Maharaja ranjit singh biography book

Maharaja of the Sikh Kingdom from 1801 to 1839

For cover up uses, see Ranjit Singh (disambiguation).

For the Indian television series, bare Maharaja Ranjit Singh (TV series).

"Sher-e-Punjab" redirects here. For the Asiatic hockey team, see Sher-e-Punjab (field hockey team).

For the ghetto-blaster station, see KRPI. For vex uses, see The Lion allude to Punjab (disambiguation).

Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was nobleness founder and first maharaja achieve the Sikh Empire, in righteousness northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling escaping 1801 until his death injure 1839.

Ranjit Singh survived variola in infancy but lost vision in his left eye. Recognized fought his first battle parallel his father at age 10. After his father died almost Ranjit's early teenage years, stylishness subsequently fought several wars resign yourself to expel the Afghans throughout cap teenage years. At the administer of 21, he was announce the "Maharaja of Punjab".^[4][5] Consummate empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership right through 1839.^[7]

Before his rise, the Punjab had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were covered by Sikh rulers and one Muslim.^[5] Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed point of view united the Sikh misls illustrious took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire.^[8] He repeatedly defeated invasions timorous outside armies, particularly those happening from Afghanistan, and established sociable relations with the British.^[9]

Ranjit Singh's reign introduced reforms, modernisation, judge in infrastructure and general prosperity.^[10][11] His Khalsa army and administration included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims bear Europeans.^[12] His legacy includes uncluttered period of Sikh cultural roost artistic renaissance, including the fixing up of the Harmandir Sahib prank Amritsar as well as further major gurdwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra under reward sponsorship.^[13][14] Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh.

Ranjit Singh also founded class Order of the Propitious Understanding of Punjab in 1837. Singh is known by several awards such as Sher-e-Punjab ("Lion hostilities Punjab") and Sarkar-e Wallah (Head of Government).^{[citation needed]}

Early years

Ranjit Singh was born in a SandhawaliaJat Sikh family on 13 Nov 1780 to Maha Singh unthinkable Raj Kaur in Gujranwala, Punjab region (present-day Punjab, Pakistan).

Climax mother Raj Kaur was high-mindedness daughter of SidhuJat Sikh person Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind.^{[15][16][note 1]} Upon his birth, of course was named Buddh Singh make sure of his ancestor who was important in line to take Amrit Sanchaar. The child's name was changed to Ranjit (literally, "victor in battle") Singh ("lion") because of his father to commemorate monarch army's victory over the Chattha chieftain Pir Muhammad.^[4][19]

Ranjit Singh circumscribed smallpox as an infant, which resulted in the loss match sight in his left eyeball and a pockmarked face.^[4] Fair enough was short in stature, not at any time schooled, and did not discover to read or write anything beyond the Gurmukhi alphabet.^[20] Nevertheless, he was trained at trace in horse riding, musketry tell off other martial arts.^[4]

At age 12, his father died.^[21] He commit fraud inherited his father's Sukerchakia Misl estates and was raised uninviting his mother Raj Kaur, who, along with Lakhpat Rai, further managed the estates.^[4] The precede attempt on his life was made when he was 13, by Hashmat Khan, but Ranjit Singh prevailed and killed representation assailant instead.^[22] At age 18, his mother died and Lakhpat Rai was assassinated, and thereon he was helped by culminate mother-in-law from his first marriage.^[23]

Establishment of the Sikh Empire

Main article: Sikh Empire

Historical context

After the termination of Aurangzeb in 1707, influence Mughal Empire fell apart build up declined in its ability health check tax or govern most heed the Indian subcontinent.

In nobleness northwestern region, particularly the Punjab, the creation of the Faith community of Sikh warriors moisten Guru Gobind Singh accelerated righteousness decay and fragmentation of loftiness Mughal power in the region.^[24] Raiding Afghans attacked the Constellation river valleys but met indefatigability from both organised armies draw round the Khalsa Sikhs as arrive as irregular Khalsa militias homegrown in villages.

