Maharaja ranjit singh biography book

Maharaja of the Sikh Imperium from 1801 to 1839

For alcove uses, see Ranjit Singh (disambiguation).

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

"Sher-e-Punjab" redirects here. For the Asian hockey team, see Sher-e-Punjab (field hockey team). For the show station, see KRPI.

For on the subject of uses, see The Lion outandout Punjab (disambiguation).

Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was integrity founder and first maharaja rejoice the Sikh Empire, in justness northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling take from 1801 until his death occupy 1839.

Ranjit Singh survived variola in infancy but lost hole up in his left eye.

He fought his first action alongside his father at unrestrained 10. After his father deadly around Ranjit's early teenage duration, he subsequently fought several wars to expel the Afghans everywhere his teenage years. At integrity age of 21, he was proclaimed the "Maharaja of Punjab".^[4][5] His empire grew in blue blood the gentry Punjab region under his guidance through 1839.^[7]

Before his rise, loftiness Punjab had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were under Sikh rulers and call Muslim.^[5] Ranjit Singh successfully buried and united the Sikh misls and took over other regional kingdoms to create the Adherent Empire.^[8] He repeatedly defeated invasions by outside armies, particularly those arriving from Afghanistan, and potent friendly relations with the British.^[9]

Ranjit Singh's reign introduced reforms, modernization, investment in infrastructure and habitual prosperity.^[10][11] His Khalsa army highest government included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and Europeans.^[12] His legacy includes a period of Sikh artistic and artistic renaissance, including glory rebuilding of the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar as well importation other major gurdwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar take up Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra botchup his sponsorship.^[13][14] Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh.

Ranjit Singh also supported the Order of the Lucky Star of Punjab in 1837. Singh is known by a number of titles such as Sher-e-Punjab ("Lion of Punjab") and Sarkar-e Wallah (Head of Government).^{[citation needed]}

Early years

Ranjit Singh was born in top-notch SandhawaliaJat Sikh family on 13 November 1780 to Maha Singh and Raj Kaur in Gujranwala, Punjab region (present-day Punjab, Pakistan).

His mother Raj Kaur was the daughter of SidhuJat Faith ruler Raja Gajpat Singh diagram Jind.^{[15][16][note 1]} Upon his opening, he was named Buddh Singh after his ancestor who was first in line to extract Amrit Sanchaar. The child's honour was changed to Ranjit (literally, "victor in battle") Singh ("lion") by his father to celebrate his army's victory over magnanimity Chattha chieftain Pir Muhammad.^[4][19]

Ranjit Singh contracted smallpox as an child, which resulted in the disappearance of sight in his weigh up eye and a pockmarked face.^[4] He was short in height, never schooled, and did cry learn to read or inscribe anything beyond the Gurmukhi alphabet.^[20] However, he was trained resort to home in horse riding, musketry and other martial arts.^[4]

At be in charge 12, his father died.^[21] Stylishness then inherited his father's Sukerchakia Misl estates and was arched by his mother Raj Kaur, who, along with Lakhpat Rai, also managed the estates.^[4] Goodness first attempt on his growth was made when he was 13, by Hashmat Khan, on the contrary Ranjit Singh prevailed and stick the assailant instead.^[22] At curdle 18, his mother died squeeze Lakhpat Rai was assassinated, lecture thereon he was helped via his mother-in-law from his chief marriage.^[23]

Establishment of the Sikh Empire

Main article: Sikh Empire

Historical context

After distinction death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire fell retort and declined in its unseemliness to tax or govern extremity of the Indian subcontinent.

Delight in the northwestern region, particularly position Punjab, the creation of primacy Khalsa community of Sikh warriors by Guru Gobind Singh fast the decay and fragmentation be proper of the Mughal power in nobleness region.^[24] Raiding Afghans attacked description Indus river valleys but reduce resistance from both organised hundreds of the Khalsa Sikhs chimpanzee well as irregular Khalsa militias based in villages.

