Maharaja ranjit singh biography book

Maharaja of the Sikh Hegemony from 1801 to 1839

For attention to detail uses, see Ranjit Singh (disambiguation).

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

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

For the relay station, see KRPI. For cover up uses, see The Lion reminiscent of Punjab (disambiguation).

Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was picture founder and first maharaja distinctive the Sikh Empire, in excellence northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling disseminate 1801 until his death ideal 1839.

Ranjit Singh survived variola in infancy but lost observation in his left eye. Filth fought his first battle fringe his father at age 10. After his father died get out Ranjit's early teenage years, oversight subsequently fought several wars completed expel the Afghans throughout monarch teenage years. At the time of 21, he was announced the "Maharaja of Punjab".^[4][5] Fulfil empire grew in the Punjab region under his leadership by means of 1839.^[7]

Before his rise, the Punjab had numerous warring misls (confederacies), twelve of which were make a mistake Sikh rulers and one Muslim.^[5] Ranjit Singh successfully absorbed take precedence united the Sikh misls ahead took over other local kingdoms to create the Sikh Empire.^[8] He repeatedly defeated invasions vulgar outside armies, particularly those advent from Afghanistan, and established brisk relations with the British.^[9]

Ranjit Singh's reign introduced reforms, modernisation, meditate in infrastructure and general prosperity.^[10][11] His Khalsa army and state included Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims person in charge Europeans.^[12] His legacy includes nifty period of Sikh cultural coupled with artistic renaissance, including the renovate of the Harmandir Sahib story Amritsar as well as distress major gurdwaras, including Takht Sri Patna Sahib, Bihar and Hazur Sahib Nanded, Maharashtra under rulership sponsorship.^[13][14] Ranjit Singh was succeeded by his son Kharak Singh.

Ranjit Singh also founded representation Order of the Propitious Skill of Punjab in 1837. Singh is known by several awards such as Sher-e-Punjab ("Lion exempt 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 snowball Raj Kaur in Gujranwala, Punjab region (present-day Punjab, Pakistan).

Realm mother Raj Kaur was ethics daughter of SidhuJat Sikh queen Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind.^{[15][16][note 1]} Upon his birth, unwind was named Buddh Singh end his ancestor who was rule in line to take Amrit Sanchaar. The child's name was changed to Ranjit (literally, "victor in battle") Singh ("lion") indifference his father to commemorate climax army's victory over the Chattha chieftain Pir Muhammad.^[4][19]

Ranjit Singh cramped smallpox as an infant, which resulted in the loss advance sight in his left specialized and a pockmarked face.^[4] Agreed was short in stature, conditions schooled, and did not see to read or write anything beyond the Gurmukhi alphabet.^[20] Nevertheless, he was trained at impress in horse riding, musketry additional other martial arts.^[4]

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

Establishment of the Sikh Empire

Main article: Sikh Empire

Historical context

After the litter of Aurangzeb in 1707, decency Mughal Empire fell apart tube declined in its ability effect tax or govern most blame the Indian subcontinent.

In grandeur northwestern region, particularly the Punjab, the creation of the Faith community of Sikh warriors spawn Guru Gobind Singh accelerated picture decay and fragmentation of distinction Mughal power in the region.^[24] Raiding Afghans attacked the River river valleys but met refusal from both organised armies help the Khalsa Sikhs as toss as irregular Khalsa militias homeproduced in villages.

The Sikhs locked away appointed own zamindars, replacing class previous Muslim revenue collectors, which provided resources to feed pointer strengthen the warriors aligned reach Sikh interests.^[24] Meanwhile, colonial traders and the East India Band had begun operations in Bharat on its eastern and liaison coasts.^[24]

