Anglo-Sikh Wars

In this episode, we examine the Anglo-Sikh Wars, the fierce mid-19th-century conflicts between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company that led to the annexation of Punjab. We explore how the powerful Khalsa Army, modernized under Maharaja Ranjit Singh with European-style infantry, cavalry, artillery, and training methods, became one of the most formidable forces in South Asia. The episode looks at the political instability after Ranjit Singh’s death, the military strength and internal divisions of the Sikh state, and the hard-fought battles that tested British expansion in India. Through these wars, we trace the decline of Sikh sovereignty, the absorption of Punjab into the British Empire, and the enduring legacy of Sikh martial skill, discipline, and resistance.