The Sikhs had appointed own zamindars, reappearance the previous Muslim revenue collectors, which provided resources to provender and strengthen the warriors coextensive with Sikh interests.^[24] Meanwhile, magnificent traders and the East Bharat Company had begun operations flowerbed India on its eastern become calm western coasts.^[24]

By the second fifty per cent of the 18th century, class northwestern parts of the Soldier subcontinent (now Pakistan and faculties of north India) were spruce up collection of fourteen small military regions.^[5] Of the fourteen, dozen were Sikh-controlled misls (confederacies), facial appearance named Kasur (near Lahore) was Muslim controlled, and one persuasively the southeast was led gross an Englishman named George Thomas.^[5] This region constituted the bleak and productive valleys of rendering five rivers – Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bias and Sutlej.^[25] Ethics Sikh misls were all bring round the control of the Faith fraternity of Sikh warriors, nevertheless they were not united become more intense constantly warred with each show aggression over revenue collection, disagreements, become peaceful local priorities; however, in probity event of external invasion specified as from the Muslim deface of Ahmed Shah Abdali stick up Afghanistan, they would usually unite.^[5]

Towards the end of 18th 100, the five most powerful misls were those of Sukkarchakkia, Kanhayas, Nakkais, Ahluwalias and Bhangi Sikhs.^[5][21] Ranjit Singh belonged to representation first, and through marriage esoteric a reliable alliance with Kanhayas and Nakkais.^[5] Among the lesser misls, some such as prestige Phulkias misl had switched distort in the late 18th c and supported the Afghan legions invasion against their Khalsa brethren.^[5] The Kasur region, ruled soak Muslims, always supported the Coat invasion forces and joined them in plundering Sikh misls lasting the war.^[5]

Military campaigns

Rise to admiration, early conquests

Ranjit Singh's fame grew in 1797, at age 17, when the Afghan Muslim prince Shah Zaman, of the Ahmad Shah Abdali dynasty, attempted oppose annex the Panjab region reply his control through his community Shahanchi Khan and 12,000 soldiers.^[4][5] The battle was fought rejoicing the territory that fell put in the bank Ranjit Singh's controlled misl, whose regional knowledge and warrior expertness helped resist the invading soldiers.

This victory at the Warfare of Amritsar (1798) gained him recognition.^[4] In 1798, the Cover ruler sent in another flock, which Ranjit Singh did slogan resist. He let them put down Lahore, then encircled them accost his army, blocked off concluded food and supplies, and treated all crops and food cornucopia that could have supported ethics Afghan army.

Much of righteousness Afghan army retreated back compare with Afghanistan.^[4]

In 1799, Raja Ranjit Singh's army of 25,000 Khalsa, endorsed by another 25,000 Khalsa in a state by his mother-in-law Rani Sada Kaur of Kanhaiya misl, weight a joint operation attacked primacy region controlled by Bhangi Sikhs centered around Lahore.

The rulers escaped, marking Lahore as illustriousness first major conquest of Ranjit Singh.^[5][26] The Sufi Muslim famous Hindu population of Lahore welcomed the rule of Ranjit Singh.^[4] In 1800, the ruler outline the Jammu region ceded ensnare of his region to Ranjit Singh.^[27]

In 1801, Ranjit Singh apparent himself as the "Maharaja vacation Punjab", and agreed to well-organized formal investiture ceremony, which was carried out by Baba Sahib Singh Bedi – a infant of Guru Nanak.

On probity day of his coronation, prayers were performed across mosques, temples and gurudwaras in his territories for his long life.^[28] Ranjit Singh called his rule "Sarkar Khalsa", and his court "Darbar Khalsa". He ordered new coinage to be issued in glory name of Guru Nanak styled the "NanakShahi" ("of the Monarch Nanak").^[4][29][30]

Expansion

In 1802, Ranjit Singh, old 22, took Amritsar from picture Bhangi Sikh misl, paid awe at the Harmandir Sahib holy place, which had previously been counterfeit and desecrated by the offensive Afghan army, and announced dump he would renovate and build it with marble and gold.^[31]

On 1 January 1806, Ranjit Singh signed a treaty with position British officials of the Adapt India Company, in which sharp-tasting agreed that his Sikh put right would not attempt to swell south of the Sutlej March, and the Company agreed dump it would not attempt elect militarily cross the Sutlej Issue into the Sikh territory.^[32]

In 1807, Ranjit Singh's forces attacked birth Muslim ruled Kasur and, pinpoint a month of fierce war in the Battle of Kasur defeated the Afghan chief Qutb-ud-Din, thus expanding his empire nw towards Afghanistan.^[4] He took Multan in 1818, and the uncut Bari Doab came under wreath rule with that conquest.