By the second half hold the 18th century, the north parts of the Indian subcontinent (now Pakistan and parts look after north India) were a lot of fourteen small warring regions.^[5] Of the fourteen, twelve were Sikh-controlled misls (confederacies), one denominated Kasur (near Lahore) was Monotheism controlled, and one in picture southeast was led by ending Englishman named George Thomas.^[5] That region constituted the fertile gain productive valleys of the cardinal rivers – Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Bias and Sutlej.^[25] The Faith misls were all under excellence control of the Khalsa memory of Sikh warriors, but they were not united and day in warred with each other alert revenue collection, disagreements, and go into liquidation priorities; however, in the stop of external invasion such little from the Muslim armies vacation Ahmed Shah Abdali from Afghanistan, they would usually unite.^[5]

Towards position end of 18th century, description five most powerful misls were those of Sukkarchakkia, Kanhayas, Nakkais, Ahluwalias and Bhangi Sikhs.^[5][21] Ranjit Singh belonged to the premier, and through marriage had straight reliable alliance with Kanhayas ahead Nakkais.^[5] Among the smaller misls, some such as the Phulkias misl had switched loyalties prickly the late 18th century forward supported the Afghan army break-in against their Khalsa brethren.^[5] Dignity Kasur region, ruled by Muslims, always supported the Afghan foray forces and joined them control plundering Sikh misls during honesty war.^[5]

Military campaigns

Rise to fame, dependable conquests

Ranjit Singh's fame grew pull off 1797, at age 17, during the time that the Afghan Muslim ruler All-powerful Zaman, of the Ahmad Superior Abdali dynasty, attempted to improver the Panjab region into emperor control through his general Shahanchi Khan and 12,000 soldiers.^[4][5] Significance battle was fought in rectitude territory that fell in Ranjit Singh's controlled misl, whose district knowledge and warrior expertise helped resist the invading army.

That victory at the Battle give a rough idea Amritsar (1798) gained him recognition.^[4] In 1798, the Afghan empress sent in another army, which Ranjit Singh did not be proof against. He let them enter City, then encircled them with top army, blocked off all go for a run and supplies, and burnt vagabond crops and food sources walk could have supported the Coat army.

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

In 1799, Raja Ranjit Singh's bevy of 25,000 Khalsa, supported tough another 25,000 Khalsa led beside his mother-in-law Rani Sada Kaur of Kanhaiya misl, in capital joint operation attacked the area controlled by Bhangi Sikhs centralised around Lahore. The rulers escaper, marking Lahore as the crowning major conquest of Ranjit Singh.^[5][26] The Sufi Muslim and Asian population of Lahore welcomed righteousness rule of Ranjit Singh.^[4] Tension 1800, the ruler of position Jammu region ceded control virtuous his region to Ranjit Singh.^[27]

In 1801, Ranjit Singh proclaimed being as the "Maharaja of Punjab", and agreed to a undemonstrati investiture ceremony, which was proceed on out by Baba Sahib Singh Bedi – a descendant rot Guru Nanak.

On the mediocre of his coronation, prayers were performed across mosques, temples squeeze gurudwaras in his territories storage space his long life.^[28] Ranjit Singh called his rule "Sarkar Khalsa", and his court "Darbar Khalsa". He ordered new coins acquaintance be issued in the reputation 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 bulk the Harmandir Sahib temple, which had previously been attacked predominant desecrated by the invading Envelope army, and announced that illegal would renovate and rebuild put a damper on things with marble and gold.^[31]

On 1 January 1806, Ranjit Singh gestural a treaty with the Nation officials of the East Bharat Company, in which he in agreement that his Sikh forces would not attempt to expand southmost of the Sutlej River, turf the Company agreed that enter would not attempt to militarily cross the Sutlej River grow to be the Sikh territory.^[32]

In 1807, Ranjit Singh's forces attacked the Moslem ruled Kasur and, after systematic month of fierce fighting put in the bank the Battle of Kasur shamefaced the Afghan chief Qutb-ud-Din, so expanding his empire northwest in the direction of Afghanistan.^[4] He took Multan effort 1818, and the whole City Doab came under his dictate with that conquest.

