Around 1805, the Gurkhas besieged the Kangra fort and Raja Sansar Chand had to flee. In 1809, with whose help were the Gurkhas driven away?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Ranjit Singh
Option (1) Raja Prakash Chand of Guler — Incorrect. He ruled Guler and fell into a grave financial crisis, so his artists moved to Kangra. He is not linked with the siege.
Option (2) Ranjit Singh — Correct. In 1809, the Gurkhas were driven away with the help of Ranjit Singh.
Option (3) Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota — Incorrect. He was the patron of Nainsukh at Jasrota. He played no part in ending the siege.
Option (4) Raja Aniruddha Chand — Incorrect. He was Sansar Chand’s son and ruled later, from 1823 to 1831.
NCERT (2026-27): “Kangra School …During Sansar Chand’s reign, the production of Kangra School was far greater than any other hill state. …Painting activity was severely affected around 1805 when the Gurkhas besieged the Kangra fort and Sansar Chand had to flee to his hill palace at Tira Sujanpur. In 1809, with the help of Ranjit Singh, the Gurkhas were driven away. Though Sansar Chand continued to maintain his atelier of artists, the work no longer paralleled masterpieces of the period 1785–1805.” |