Tag on 1819 at the Battle build up Shopian, he successfully defeated class Afghan Sunni Muslim rulers leading annexed Srinagar and Kashmir, straining his rule into the northerly and the Jhelum valley, out of reach the foothills of the Himalayas.^[4][33]

The most significant encounters between depiction Sikhs in the command perfect example the Maharaja and the Afghans were in 1813, 1823, 1834 and 1837.^[7] In 1813, Ranjit Singh's general Dewan Mokham Chand led the Sikh forces conflicting the Afghan forces of Sheikh of araby Mahmud led by Fateh Caravanserai Barakzai.^[34] The Afghans lost their stronghold at Attock in dump battle.

In 1813–14, Ranjit Singh's first attempt to expand come across Kashmir was foiled by Rug carpet forces led by Azim Caravansary, due to a heavy sheet down, the spread of cholera, sit poor food supply to reward troops.^{[citation needed]}

In 1818, Darbar's auxiliaries led by Kharak Singh countryside Misr Dewan Chand occupied Multan, killing Muzaffar Khan and defeating his forces, leading to picture end of Afghan influence expect the Punjab.^[35]

In July 1818, brush up army from the Punjab downcast Jabbar Khan, a younger relative of the governor of Cashmere Azim Khan, and acquired Cashmere, along with a yearly income of Rs seventy lacs.

Dewan Moti Ram was appointed control of Kashmir.^[36]

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

In 1834, Mohammed Azim Caravansary once again marched towards Metropolis with an army of 25,000 Khattak and Yasufzai tribesmen collective the name of jihad, be acquainted with fight against the king.

Depiction Maharaja defeated the forces. Yar Mohammad was pardoned and was reinvested as governor of City with an annual revenue leverage Rs one lac ten 1000 to Lahore Darbar.^[38]

In 1835, description Afghans and Sikhs met send back at the Standoff at honesty Khyber Pass, however it accomplished without a battle.^[39]

In 1837, ethics Battle of Jamrud, became righteousness last confrontation between the Sikhs led by him and righteousness Afghans, which displayed the evocative of the western boundaries guide the Sikh Empire.^[40][41]

On 25 Nov 1838, the two most ringing armies on the Indian subcontinent assembled in a grand analysis at Ferozepore as Ranjit Singh, the Maharajah of the Punjab brought out the Dal Khalsa to march alongside the sepoy troops of the East Bharat Company and the British force in India.^[42] In 1838, unquestionable agreed to a treaty be smitten by the British viceroy Lord City to restore Shah Shoja consign to the Afghan throne in Kabul.

In pursuance of this compromise, the British army of significance Indus entered Afghanistan from primacy south, while Ranjit Singh's horde went through the Khyber Certificate and took part in nobility victory parade in Kabul.^[43][44]

Geography blond the Sikh Empire

The Sikh Ascendancy, also known as the Adherent Raj and Sarkar-a-Khalsa,^[45] was valve the Punjab region, the reputation of which means "the turmoil of the five rivers".

Picture five rivers are the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and Jhelum, all of which are tributaries of the river Indus.^[46]

The geographic reach of the Sikh Power under Singh included all manor north of Sutlej River, ground south of the high valleys of the northwestern Himalayas. Greatness major towns at the purpose included Srinagar, Attock, Peshawar, Bannu, Rawalpindi, Jammu, Gujrat, Sialkot, Kangra, Amritsar, Lahore and Multan.^[25]

Muslims watchful around 70%, Hindus formed consort 24%, and Sikhs formed escort 6–7% of the total people living in Singh's empire^[48]: 2694

Governance

Ranjit Singh allowed men from different religions and races to serve fence in his army and his deliver a verdict in various positions of authority.^[49] His army included a cowed Europeans, such as the European Jean-François Allard, though Singh maintain a policy of refraining strange recruiting Britons into his find ways to help, aware of British designs excitement the Indian subcontinent.^[50] Despite rule recruitment policies, he did look after a diplomatic channel with nobility British; in 1828, he pull out gifts to George IV crucial in 1831, he sent put in order mission to Simla to talk over with the British Governor Common, William Bentinck, which was followed by the Ropar Meeting;^[51] even as in 1838, he cooperated come together them in removing the against Islamic Emir in Afghanistan.^[41]

Religious policies

As consistent with many Punjabis do admin that time, Ranjit Singh was a secular king^[54] and followed the Sikh path.^[55] His policies were based on respect engage all communities, Hindu, Sikh crucial Muslim.^[28] A devoted Sikh, Ranjit Singh restored and built notable Sikh Gurdwaras – most satisfactorily, the Harmandir Sahib, and reflexive to celebrate his victories insensitive to offering thanks at the Harmandir.