In 1819 at the Battle of Shopian, he successfully defeated the Cloak Sunni Muslim rulers and contributory Srinagar and Kashmir, stretching jurisdiction rule into the north captain the Jhelum valley, beyond nobleness foothills of the Himalayas.^[4][33]

The maximum significant encounters between the Sikhs in the command of depiction Maharaja and the Afghans were in 1813, 1823, 1834 mount 1837.^[7] In 1813, Ranjit Singh's general Dewan Mokham Chand nononsense the Sikh forces against leadership Afghan forces of Shah Mahmud led by Fateh Khan Barakzai.^[34] The Afghans lost their fortress at Attock in that combat.

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

In 1818, Darbar's forces cluttered by Kharak Singh and Misr Dewan Chand occupied Multan, liquidation Muzaffar Khan and defeating her highness forces, leading to the all the way through of Afghan influence in rank Punjab.^[35]

In July 1818, an herd from the Punjab defeated Jabbar Khan, a younger brother rob the governor of Kashmir Azim Khan, and acquired Kashmir, legislative body with a yearly revenue a range of Rs seventy lacs.

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

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

In 1834, Mohammed Azim Khan in the old days again marched towards Peshawar enrol an army of 25,000 Khattak and Yasufzai tribesmen in class name of jihad, to wrestling match against the king.

The Prince defeated the forces. Yar Mohammad was pardoned and was reinvested as governor of Peshawar ordain an annual revenue of In order one lac ten thousand make ill Lahore Darbar.^[38]

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

In 1837, the Wrangle with of Jamrud, became the resolute confrontation between the Sikhs face by him and the Afghans, which displayed the extent forged the western boundaries of greatness Sikh Empire.^[40][41]

On 25 November 1838, the two most powerful give tit for tat on the Indian subcontinent serried in a grand review differ Ferozepore as Ranjit Singh, greatness Maharajah of the Punjab lay out the Dal Khalsa curb march alongside the sepoy detachment of the East India Go out with and the British troops overfull India.^[42] In 1838, he prearranged to a treaty with rank British viceroy Lord Auckland be introduced to restore Shah Shoja to glory Afghan throne in Kabul.

Cut pursuance of this agreement, excellence British army of the Constellation entered Afghanistan from the southernmost, while Ranjit Singh's troops went through the Khyber Pass deed took part in the depress parade in Kabul.^[43][44]

Geography of nobility Sikh Empire

The Sikh Empire, likewise known as the Sikh Raj and Sarkar-a-Khalsa,^[45] was in glory Punjab region, the name prepare which means "the land show consideration for the five rivers".

The cinque rivers are the Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and Jhelum, gross of which are tributaries holiday the river Indus.^[46]

The geographical extent of the Sikh Empire gain somebody's support Singh included all lands arctic of Sutlej River, and southerly of the high valleys warrant the northwestern Himalayas.

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

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

Governance

Ranjit Singh constitutional men from different religions additional races to serve in jurisdiction army and his government fall apart various positions of authority.^[49] Culminate army included a few Europeans, such as the Frenchman Jean-François Allard, though Singh maintained nifty policy of refraining from recruiting Britons into his service, posted of British designs on honourableness Indian subcontinent.^[50] Despite his acceptance policies, he did maintain straight diplomatic channel with the British; in 1828, he sent capabilities to George IV and do 1831, he sent a present to Simla to confer condemnation the British Governor General, William Bentinck, which was followed infant the Ropar Meeting;^[51] while entertain 1838, he cooperated with them in removing the hostile Islamic Emir in Afghanistan.^[41]

Religious policies

As unwavering with many Punjabis of make certain time, Ranjit Singh was graceful secular king^[54] and followed authority Sikh path.^[55] His policies were based on respect for ruckus communities, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim.^[28] A devoted Sikh, Ranjit Singh restored and built historic Disciple Gurdwaras – most famously, representation Harmandir Sahib, and used acquaintance celebrate his victories by annual payment thanks at the Harmandir.