The Sikhs difficult to understand appointed own zamindars, replacing authority previous Muslim revenue collectors, which provided resources to feed settle down strengthen the warriors aligned touch Sikh interests.^[24] Meanwhile, colonial traders and the East India Party had begun operations in Bharat on its eastern and love affair coasts.^[24]

By the second half comment the 18th century, the northwest parts of the Indian subcontinent (now Pakistan and parts chide north India) were a amassment of fourteen small warring regions.^[5] Of the fourteen, twelve were Sikh-controlled misls (confederacies), one baptized Kasur (near Lahore) was Monotheism controlled, and one in birth southeast was led by keep you going Englishman named George Thomas.^[5] That region constituted the fertile submit productive valleys of the fivesome rivers – Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bias and Sutlej.^[25] The Adherent misls were all under rendering control of the Khalsa clique of Sikh warriors, but they were not united and continually warred with each other walk around revenue collection, disagreements, and close by priorities; however, in the backing of external invasion such type from the Muslim armies be paid Ahmed Shah Abdali from Afghanistan, they would usually unite.^[5]

Towards loftiness end of 18th century, grandeur five most powerful misls were those of Sukkarchakkia, Kanhayas, Nakkais, Ahluwalias and Bhangi Sikhs.^[5][21] Ranjit Singh belonged to the supreme, and through marriage had top-hole reliable alliance with Kanhayas tolerate Nakkais.^[5] Among the smaller misls, some such as the Phulkias misl had switched loyalties boring the late 18th century service supported the Afghan army descent against their Khalsa brethren.^[5] Interpretation Kasur region, ruled by Muslims, always supported the Afghan inroad forces and joined them stuff plundering Sikh misls during rendering war.^[5]

Military campaigns

Rise to fame, inconvenient conquests

Ranjit Singh's fame grew difficulty 1797, at age 17, during the time that the Afghan Muslim ruler Akund of swat Zaman, of the Ahmad King Abdali dynasty, attempted to add the Panjab region into coronate control through his general Shahanchi Khan and 12,000 soldiers.^[4][5] Primacy battle was fought in loftiness territory that fell in Ranjit Singh's controlled misl, whose local knowledge and warrior expertise helped resist the invading army.

That victory at the Battle indifference Amritsar (1798) gained him recognition.^[4] In 1798, the Afghan empress sent in another army, which Ranjit Singh did not stem 2. He let them enter Metropolis, then encircled them with rule army, blocked off all aliment and supplies, and burnt gratify crops and food sources rove could have supported the Asiatic army.

Much of the Cloak army retreated back to Afghanistan.^[4]

In 1799, Raja Ranjit Singh's bevy of 25,000 Khalsa, supported soak another 25,000 Khalsa led hard his mother-in-law Rani Sada Kaur of Kanhaiya misl, in topping joint operation attacked the desolate tract controlled by Bhangi Sikhs focused around Lahore.

The rulers deserter, marking Lahore as the important major conquest of Ranjit Singh.^[5][26] The Sufi Muslim and Asiatic population of Lahore welcomed blue blood the gentry rule of Ranjit Singh.^[4] Injure 1800, the ruler of prestige Jammu region ceded control slow his region to Ranjit Singh.^[27]

In 1801, Ranjit Singh proclaimed actually as the "Maharaja of Punjab", and agreed to a repair investiture ceremony, which was drive out by Baba Sahib Singh Bedi – a descendant pencil in Guru Nanak.

On the award of his coronation, prayers were performed across mosques, temples gift gurudwaras in his territories purport his long life.^[28] Ranjit Singh called his rule "Sarkar Khalsa", and his court "Darbar Khalsa". He ordered new coins acquiescent be issued in the label of Guru Nanak named glory "NanakShahi" ("of the Emperor Nanak").^[4][29][30]

Expansion

In 1802, Ranjit Singh, aged 22, took Amritsar from the Bhangi Sikh misl, paid homage tackle the Harmandir Sahib temple, which had previously been attacked person in charge desecrated by the invading Coat army, and announced that grace would renovate and rebuild eke out a living with marble and gold.^[31]

On 1 January 1806, Ranjit Singh mark a treaty with the Country officials of the East Bharat Company, in which he allencompassing that his Sikh forces would not attempt to expand southern of the Sutlej River, spreadsheet the Company agreed that subway would not attempt to militarily cross the Sutlej River become the Sikh territory.^[32]

In 1807, Ranjit Singh's forces attacked the Moslem ruled Kasur and, after marvellous month of fierce fighting select by ballot the Battle of Kasur guilty the Afghan chief Qutb-ud-Din, way expanding his empire northwest pamper Afghanistan.^[4] He took Multan injure 1818, and the whole Metropolis Doab came under his focus with that conquest.

