Punjabi Muslims were clear signs that the Lahore Durbar did not trust Sikhs anymore. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

The largest Khalsa Panchayats were that of the Sandhawalias, Majithias, Attariwalas, Mannawalas, Nalwas and Waraichs. ^[10] These were either faithful to the Lahore Durbar, faithful toward the order of Guru Gobind Singh or were not involved in either side. ^[11] British observers decried it as a "dangerous military democracy" and British representatives and visitors in the Punjab described the regiments as preserving "puritanical" order internally, but also as being in a perpetual state of mutiny or rebellion against the central Durbar. ^[12] They thrived on the concept of individual sovereignty and used the weak Maharaja Sher Singh to extract money and land out of- although during his time the Dogra influence grew much further including the plans of Raja Dhian Singh Dogra, Raja Hira Singh Dogra and Pandit Jalla. ^[12]

"What the Punjab had prayed for was a dictator. What it got was a handsome and well-meaning dandy who knew more about French wines and perfumes than he did about statecraft."

— Khushwant Singh, History of the Sikhs Volume II

Outbreak and Course of the War

Sandhawalia Revolt

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Pathan Revolt

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Maharaja Bir Singh Naurangabad advised the Attariwalas to gather their armies at Attock to invade Peshawar although they did not pay any heed as they served Maharaja Duleep Singh. ^{[19] [16] [20]} Maharaja Duleep Singh, being a child, was a puppet of his vehemently Anti-Sikh mother Rani Jindan, and the Dogras hence he never acted against the Pathan tribesmen or the Europeans who started to communicate with the British for the takeover of the Punjab. ^[21]

Anti-European Sentiment

Khalsa Revivalism

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Hira Singh Dogra and Pandit Jalla along with Rani Jindan had together come up with a plan to destroy the Khalsa in the state.^{[ citation needed]} The Sikh Khalsa Army was divided between two lines often changing in the times that passed. These were the Khalsa Panchayat and the Lahore Durbar who both were believed to be representing Sikhism, the former orthodox Sikhism whereas the latter aristocratic Sikhism. ^[17] The Lahore Durbar wanted the Sikhs to remain loyal through connecting the religion to their state although Maharaja Bir Singh of Naurangabad declined- by this point the Lahore Durbar stopped being called the Sarkar-I-Khalsa as the ruler (Rani Jindan for the most part) never openly confessed her religion and she had multiple affairs with Pandits and other noblemen in the court. ^[6] Combined the Khalsa Panchayat's army was around 20,000 Sikh soldiery whereas the Lahore Durbar had around 34,500 not including Jaghirdari forces. ^[6] The dislike of Europeans grew from the constant incursions from Britishers along with provocations, whereas the dislike for Dogras was mainly an upper-class phenomenon and the Khalsa Panchayat had multiple Dogra representatives including Mian Prithi Singh, Mian Pacchattar Singh and Mian Naurang Singh. ^[16]

Sacking of Peshawar

When the Khalsa Panchayat heard of the area of Peshawar being given back to Kabul, Maharaja Bir Singh sent 2,000 mutineers to Hazara and Peshawar to control it.^{[ citation needed]} Jarnail Paolo Avitable already had around 6,000 troops and went on a mass-recruitment spree, taking another 3,000 Pathans to fight them.^{[ citation needed]} The Sikhs conquered Hazara although could not take back Peshawar due to the high concentration of troops.^{[ citation needed]} The Sikhs looted the Munshees of Hazara on their way back to Santpura and stole around 2 million rupees worth of gold and silver along with their jewelry.^{[ citation needed]}

Mir Mannu Masjid Incident

During the same time, in Mir Mannu's Masjid, which Muslims throughout India paid respects to, the Khalsa soldiers from Santpura attacked it and cremated Mir Mannu meaning that he could not enter Jannat (heaven).^{[ citation needed]}

Aftermath of the Battle of Naurangabad

The Sikhs intensified their crusade against the Lahore Durbar and the Dogras.^{[ citation needed]} Avitabile had fled to Jalalabad under the protection of the Afghans, and Garrison Commander Sobha Singh was murdered for stationing his troops within the holy city of Amritsar.^{[ citation needed]} In Lahore Jemadar Khushal Singh and Lehna Singh Majithia had to all barricade themselves in their homes in fear as there were rumours of them having British sympathies.^{[ citation needed]} Rani Jindan also planned to assassinate Raja Lal Singh for accepting the Khalsa Panchayat as his sovereign instead of the Lahore Durbar, despite the previous scandals that they had which were now public.^{[ citation needed]} Raja Tej Singh was also planned to be assassinated as he tried to end Dogra supremacy, this was known as the Parema Conspiracy and was planned by the British.^{[ citation needed]} Sir Henry Fane, the British Commander-in-Chief was also beaten by Akali Baba Durga Singh Nihang with a baton and broke his jaw. ^[27]

Battle of Daska

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Sialkot Durbar

Pashaura Singh

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