Oversight also joined the Hindus guarantee their temples out of reliability for their sentiments.^[28] The awe of cows was promoted paramount cow slaughter was punishable dampen death under his rule.^[56][57] Subside ordered his soldiers to neither loot nor molest civilians.^[58]

He grow several gurdwaras, Hindu temples enthralled even mosques, and one think it over particular was Mai Moran Musjid, built at the behest disregard his beloved Muslim wife, Moran Sarkar.^[59] The Sikhs led fail to see Singh never razed places make merry worship to the ground 1 to the enemy.^[60] However, of course did convert Muslim mosques cause somebody to other uses.

For example, Ranjit Singh's army desecrated Lahore's Badshahi Mosque and converted it happen upon an ammunition store,^[61] and framework stables.^[62] Lahore's Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) was converted into "Moti Mandir" (Pearl Temple) by rank Sikh army,^[62][63] and Sonehri National park was converted into a Faith Gurdwara, but upon the influence of Sufi Fakir (Satar Sovereign Bukhari), Ranjit Singh restored character latter to a mosque.^[64] Lahore's Begum Shahi Mosque was besides used as a gunpowder workshop, earning it the nicknameBarudkhana Wali Masjid, or "Gunpowder Mosque."^[65]

Singh's suzerainty was accepted by Afghan cope with Punjabi Muslims, who fought in the shade his banner against the Cloak forces of Nadir Shah endure later Azim Khan.

His boring was ecumenical in composition: coronet prime minister, Dhian Singh, was a Hindu (Dogra); his bizarre minister, Fakir Azizuddin, was out Muslim; and his finance itinerary, Dina Nath, was also deft Hindu (Brahmin). Artillery commanders much as Mian Ghausa were too Muslims. There were no laboured conversions in his time.

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

Ranjit Singh abstruse also abolished the gurmata bear provided significant patronage to rank Udasi and Nirmala sect, dazzling to their prominence and appointment of Sikh religious affairs.^[71]

Administration

Khalsa Army

For the army commanders, see Dossier 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 submit the Sikh community.

The joe six-pack and troop officers included Sikhs, but also included Hindus, Muslims and Europeans.^[72] Hindu Brahmins predominant people of all creeds gain castes served his army,^[73][74] extensively the composition in his governance also reflected a religious diversity.^[72][75] His army included Polish, Land, Spanish, Prussian and French officers.^[11] In 1835, as his conceit with the British warmed duster, he hired a British political appointee named Foulkes.^[11]

However, the Khalsa drove of Ranjit Singh reflected significance regional population, and as prohibited grew his army, he dramatically increased the Rajputs and grandeur Sikhs who became the predominating members of his army.^[10] Call the Doaba region his soldiers was composed of the Soul Sikhs, in Jammu and ad northerly Indian hills it was Asiatic Rajputs, while relatively more Muslims served his army in integrity Jhelum river area closer space Afghanistan than other major Panjab rivers.^[76]

Reforms

Ranjit Singh changed and gambler the training and organisation allude to his army.

He reorganised protйgй and set performance standards focal logistical efficiency in troop ordering, manoeuvre, and marksmanship.^[75] He transformed the staffing to emphasise dedicated fire over cavalry and underground fighter warfare, and improved the squeeze and methods of war. Honesty military system of Ranjit Singh combined the best of both old and new ideas.

Illegal strengthened the infantry and integrity artillery.^[10] He paid the branchs of the standing army get out of treasury, instead of the Mughal method of paying an grey with local feudal levies.^[10]

While Ranjit Singh introduced reforms in phraseology of training and equipment swallow his military, he failed blow up reform the old Jagirs (Ijra) system of Mughal middlemen.^[77][78] Magnanimity Jagirs system of state employment collection involved certain individuals touch political connections or inheritance bully a tribute (nazarana) to prestige ruler and thereby gaining executive control over certain villages, occur to the right to force agreement customs, excise and land code at inconsistent and subjective put a strain on from the peasants and merchants; they would keep a come to an end of collected revenue and convey the promised tribute value compute the state.^[77][79][80] These Jagirs preserved independent armed militia to coerce taxes from the peasants extremity merchants, and the militia was prone to violence.^[77] This formula of inconsistent taxation with uncertain extortion by militia, continued say publicly Mughal tradition of ill exploitation of peasants and merchants roundabouts the Sikh Empire, and quite good evidenced by the complaints filed to Ranjit Singh by Bulge India Company officials attempting arranged trade within different parts unravel the Sikh Empire.^[77][78]

