Rani Aus Kour

Rani Aus Kour (रानी आसकौर) of Patiala was wife of Raja Sahib Singh. She was daughter of Sirdar Gurdas Singh of Chattah, whom Raja Sahib Singh had married in 1792.

History

Lepel H. GriffinNo sooner had danger from without ceased, than Raja Sahib Singh dissensions were renewed within ; and the weak-minded Sahib Singh, influenced by his favorites, who were jealous of Rani Sahib Kour's power, began to treat his sister with great coldness.

The new cause of family discord

There was, moreover, a new element of discord in the person of Rani Aus Kour, daughter of Sirdar Gurdas Singh of Chattah, whom the Raja had married in 1792, and who, in 1797, bore him a son and heir who was named Karm Singh. This lady, both clever and ambitious, thought the influence possessed by Bibi Sahib Kour over the Raja belonged legitimately to her, and coalesced with his Court officials against Sahib Kour who was accused to her brother of many imaginary offences. Of these, the first asserted that she had herself kept the elephant given by the Raja of Nahan as a return for the services rendered in restoring order in his State. As Rani Sahib Kour had performed all the work at Nahan, while her brother was squandering health and money among pimps and prostitutes at Pattiala, she might well have pleaded her right to keep the present. It was also alleged, as a crime, that she had built, in 1795, a fort near Sunam, in her jagir, without her brother's permission, and had changed the name of the village of Bhirian to Ubhowal, which it still retains. When the Rani saw that the evil advice of his favorites had more weight with the Raja than all her services, she left Pattiala in disgust for Bhirian, where her new fort stood.

The dispute at Pattiala between Raja Sahib Singh and the Rani

Lepel H. GriffinIt is now necessary to return to Pattiala, where the disputes between the Raja and and the Rani Aus Kour had grown more bitter than ever and their unfortunate results were seen in all the neighbouring States. The Rani turned her arms against Raja Jaswant Singh of Nabha and Raja Bhag Singh of Jhind, having for her allies, Bhai Lal Singh of Kythal and Sirdar Bhanga Singh of Thanesar.

The mediation of Ranjit Singh of Lahore requested:

The contest was continued for some time with varying success and much bloodshed, till, at length, Raja Bhag Singh, desirous of putting an end to it in a manner favorable to himself and his ally of Nabha, requested the aid of his nephew Ranjit Singh of Lahore. Raja Jaswant Singh of Nabha joined in his request, for he had just been defeated by the Pattiala Chief at Mirwana, and was eager for revenge. Ranjit Singh was only too glad of an opportunity of interference, and, on the 26th of

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July, 1806, crossed the Satlej with a force which was estimated at 30,000 horse, though half this number would be nearer the truth, accompanied by Sirdar Fatah Singh Ahluwalia; Gurdit Singh Ladwa and other Chiefs. On the 28th he took possession of Doladhi, a town belonging to the Raja of Pattiala and the subject of dispute between him and Nabha, and some twenty two miles to the north of the capital ; and the following day he reached Nabha.

Rani Aus Kaur placed at the head of Administration

Lepel H. Griffin writes:After the departure of Colonel Ochterlony from Pattiala, affairs appeared to promise well. The Raja, actuated perhaps by caprice, accepted the advice that had been offered him placing Rani Aus Kour at the head of the administration, and it was not long before a marked improvement was apparent. When she obtained power every department was in the utmost disorder and the Raja could not even raise 250 horse for service of tho British Government ; but, by the end of the year, all was changed. Villages which had not paid revenue for years were reduced to obedience and compelled to liquidate their long standing balances ; and the jagirdars were compelled to supply con-tingents proportionate to the lands they held, so that, in December 1811, the Raja had 2,000 horse and 2,000 foot in arms, enforcing arrears due from refractory zamindars, while, in place of being burdened with debt, he had a lakh of rupees in his treasury.

But the evil advisers of the Raja were not disposed to allow the Rani to retain power without an effort to over-throw her. The two most prominent numbers of the opposition were Albel Singh and Gujar Singh. The first of these held a grant of all the Bangar country, adjoining that of the Bhattis, and he was bound to keep up a sufficient force to maintain order and to remit Rs. 7,000 a year to the treasury. When the British Government assumed the adjoining district and order was re-established, the Rani demanded Re. 14,000 a year instead of Rs 7,000, on which Albel Singh sent in his resignation, hoping that she would be unable to collect the revenue. But when, contrary to his expectations, she realized large collections, he began to fear that his exertions would be claimed from him and plotted for the Rani's downfall.

The position of Rani a difficult one

Lepel H. Griffin writes: The position of Rani Aus Kour, now Regent, was by no means an enviable one, and from a generous desire to leave the Raja every possible liberty and indulgence, too great power for evil was also left to him. He had been allowed to retain the uncontrolled disposal of the proceeds of his personal estates, amounting to upwards of a lakh of rupees, and also of one quarter of the revenue of the whole country, and it was moreover directed that, on any emergent necessity, he should be permitted to dispose of a second quarter of the revenue. Every indulgence allowed him was turned to the worst use of which it was susceptible. He expressed a wish that he had the power to annihilate every acre of his territory, that nothing might remain to his heir ; and, as this was impossible, he endeavoured to injure him, as far as he could, by disposing of all the valuable personal property in jewels and State ornaments, which should have descended, as heir-looms, in the family. Rani Partab Kour was the ill-adviser who encouraged his prodigality and hatred to Rani Aus Kour ; and it was her friends and favorites who were enriched by the imbecile Chief.

References

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