AMĪR UL-IMLĀ, also known as MUNTAKHAB UL-HAQĀ'IQ, a collection of miscellaneous letters, in Persian script, mostly of Sikh chiefs of the Punjab addressed to one another on subjects relating to private and public affairs. Compiled by Amīr Chand in A. H. 1209 (AD l794-95), the manuscript comprises 127 folios and 247 letters and is preserved in the Oriental section of the British Library, London. On folio 125 of the manuscript is recorded a note referring to one Imānullah as its owner, implying that this is perhaps not the original copy prepared by Amīr Chand. However, no other copy, except a photostat of the British Museum manuscript secured by Dr Gaṇḍā Siṅgh for his personal use, is known to exist. The colophon inscribed on this copy indicates that it was Dalpat Rāi, son of Khushiābī Mall Sahgal, of Jaṇḍiālā Sher Khān, who originally collected these letters for compilation, but death prevented him from accomplishing the work which was then completed by his brother, Amīr Chand.

        The collection contains correspondence of chiefs such as Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh, the Afghān Amīr Taimūr Shāh, Karam Siṅgh Bhaṅgī, Jai Siṅgh Kanhaiyā, Jodh Siṅgh, Sāhib Siṅgh of Paṭiālā, Fateh Siṅgh Āhlūvālīā, Jhaṇḍā Siṅgh Bhaṅgī, Rāṇī Sadā Kaur and some of the Marāṭhā rulers.

        The contents of these letters cover a wide range of subjects such as the collection of revenue, formation of coalitions against aggressors, conquests, marriages and deaths in the families and the need for good neighbourly relations. In most of the letters the smaller rulers give vent to their sense of insecurity and apprehension at the expansionist policy of Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh who, they said, was vanquishing smaller kingdoms in the name of the unification of the scattered, broken and divided Punjab. A very important letter in this collection is from Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh addressed to the Emperor of Britain (ff. 20-21). The letter, besides commending the British Indian government for their equal treatment of all their subjects irrespective of their religious faith, attests to Mahārājā Raṇjīt Siṅgh's own conviction that the sovereignty was conferred upon the Khālsā by Gurū Gobind Siṅgh and that they still ruled in the name of their Gurū, declaring that he wielded power in the name of the Khālsā.

        Ratan Siṅgh Bhaṅgī is critical of the aggressive designs of Raṇjīt Siṅgh who, he says, "inspired by his high position, army, artillery and treasury, wishes to place the whole of the Punjab under his own control. " He writes to Muhammad Khān (ff. 39-40) about Raṇjīt Siṅgh's conquest of the area of the Syāls and his "impious designs" to establish his sovereignty over others. Similarly, there is a letter (ff. 23-24) by the Sūbahdār of Multān addressed to Taimūr Shāh requesting him to use his good offices with Raṇjīt Siṅgh so as to check his inroads into their territory.

        There are several letters from Raṇjīt Siṅgh addressed to various sardārs informing them of the action he took against the unruly people (f. 83) such as dispatching an army to subdue a rebel, Khān Beg Ṭiwāṇā, who was formerly his subordinate (ff. 71-72). A letter from Dal Siṅgh and Jodh Siṅgh addressed to Jai Siṅgh records the date (4 Baisākh/April; Wednesday) (chār ghaṛī rāt gae, i. e. before midnight) as the time of the death of Mahāṅ Siṅgh Sukkarchakkīā (f. 10). In all these letters, the Sikh chiefs address each other Siṅgh Sāhib, Bhāī Sāhib, or Khālsā Jīo.

Bhagat Siṅgh