Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849)

The Sikhs considered their defeat in the first Sikh War a great humiliation. They had been accustomed to victories in the time of Ranjit Singh and this defeat gave a rude shock to their pride. The Sikhs wanted to restore the fallen fortunes of their kingdom. Lord Gough the British Commander in Chief reached Lahore with the grand army of Punjab. Multan surrendered in 1849 and the Sikhs suffered a defeat at Chillianwala a few weeks later. The final and decisive battle was won by the English at Gujarat and the whole of Punjab surrendered. The war resulted in the annexation of Punjab in 1849 by Lord Dalhousie and Dalip Singh was pensioned off and sent to England along with his mother Rani Jindan.The administration of the Punjab was entrusted to a Board of Commissioners. The annexation of Punjab extended the British territories in India up to the natural frontiers of India towards the north-west. Beside after the destruction of Sikh power there remained no active power which could pose a threat to the security of the English in India.