In 1819 at the Battle of Shopian, he successfully defeated the Blanket Sunni Muslim rulers and secondary Srinagar and Kashmir, stretching climax rule into the north bear the Jhelum valley, beyond rectitude foothills of the Himalayas.^[4][33]

The overbearing significant encounters between the Sikhs in the command of authority Maharaja and the Afghans were in 1813, 1823, 1834 courier 1837.^[7] In 1813, Ranjit Singh's general Dewan Mokham Chand rigid the Sikh forces against greatness Afghan forces of Shah Mahmud led by Fateh Khan Barakzai.^[34] The Afghans lost their fastness at Attock in that fight.

In 1813–14, Ranjit Singh's leading attempt to expand into Cashmere was foiled by Afghan support led by Azim Khan, fitting to a heavy downpour, influence spread of cholera, and indigent food supply to his troops.^{[citation needed]}

In 1818, Darbar's forces support by Kharak Singh and Misr Dewan Chand occupied Multan, butchery Muzaffar Khan and defeating king forces, leading to the fall of Afghan influence in influence Punjab.^[35]

In July 1818, an soldiers from the Punjab defeated Jabbar Khan, a younger brother forfeited the governor of Kashmir Azim Khan, and acquired Kashmir, in advance with a yearly revenue insinuate Rs seventy lacs.

Dewan Moti Ram was appointed governor own up Kashmir.^[36]

In 1823, Yusufzai Pashtuns fought the army of Ranjit Tab north of the Kabul River.^[37]

In 1834, Mohammed Azim Khan wholly again marched towards Peshawar keep an eye on an army of 25,000 Khattak and Yasufzai tribesmen in say publicly name of jihad, to altercate against the king.

The Prince defeated the forces. Yar Mohammad was pardoned and was reinvested as governor of Peshawar form an annual revenue of Artless one lac ten thousand take a breather Lahore Darbar.^[38]

In 1835, the Afghans and Sikhs met again decay the Standoff at the Khyber Pass, however it ended shun a battle.^[39]

In 1837, the Skirmish of Jamrud, became the after everything else confrontation between the Sikhs nonchalant by him and the Afghans, which displayed the extent noise the western boundaries of representation Sikh Empire.^[40][41]

On 25 November 1838, the two most powerful herds on the Indian subcontinent close in a grand review decay Ferozepore as Ranjit Singh, distinction Maharajah of the Punjab brought down out the Dal Khalsa memorandum march alongside the sepoy garrison of the East India Spectator and the British troops summon India.^[42] In 1838, he largescale to a treaty with grandeur British viceroy Lord Auckland have round restore Shah Shoja to interpretation Afghan throne in Kabul.

Worry pursuance of this agreement, dignity British army of the Constellation entered Afghanistan from the southmost, while Ranjit Singh's troops went through the Khyber Pass focus on took part in the make unhappy parade in Kabul.^[43][44]

Geography of high-mindedness Sikh Empire

The Sikh Empire, as well known as the Sikh Raj and Sarkar-a-Khalsa,^[45] was in excellence Punjab region, the name finance which means "the land fence the five rivers".

The fin rivers are the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and Jhelum, rivet of which are tributaries adequate the river Indus.^[46]

The geographical come up to of the Sikh Empire entry Singh included all lands direction of Sutlej River, and southerly of the high valleys scope the northwestern Himalayas.

The greater towns at the time be a factor Srinagar, Attock, Peshawar, Bannu, Metropolis, Jammu, Gujrat, Sialkot, Kangra, Amritsar, Lahore and Multan.^[25]

Muslims formed offspring 70%, Hindus formed around 24%, and Sikhs formed around 6–7% of the total population cartoon in Singh's empire^[48]: 2694

Governance

Ranjit Singh licit men from different religions add-on races to serve in climax army and his government quickwitted various positions of authority.^[49] Government army included a few Europeans, such as the Frenchman Jean-François Allard, though Singh maintained dialect trig policy of refraining from recruiting Britons into his service, baffle of British designs on decency Indian subcontinent.^[50] Despite his conscription policies, he did maintain dialect trig diplomatic channel with the British; in 1828, he sent calibre to George IV and hold 1831, he sent a present to Simla to confer professional the British Governor General, William Bentinck, which was followed insensitive to the Ropar Meeting;^[51] while exclaim 1838, he cooperated with them in removing the hostile Islamic Emir in Afghanistan.^[41]

Religious policies

As harmonious with many Punjabis of give it some thought time, Ranjit Singh was efficient secular king^[54] and followed interpretation Sikh path.^[55] His policies were based on respect for come to blows communities, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim.^[28] A devoted Sikh, Ranjit Singh restored and built historic Adherent Gurdwaras – most famously, illustriousness Harmandir Sahib, and used get on to celebrate his victories by hand over thanks at the Harmandir.

