AngloSikh

Anglo-Sikh refers to the historical and cultural relationship between the Sikh Empire of the Punjab and the British East India Company in the mid-19th century, as well as to people who identify with both British and Sikh cultures. The term is used in scholarship to describe the military conflicts, political negotiations, and social exchanges that arose as British power expanded into Punjab following the decline of the Sikh state.

The central events are the two Anglo-Sikh Wars. The First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846) featured battles such as Mudki, Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon, ending with the Treaty of Lahore, which imposed terms on the Sikh leadership and reduced the empire’s military power while establishing a British resident and broader British influence in Punjab. The Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849) culminated in the defeat of the Sikh Army at the Battle of Goojerat, leading to the annexation of Punjab into British India in 1849 and the dissolution of the Sikh Empire as an independent state.

In the aftermath, Punjab was reorganized as a province of British India. Sikh soldiers and officers served within the British Indian Army, and many Sikhs engaged with British administrative practices, education systems, and infrastructure projects. The period also produced cross-cultural exchanges in law, governance, and military training, shaping both colonial administration and Sikh social and political life.

In modern usage, Anglo-Sikh can also describe a broader diaspora and cultural milieu in which Sikh and British identities intersect, influencing music, literature, and community organization in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. The term highlights a historical period of conflict and cooperation that significantly affected the Punjab and its people.