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Foster 5010
- Record Id:
- 032-003264819
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-003264819
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100028181445.0x0004f4
- LARK:
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Foster 5010
- Title:
-
Finger ring with Gurmukhi inscription on face. Inscription is reversed to use as a seal.
- Scope & Content:
-
The inscription on the face of the ring was used as a seal. It reads, 'Akal Sahai Maharaj Singh ji', which translates, 'The Immortal (God) protects: Maharaj Singh ji'.
'Akal Sahai' was a common motto used in the 18th and 19th century. It is found on coins, sword hilts and manuscripts of importance to Sikh sirdars and was also used by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The face of the ring measures 2.4 cm across at its widest point.
Bhai Maharaj Singh Collection
These objects belonged to Bhai Maharaj Singh, a Sikh warrior and leader who was a key player in the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-49). On 28 December 1849 he was captured by Henry Vansittart (1818-1896), the Deputy Commissioner at Jalandhar. The British moved him to Singapore, where he died in prison in 1856. According to the descendants of Bhai Maharaj Singh, the man imprisoned by the British was a double, and the true Bhai Maharaj Singh remained free. See Parmjit Singh & Nidar Singh Nihang, The Guru’s Beloved Army: A Hidden History of the Akali Nihang Sikhs.2009
The objects listed below were confiscated by Henry Vansittart in 1849 and were given to the India Office Library between 1925 and 1927 by his son. See India Office Library Annual Report for 1925-6 and 1926-7 (SW 246) and Shackle, C. Catalogue of the Panjabi and Sindhi Manuscripts in the India Office Library. London: 1977, p. 27.
F5009 - Conch shell
F5010 - Finger ring
F5011 - Small knife
F5012 - Sewing needle and cotton
F5013 - Two steel quoits
Mss Panj.A4 - Anthology of hymns from the Adi Granth and Dasam Granth (2 volumes)
Mss Panj.A6 - Four texts
Mss Panj.A7 - Two hymns and a formula
- Collection Area:
- Visual Arts
- Project / Collection:
- Bhai Maharaj Singh Collection
- Hierarchy Tree:
- [{ "id" : "032-003264819", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Foster 5010: Finger ring with Gurmukhi inscription on face. Inscription is reversed to use as a seal." , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-003264819
- Is part of:
- not applicable
- Hierarchy:
- 032-003264819
- Container:
- not applicable
- Record Type (Level):
- Fonds
- Extent:
- 1 Item
- Digitised Content:
- Languages:
- Not applicable
- Scripts:
- Not applicable
- Start Date:
- 1840
- End Date:
- 1849
- Date Range:
- 1840s
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
- Restrictions to access apply please consult British Library staff
Please request the physical items you need using the online collection item request form.
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this request form.
Please enter the Reference (shelfmark) above on the request form.If your Reader Pass was issued before this date, you will need to visit the Library in London or Yorkshire to renew it before you can request items online. All manuscripts and archives must be consulted at the Library in London.
This catalogue record may describe a collection of items which cannot all be requested together. Please use the hierarchy viewer to navigate to individual items. Some items may be in use or restricted for other reasons. If you would like to check the availability, contact our Reference Services team, quoting the Reference (shelfmark) above.
- User Conditions:
- Appointment required to view these records. Please consult Asian and African Studies Print Room staff.
- Finding Aids:
- J. F. Blumhardt, Catalogue of the Library of the India Office, Vol. 2; Part 3: Hindi, Panjabi, Pushtu and Sindhi books (London, 1902),
- Exhibitions:
- Bhai Maharajah Singh, Indian Heritage Centre, Singapore, 1 April 2015 - 1 April 2016
- Material Type:
- Artefacts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)
- Notes:
- Exhibited: Bhai Maharajah Singh, Indian Heritage Centre, Singapore, 1 April 2015 - 1 April 2016
- Subjects:
- Jewellery