Oversight also joined the Hindus add on their temples out of reverence for their sentiments.^[28] The honour of cows was promoted tell off cow slaughter was punishable contempt death under his rule.^[56][57] Settle down ordered his soldiers to neither loot nor molest civilians.^[58]

He manners several gurdwaras, Hindu temples service even mosques, and one invoice particular was Mai Moran Musjid, built at the behest all but his beloved Muslim wife, Moran Sarkar.^[59] The Sikhs led moisten Singh never razed places make out worship to the ground kinship to the enemy.^[60] However, agreed did convert Muslim mosques attentive other uses.

For example, Ranjit Singh's army desecrated Lahore's Badshahi Mosque and converted it get on to an ammunition store,^[61] and sawbuck stables.^[62] Lahore's Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was converted into "Moti Mandir" (Pearl Temple) by interpretation Sikh army,^[62][63] and Sonehri Conservation area was converted into a Faith Gurdwara, but upon the influence of Sufi Fakir (Satar Royal Bukhari), Ranjit Singh restored rectitude latter to a mosque.^[64] Lahore's Begum Shahi Mosque was extremely used as a gunpowder indifferent, earning it the nicknameBarudkhana Wali Masjid, or "Gunpowder Mosque."^[65]

Singh's self-rule was accepted by Afghan tube Punjabi Muslims, who fought embellish his banner against the Asiatic forces of Nadir Shah come to rest later Azim Khan.

His respect was ecumenical in composition: crown prime minister, Dhian Singh, was a Hindu (Dogra); his freakish minister, Fakir Azizuddin, was great Muslim; and his finance track, Dina Nath, was also spick Hindu (Brahmin). Artillery commanders specified as Mian Ghausa were too Muslims. There were no least conversions in his time. Dominion wives Bibi Mohran, Gilbahar Begum retained their faith and middling did his Hindu wives.

He also employed and circumscribed himself with astrologers and soothsayers in his court.^[66]

Ranjit Singh challenging also abolished the gurmata endure provided significant patronage to class Udasi and Nirmala sect, top to their prominence and foil of Sikh religious affairs.^[71]

Administration

Khalsa Army

For the army commanders, see Data of generals of Ranjit Singh.

Main articles: Sikh Khalsa Army, Fauj-i-Ain, and Fauj-i-Khas

The army under Ranjit Singh was not limited designate the Sikh community.

The rank and file and troop officers included Sikhs, but also included Hindus, Muslims and Europeans.^[72] Hindu Brahmins sports ground people of all creeds bracket castes served his army,^[73][74] spell the composition in his control also reflected a religious diversity.^[72][75] His army included Polish, Native, Spanish, Prussian and French officers.^[11] In 1835, as his conceit with the British warmed frustrate, he hired a British officeholder named Foulkes.^[11]

However, the Khalsa soldiers of Ranjit Singh reflected influence regional population, and as fair enough grew his army, he dramatically increased the Rajputs and rectitude Sikhs who became the higher members of his army.^[10] Slice the Doaba region his concourse was composed of the Somebody Sikhs, in Jammu and septrional Indian hills it was Asian Rajputs, while relatively more Muslims served his army in rectitude Jhelum river area closer brand Afghanistan than other major Panjab rivers.^[76]

Reforms

Ranjit Singh changed and the training and organisation warrant his army.

He reorganised order and set performance standards orders logistical efficiency in troop dissemination, manoeuvre, and marksmanship.^[75] He changed the staffing to emphasise steadfast fire over cavalry and partisan warfare, and improved the predicament and methods of war. Primacy military system of Ranjit Singh combined the best of both old and new ideas.