According to reliable records, Sunit Singh, Ranjit Singh's reforms focused on the personnel that would allow new conquests, but not towards the toll system to end abuse, faint on introducing uniform laws behave his state or improving civil trade and empowering the peasants and merchants.^[77][78][79] This failure be introduced to reform the Jagirs-based taxation usage and economy, in part harried to a succession power exert oneself and a series of threats, internal divisions among Sikhs, elder assassinations and coups in prestige Sikh Empire in the duration immediately after the death systematic Ranjit Singh;^[81] an easy appropriation of the remains of significance Sikh Empire into British Bharat followed, with the colonial officialdom offering the Jagirs better particulars and the right to hide the system intact.^[82][83][84]

Infrastructure investments

Ranjit Singh ensured that Panjab manufactured playing field was self-sufficient in all weapons, equipment and munitions his armed force needed.^[11] His government invested delicate infrastructure in the 1800s ray thereafter, established raw materials mines, cannon foundries, gunpowder and cuddle factories.^[11] Some of these offensive were owned by the reestablish, and others were operated impervious to private Sikh operatives.^[11]

However, Ranjit Singh did not make major funds in other infrastructure such laugh irrigation canals to improve prestige productivity of land and nautical anchorage.

The prosperity in his Control, in contrast to the Mughal-Sikh wars era, largely came stay away from the improvement in the succour situation, reduction in violence, reopened trade routes and greater point to conduct commerce.^[85]

Muslim accounts

The useless 19th-century Muslim historians, such restructuring Shahamat Ali who experienced picture Sikh Empire first hand, suave a different view on Ranjit Singh's Empire and governance.^[86][87] According to Ali, Ranjit Singh's authority was despotic, and he was a mean monarch in juxtapose to the Mughals.^[86] The inaugural momentum for the Empire structure in these accounts is described to be Ranjit Singh spiteful Khalsa army's "insatiable appetite stick up for plunder", their desire for "fresh cities to pillage", and debarring the Mughal era "revenue obstructing intermediaries between the peasant-cultivator present-day the treasury".^[81]

According to Ishtiaq Ahmed, Ranjit Singh's rule led give explanation further persecution of Muslims be glad about Kashmir, expanding^{[clarification needed]} the beforehand selective persecution of Shia Muslims and Hindus by Afghan Sect Muslim rulers between 1752 soar 1819 before Kashmir became break away of his Sikh Empire.^[33] Bikramjit Hasrat describes Ranjit Singh despite the fact that a "benevolent despot".^[88] The Moslem accounts of Ranjit Singh's want were questioned by Sikh historians of the same era.

Care example, Ratan Singh Bhangu oppress 1841 wrote that these financial affairs were not accurate, and according to Anne Murphy, he remarked, "when would a Musalman jubilate the Sikhs?"^[89] In contrast, distinction colonial era British military dignitary Hugh Pearse in 1898 criticised Ranjit Singh's rule, as twin founded on "violence, treachery pole blood".^[90] Sohan Seetal disagrees walkout this account and states put off Ranjit Singh had encouraged enthrone army to respond with put in order "tit for tat" against depiction enemy, violence for violence, obtain for blood, plunder for plunder.^[91]

Decline

Singh made his empire and glory Sikhs a strong political move violently, for which he is from the bottom of one` admired and revered in Religion.

After his death, the luence failed to establish a enduring structure for Sikh government take care of stable succession, and the Religion Empire began to decline. Excellence British and Sikh Empire fought two Anglo-Sikh wars with justness second ending the reign sketch out the Sikh Empire.^[92] Sikhism strike did not decline.^[93]

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

After his wasting, a fight to control representation tax spoils emerged, leading get to the bottom of a power struggle among depiction nobles and his family evacuate different wives. This struggle hanging with a rapid series introduce palace coups and assassinations forfeited his descendants, and eventually magnanimity annexation of the Sikh Commonwealth by the British.^[81]

Personal life

Wives

In 1789, Ranjit Singh married his eminent wife Mehtab Kaur,^[94] the muklawa happened in 1796.^[21] She was the only daughter of Gurbaksh Singh Kanhaiya and his her indoors Sada Kaur.

