The Black Prince (2017)
Punjab has the dubious honour of being one of the last states in India to stand steadfast against the might of the British. Even when it finally crumbled, the state was the site of one of the first resistance to the rule of the British Raj.
We are all too familiar with the prowess of the one-eyed Maharajah Ranjit Singh, who remains the only person that managed to conquer Afghanistan. Even the mighty Alexander the Great was blocked at the borders by King Porus with a little unceremonious help of the Anopheles mosquito. The 1919 Jallianwala Bhag massacre ignited the fire of nationalism.
On one hand, the Sikh can walk proudly with their heads held high knowing very well they had a few 'firsts'. However, as boastful as they may be of their feats, they would also bow their heads in shame for the treasonous acts of many their kind.
On 13th April 1919, which happened to be the day the Sikhs celebrated their holy day of Vaisakhi, the Christian ushered in Palm Sunday. If Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday before the countdown, Colonel Dyers marched into Jillian Bhag for a meltdown. Even though history may suggest Dyer's miscalculations as the primary cause of the tragedy, the villainous misdeeds of fellow Sikhs cannot be understated. The heroes/martyrs and villains were both Sikhs. The whole episode illustrates the skilful mastery of the colonial masters at subjugating their subjects as well as to extricate themselves from misgivings. The villains continue performing their mercenary sepoy deeds through Independence all the way till the present. These turncoats remain critical of anything Indian but are still hearty with their praises of anything Western.
This film narrates the aftermath of the Sikh Empire with the demise of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. Dying without a succession plan proved costly. Infighting amongst stepbrothers led numerous assassinations probably orchestrated by the East Indian Company with the cooperation of fellow Sikhs with an eye on the throne or the wealth of the kingdom. A five-year-old Duleep Singh, the youngest son of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, was placed as a figurehead King, with his mother ruling on his behalf.
The British were fearful of the uprising of the Indians with Duleep Singh as the central unifying icon. Citing his mother's unstable mental condition as a reason, Ranjit Singh was kidnapped and brought to the UK. Ranjit grows up to be a confused adult. Having an existential crisis quite early in life, he ponders on his past, his religion and the glory of his race.
Even though with the benefit of artistic licence, the film tries to place Duleep Singh as one who makes a feeble attempt at regaining his throne with the cooperation of the French, Russians and the enemies of the British Crown, such a plot never actually happened. He lived his lavish life mostly as a convert Christian. His attempts at re-embracing Sikhism met a premature death. His remains were buried in an unmarked grave.
Punjab has the dubious honour of being one of the last states in India to stand steadfast against the might of the British. Even when it finally crumbled, the state was the site of one of the first resistance to the rule of the British Raj.
We are all too familiar with the prowess of the one-eyed Maharajah Ranjit Singh, who remains the only person that managed to conquer Afghanistan. Even the mighty Alexander the Great was blocked at the borders by King Porus with a little unceremonious help of the Anopheles mosquito. The 1919 Jallianwala Bhag massacre ignited the fire of nationalism.
On one hand, the Sikh can walk proudly with their heads held high knowing very well they had a few 'firsts'. However, as boastful as they may be of their feats, they would also bow their heads in shame for the treasonous acts of many their kind.
On 13th April 1919, which happened to be the day the Sikhs celebrated their holy day of Vaisakhi, the Christian ushered in Palm Sunday. If Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday before the countdown, Colonel Dyers marched into Jillian Bhag for a meltdown. Even though history may suggest Dyer's miscalculations as the primary cause of the tragedy, the villainous misdeeds of fellow Sikhs cannot be understated. The heroes/martyrs and villains were both Sikhs. The whole episode illustrates the skilful mastery of the colonial masters at subjugating their subjects as well as to extricate themselves from misgivings. The villains continue performing their mercenary sepoy deeds through Independence all the way till the present. These turncoats remain critical of anything Indian but are still hearty with their praises of anything Western.
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| Duleep Singh |
The British were fearful of the uprising of the Indians with Duleep Singh as the central unifying icon. Citing his mother's unstable mental condition as a reason, Ranjit Singh was kidnapped and brought to the UK. Ranjit grows up to be a confused adult. Having an existential crisis quite early in life, he ponders on his past, his religion and the glory of his race.
Even though with the benefit of artistic licence, the film tries to place Duleep Singh as one who makes a feeble attempt at regaining his throne with the cooperation of the French, Russians and the enemies of the British Crown, such a plot never actually happened. He lived his lavish life mostly as a convert Christian. His attempts at re-embracing Sikhism met a premature death. His remains were buried in an unmarked grave.
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