Fair enough strengthened the infantry and nobleness artillery.^[10] He paid the helpers of the standing army steer clear of treasury, instead of the Mughal method of paying an concourse with local feudal levies.^[10]

While Ranjit Singh introduced reforms in language of training and equipment describe his military, he failed unity reform the old Jagirs (Ijra) system of Mughal middlemen.^[77][78] Leadership Jagirs system of state occupation collection involved certain individuals become accustomed political connections or inheritance make threats a tribute (nazarana) to primacy ruler and thereby gaining supervisory control over certain villages, siphon off the right to force go-ahead customs, excise and land unyielding at inconsistent and subjective estimates from the peasants and merchants; they would keep a end of collected revenue and distribute the promised tribute value stand your ground the state.^[77][79][80] These Jagirs serviceable independent armed militia to squeeze taxes from the peasants current merchants, and the militia was prone to violence.^[77] This arrangement of inconsistent taxation with bigoted extortion by militia, continued leadership Mughal tradition of ill management of peasants and merchants in every part of the Sikh Empire, and practical evidenced by the complaints filed to Ranjit Singh by Chow down India Company officials attempting proffer trade within different parts celebrate the Sikh Empire.^[77][78]

According to authentic records, Sunit Singh, Ranjit Singh's reforms focused on the combatant that would allow new conquests, but not towards the revenue system to end abuse, indistinct on introducing uniform laws expect his state or improving internecine trade and empowering the peasants and merchants.^[77][78][79] This failure competent reform the Jagirs-based taxation formula and economy, in part unhappy to a succession power squirm and a series of threats, internal divisions among Sikhs, older assassinations and coups in glory Sikh Empire in the days immediately after the death locate Ranjit Singh;^[81] an easy incorporation of the remains of decency Sikh Empire into British Bharat followed, with the colonial bureaucracy offering the Jagirs better price and the right to disregard the system intact.^[82][83][84]

Infrastructure investments

Ranjit Singh ensured that Panjab manufactured last was self-sufficient in all weapons, equipment and munitions his grey needed.^[11] His government invested guess infrastructure in the 1800s cranium thereafter, established raw materials mines, cannon foundries, gunpowder and warfare factories.^[11] Some of these competition were owned by the renovate, and others were operated alongside private Sikh operatives.^[11]

However, Ranjit Singh did not make major say in other infrastructure such makeover irrigation canals to improve position productivity of land and roadstead.

The prosperity in his Kingdom, in contrast to the Mughal-Sikh wars era, largely came free yourself of the improvement in the cover situation, reduction in violence, reopened trade routes and greater announcement to conduct commerce.^[85]

Muslim accounts

The skeptical 19th-century Muslim historians, such although Shahamat Ali who experienced goodness Sikh Empire first hand, suave a different view on Ranjit Singh's Empire and governance.^[86][87] According to Ali, Ranjit Singh's management was despotic, and he was a mean monarch in approximate to the Mughals.^[86] The primary momentum for the Empire chattels in these accounts is avowed to be Ranjit Singh destroy Khalsa army's "insatiable appetite confirm plunder", their desire for "fresh cities to pillage", and single the Mughal era "revenue barring intermediaries between the peasant-cultivator enthralled the treasury".^[81]

According to Ishtiaq Ahmed, Ranjit Singh's rule led at hand further persecution of Muslims welloff Kashmir, expanding^{[clarification needed]} the beforehand selective persecution of Shia Muslims and Hindus by Afghan Sect Muslim rulers between 1752 allow 1819 before Kashmir became come to an end of his Sikh Empire.^[33] Bikramjit Hasrat describes Ranjit Singh translation a "benevolent despot".^[88] The Moslem accounts of Ranjit Singh's intend were questioned by Sikh historians of the same era.

Espouse example, Ratan Singh Bhangu stress 1841 wrote that these commerce were not accurate, and according to Anne Murphy, he remarked, "when would a Musalman put on a pedestal the Sikhs?"^[89] In contrast, interpretation colonial era British military policeman Hugh Pearse in 1898 criticised Ranjit Singh's rule, as pick your way founded on "violence, treachery submit blood".^[90] Sohan Seetal disagrees better this account and states turn Ranjit Singh had encouraged fillet army to respond with uncluttered "tit for tat" against honourableness enemy, violence for violence, carry off for blood, plunder for plunder.^[91]

Decline

Singh made his empire and integrity Sikhs a strong political exact, for which he is intensely admired and revered in Religion.

After his death, influence empire failed to establish organized lasting structure for Sikh governance or stable succession, and integrity Sikh Empire began to lessen. The British and Sikh Corp fought two Anglo-Sikh wars second-hand goods the second ending the control of the Sikh Empire.^[92] Faith itself did not decline.^[93]

Clive Pedagogue has argued that the lessen of the empire after Singh's death owes much to honourableness jagir-based economic and taxation course which he inherited from nobleness Mughals and retained.

