Shah Muhammad: Poet-Historian Who Documented Decline Of The Sikh Empire In 19th Century

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 22 September 2025 Shah Muhammad was a 19th-century poet who documented the decline of the Sikh Empire through emotionally charged ballads. His works provide a unique historical and cultural perspective on the Anglo-Sikh Wars and remain significant in Punjabi literature. Main Points: 1. Wrote heroic ballads on the Anglo-Sikh Wars. 2. Blamed Maharani Jind Kaur for the Sikh Empire’s fall. 3. Praised both Sikh bravery and British strategy. 4. Immortalized warriors like Sham Singh Attariwala. 5. Blended history and literature in simple, powerful verse. ----- Shah Muhammad stands as a distinguished poet in the realm of heroic literature from his era. He serves as a crucial link between history and literature, with numerous historians acknowledging the reliability of his ballads. Several scholars have even cited Shah Muhammad’s works as sources of historical facts. He was born in the year 1784 A.D. in the village of Veeram, located in the Amritsar district. Belonging to the Qureshi lineage among Muslims, Shah Muhammad composed his ballads during the later part of Ranjit Singh’s rule. His historical poetry captured the imagination of countless people. All the Vars composed during this period are considered inferior in comparison to Shah Muhammad’s work, which is celebrated for its excellence. His composition is referred to by various titles: Var Shah Muhammad, Kissa Shah Muhammad , Janganama Singhan Te Frangian , Shah Muhammad De Baint. Shah Muhammad achieved immortality through his powerfully engaging and heroic ballads. The events described in his work are notably close to reality. As Dr. Ganda Singh appropriately noted, Shah Muhammad may be regarded as a national poet of India. He surpassed all his contemporary poets in literary achievement. Having witnessed the splendour and grandeur of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign, the poet observed firsthand the Maharaja’s commanding presence and robust military organisation. ਵਿਚ ਰਹਿ ਕਬੂਲ ਤੇ ਵਿਚ ਬੈਠ, ਬਲੀ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਗ੍ਰੇਜ਼ ਦੀ ਬੱਤ ਆਈ। ਸੱਜੇ ਅੰਗ੍ਰੇਜ਼ ਦੇ ਤੇ ਨ੍ਰਿਪ ਹੈ, ਨਿਹਚ ਨ੍ਰਿਪ ਸੱਜੇ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ਆਈ। ਰੱਜੇ ਵਡੇ ਨ੍ਰਿਪੇ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ਸਿੱਧ, ਸਿੰਘ ਰਹਿ ਤੇ ਉਠੇ ਅੰਗ੍ਰੇਜ਼ ਆਈ। ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਤੇ ਨੀ, ਕਦੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਮੀ ਟਿਕੀ ਨ੍ਰਿਪ ਆਈ। (One day as I sat in Batala, wholly lost, The Feringhee became the subject of our talk. Hira Lal and Nur Khan, two of my bosom friends, Suddenly did they accost me, asking: How in the midst of Musalmaans and Hindus, living happily together, Had a scourge of sorts descended from nowhere? For, O Shah Mohammed! never in the Punjab, Was a third caste ever known to have come. ) Later, Shah Muhammad learned of the conspiracies orchestrated by the Dogra Chiefs in collaboration with Maharani Jindan. He held Maharani Jindan and her advisors responsible for the collapse of the mighty Sikh Empire. The poet was deeply troubled by the unjust schemes and betrayal carried out by the Dogras, whom the Maharaja had trusted completely. According to the poet, the Punjabi forces were left directionless after the Maharaja’s demise. Shah Muhammad provided a balanced account of the conflict between the two powers, praising the courage of the Sikh soldiers while also acknowledging the strategic prowess of the British forces. The fact that a Muslim poet lamented the defeat of the Sikhs highlights the cultural harmony between the two communities during that period. He expressed: “If God wills, the Sikhs shall ultimately triumph. There exists great unity and coexistence between the two communities; no one sides with the English.” Awal hamd janab allah di noon, Jehrra qudrati khel banaonda ee ChodaaN tabqaan da naqsh o nigar kr ke, Rang rang de bagh lagaonda ee SafaaN pichliyan sabh lapait lenda, Agon hor hi hor wichaaonda ee Shah mohammada, os toon sada dariye, BadshahaaN ton bheekh mangaaonda ee (First, praise be to the Lord Almighty, Who creates the wondrous spectacle of existence. Crafting the intricate patterns of the fourteen realms, He adorns the world with gardens of myriad hues. He envelops all past events in His embrace, And brings forth ever-new marvels from beyond. O Shah Muhammad, forever fear Him, For He makes even kings beg for His mercy.) In his book “Panjabi Shayarian Da Tajkra”, Mian Maula Baksh ‘Kushta’ notes that Shah Muhammad’s account of the Sikh defeat is deeply emotional and sentimentally rich. The poet’s use of similes and metaphors is highly appropriate to the context, and his language remains simple, elegant, and impactful. Describing the battlefield, Shah Muhammad wrote: “It was the year 1902 Bikrimi when the battle between the Sikhs and the British began. It seemed as though the earth thirsted for human blood. The sky was shrouded in dust and smoke, yet the courageous warriors refused to retreat.” Shah Muhammad attributed the catastrophic bloodshed and loss of countless lives in Punjab to Rani Jindan. He concluded that deceit and faithlessness are inherent traits of women, and thus criticised the entire gender. The poet argued that women have historically been the cause of downfalls—citing Ravana’s defeat and the Mahabharata war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, which resulted in immense casualties, as examples of female folly. Accordingly, he held Maharani Jindan responsible for the defeat of the Sikh Empire. Muhabli Ranjeet Singh Hoya Paida, Naal Zor De Mulk Halaye Gaya Multan, Kashmir, Pishor, Chanba, Jamoon Kaangrra Kot Niwaye Gaya Hor Desh Ladakh Te Cheen Torri, Sikka Apne Naam Chalaye Gaya Shah Mohammada, Jaan Pichas Barsaan, Acha Raj Ke Raaj Kama Gaya (The mighty Ranjit Singh was born, With great strength, he shook the nations. Multan, Kashmir, Peshawar, Chamba, Jammu, Kangra, and forts he subdued. He conquered the lands of Ladakh and China, And made his coinage reign supreme. O Shah Muhammad, after years of struggle, He established a splendid rule and earned great glory.) Through his composition, Shah Muhammad immortalised Sham Singh Attariwala, who remains an enduring inspiration for future generations. Sham Singh is celebrated as an emblem of confidence, courage, bravery, and selflessness. Ka-Fatik, a contemporary poet of Shah Muhammad, also praised Sham Singh Attariwala. Shah Muhammad regarded him as an exceptional warrior who fought fervently to uphold the honour of the Sikh forces. Shah Muhammad continues to be the central figure in the heroic poetry of his time. Other heroic poets like Kadar Yar, Dial Singh, and Sahia Singh are only briefly referenced in the history of Punjabi Var literature. ----- A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism and Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/shah-muhammad-poet-sikh-empire-19th-century/d/136928 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism