Maharaja Ranjit Singh is one of the most prominent Sikh ruler's in India , an exceptional human being who achieved great heights and glory and led his people with great foresight.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born on 13 November ,1780. He was the founder of Sikh Empire in India. Popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab he was a true disciple of Guru Gobind Singh Ji ,who created a liberal and enlightened Empire of the Sikhs.
His fathers name was Maha Singh who was the misldar of Sukerchakia Misl.
The importance of Misl increased during the reign of Maha Singh.Taking advantage of the anarchaic situation prevalent in Punjab Maha Singh initiated the task of territorial expansion.
His task had just begin when he died in 1792, leaving Ranjit Singh in charge at the age of 12. Ranjit Singh in his early Childhood lost his left eye owing to small pox and the death of his father deprived him of any formal education.
Despite all odds he acquired the wisdom and maturity of a leader from his life and experiences which helped him to realize his father's dream of a unified Monarchial state.
In the 1790's a large portion of Punjab was under the control of various Misls. The internal struggle within Punjab induced an opportunity to foreign invaders. Shah Zaman, the successor of Abdali aspired to extend the Afghan influence into Punjab.
Other aspirants were Gurkhas under Amar Singh Thapa, who then controlled eastern Himalayas and had penetrated as far as the Kangra region, as well as the Marathas and the English.
A rejuvenated Maratha power stepped into the Southern tracts of Punjab, neither the Gurkhas nor the Marathas could save Punjab from the impeding attacks of the Afghans. The English did realise this and wanted to use the Sikhs as a buffer state rather than establishing their own strangehold.
Besides English also feared of the attacks from the French Emperor Napoleon I.
Though the circumstances favoured Maharaja Ranjit Singh but the Larger challenge before him was to consolidate his power by uniting and accumulating the support of the various fragmented Misls spread throughout Punjab in order to defeat the Afghans.
Shah Zaman's series of raids proved futile between 1795-1796, but on 27 November,1798, he entered Lahore. Nizamuddin Khan , the Pathan ruler of Kossur, assured all assistance to Zaman. Similar assurances were given by Sangsar Chand, the Rajput ruler of Kangra.
Ranjit Singh then only 18, checked the Afghan advance towards Amritsar just 5 miles away from the town. Shah Zaman was forced to retreat against the resistance meted out by the Sikhs, and by way of a conspiracy against him by his brother Mahmud.
Meanwhile Lahore was seized by three sardars. They lacked character and stength and were oppressing the people of the region.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was entrusted with the task of gaining back the control. He took up the invitation and captured Lahore on 7th of July 1799. The Misldars of Bhangi and Ramgarhia in association with the ruler of Kossur opposed Ranjit Singh. In the subsequent battle ,Gulab Singh Bhangi died, and Ranjit Singh's success at Bhasin established his supremacy and people bagan to flock to his side.
On the Baisakhi Day of 1801, Ranjit Singh was honoured with the title of Maharaja by Saheb Singh Bedi, a Sikh priest.He was a direct descendant of Guru Nanak Dev and was highly respected by the Sikhs. This further enhanced Ranjit's prestige.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh conquered Amritsar in 1802 and Ludhiana in 1806. In the same year he refused asylum to Holkar, the Maratha leader when the latter was pursued by lord Lake.
This token of friendship towards the English satisfied Lord Lake who signed the treaty of Lahore with the Maharaja in 1806. By the terms of the treaty , English assured complete refrain from intervening in the internal affairs of Punjab.
Ranjit Singh utilised this opportunity to expand his territory towards the North of river Sutlej.
One after the another he suppressed the sardars of Patiala, Nava, Kaithal, Shahabad, Ambala, Buari and Kalsi and forced them to pay tribute.
Ranjit Singh however could proceed up to the North of river Sutlej. The misls on the eastern bank of the river could not be conquered by him owing to English protection of these misls.
By the Treaty of Amritsar in 1809 the English forced Ranjit Singh not to interfere in the affairs of the Sikhs on the eastern bank of Sutlej. Thus was shattered the Maharaja's dream of establishing a united Punjab under his suzerainty.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh's empire extended from Lahore to Khyber pass at one end and from Lahore to river Indus at the other. In 1811, he defeated the Gurkhas and captured Kangra and in 1813 defeated the Afghans in the battle of Haidrur. In the struggle between monarchy and the forces of decentralization the former prevailed in Punjab.
Ranjit Singh was a Monarch, he was at the helm of affairs of powers and portfolios, his administration was supervised with the assistance of Prime Ministers, dewans, treasurers and clerks.
The Judicial system in Punjab had no substantive codification of laws. Only Sharia law was in vogue to dispense the case of Muslims ,whereas other communities settled their disputes on the basis of accepted customs and traditions.
Ranjit Singh followed the Mughal rulers in developing his fiscal system. Land revenue was the principal source of the state's earnings. The state also earned from trade duty and Nazrana. Tax was equally levied on all citizens. A large part of state income was spent on defense.
Ranjit Singh's administration gave considerable attention to develop the communication system in order to improve trade and commerce. Roads were constructed to connect big towns. He renovated the old road that linked Amritsar with Lahore. He planted trees and built several inns by the roadways. Some beautiful gardens were also built in the towns of Lahore and Amritsar.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh reorganized military network of the Khalsa and Punjab became an important Martial power. Before Ranjit Singh the Sikh's had paid scant attention to develop their infantry. Ranjit Singh built up an infantry and a cavalry army of 40,000(80,000 with peasant militia)and 150 serviceable heavy guns to replace the old mounted Sikh war bands.
His army allowed him to increase his large revenue resources overawing other Sikh magnates and extending his rule into the Muslim North- West.
It was under him that for the first time an Asian country ruler was able to modernize his army on European standards.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh established the Sarkar Khalsa which is one of the earliest example of seamless secularism.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh never forced his religion on his subjects , infact he showed tolerance and respect towards their religion and participated in their practices and festivals. This was in sharp contrast with the attempted ethnic and religious cleansing of the past muslim rulers.
As a result , the Muslims who formed a majority of his subjects were intensely loyal to him. Thus Ranjit Singh created a state based upon the noble tenets of the Sikh Gurus which enjoined people of diverse backgrounds to live together in peace and harmony.
While being a benevolent and a liberal leader, Maharaja Ranjit Singh personally remained a devout Sikh. He was responsible for the Gold plating of Shri Harmandir Sahib, in Amritsar. Being a devouted disciple of the tenth master of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, he built Takhth Sri Patna Sahib , the birth place of the Guru and Takth Sri Huzur Sahib, where the Guru left his worldly body.
Both the Gurudwaras are sacred for the Sikhs, he took upon himself the responsibility of construction and maintenance of many other Gurudwara's within Punjab and in other parts of the country. He is also said to have donated large sums of money for Hindu temples and other shrines.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a great and fearless warrior, able administrator, statesman and a noble King.
He was a liberal ruler, despite being an absolute monarch he was democratic in his thought giving credence only to attributes of merits and loyalty. He dedicated his reign to the Khalsa and never wore a crown, his court was splendid and his jewels extraordinary but personally he liked to remain simply attired.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh is a towering figure in the Indian history. He epitomises all qualities espoused by his Gurus which also forms the basis of enlightened Indian Thought and Philosophy. He is a national icon and a role model in leadership, nobility , nationalism, tolerance professional proficiency and other such qualities. There is every reason to be proud of this great son of India.