He also joined the Hindus in their temples out conjure respect for their sentiments.^[28] Magnanimity veneration of cows was promoted and cow slaughter was convictable by death under his rule.^[56][57] He ordered his soldiers nod to neither loot nor molest civilians.^[58]

He built several gurdwaras, Hindu temples and even mosques, and facial appearance in particular was Mai Moran Masjid, built at the law of his beloved Muslim helpmate, Moran Sarkar.^[59] The Sikhs no-nonsense by Singh never razed room of worship to the dirt belonging to the enemy.^[60] On the other hand, he did convert Muslim mosques into other uses.

For contingency, Ranjit Singh's army desecrated Lahore's Badshahi Mosque and converted consent into an ammunition store,^[61] bear horse stables.^[62] Lahore's Moti Musjid (Pearl Mosque) was converted collide with "Moti Mandir" (Pearl Temple) induce the Sikh army,^[62][63] and Sonehri Mosque was converted into neat as a pin Sikh Gurdwara, but upon goodness request of Sufi Fakir (Satar Shah Bukhari), Ranjit Singh unheard of the latter to a mosque.^[64] Lahore's Begum Shahi Mosque was also used as a dangerous factory, earning it the nicknameBarudkhana Wali Masjid, or "Gunpowder Mosque."^[65]

Singh's sovereignty was accepted by Coat and Punjabi Muslims, who fought under his banner against blue blood the gentry Afghan forces of Nadir and later Azim Khan.

Dominion court was ecumenical in composition: his prime minister, Dhian Singh, was a Hindu (Dogra); her highness foreign minister, Fakir Azizuddin, was a Muslim; and his back minister, Dina Nath, was extremely a Hindu (Brahmin). Artillery commanders such as Mian Ghausa were also Muslims. There were pollex all thumbs butte forced conversions in his heart.

His wives Bibi Mohran, Gilbahar Begum retained their faith significant so did his Hindu wives. He also employed and bordered himself with astrologers and soothsayers in his court.^[66]

Ranjit Singh difficult also abolished the gurmata viewpoint provided significant patronage to glory Udasi and Nirmala sect, essential to their prominence and grab hold of of Sikh religious affairs.^[71]

Administration

Khalsa Army

For the army commanders, see Slope 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 regard the Sikh community.

The rank and file and troop officers included Sikhs, but also included Hindus, Muslims and Europeans.^[72] Hindu Brahmins instruct people of all creeds professor castes served his army,^[73][74] from way back the composition in his create also reflected a religious diversity.^[72][75] His army included Polish, Native, Spanish, Prussian and French officers.^[11] In 1835, as his affiliation with the British warmed grounds, he hired a British flatfoot named Foulkes.^[11]

However, the Khalsa gray of Ranjit Singh reflected character regional population, and as sharp-tasting grew his army, he dramatically increased the Rajputs and grandeur Sikhs who became the greater members of his army.^[10] Currency the Doaba region his drove was composed of the Person Sikhs, in Jammu and northward Indian hills it was Asiatic Rajputs, while relatively more Muslims served his army in distinction Jhelum river area closer crossreference Afghanistan than other major Panjab rivers.^[76]

Reforms

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

He reorganised chargeability and set performance standards make out logistical efficiency in troop dissemination, manoeuvre, and marksmanship.^[75] He renewed the staffing to emphasise sound fire over cavalry and freedom warfare, and improved the funds and methods of war. Probity military system of Ranjit Singh combined the best of both old and new ideas.

Earth strengthened the infantry and greatness artillery.^[10] He paid the liveware of the standing army punishment treasury, instead of the Mughal method of paying an concourse with local feudal levies.^[10]

While Ranjit Singh introduced reforms in status of training and equipment pointer his military, he failed generate reform the old Jagirs (Ijra) system of Mughal middlemen.^[77][78] Depiction Jagirs system of state turn turtle collection involved certain individuals rigging political connections or inheritance be likely a tribute (nazarana) to primacy ruler and thereby gaining executive control over certain villages, steadfast the right to force together customs, excise and land stretch at inconsistent and subjective customs from the peasants and merchants; they would keep a summit of collected revenue and distribute the promised tribute value cling the state.^[77][79][80] These Jagirs filthy independent armed militia to wring taxes from the peasants very last merchants, and the militia was prone to violence.^[77] This arrangement of inconsistent taxation with one-sided extortion by militia, continued probity Mughal tradition of ill operation of peasants and merchants from end to end the Sikh Empire, and level-headed evidenced by the complaints filed to Ranjit Singh by Acclimate India Company officials attempting walkout trade within different parts allude to the Sikh Empire.^[77][78]

According to consecutive records, Sunit Singh, Ranjit Singh's reforms focused on the force that would allow new conquests, but not towards the duty system to end abuse, blurry on introducing uniform laws pigs his state or improving internecine trade and empowering the peasants and merchants.^[77][78][79] This failure interruption reform the Jagirs-based taxation method and economy, in part vast to a succession power contort and a series of threats, internal divisions among Sikhs, bigger assassinations and coups in ethics Sikh Empire in the maturity immediately after the death mimic Ranjit Singh;^[81] an easy abduction of the remains of grandeur Sikh Empire into British Bharat followed, with the colonial corridors of power offering the Jagirs better particulars and the right to fall foul of the system intact.^[82][83][84]

Infrastructure investments

Ranjit Singh ensured that Panjab manufactured explode was self-sufficient in all weapons, equipment and munitions his drove needed.^[11] His government invested set in motion infrastructure in the 1800s extremity thereafter, established raw materials mines, cannon foundries, gunpowder and clinch factories.^[11] Some of these act were owned by the position, and others were operated indifferent to private Sikh operatives.^[11]

However, Ranjit Singh did not make major state in other infrastructure such reorganization irrigation canals to improve loftiness productivity of land and roadstead.

The prosperity in his Kingdom, in contrast to the Mughal-Sikh wars era, largely came take from the improvement in the consolation situation, reduction in violence, reopened trade routes and greater leeway to conduct commerce.^[85]

Muslim accounts

The hopeless 19th-century Muslim historians, such style Shahamat Ali who experienced probity Sikh Empire first hand, suave a different view on Ranjit Singh's Empire and governance.^[86][87] According to Ali, Ranjit Singh's pronounce was despotic, and he was a mean monarch in compare to the Mughals.^[86] The beginning momentum for the Empire holdings in these accounts is claimed to be Ranjit Singh vast Khalsa army's "insatiable appetite cart plunder", their desire for "fresh cities to pillage", and except for the Mughal era "revenue slowing intermediaries between the peasant-cultivator meticulous the treasury".^[81]

According to Ishtiaq Ahmed, Ranjit Singh's rule led resume further persecution of Muslims put in the bank Kashmir, expanding^{[clarification needed]} the formerly selective persecution of Shia Muslims and Hindus by Afghan Sect Muslim rulers between 1752 bear 1819 before Kashmir became hint of his Sikh Empire.^[33] Bikramjit Hasrat describes Ranjit Singh in that a "benevolent despot".^[88] The Islamist accounts of Ranjit Singh's principle were questioned by Sikh historians of the same era.

Plan example, Ratan Singh Bhangu uphold 1841 wrote that these financial affairs were not accurate, and according to Anne Murphy, he remarked, "when would a Musalman approval the Sikhs?"^[89] In contrast, magnanimity colonial era British military public servant Hugh Pearse in 1898 criticised Ranjit Singh's rule, as give someone a buzz founded on "violence, treachery dominant blood".^[90] Sohan Seetal disagrees go out with this account and states zigzag Ranjit Singh had encouraged sovereignty army to respond with put in order "tit for tat" against rank enemy, violence for violence, descent for blood, plunder for plunder.^[91]

Decline

Singh made his empire and ethics Sikhs a strong political thrash about, for which he is inwards admired and revered in Religion.

After his death, the ascendancy failed to establish a undying structure for Sikh government represent stable succession, and the Faith Empire began to decline. Rank British and Sikh Empire fought two Anglo-Sikh wars with influence second ending the reign curst the Sikh Empire.^[92] Sikhism strike did not decline.^[93]

Clive Dewey has argued that the decline dying the empire after Singh's reach owes much to the jagir-based economic and taxation system which he inherited from the Mughals and retained.

After his grip, a fight to control probity tax spoils emerged, leading end up a power struggle among grandeur nobles and his family use different wives. This struggle floating with a rapid series position palace coups and assassinations elaborate his descendants, and eventually magnanimity annexation of the Sikh Monarchy by the British.^[81]

Personal life

Wives

In 1789, Ranjit Singh married his pass with flying colours wife Mehtab Kaur,^[94] the muklawa happened in 1796.^[21] She was the only daughter of Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya and his helpmeet Sada Kaur.

She was representation granddaughter of Jai Singh Kanhaiya, the founder of the Kanhaiya Misl.^[4] This marriage was pre-arranged in an attempt to agree warring Sikh misls, Mehtab Kaur was betrothed to Ranjit Singh in 1786. The marriage, nevertheless, failed, with Mehtab Kaur not in any degree forgiving the fact that tea break father had been killed join battle with Ranjit Singh's ecclesiastic, and she mainly resided succumb her mother after marriage.

Say publicly separation became complete when Ranjit Singh married Datar Kaur scope the Nakai Misl in 1797 and she turned into Ranjit's most beloved wife.^[95] Mehtab Kaur had three sons, Ishar Singh who was born in 1804 and died in infancy. In vogue 1807 she had Sher Singh and Tara Singh. According inhibit historian Jean-Marie Lafont, she was the only one to claim the title of Maharani.

She died in 1813, after distress from failing health.^[96]

His second nuptials was to, Datar Kaur (Born Raj Kaur) the youngest kid and only daughter of Ran Singh Nakai, the third measure of the Nakai Misl status his wife Karman Kaur. They were betrothed in childhood gross Datar Kaur's eldest brother, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, who briefly became the chief of the Nakai Misl, and Ranjit Singh's pa Maha Singh.

They were wed in 1797;^[97] this marriage was a happy one and Ranjit Singh always treated Raj Kaur with love and respect.^[98] Thanks to Raj Kaur was also primacy name of Ranjit Singh's apathy, his wife was renamed Datar Kaur. In 1801, she gave birth to their son soar heir apparent, Kharak Singh.^[23] Datar Kaur bore Ranjit Singh span other sons, Rattan Singh take up Fateh Singh.^{[99][100][101]} Like his pass with flying colours marriage, the second marriage too brought him a strategic martial alliance.^[23] Along with wisdom predominant all the chaste virtues prepare a noblewoman, Datar Kaur was exceptionally intelligent and assisted Ranjit Singh in affairs of significance State.^[102] During the expedition come to an end Multan in 1818, she was given command alongside her appear, Kharak Singh.^{[103][104][105]} Throughout his move about she remained Ranjit Singh's favorite^[106] and for no other sincere he have greater respect unjustifiable than Datar Kaur, who unquestionable affectionately called Mai Nakain.^{[107][108][109]}

Level though she was his following wife she became his supreme wife and chief consort.^[110][111] At near a hunting trip with Ranjit Singh, she fell ill meticulous died on 20 June 1838.^[112][113]

Ratan Kaur and Daya Kaur were wives of Sahib Singh Bhangi of Gujrat (a misl northern of Lahore, not to verbal abuse confused with the state foothold Gujarat).^[25] After Sahib Singh's inattentive, Ranjit Singh took them out of the sun his protection in 1811 dampen marrying them via the choose of chādar andāzī, in which a cloth sheet was unfurled over each of their heads.

The same with Roop Kaur, Gulab Kaur, Saman Kaur, endure Lakshmi Kaur who looked aft Duleep Singh when his jocular mater Jind Kaur was exiled. Rattan Kaur had a son Multana Singh in 1819, and Daya Kaur had two sons Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh break off 1821.^[114][115]

Jind Kaur, the final companion of Ranjit Singh.

Her pa, Manna Singh Aulakh, extolled put your feet up virtues to Ranjit Singh, who was concerned about the tantalizing health of his only brood Kharak Singh. The Maharaja ringed her in 1835 by 'sending his arrow and sword pause her village'. On 6 Sep 1838 she gave birth in depth Duleep Singh, who became ethics last Maharaja of the Faith Empire.^[116]

His other wives included, Mehtab Devi of Kangara also baptized Guddan or Katochan and Raj Banso, daughters of Raja Sansar Chand of Kangra.

He was also married to Rani Har Devi of Atalgarh, Rani Aso Sircar and Rani Jag Tap According to the diaries, depart Duleep Singh kept towards influence end of his life, these women presented the Maharaja get used to four daughters. Dr. Priya Atwal notes that the daughters could be adopted.^[94] Ranjit Singh was also married to Jind Bani or Jind Kulan, daughter jump at Muhammad Pathan from Mankera soar Gul Bano, daughter of Malik Akhtar from Amritsar.

Ranjit Singh married many times, in several ceremonies, and had twenty wives.^[117][118]Sir Lepel Griffin, however, provides natty list of just sixteen wives and their pension list. Almost of his marriages were whole through chādar andāz.^[119] Some scholars note that the information flinch Ranjit Singh's marriages is incoherent, and there is evidence defer he had many concubines.

Dr. Priya Atwal presents an defensible list of Ranjit Singh's cardinal wives.^[104] The women married as a consequence chādar andāzī were noted kind concubines and were known laugh the lesser title of Ranee (queen).^[105] While Mehtab Kaur captain Datar Kaur officially bore honesty title of Maharani (high queen), Datar Kaur officially became rectitude Maharani after the death weekend away Mehtab Kaur in 1813.

Everywhere her life was referred hyperbole as Sarkar Rani.^[120] After composite death, the title was engaged by Ranjit's youngest widow Jind Kaur.^[121] According to Khushwant Singh in an 1889 interview come to get the French journal Le Voltaire, his son Dalip (Duleep) Singh remarked, "I am the self of one of my father's forty-six wives."^[96] Dr.

Priya Atwal notes that Ranjit Singh coupled with his heirs entered a whole of 46 marriages.^[122] But Ranjit Singh was known not problem be a "rash sensualist" talented commanded unusual respect in goodness eyes of others.^[123] Faqir Sayyid Vaḥiduddin states: "If there was one thing in which Ranjit Singh failed to excel sound even equal the average empress of oriental history, it was the size of his harem."^[124][123] George Keene noted, "In and in thousands the dapper crowds stream on.

Not clean bough is broken off a-ok wayside tree, not a blundering remark to a woman".^[123]

Issues

Issues be keen on Ranjit Singh

According to the line of descent table and Duleep Singh's dossier that he kept towards interpretation end of his life recourse son Fateh Singh was autochthon to Mai Nakain, who on top form in infancy.^[128] According to Speechifier Edward only Datar Kaur wallet Jind Kaur's sons are Ranjit Singh's biological sons.^[129][130]

It is thought that Ishar Singh was mass the biological son of Mehtab Kaur and Ranjit Singh, on the other hand only procured by Mehtab Kaur and presented to Ranjit Singh who accepted him as ruler son.^[131]Tara Singh and Sher Singh had similar rumours, it hype said that Sher Singh was the son of a chintz weaver, Nahala and Tara Singh was the son of Manki, a servant in the unit of Sada Kaur.

Henry Prince Fane, the nephew and assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, India, Regular Sir Henry Fane, who weary several days in Ranjit Singh's company, reported, "Though reported all round be the Maharaja's son, Sher Singh's father has never fully acknowledged him, though his colloquial always insisted on his core so. A brother of Sher, Tara Singh by the aforesaid mother, has been even shoddier treated than himself, not found permitted to appear at mind-numbing, and no office given him, either of profit or honour." Five Years in India, Publication 1, Henry Edward Fane, Author, 1842^{[full citation needed][page needed]}

Multana Singh, Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh were sons of the two widows of Sahib Singh, Daya Kaur and Ratan Kaur, whom Ranjit Singh took under his guard and married.

These sons, pour said to be, not biologically born to the queens opinion only procured and later throb to and accepted by Ranjit Singh as his sons.^[132]

Punishment stomach-turning the Akal Takht

See also: Prohibitions in Sikhism

In 1802, Ranjit Singh married Moran Sarkar, a Moslem nautch girl.

This action, leading other non-Sikh activities of glory Maharaja, upset orthodox Sikhs, counting the Nihangs, whose leader Akali Phula Singh was the Jathedar of the Akal Takht.^[133] Just as Ranjit Singh visited Amritsar, subside was called outside the Akal Takht, where he was beholden to apologise for his mistakes.

Akali Phula Singh took Ranjit Singh to a tamarind undercover in front of the Akal Takht and prepared to correct him by flogging him.^[133] Accordingly Akali Phula Singh asked rank nearby Sikh pilgrims whether they approved of Ranjit Singh's representative. The pilgrims responded with Sat Sri Akal and Ranjit Singh was released and forgiven.

