The story of a royal prisoner is quite popular during the summer of 1852 and 1853 of Uttarakhand. This prisoner was none other than Maharaja Dalip Singh. He was the last ruler of the Sikh Empire and son of the great Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After the second Anglo-Sikh war in 1849, the British East India Company grabbed Punjab. At the age of just 11, the throne, treasure and Kohinoor diamond were taken away from Dalip Singh. He was first taken to Fategarh in Uttar Pradesh, where he was forced to adopt Christianity. Then he was sent to Mussoorie, but not as a guest, but like a strict monitoring prisoner.

In today’s time, where the magnificent JP Manor Hotel is standing, Maharaja Dalip Singh was kept under British supervision. This place was once connected to Suspension Bridge from St. George College. Till 1936, this place continued to be used as a monastery. This is where India’s last Sikh king was imprisoned with his broken dreams and lost identity.

Login couple and English color
Duleep Singh had the responsibility of taking care of Sir John Spencer Login and his wife Lady Login. Lady Login’s book Sir John Login and Duleep Singh wrote that Maharaja loved cricket very much. A special ground was built for him, which is today part of the Estate of St. George College. The purpose of the British rule was clear that the education and living of Dalip Singh should be gradually molded in English color. Dalip Singh was admitted to Madek School in Mussoorie. There he studied and sports with British children.

They would have got Punjabi food, but English taste was being used. It was not allowed to attend any fair or public event. Yes, cricket matches, picnics and band parades were allowed to participate in controlled programs. In this way he was kept away from royal habits.

History marks scattered in Mussoorie
Historian Gopal Bhardwaj says that people coming to Mussoorie today consider JP Manor Hotel as just a luxury place, but this place has once been a witness to a royal tragedy. Here a teenage king lost his throne, his empire and his identity.

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