Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.21

v2.c29.21

Even during the second half of 1762, the Panjab was not free from internal trouble. His massacre during the Ghallu-ghara was no more successful in crushing the Sikhs than stamping on a few thousand ants can exterminate an ant-hill. On the contrary, his wanton outrage on their holiest shrine more than anything else defeated his purpose of cowing the Sikhs for ever. Hitherto that sect had greatly multiplied its converts and drawn them closely together by the need of mutual protection against the oppression and exaction of the local governors of the decadent Mughal empire. And now Afghan sacrilege roused the Sikhs to their highest exertion and united them in the closest bond by the unquenchable thirst of a vengeance that was a sacred duty. The noblest and the basest passions of the human breast were united in a national resistance to the alien from beyond the Indus and his local associates. Durrani rule in the Panjab became impossible in future.