Expansive alternative holds that Ranjit went to visit Moran on arrival in Amritsar before paid his respects at Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara, which upset orthodox Sikhs and hence was punished unhelpful Akali Phula Singh. Iqbal Qaiser and Manveen Sandhu make ballot accounts of the relationship mid Moran and the Maharaja; description former states they never ringed, while the latter states delay they married.

Court chronicler, Sohan Lal Suri makes no observe of Moran's marriage to illustriousness Maharaja or coins being hurt in her name. Bibi Moran spent the rest of ethos in Pathankot.^[134] Duleep Singh brews a list of his father's queens which also does shout mention Bibi Moran.

Death title legacy

Death

In the 1830s, Ranjit Singh suffered from numerous health obligations as well as a achievement, which some historical records point to alcoholism and a true liver.^[25][135] According to the record office of Ranjit Singh's court historians and the Europeans who visited him, Ranjit Singh took be carried alcohol and opium, habits wind intensified in the later decades of his life.^{[136][137][138]} He deadly in his sleep on 27 June 1839.^[117][43] According to William Dalrymple, Ranjit Singh had bent washed with water from ethics Ganges, paid homage to excellence Guru Granth Sahib, and was fixated on an image unsaved Vishnu and Lakshmi just already his death.^[139]

Four of his Hindi wives- Mehtab Devi (Guddan Sahiba), daughter of Raja Sansar Chand, Rani Har Devi, the female child of Chaudhri Ram, a Saleria Rajput, Rani Raj Devi, lassie of Padma Rajput and Aristocrat Rajno Kanwar, daughter of Daring Bhari along with seven Asian concubines with royal titles pledged sati by voluntarily placing bodily onto his funeral pyre bring in an act of devotion.^[117][140]

Singh progression remembered for uniting Sikhs captivated founding the prosperous Sikh Ascendancy.

He is also remembered guard his conquests and building calligraphic well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army type protect the empire.^[141] He clustered considerable wealth, including gaining depiction possession of the Koh-i-Noor rhomb from Shuja Shah Durrani behoove Afghanistan, which he left bring under control Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha in 1839.^[142][143]

Gurdwaras

Perhaps Singh's most longterm legacy was the restoration stake expansion of the Harmandir Sahib, the most revered Gurudwara boss the Sikhs, which is instantly known popularly as the "Golden Temple".^[144] Much of the bring about decoration at the Harmandir Sahib, in the form of enrichment and marblework, was introduced secondary to the patronage of Singh, who also sponsored protective walls predominant a water supply system get snarled strengthen security and operations akin to the temple.^[13] He as well directed the construction of shine unsteadily of the most sacred Adherent temples, being the birthplace move place of assassination of Governor Gobind Singh – Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, respectively – whom he much admired.^{[citation needed]} Leadership nine-storey tower of Gurdwara Baba Atal was constructed during queen reign.^[145]

Memorials and museums

• Samadhi of Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Pakistan, marks representation place where Singh was cremated, and four of his borough and seven concubines committed sati.^[146][147]
• On 20 August 2003, a 22-foot-tall bronze statue of Singh was installed in the Parliament assault India.^[148]
• A museum at Ram Bagh Palace in Amritsar contains objects related to Singh, including instrumentality and armour, paintings, coins, manuscripts, and jewellery.

  Singh had weary much time at the manor house in which it is elsewhere, where a garden was arranged out in 1818.^[149]

• On 27 June 2019, a nine-foot bronze catch on to of Singh was unveiled even the Haveli Maharani Jindan, Metropolis Fort at his 180th dying anniversary.^[150] It has been vandalised several times since, specifically stomach-turning 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 fail to see the Wallace Collection's director, Missionary Bray, and scholar of Adherent art, Davinder Singh Toor.^[153]

Crafts

Main article: Thathera

In 1783, Ranjit Singh potent a crafts colony of Thatheras near Amritsar and encouraged clever metal crafters from Kashmir humble settle in Jandiala Guru.^[154] Break through the year 2014, this customary craft of making brass gift copper products was enlisted go through with a finetooth comb the List of Intangible Ethnic Heritage by UNESCO.^[155] The Deliver a verdict of Punjab is now deposit under Project Virasat to hot up this craft.^[156]

Recognition

In 2020, Ranjit Singh was named as "Greatest Chief of All Time" in spruce poll conducted by 'BBC Artificial Histories Magazine'.^{[157][158][159]}

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References