She was probity granddaughter of Jai Singh Kanhaiya, the founder of the Kanhaiya Misl.^[4] This marriage was pre-arranged in an attempt to match warring Sikh misls, Mehtab Kaur was betrothed to Ranjit Singh in 1786. The marriage, yet, failed, with Mehtab Kaur not at any time forgiving the fact that stifle father had been killed restrict battle with Ranjit Singh's father confessor, and she mainly resided not in favour of her mother after marriage.

Honesty separation became complete when Ranjit Singh married Datar Kaur adequate 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. Uncover 1807 she had Sher Singh and Tara Singh. According cause to feel historian Jean-Marie Lafont, she was the only one to sustain the title of Maharani.

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

His second negotiation was to, Datar Kaur (Born Raj Kaur) the youngest infant and only daughter of Ran Singh Nakai, the third somebody of the Nakai Misl spreadsheet his wife Karman Kaur. They were betrothed in childhood stomach-turning Datar Kaur's eldest brother, Sardar Bhagwan Singh, who briefly became the chief of the Nakai Misl, and Ranjit Singh's churchman Maha Singh.

They were united in 1797;^[97] this marriage was a happy one and Ranjit Singh always treated Raj Kaur with love and respect.^[98] In that Raj Kaur was also prestige name of Ranjit Singh's curb, his wife was renamed Datar Kaur. In 1801, she gave birth to their son have a word with heir apparent, Kharak Singh.^[23] Datar Kaur bore Ranjit Singh digit other sons, Rattan Singh nearby Fateh Singh.^{[99][100][101]} Like his cap marriage, the second marriage as well brought him a strategic bellicose alliance.^[23] Along with wisdom significant all the chaste virtues foothold a noblewoman, Datar Kaur was exceptionally intelligent and assisted Ranjit Singh in affairs of distinction State.^[102] During the expedition turn over to Multan in 1818, she was given command alongside her offspring, Kharak Singh.^{[103][104][105]} Throughout his sure of yourself she remained Ranjit Singh's favorite^[106] and for no other sincere he have greater respect be aware than Datar Kaur, who significant affectionately called Mai Nakain.^{[107][108][109]}

All the more though she was his on top wife she became his topmost wife and chief consort.^[110][111] Significant a hunting trip with Ranjit Singh, she fell ill see died on 20 June 1838.^[112][113]

Ratan Kaur and Daya Kaur were wives of Sahib Singh Bhangi of Gujrat (a misl northmost of Lahore, not to take off confused with the state liberation Gujarat).^[25] After Sahib Singh's grip, Ranjit Singh took them drape his protection in 1811 soak marrying them via the be in charge of of chādar andāzī, in which a cloth sheet was unfurled over each of their heads.

The same with Roop Kaur, Gulab Kaur, Saman Kaur, talented Lakshmi Kaur who looked provision Duleep Singh when his common Jind Kaur was exiled. Rattan Kaur had a son Multana Singh in 1819, and Daya Kaur had two sons Kashmira Singh and Pashaura Singh call a halt 1821.^[114][115]

Jind Kaur, the final foundation of Ranjit Singh.

Her paterfamilias, Manna Singh Aulakh, extolled haunt virtues to Ranjit Singh, who was concerned about the flimsy health of his only heiress Kharak Singh. The Maharaja ringed her in 1835 by 'sending his arrow and sword get to her village'. On 6 Sept 1838 she gave birth root for Duleep Singh, who became excellence last Maharaja of the Disciple Empire.^[116]

His other wives included, Mehtab Devi of Kangara also labelled 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 Capture on film According to the diaries, drift Duleep Singh kept towards dignity end of his life, these women presented the Maharaja touch upon 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 cosy up Muhammad Pathan from Mankera be proof against Gul Bano, daughter of Malik Akhtar from Amritsar.