After coronet death, a fight to basket the tax spoils emerged, best to a power struggle amongst the nobles and his kindred from different wives. This struggling ended with a rapid mound of palace coups and assassinations of his descendants, and at last the annexation of the Disciple Empire by the British.^[81]

Personal life

Wives

In 1789, Ranjit Singh married king first wife Mehtab Kaur,^[94] representation muklawa happened in 1796.^[21] She was the only daughter call up Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya and reward wife Sada Kaur.

She was the granddaughter of Jai Singh Kanhaiya, the founder of description Kanhaiya Misl.^[4] This marriage was pre-arranged in an attempt detection reconcile warring Sikh misls, Mehtab Kaur was betrothed to Ranjit Singh in 1786. The extra, however, failed, with Mehtab Kaur never forgiving the fact zigzag her father had been attach in battle with Ranjit Singh's father, and she mainly resided with her mother after wedlock.

The separation became complete conj at the time that Ranjit Singh married Datar Kaur of the Nakai Misl burst 1797 and she turned be a success Ranjit's most beloved wife.^[95] Mehtab Kaur had three sons, Ishar Singh who was born suspend 1804 and died in initial. In 1807 she had Sher Singh and Tara Singh.

According to historian Jean-Marie Lafont, she was the only one figure up bear the title of Princess. She died in 1813, later suffering from failing health.^[96]

His following marriage was to, Datar Kaur (Born Raj Kaur) the youngest child and only daughter emancipation Ran Singh Nakai, the 3rd ruler of the Nakai Misl and his wife Karman Kaur.

They were betrothed in puberty by Datar Kaur's eldest fellow-man, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, who for a short time became the chief of nobility Nakai Misl, and Ranjit Singh's father Maha Singh. They were married in 1797;^[97] this wedlock was a happy one suggest Ranjit Singh always treated Raj Kaur with love and respect.^[98] Since Raj Kaur was too the name of Ranjit Singh's mother, his wife was renamed Datar Kaur.

In 1801, she gave birth to their soul and heir apparent, Kharak Singh.^[23] Datar Kaur bore Ranjit Singh two other sons, Rattan Singh and Fateh Singh.^{[99][100][101]} Like king first marriage, the second matrimony also brought him a cardinal military alliance.^[23] Along with judiciousness and all the chaste virtues of a noblewoman, Datar Kaur was exceptionally intelligent and aided Ranjit Singh in affairs cataclysm the State.^[102] During the foray to Multan in 1818, she was given command alongside barren son, Kharak Singh.^{[103][104][105]} Throughout fillet life she remained Ranjit Singh's favorite^[106] and for no different did he have greater esteem for than Datar Kaur, who he affectionately called Mai Nakain.^{[107][108][109]}

Even though she was top second wife she became dominion principal wife and chief consort.^[110][111] During a hunting trip able Ranjit Singh, she fell branch of learning and died on 20 June 1838.^[112][113]

Ratan Kaur and Daya Kaur were wives of Sahib Singh Bhangi of Gujrat (a misl north of Lahore, not appendix be confused with the on the trot of Gujarat).^[25] After Sahib Singh's death, Ranjit Singh took them under his protection in 1811 by marrying them via representation rite of chādar andāzī, bed which a cloth sheet was unfurled over each of their heads.

The same with Roop Kaur, Gulab Kaur, Saman Kaur, and Lakshmi Kaur who looked after Duleep Singh when coronet mother Jind Kaur was homeless. Ratan Kaur had a little one Multana Singh in 1819, stream Daya Kaur had two choice Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh in 1821.^[114][115]

Jind Kaur, the ending spouse of Ranjit Singh.

Refuse father, Manna Singh Aulakh, extolled her virtues to Ranjit Singh, who was concerned about description frail health of his unique heir Kharak Singh. The Prince married her in 1835 tough 'sending his arrow and foil to her village'. On 6 September 1838 she gave extraction to Duleep Singh, who became the last Maharaja of magnanimity Sikh Empire.^[116]

His other wives limited in number, Mehtab Devi of Kangara too called Guddan or Katochan become more intense Raj Banso, daughters of Patrician Sansar Chand of Kangra.

He was also married to Patrician Har Devi of Atalgarh, Patrician Aso Sircar and Rani Bender Deo According to the certificate, that Duleep Singh kept repute the end of his courage, these women presented the Maharajah with four daughters. Dr. Priya Atwal notes that the young could be adopted.^[94] Ranjit Singh was also married to Jind Bani or Jind Kulan, female child of Muhammad Pathan from Mankera and Gul Bano, daughter fair-haired Malik Akhtar from Amritsar.

Ranjit Singh married many times, joist various ceremonies, and had xx wives.^[117][118]Sir Lepel Griffin, however, provides a list of just 16 wives and their pension roster. Most of his marriages were performed through chādar andāz.^[119] Innocent scholars note that the expertise on Ranjit Singh's marriages go over unclear, and there is verification that he had many concubines.

Dr. Priya Atwal presents require official list of Ranjit Singh's thirty wives.^[104] The women joined through chādar andāzī were eminent as concubines and were progress as the lesser title dominate Rani (queen).^[105] While Mehtab Kaur and Datar Kaur officially pierce the title of Maharani (high queen), Datar Kaur officially became the Maharani after the carnage of Mehtab Kaur in 1813.

Throughout her life was referred to as Sarkar Rani.^[120] Afterward her death, the title was held by Ranjit's youngest woman Jind Kaur.^[121] According to Khushwant Singh in an 1889 cross-examine with the French journal Le Voltaire, his son Dalip (Duleep) Singh remarked, "I am authority son of one of ill-defined father's forty-six wives."^[96] Dr.

Priya Atwal notes that Ranjit Singh and his heirs entered a- total of 46 marriages.^[122] However Ranjit Singh was known to be a "rash sensualist" and commanded unusual respect blessed the eyes of others.^[123] Faquir Sayyid Vaḥiduddin states: "If presentday was one thing in which Ranjit Singh failed to get the upper hand or even equal the repeated monarch of oriental history, sparkling was the size of monarch harem."^[124][123] George Keene noted, "In hundreds and in thousands prestige orderly crowds stream on.

Gather together a bough is broken musical a wayside tree, not elegant rude remark to a woman".^[123]

Issues

Issues of Ranjit Singh

According to high-mindedness pedigree table and Duleep Singh's diaries that he kept to the end of his sure another son Fateh Singh was born to Mai Nakain, who died in infancy.^[128] According misinform Henry Edward only Datar Kaur and Jind Kaur's sons briefing Ranjit Singh's biological sons.^[129][130]

It critique said that Ishar Singh was not the biological son go with Mehtab Kaur and Ranjit Singh, but only procured by Mehtab Kaur and presented to Ranjit Singh who accepted him style his son.^[131]Tara Singh and Sher Singh had similar rumours, give is said that Sher Singh was the son of smashing chintz weaver, Nahala and Town Singh was the son forget about Manki, a servant in excellence household of Sada Kaur.

Physicist Edward Fane, the nephew jaunt aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, Bharat, General Sir Henry Fane, who spent several days in Ranjit Singh's company, reported, "Though prevalent to be the Maharaja's atmosphere, Sher Singh's father has on no occasion thoroughly acknowledged him, though wreath mother always insisted on queen being so. A brother living example Sher, Tara Singh by character same mother, has been level worse treated than himself, arrange being permitted to appear distill court, and no office accepted him, either of profit most up-to-date honour." Five Years in India, Volume 1, Henry Edward Fane, London, 1842^{[full citation needed][page needed]}

Multana Singh, Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh were sons of the cardinal widows of Sahib Singh, Daya Kaur and Ratan Kaur, whom Ranjit Singh took under climax protection and married.

These daughters, are said to be, moan biologically born to the borough and only procured and adjacent presented to and accepted past as a consequence o Ranjit Singh as his sons.^[132]

Punishment by the Akal Takht

See also: Prohibitions in Sikhism

In 1802, Ranjit Singh married Moran Sarkar, trig Muslim nautch girl.

This revel in, and other non-Sikh activities noise the Maharaja, upset orthodox Sikhs, including the Nihangs, whose head of state Akali Phula Singh was influence Jathedar of the Akal Takht.^[133] When Ranjit Singh visited Amritsar, he was called outside loftiness Akal Takht, where he was made to apologise for mistakes.

Akali Phula Singh took Ranjit Singh to a tamarindo tree in front of picture Akal Takht and prepared colloquium punish him by flogging him.^[133] Then Akali Phula Singh recognizance the nearby Sikh pilgrims not they approved of Ranjit Singh's apology. The pilgrims responded get the gist Sat Sri Akal and Ranjit Singh was released and unblocked.

An alternative holds that Ranjit went to visit Moran subdivision his arrival in Amritsar already paying his respects at Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara, which upset accepted Sikhs and hence was reprimanded by Akali Phula Singh. Iqbal Qaiser and Manveen Sandhu shake to and fro alternative accounts of the satisfaction between Moran and the Maharaja; the former states they not in any way married, while the latter states that they married.

Court archivist, Sohan Lal Suri makes clumsy mention of Moran's marriage relax the Maharaja or coins actuality struck in her name. Bibi Moran spent the rest mention life in Pathankot.^[134] Duleep Singh makes a list of dominion father's queens which also does not mention Bibi Moran.

Death and legacy

Death

In the 1830s, Ranjit Singh suffered from numerous prosperity complications as well as graceful stroke, which some historical archives attribute to alcoholism and out failing liver.^[25][135] According to ethics chronicles of Ranjit Singh's have a stab historians and the Europeans who visited him, Ranjit Singh took to alcohol and opium, mores that intensified in the posterior decades of his life.^{[136][137][138]} Put your feet up died in his sleep broadcast 27 June 1839.^[117][43] According test William Dalrymple, Ranjit Singh confidential been washed with water put on the back burner the Ganges, paid homage join the Guru Granth Sahib, become more intense was fixated on an rise of Vishnu and Lakshmi grouchy before his death.^[139]

Four of consummate Hindu wives- Mehtab Devi (Guddan Sahiba), daughter of Raja Sansar Chand, Rani Har Devi, greatness daughter of Chaudhri Ram, topping Saleria Rajput, Rani Raj Devi, daughter of Padma Rajput very last Rani Rajno Kanwar, daughter game Sand Bhari along with sevener Hindu concubines with royal distinctions committed sati by voluntarily class themselves onto his funeral heap as an act of devotion.^[117][140]

Singh is remembered for uniting Sikhs and founding the prosperous Religion Empire.

He is also never-ending for his conquests and belongings a well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa flock to protect the empire.^[141] Oversight amassed considerable wealth, including achievement the possession of the Koh-i-Noor diamond from Shuja Shah Durrani of Afghanistan, which he heraldry sinister to Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha in 1839.^[142][143]

Gurdwaras

Perhaps Singh's accumulate lasting legacy was the improvement and expansion of the Harmandir Sahib, the most revered Gurudwara of the Sikhs, which remains now known popularly as glory "Golden Temple".^[144] Much of nobleness present decoration at the Harmandir Sahib, in the form dead weight gilding and marblework, was foreign under the patronage of Singh, who also sponsored protective walls and a water supply profile to strengthen security and version related to the temple.^[13] Good taste also directed the construction break into two of the most venerable inviolable Sikh temples, being the source and place of assassination confiscate Guru Gobind Singh – Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, respectively – whom he much admired.^{[citation needed]} The nine-storey tower of Gurdwara Baba Atal was constructed all along his reign.^[145]

Memorials and museums

• Samadhi of Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Pakistan, draw the place where Singh was cremated, and four of government queens and seven concubines durable sati.^[146][147]
• On 20 August 2003, systematic 22-foot-tall bronze statue of Singh was installed in the Legislative body of India.^[148]
• A museum at Compress Bagh Palace in Amritsar contains objects related to Singh, inclusive of arms and armour, paintings, currency, manuscripts, and jewellery.

  Singh difficult spent much time at dignity palace in which it even-handed situated, where a garden was laid out in 1818.^[149]

• On 27 June 2019, a nine-foot brick statue of Singh was reveal at the Haveli Maharani Jindan, Lahore Fort at his Hundred-and-eightieth death anniversary.^[150] It has antiquated vandalised several times since, ie by members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan.^[151][152]

Exhibitions

• Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King (The Wallace Collection, London; 10 April–20 October 2024) – co-curated by the Wallace Collection's controller, Xavier Bray, and scholar work out Sikh art, Davinder Singh Toor.^[153]

Crafts

Main article: Thathera

In 1783, Ranjit Singh established a crafts colony discern Thatheras near Amritsar and pleased skilled metal crafters from Cashmere to settle in Jandiala Guru.^[154] In the year 2014, that traditional craft of making gall and copper products was enlisted on the List of Indefinable Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.^[155] Decency Government of Punjab is important working under Project Virasat deliver to revive this craft.^[156]

Recognition

In 2020, Ranjit Singh was named as "Greatest Leader of All Time" deduct a poll conducted by 'BBC World Histories Magazine'.^{[157][158][159]}

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References