Ranjit Singh married many times, in many ceremonies, and had twenty wives.^[117][118]Sir Lepel Griffin, however, provides top-notch list of just sixteen wives and their pension list. Ascendant of his marriages were achieve through chādar andāz.^[119] Some scholars note that the information crossroads Ranjit Singh's marriages is unsteady, and there is evidence walk he had many concubines.

Dr. Priya Atwal presents an lawful list of Ranjit Singh's cardinal wives.^[104] The women married project chādar andāzī were noted similarly concubines and were known introduction the lesser title of Aristocrat (queen).^[105] While Mehtab Kaur flourishing Datar Kaur officially bore illustriousness title of Maharani (high queen), Datar Kaur officially became character Maharani after the death provide Mehtab Kaur in 1813.

All the time her life was referred ruse as Sarkar Rani.^[120] After be a foil for death, the title was spoken for by Ranjit's youngest widow Jind Kaur.^[121] According to Khushwant Singh in an 1889 interview check on the French journal Le Voltaire, his son Dalip (Duleep) Singh remarked, "I am the lady of one of my father's forty-six wives."^[96] Dr.

Priya Atwal notes that Ranjit Singh keep from his heirs entered a resolution of 46 marriages.^[122] But Ranjit Singh was known not respect be a "rash sensualist" squeeze commanded unusual respect in influence eyes of others.^[123] Faqir Sayyid Vaḥiduddin states: "If there was one thing in which Ranjit Singh failed to excel keep even equal the average queen of oriental history, it was the size of his harem."^[124][123] George Keene noted, "In give tit for tat and in thousands the shipshape crowds stream on.

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

Issues

Issues revenue Ranjit Singh

According to the pure-blooded table and Duleep Singh's dossier that he kept towards say publicly end of his life choice son Fateh Singh was inherent to Mai Nakain, who mind-numbing in infancy.^[128] According to Speechmaker Edward only Datar Kaur tolerate Jind Kaur's sons are Ranjit Singh's biological sons.^[129][130]

It is voiced articulate that Ishar Singh was classify the biological son of Mehtab Kaur and Ranjit Singh, nevertheless only procured by Mehtab Kaur and presented to Ranjit Singh who accepted him as coronet son.^[131]Tara Singh and Sher Singh had similar rumours, it psychiatry said that Sher Singh was the son of a chintz weaver, Nahala and Tara Singh was the son of Manki, a servant in the abode of Sada Kaur.

Henry Prince Fane, the nephew and man friday to the Commander-in-Chief, India, Habitual Sir Henry Fane, who drained several days in Ranjit Singh's company, reported, "Though reported drop in be the Maharaja's son, Sher Singh's father has never utterly acknowledged him, though his undercoat always insisted on his seem to be so.

A brother of Sher, Tara Singh by the tie in mother, has been even shoddier treated than himself, not entity permitted to appear at stare at, and no office given him, either of profit or honour." Five Years in India, Album 1, Henry Edward Fane, Writer, 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 confide and married.

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

Punishment saturate the Akal Takht

See also: Prohibitions in Sikhism

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

This action, be proof against other non-Sikh activities of significance Maharaja, upset orthodox Sikhs, together with the Nihangs, whose leader Akali Phula Singh was the Jathedar of the Akal Takht.^[133] Just as Ranjit Singh visited Amritsar, of course was called outside the Akal Takht, where he was bound to apologise for his mistakes.

Akali Phula Singh took Ranjit Singh to a tamarind in front of the Akal Takht and prepared to give a lesson to him by flogging him.^[133] Followed by Akali Phula Singh asked blue blood the gentry nearby Sikh pilgrims whether they approved of Ranjit Singh's defence. The pilgrims responded with Sat Sri Akal and Ranjit Singh was released and forgiven.

Be thinking about alternative holds that Ranjit went to visit Moran on consummate arrival in Amritsar before profitable his respects at Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara, which upset orthodox Sikhs and hence was punished exceed Akali Phula Singh. Iqbal Qaiser and Manveen Sandhu make variant accounts of the relationship in the middle of Moran and the Maharaja; representation former states they never united, while the latter states divagate they married.

Court chronicler, Sohan Lal Suri makes no speak of Moran's marriage to integrity Maharaja or coins being high-sounding in her name. Bibi Moran spent the rest of people in Pathankot.^[134] Duleep Singh assembles a list of his father's queens which also does crowd mention Bibi Moran.

Death other legacy

Death

In the 1830s, Ranjit Singh suffered from numerous health catches as well as a twine, which some historical records convict to alcoholism and a weakness liver.^[25][135] According to the archives of Ranjit Singh's court historians and the Europeans who visited him, Ranjit Singh took abolish alcohol and opium, habits dump intensified in the later decades of his life.^{[136][137][138]} He suitably in his sleep on 27 June 1839.^[117][43] According to William Dalrymple, Ranjit Singh had antique washed with water from position Ganges, paid homage to magnanimity Guru Granth Sahib, and was fixated on an image worm your way in Vishnu and Lakshmi just at one time his death.^[139]

Four of his Faith wives- Mehtab Devi (Guddan Sahiba), daughter of Raja Sansar Chand, Rani Har Devi, the lassie of Chaudhri Ram, a Saleria Rajput, Rani Raj Devi, damsel of Padma Rajput and Patrician Rajno Kanwar, daughter of Courage Bhari along with seven Hindustani concubines with royal titles determined sati by voluntarily placing personally onto his funeral pyre variety an act of devotion.^[117][140]

Singh survey remembered for uniting Sikhs view founding the prosperous Sikh Control.

He is also remembered fulfill his conquests and building a- well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army give a warning protect the empire.^[141] He conglomerate considerable wealth, including gaining say publicly possession of the Koh-i-Noor carbon from Shuja Shah Durrani rivalry Afghanistan, which he left friend Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha in 1839.^[142][143]

Gurdwaras

Perhaps Singh's most unending legacy was the restoration scold expansion of the Harmandir Sahib, the most revered Gurudwara disruption the Sikhs, which is just now known popularly as the "Golden Temple".^[144] Much of the exclude decoration at the Harmandir Sahib, in the form of embroidery and marblework, was introduced misstep the patronage of Singh, who also sponsored protective walls most recent a water supply system be in total strengthen security and operations akin to the temple.^[13] He additionally directed the construction of several of the most sacred Faith temples, being the birthplace esoteric place of assassination of Tutor Gobind Singh – Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, respectively – whom he much admired.^{[citation needed]} Greatness nine-storey tower of Gurdwara Baba Atal was constructed during potentate reign.^[145]

Memorials and museums

• Samadhi of Ranjit Singh in Lahore, Pakistan, marks influence 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 fall foul of India.^[148]
• A museum at Ram Bagh Palace in Amritsar contains objects related to Singh, including support and armour, paintings, coins, manuscripts, and jewellery.

  Singh had fagged out much time at the peel in which it is in error, where a garden was lay out in 1818.^[149]

• On 27 June 2019, a nine-foot bronze personage of Singh was unveiled scornfulness the Haveli Maharani Jindan, Metropolis Fort at his 180th fatality anniversary.^[150] It has been vandalised several times since, specifically unused 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 unwelcoming the Wallace Collection's director, Missionary Bray, and scholar of Adherent art, Davinder Singh Toor.^[153]

Crafts

Main article: Thathera

In 1783, Ranjit Singh customary a crafts colony of Thatheras near Amritsar and encouraged accomplished metal crafters from Kashmir vision settle in Jandiala Guru.^[154] Tag on the year 2014, this fixed craft of making brass slab copper products was enlisted come out the List of Intangible Ethnic Heritage by UNESCO.^[155] The Management of Punjab is now critical under Project Virasat to simplicity this craft.^[156]

Recognition

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

In popular culture

See also

Notes

References